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What qualifies as a Meeting?

Utah State Code defines meeting as the convening of a public body or a specified body, with a quorum present, including a workshop or an executive session, whether in person or by means of electronic communications, for the purpose of discussing, receiving comments from the public about, or acting upon a matter over which the public body or specific body has jurisdiction or advisory power.  Meeting does not mean:

  • A chance gathering or social gathering;
  • A convening of the State Tax Commission to consider a confidential tax matter in accordance with §59-1-405 of Utah State Code;
  • A convening of a three-member board of trustees of a large public transit district as defined in §17B-2a-802 of Utah State Code if:
    • The board members do not, during the conversation, take a tentative or final vote on the matter that is the subject of the conversation; or
    • The conversation pertains only to day-to-day management and operation of the public transit district.

Meeting does not mean the convening of a public body that has both legislative and executive responsibilities if:

  • No public funds are appropriated for expenditure during the time the public body is convened; and
  • The public body is convened solely for the discussion or implementation of administrative or operational matters:
    • For which no formal action by the public body is required; or 
    • That would not come before the public body for discussion or action.

A meeting is open to the public unless closed under §52-4-204, 205, and 206 of Utah State Code.  A meeting that is open to the public includes a workshop or an executive session of a public body in which a quorum is present, unless closed in accordance with OPMA.  A workshop or an executive session of a public body in which a quorum is present that is held on the same day as a regularly scheduled public meeting of the public body may only be held at the location where the public body is holding the regularly scheduled public meeting, unless:

  • The workshop or executive session is held at the location where the public body holds its regularly scheduled public meetings, but, for that day, the regularly scheduled public meeting is being held at a different location;
  • Any of the meetings held on the same dav is a site visit or a traveling tour and, in accordance with OPMA, public notice is given;
  • The workshop or executive session is an electronic meeting conducted according to the requirements of §52-4-207 of Utah State Code; or
  • It is not practicable to conduct the workshop or executive session at the regular location of the public body’s open meetings due to an emergency or extraordinary circumstances

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