​Attorney General of Maryland ​Anthony G. Brown

Open Meetings Act

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Overview​​​

Maryland’s Open Meetings Act is a statute that promotes governm​ent transparency by requiring state and local public bodies to:​

  • Hold their meetings in public,
  • ​Provide adequate notice of meetings to the public, and
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Allow public inspection of meeting minutes​
While most meetings must be conducted openly, the Act does permit public bodies to discuss certain sensitive topics in confidential sessions. The Act aims to increase public trust in government, ensure accountability, and enhance citizens' ability to participate in democratic processes.

Compliance and Oversight​​

Open Meetings Com​pliance Board​​​

The Open Meetings Compliance Board is an independent state entity that:​​

  • Consists of three members appointed by the Governor
  • Issues advisory opinions in response to written complaints about alleged violations of the Act
  • Holds an annual meeting in August or September, with special meetings as needed
Click he​re to visit the Board’s webpage

Office of the Attorney General​

While not part of the Compliance Board, the Office of the Attorney General:

  • Provides administrative staff and legal advice to the Compliance Board
  • Publishes the Board's opinions and notices on the OAG website
  • Offers resources and guidance on Open Meetings Act compliance

Resources and Information​​

General Information​​

For Public ​Bodies​

Legal Refere​​​nces

The full text of the Open Meetings Act can be found in §§3-101 through 3-501 of the General Provisions Article:

Contact Information​​

For questions or information requests:

​Rachel Simmonsen ​
Office of the Attorney General​
200 St. Paul Place​​
Baltimore, MD 21202​​

Phone: 410-576-6344

Email: [email protected]

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