The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a resolution urging the State Legislature to support legislation that requires the recording of executive sessions by all governments in Washington State.

"Some of the more important deliberations by the Seattle City Council as well as other governing bodies occur in closed executive sessions," said Councilmember Richard J. McIver. "Requiring the recording of executive sessions is an important step in government accountability."

Executive sessions are commonly understood to mean that part of a meeting of the governing body that is closed to the public. Governing bodies may hold executive sessions to consider the acquisition of real estate, to hold discussions with legal counsel under certain circumstances, and the like. House Bill 3292, currently pending in the State Legislature, would require the audio recording of all executive sessions conducted by a governing body.