The Open Meeting Act, Explained

INFORMATION HUB · Open Meeting Act

Oklahoma law sets clear rules for how public bodies meet and make decisions. Here's what the Open Meeting Act requires, what it doesn't, and how the City of Enid follows it.

The Oklahoma Open Meeting Act exists so that the public's business is done in public. It applies to the Enid City Commission and to every City board and commission. We've heard questions and concerns from residents about meeting space, speaking time, and how much notice is given before meetings. This page answers each one directly.

What the Open Meeting Act requires

Open meetings

Meetings must be open to the public and held at times and places convenient to the public.

Advance notice

Regular meeting schedules are filed each year, and changes require advance notice.

Posted agendas

Agendas must be posted ahead of time in language the public can easily understand.

Limited closed sessions

Executive sessions are allowed only for specific reasons listed in the law, and votes happen in public.

Meeting space and accessibility

What the law requires

The Open Meeting Act requires meetings to be held at specified times and places that are convenient to the public, and to be open to the public.

Accessibility for people with disabilities is also protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires public meetings to be accessible and reasonable accommodations to be provided on request.

What the City of Enid does

  • Where and when: The City Commission meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall, the Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Complex. Study sessions begin at 5 p.m., and regular meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.
  • Accessible entry: The east entrance, near the Enid Police Department, has a sidewalk ramp and automatic doors.
  • Following along: Television screens in the meeting room display the agenda as the meeting moves through each item.
  • When attendance is high: If a meeting is expected to exceed the room's capacity, the City opens overflow space or moves the meeting to a larger venue so everyone can attend.
  • Watch from anywhere: Meetings are streamed live and posted afterward on Facebook and YouTube at @CityOfEnid.
  • Need an accommodation? Contact Angela Rasmuson at arasmuson@enid.org at least two business days before the meeting.

Time to speak

What the law requires

The Open Meeting Act does not require public bodies to offer public comment at all. When public comment is offered, the public body sets its own reasonable rules, such as time limits for each speaker and a sign-up deadline.

What the City of Enid does

The City of Enid chooses to offer public comment at every City Commission and board meeting. Each speaker has 1 minute, or 2 minutes on a public hearing item. Time limits give everyone who signs up a fair chance to be heard. Written comments are accepted any time, so you can always share more detail in writing.

See exactly how public comment works

Agendas and meeting notice

State law sets minimum notice for each type of meeting:

Type of meeting Minimum notice under state law
Regular meetings The year's meeting schedule is filed with the City Clerk by Dec. 15 of the year before. The agenda is posted at least 24 hours before the meeting, not counting weekends and state holidays.
Changes to the regular schedule Written notice at least 10 days before a change to the date, time or place takes effect.
Special meetings At least 48 hours' notice, not counting weekends and state holidays, with the agenda posted at least 24 hours ahead. Only items on that agenda can be considered.
Emergency meetings Allowed only in a true emergency, with as much advance public notice as is reasonable and possible.

What the law requires

Agendas must describe each item in simple, direct language that the public can understand.

Any planned executive session must appear on the agenda, along with its purpose and the specific section of the law that allows it.

What the City of Enid does

  • The City Commission's regular meetings are scheduled for the first and third Tuesday of each month, and that schedule is filed each year as state law requires.
  • Agendas are posted online at Enid.org/meetings.
  • Printed copies are available from the City Clerk's Office at City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • City Commission agendas are typically first posted the Friday before each Tuesday meeting. That gives residents the weekend and Monday to review what's coming up, well ahead of the 24-hour minimum the law requires.
  • An agenda can still be updated after it's first posted, but the final agenda must be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting, not counting weekends and state holidays.

View upcoming agendas

What the Open Meeting Act doesn't require

Understanding the limits of the law is just as important as understanding its requirements. The Open Meeting Act does not require public comment, and it does not require public bodies to respond to comments during a meeting. In fact, officials should not discuss topics that aren't on the posted agenda. When the City offers more than the law requires, it's because we believe more access leads to better decisions for Enid.

If you believe the law has been violated

The Open Meeting Act includes strong protections. Any action taken in willful violation of the Act is invalid, a willful violation is a misdemeanor, and any person can file a civil lawsuit to enforce the law.

We take these concerns seriously

If you believe a City meeting didn't follow the Open Meeting Act, please tell us what happened, including the meeting and date, so we can look into it and respond.

Contact the City Clerk

Last updated: October 16, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary and not legal advice. The full text of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act is found in Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Sections 301 to 314.

Questions about City meetings?

We'd rather you ask than wonder. Reach the City of Enid Communications and Public Relations Department any time.

Email communications@enid.org
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