The bill introduces a new section to chapter 44-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, mandating that every regular meeting of public entities, such as cities, counties, townships, school districts, park districts, and water resource districts, must include an opportunity for public comment. Individuals wishing to provide comments are required to submit their name and address in writing, with the address being classified as an exempt record. The governing bodies are allowed to impose limitations on public comments regarding time per speaker, total time for comments, and relevance to agenda topics from current and previous meetings.

Additionally, the bill requires these governing bodies to develop a policy outlining the rules for public comments during regular meetings. This policy may stipulate that comments must be relevant to the public entity, should not disrupt the meeting's order, and must not be defamatory, abusive, harassing, or unlawful. Furthermore, public comments may be restricted if alternative procedures exist for addressing specific issues, if they contain confidential information, or if they are otherwise prohibited by law.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 44-04-19