While other states — and even some Kentucky agencies — resume in-person public agency business as usual, questions linger about the the status of the pre-pandemic open meetings law.

In an ideal world, in-person meetings would resume — under restrictions aimed at protecting public health — and public agencies would continue to offer virtual meetings with remote participation as an option.

This hybrid model is widely recognized as best practice, aimed at maximizing public participation:

"Amye Bensenhaver with the Kentucky Open Government Coalition said there's been confusion around open-meetings requirements during the pandemic, calling it somewhat ambiguous.

"But, she said, for anyone with a commitment to open government, in-person meetings must be a high priority. She said she'd like to see the state move toward allowing for remote access while maintaining a dedication to open meetings — particularly for reporters or people who want to make their voices heard.

"Bensenhaver provided an open meeting advisory from Attorney General Daniel Cameron's office dated June 24 that advised public agencies subject to the Open Meetings Act should expect normal operations to resume when the state of emergency expires."