MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Legislative Body

In the Absence of State Regulation, Local Governments Look to Restrict Kratom

May 11, 2026 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Legislative Body , Drug Possession and Use

A few cities in Washington State have banned the sale and distribution of Kratom, and others may be considering it. What is Kratom, how is it distributed, and why would a local government want to regulate it?

Opening Your Meeting: Prayers, Pledges, and Land Acknowledgements

May 4, 2026 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

Whether to begin a public meeting with an invocation, land acknowledgment, or the Pledge of Allegiance is a matter of local policy. Agencies should also follow best practices to integrate the action into meeting procedures and ensure that participation is voluntary.

Point of Order and Appeal Are the Heart of Democracy

April 13, 2026 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

What are the motions of Point of Order and Appeal in Robert’s Rules of Order, and how (or why) would a member of a council, commission, or board use these motions during a meeting of the governing body?

Understanding the Consent Agenda in Local Government Meetings

September 22, 2025 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

Governing bodies often have to approve routine administrative or procedural items that normally require little to no discussion. Such items can be covered in a consent agenda, a tool that can streamline regular meetings of the governing body while also preserving transparency.

Changing Course: Using Robert’s Rules to Alter a Prior Action

July 9, 2025 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

When and how can a governing body change course on a prior action? Robert's Rules of Order offers governing bodies options for changing a previous motion or decision. Elected officials should understand these options and how to use them correctly.

The Right to Assemble: Responding to Protests, Spontaneous Gatherings, and Counterdemonstrations

January 6, 2025 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body , Public Participation

Under the First Amendment, an individual has the right to peaceably assemble and free expression, and some exercise these rights in outdoor public places and gatherings. How can local governments both protect the public's First Amendment rights as well as ensure public safety?

A person sitting in front of a computer with a bag over their head decorated with a picture of a troll

Not What You Were Expecting To Hear: More Strategies for Handling Hate Speech During Public Comment

June 25, 2024 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Inclusive Communities , Legislative Body , Public Participation

What can an agency do to minimize the harm caused by a speaker whose goal may be to disrupt a public meeting? After some high-profile zoom bombing incidents, local governments are exploring strategies such as public comment rule changes and setting expectations for speakers.

Two people in a meeting play with cell phones instead of paying attention to the meeting

Advice for Taking Electronic Gadgets to Meetings: Use Them, Don’t Abuse Them!

April 22, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Public Records Act , Legislative Body

Using electronic devices during meetings can help you manage the meeting efficiently and reduce paperwork, but they also have the potential to create additional public records and their use could violate Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act.

Special Meetings: Answering Some Frequently Asked Questions

April 17, 2024 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Legislative Body

What makes a special meeting of a governing body different from a regular meeting? Must public comment be allowed during a special meeting? These are just a few of many questions MRSC receives annually about special meetings.

Strategies for Managing Difficult Public Meetings

March 27, 2024 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body , Public Participation

What are some steps an agency can take before, during, and after difficult public meetings to make them less stressful and more productive for everyone?

A woman abstains from voting on a topic by holding her hand over her mouth

Abstentions, Proxies, and Other Unusual Legislative Body Voting Scenarios

March 18, 2024 by Flannary Collins
Category: Legislative Body

MRSC gets asked about unusual voting situations that can occur during council or commission meetings, such as tie votes or abstentions. Either Robert’s Rules of Order or the agency’s local rules of procedure can offer guidance on how the legislative body should proceed.

Taking Action Using Ordinances, Resolutions, Motions, and Proclamations

February 16, 2024 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

A governing body has several options it can use to take action on an issue. Knowing which type of action to employ and under what circumstance helps to make the process more efficient and effective.

A black leather office chair with a sign stating vacancy taped to it

Vacancies in Local Elected Office: Understanding the New Rules for Special Purpose Districts

January 3, 2024 by Oskar Rey
Category: Legislative Body , Special Districts

Adopted by the legislature in 2023, SSB 5437 created new requirements for certain special purpose districts that need to appoint a candidate to fill a vacant position on their governing body.

Man asks question during political meeting

Don’t Get into Back-and-Forth Exchanges During Public Comment

November 27, 2023 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

The public comment period of a public meeting can be a great time to hear from constituents and to be heard. However, elected officials should not use this period to get into back-and-forth exchanges with members of the public — for a variety of reasons.

When Hate Comes to Town: Addressing Racist and Anti-Semitic Public Comment at Meetings

November 6, 2023 by Oskar Rey
Category: Inclusive Communities , Legislative Body , Public Participation

In recent months, some city council meetings have had their public comment period hijacked by bad actors whose purpose is to make hateful comments. Local governments have some options for minimizing the chance that their meetings are compromised in such a manner.

The Basics of Meeting Agendas

September 20, 2023 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

For open public meetings, a comprehensive, well-prepared agenda can keep things moving while ensuring all members of the governing body are on the same page. But what should be included according to statute, who should prepare it, and what happens if it needs to be amended?

A notebook for meeting minutes, lies between a pen and an hourglass

Less Is More: Action Minutes Save Time, Serve the Agency Best

August 23, 2023 by MRSC Insight , Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Public meetings of a governing body can cover a variety of topics and include countless important decisions that will impact the agency and its communities. Action minutes can help the body focus on what was done during the meeting rather than what was said.

Two officials sitting at a dais during an open public meeting as seen through the lens of a video camera

Practical Tips for Holding Hybrid Meetings

May 8, 2023 by Flannary Collins
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Legislative Body

After years of practice during the pandemic, local governments have become accustomed to holding hybrid public meetings, but that doesn't mean the process is always seamless. Fortunately many have developed procedures and methods to address the most common problems.

During a meeting of a small group around a table, one of the members puts his head down on the table because he is dismayed at what is happening.

Four Bad Habits Governing Bodies Should Avoid When Meeting

April 26, 2023 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Whether it's due to heightened emotions or misunderstanding how to apply Roberts Rules, meetings of public agencies can sometimes go awry. Guest author and Parliamentarian Ann Macfarlane provides some procedural tips to governing bodies seeking more effective meetings.

Legal Publication Requirements and the Decline of the Local Newspaper

October 31, 2022 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Legislative Body

Cities, towns, and counties must designate an “official newspaper” to meet certain publication requirements. Other statutes require notice or publication in a “newspaper of general circulation.” What happens when there are fewer qualified newspapers to choose from?

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