The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding public meetings by establishing specific requirements for open calls to the public. Under the new provisions, if a public body decides to make an open call, it must occur at the beginning of the meeting and prior to any official business being conducted. Additionally, if the open call exceeds thirty minutes, the public body has the option to continue it later in the meeting. The bill also mandates that if individuals are required to submit requests to speak, they must be allowed to do so until the open call concludes. Furthermore, meetings that only include an open call cannot be scheduled adjacent to another meeting of the same public body.

The bill clarifies that the requirements for open calls do not prevent public bodies from holding additional open calls during the meeting. It also specifies that certain activities, such as prayers, pledges, recognitions, and the adoption of the agenda, do not count as official business. These changes aim to enhance public participation in meetings while ensuring that the process remains orderly and structured.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-431.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 38-431.01