OMA Advisory Opinion (#OOG-2026-0004) – Board of Social Work

On October 9, 2026, Director of Open Government Allen issued an Advisory Opinion OOG-2026-0004 in response to a complaint which alleged that during Board of Social Work meetings in January and February of this year, the Complainant “attempted to attend both meetings…through the meeting links shared on the Board of Social Work website on the respective attached agendas,” and was “not admitted to either meeting through the links… provided.” 

Further, the complaint stated that despite reaching out to the body after the January meeting and during the February meeting, the Complainant “was not let into the [January] meeting and did not receive communication from the Board.” Finally, the complaint raised questions with the ways that interested members of the public might receive notice regarding issues such as rulemaking. Director Allen concluded that the evidence established that the Board posted an incorrect meeting link for the January and February meetings by reusing the link from a prior special meeting. As a result, the notices posted for those meetings did not contain accurate meeting access information and therefore failed to satisfy the OMA's notice requirements, which constituted a violation of the OMA. Additionally, the Director found that one or both meeting agendas posted in connection with those meetings likewise contained the incorrect link before the complainant attempted to attend. Because the agendas formed part of the public notice for the meetings, the posting of inaccurate access information on the meeting agendas similarly constituted a violation of the OMA.

As to the remaining allegations, Director Allen concluded that these did not establish OMA violations. The OMA does not regulate the substance, significance, or scope of matters discussed by a public body, nor does it require that members of the public be permitted to participate in meetings or comment on public business. Rather, the OMA guarantees the public the opportunity to observe meetings while they are taking place or as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable. Although the incorrect links created confusion regarding access to the Board’s meetings, the OMA provides no separate right to participate beyond observation. Accordingly, no additional violation was established with respect to the Board's discussion of particular topics or the administration of any public comment period.