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The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law: what every meeting needs

Every local public body in Massachusetts, from a select board to a five-member advisory committee, follows the same law: a notice filed and posted before each meeting, minutes approved after it, and a closed list of reasons for meeting in executive session.

This guide explains the law in plain words; it is not legal advice. For a question about your board, ask your town counsel.
By Clarivis · Checked against G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18 to 22, its regulations and the Attorney General's guide on Mon, Oct 26, 2026.

Clarivis is software that helps a board follow these steps: it counts each meeting's notice deadline, checks each agenda item and drafts the minutes for your board to correct and approve; it does not file or post anything for you.

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Checklist, stage by stage

What the law asks at each point in a meeting’s life. Each stage links to the full guide, with the statute quoted.

Before each meeting

  • The notice gives the date, time and place, and lists the topics the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed. (§ 20(b))
  • Each topic is specific enough to reasonably advise the public of the issues. (940 CMR 29.03(1)(b))
  • The notice is filed with the town clerk and posted at least 48 hours before the meeting, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. (§ 20(b), (c))
  • The notice shows the date and time it was posted. (940 CMR 29.03(1)(d))
  • If people can join remotely, the notice says how, per the Attorney General's guidance. (Open Meeting Law Guide (2025), p. 11)

Meeting notice guide

Between meetings

  • Members do not share opinions by email or phone with a quorum of the board on public business within its jurisdiction; the agenda, scheduling information, reports and documents may be sent. (§ 18)

What counts as a meeting guide

Members joining by phone or video

  • If the meeting is not in an open, physically accessible public place, the public has another way to follow it, free of charge. (§ 20, as extended by St. 2025, c. 2, § 1)
  • In Clarivis, remote members are recorded as remote, not as present.

Remote participation guide

At the meeting

  • The chair tells everyone at the start about any recording of the meeting. (§ 20(f))
  • Any executive session is for one of the ten purposes the law lists, and the chair announces whether the open session will reconvene afterwards. (§ 21(a), § 21(b)(4))
  • Before going into executive session, the chair states the purpose and the subjects that may be revealed, and a majority of members vote to go in by roll call, each vote recorded in the minutes. (§ 21(b)(1)-(3))

Executive session guide

After the meeting

  • Minutes record the date, time and place, the members present or absent, a summary of the discussion on each subject, the documents used, and every decision and vote. (§ 22(a))
  • Open-session minutes are approved within 30 days or by the board's third meeting after this one, whichever is later. (940 CMR 29.11(2))
  • Open-session minutes that exist, draft or approved, go to anyone who asks within 10 days. (§ 22(c))

Meeting minutes guide

When a member joins the board

  • Within 2 weeks of taking office, the member certifies receiving the Open Meeting Law materials. (§ 20(h))

Massachusetts guides

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