September 8, 2026
Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
To require Members of Congress to convene and attend town halls in their respective congressional districts, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Town Halls for All Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Attendance at town halls
(a) In general
Each Member of Congress shall convene and attend a town hall, which shall be open to the general public and in the congressional district of the Member, not fewer than 12 times in a calendar year.
(b) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Congressional district
The term congressional district
means—
(A)
with respect to a Senator, the State of the Senator; and
(B)
with respect to a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, the congressional district of the Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
(2) Member of Congress
The term Member of Congress
means a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(3) Town hall
The term town hall
means a proceeding open to the general public, which shall be conducted as an in-person gathering that meets the following requirements:
(A)
No fee is charged for a member of the general public to join the town hall.
(B)
Public notice of the town hall, including the date, time, and city of the town hall, is provided not less than 4 calendar days before the town hall, with the precise location of the town hall provided to such members of the general public who register interest in attendance to the Member if such location is not provided in a public notice.
(C)
The public notice referred to in subparagraph (B) is provided—
(i)
by electronic mail, newsletter distribution list, or social media;
(ii)
through the website of the Member; or
(iii)
using any other method of communication regularly used by the Member to constituents.
(D)
The town hall meets accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
(E)
The town hall runs for at least 1 hour, unless exigent circumstances cut short the town hall.
Sec. 3. Effective date
This Act shall take effect at the start of the next Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act.