House File 497 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 497
BY COMMITTEE ON STATE
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 263)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the definition of meeting under Iowa’s open
2 meetings law.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 H.F. 497
1 Section 1. Section 21.2, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
2 to read as follows:
3 2. “Meeting” means a gathering in person or by electronic
4 means, formal or informal, of a majority of the members of
5 a governmental body where there is deliberation or action
6 upon any matter within the scope of the governmental body’s
7 policy-making duties. Meetings “Meetings” shall not include
8 a gathering of members of a governmental body for purely
9 ministerial or social purposes when there is no discussion of
10 policy or no intent to avoid the purposes of this chapter, or
11 a gathering of members of a governmental body comprised of
12 three members or less hosted by a political party or civic
13 organization.
14 EXPLANATION
15 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
16 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
17 This bill relates to the definition of meeting under the open
18 meetings law (Code chapter 21).
19 The bill amends the definition of a meeting that is subject
20 to the requirements of the open meetings law by narrowing the
21 definition to exclude any functions attended by members of a
22 governmental body comprised of three members or less hosted by
23 a political party or civic organization.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21.2