LOC News
OGEC Clarifies Limitations on Prohibited Serial Communications
This week, Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) staff issued a Prohibited Serial Communications FAQ in an effort to correct problematic information shared during the agency’s recent training sessions on public meetings. The FAQ makes clear that governing body members are free to speak at public events, to constituents, and to the media without fear of violating public meetings law. However, members of a governing body should not direct another party to act as their intermediary with other members of the public body on which they serve. Oregon law requires governing bodies to deliberate in public and prohibits a quorum from assembling in private or serially to conduct public business. It also prohibits the use of an intermediary to circumvent the law.
Previous OGEC trainings had indicated the media or constituents could be an intermediary, and officials were cautioned against those communications. However, that guidance was contrary to state law and has been corrected in the newly published FAQ. The LOC has advised city officials to meet their public meeting training requirements by attending an LOC or other certified course and avoid the OGEC trainings. That advice remains in effect until the LOC is able to assess the OGEC’s updated curriculum.
Contact: Scott Winkels, Lobbyist - swinkels@orcities.org
Last Updated 8/1/25