Reminder: Public Bodies May Not Hold a Public Meeting on March 17, 2026

On November 21, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 0243 into law as P.A. 104-0438, with an effective date of January 1, 2026. Among other things, the Public Act amended the Open Meetings Act to prohibit a public body from scheduling or holding a meeting on the day of any general primary election, general election, consolidated primary election, or consolidated election.

March 17, 2026 is the date of the general primary election. If your regular Board meeting is scheduled for March 17, it will need to be rescheduled. Boards should also not schedule a special or emergency meeting on this date.