Published 10:00 am Monday, May 4, 2026 The fight over what Oregon government meetings should be open to the public will be coming back for another round. Gov. Tina Kotek vetoed House Bill 4177 . It would have made some needed changes in the law, but Kotek vetoed it because of worries it might undermine transparency. It would allow government bodies, like a city council or school board, to meet in private and gather information. The League of Oregon Cities had urged support of the bill and said it was disappointed by the veto . We asked Nicole Stingh, the legislative director for the League, for an explanation. She sent us a careful, thorough response. But we think she got part of it wrong. She is right that Oregon’s public meetings law needs some fixes. It is wrong that government officials worry that talking to constituents or reporters could be construed as an attempt to get around open meetings laws. The law should be clarified so government officials don’t have to worry about that.…