Missouri lawmakers are advancing a bill to allow state and local governments to limit access to public meetings in response to the coronavirus. A House committee passed the bill Monday.
It comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across the country for the next eight weeks. The vast majority of people recover from the coronavirus in a matter of weeks.
The Missouri bill would require public agencies to livestream or record meetings and accept written public comments in advance.
Reporters could still access those meetings.