Iowa Code § 21.8
Electronic meetings
Redline — January 1, 2012 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2012
1. A governmental body may conduct a meeting by electronic means only in circumstances where such a meeting in person is impossible or impractical and only if the governmental body complies with all of the following:
1. A governmental body shall provide for hybrid meetings, teleconference participation, virtual meetings, remote participation, and other hybrid options for the members of the governmental body to participate in official meetings. A governmental body conducting a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall comply with all of the following:
a. The governmental body provides public access to the conversation of the meeting to the extent reasonably possible.
a. The governmental body provides public access to the conversation of the meeting to the extent reasonably possible.
b. The governmental body complies with section 21.4. For the purpose of this paragraph, the place of the meeting is the place from which the communication originates or where public access is provided to the conversation.
b. The governmental body complies with section 21.4. For the purpose of this paragraph, the place of the meeting is the place from which the communication originates or where public access is provided to the conversation.
c. Minutes are kept of the meeting. The minutes shall include a statement explaining why a meeting in person was impossible or impractical.
c. Minutes are kept of the meeting.
2. A meeting conducted in compliance with this section shall not be considered in violation of this chapter.
2. A meeting conducted in compliance with this section shall not be considered in violation of this chapter.
3. A meeting by electronic means may be conducted without complying with paragraph “a” of subsection 1 if conducted in accordance with all of the requirements for a closed session contained in section 21.5.
3. A meeting by electronic means may be conducted without complying with paragraph “a” of subsection 1 if conducted in accordance with all of the requirements for a closed session contained in section 21.5.
4. For the purposes of this section:
a. “Hybrid meeting” means a meeting involving both remote participation and in-person participation by members.
b. “Remote participation” means real-time participation by a remotely located individual in a meeting which is being held in a different physical location using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools.
c. “Teleconference participation” means participation using audio conference tools involving multiple participants in at least two separate locations.
d. “Virtual meeting” means a meeting involving real-time interaction using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools, in which participants do not share a physical location.
C85, §21.8
C85, §21.8
Official source: Iowa Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Iowa statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.