The Legislature last week passed the first bill of the session, and the governor already signed it into law.

Senate Bill 1301 reinstates temporary modifications to the Open Meetings Act allowing once again for virtual meetings among state agencies, boards and commissions.

Last year, during the onset of the Covid pandemic, the Legislature granted virtual meetings, but the act expired in November. This bill reinstates the practice until Feb. 15, 2022, or 30 days after the Covid-19 state of emergency expires. Many of these public bodies are small. So one member having to quarantine could mean the...