OPMA and PRA Practice Tips and Checklists
This page provides checklists and tip sheets that were developed by MRSC, in partnership with the State Auditor's Center for Government Innovation, to provide practical guidance for local agencies on the Public Records Act (PRA) and the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).
It is part of MRSC's series on the Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act.
OPMA legislation and proclamations: There are several new changes related to the Open Public Meetings Act taking effect in 2022:
- HB 1329, with effective dates in March and June 2022, makes several changes regarding the location of meetings, remote attendance, public comment, posting of notices, and more. For details, see our blog posts The OPMA Gets and Update from the Legislature and HB 1329: Answers to Your OPMA Questions.
- Effective June 1, 2022, Proclamation 20-28 et seq. regarding public meetings during COVID-19 has been rescinded. For details, see our blog post OPMA/PRA Emergency Proclamation Will Expire June 1.
- Effective June 9, 2022, HB 1630 prohibits any person to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon, while knowingly being in city, town, county, or other municipal buildings used in connection with meetings of the agency's governing body, or any other location of a public meeting or public hearing of the governing body, during the hearing or meeting. Local agencies must post signs providing notice of these restrictions.
We will be updating our website soon to reflect these changes.
Public Records Act (PRA) Checklists
PRA: Agency Obligations: a Starting Point
The PRA establishes basic procedural requirements that each agency must adopt. Use this checklist as a start for PRA compliance. Revised March 2021.
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PRA: How to Perform an Adequate Search
The PRA requires that agencies perform an adequate search to locate records responsive to a public records request. Use these practice tips to guide your agency's search for responsive records. Revised March 2021.
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PRA: Electronic Records – PRA and Records Retention Practice Tips
Electronic records can pose unique challenges for agencies related to records retention and the requirements of the PRA. Use these practice tips to guide your agency’s compliance with the PRA and records retention law in the context of electronic records. Revised March 2021.
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PRA: Electronic Records – PRA and Records Retention Do’s and Don’ts
Rules governing electronic records can be complicated so it can be helpful to have guidance on what’s allowed, and what’s not, regarding common types of records. Use these Do’s and Don’ts to help guide your agency’s compliance with the PRA and records retention laws as these laws relate to electronic records. Revised March 2021.
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Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Checklists
OPMA: Agency Obligations: A Starting Point
The basic requirement of the OPMA is that meetings of governing bodies be open and public. Use these practice tips to guide your agency's OPMA compliance. Revised May 2021.
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OPMA: Notice Requirements
Under the OPMA, to ensure that agency deliberations and other actions are conducted and taken openly, agencies are required to provide sufficient public notice of their meetings. Use these practice tips as a starting guide for OPMA notice requirements. Revised May 2021.
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OPMA: Executive Session Procedures
The OPMA requires specific steps be taken in order to hold an executive session. Use this checklist to guide your agency's compliance with the OPMA related to executive sessions. Revised May 2021.
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OPMA: Electronic Communications Practice Tips
Use of electronic records by members of a local government’s governing body can implicate the OPMA. Use these practice tips to guide your agency’s OPMA compliance in the context of electronic records. Revised May 2021.
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