Overview
Transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of good government. Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act (OPMA) was enacted to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to observe how governmental decisions are made, understand the discussions and deliberations that lead to those decisions, and hold elected and appointed officials accountable for their actions. An informed public is essential to a representative democracy, and OPMA helps foster that transparency by requiring that governmental business generally be conducted in the open.
The Act applies to most meetings of public bodies, including city councils, county commissions, planning commissions, boards of adjustment, special districts, and many advisory boards and committees. With limited exceptions established by law, meetings must be open to the public, proper notice must be provided in advance, and official actions must occur in a public setting. While OPMA generally does not require a public body to allow public comment at every meeting, it does require that the public be given the opportunity to observe the decision-making process and understand how and why decisions are reached.
OPMA also establishes procedures for meeting notices, agendas, minutes, electronic meetings, and closed meetings. These requirements are designed to promote consistency, fairness, and public confidence in government while ensuring that governmental bodies conduct business in a transparent and legally compliant manner. Failure to comply with the Act can result in legal challenges, invalidation of actions taken during a meeting, and a loss of public trust.
Although the procedural requirements of OPMA may sometimes seem detailed or burdensome, they exist for an important reason. Government functions best when its actions are visible to the people it serves. Open meetings encourage informed civic participation, discourage secret decision-making, and reinforce the principle that public officials are accountable to the communities they represent. Understanding and complying with OPMA is therefore an essential responsibility for elected officials, appointed board members, planning commissioners, and local government staff who conduct the public’s business.
Content Contributors: Jones and DeMille Engineering, Inc, Hansen Planning Group, LLC / Rural Community Consultants
Special Note: This material was developed by civiclinQ for the Land Use Academy of Utah (LUAU). Funding for the development of this material was provided by through the Land Use Training Fund, which is administered by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman , utilizing a portion of the 1% surcharge on all building permits in the State of Utah.
The role of this organization in administering funding is primarily administrative and should not be viewed as legal advice. Always consult your legal representative when addressing land use activities.
Use the ‘Materials’ tab above to view related course materials, including printable pass-along card and PDF version of this online course.
