Open Meetings Archives - Page 2 of 28 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

27 Mar, 2023

Judge: Press likely has a First Amendment right of access to meetings of court rules commission
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Judge: Press likely has a First Amendment right of access to meetings of court rules commission

Open Courts, Open Meetings

Judge: Press likely has a First Amendment right of access to meetings of court rules commission

By Deborah Fisher|2023-06-21T10:41:00-05:00March 27, 2023|Categories: Open Courts, Open Meetings|Tags: Administrative Office of the Courts, Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice & Procedure, Center Square, court access, First Amendment, Tennessee Judicial Conference|1 Comment

A federal judge in Nashville ruled that the press and the public likely have a First Amendment right of access to meetings of a court rules commission that recommends rules of procedure and practice for all Tennessee courts. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson ordered that the meetings no longer be closed, and said opening the meetings will create public confidence and transparency, and likely result in better rules.

15 Mar, 2023

Bill would allow governmental bodies to post meeting notices on website
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Bill would allow governmental bodies to post meeting notices on website

adequate public notice, Legislature

Bill would allow governmental bodies to post meeting notices on website

By Deborah Fisher|2023-03-15T12:51:54-05:00March 15, 2023|Categories: adequate public notice, Legislature|Tags: government websites, meeting notices, Rep. Elaine Davis, University of Tennessee|0 Comments

A bill that allows governing bodies to post notice of their meetings on their websites passed a House committee, but not before pushback on a provision that requires the governing body to also mail or email the meeting notices to citizens who request it.

13 Mar, 2023

Electronic meetings bill fails in House committee
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Electronic meetings bill fails in House committee

Legislature, Open Meetings

Electronic meetings bill fails in House committee

By Deborah Fisher|2023-03-17T07:46:05-05:00March 13, 2023|Categories: Legislature, Open Meetings|Tags: electronic meetings, meeting videotape, Rep. Dave Wright, voting by phone|0 Comments

Lawmakers killed a bill in a House committee that would have allowed members of county and city legislative bodies to attend meetings by phone or video. The bill was a revival of one that failed in 2021. Lawmakers expressed concerns that members attending a meeting while experiencing a family or medical "emergency" might not be in the mental state to conduct business.

20 Feb, 2023

Proposed law would require public comment periods
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Proposed law would require public comment periods

Legislature, public comment

Proposed law would require public comment periods

By Deborah Fisher|2023-02-20T10:02:07-06:00February 20, 2023|Categories: Legislature, public comment|Tags: public comment, Rep. Elaine Davis, Sen. Adam Lowe|0 Comments

Public comment periods would be required at governing body meetings under a bill filed by Knoxville state representative Elaine Davis and Calhoun senator Adam Lowe. The bill allows governing body members to set rules around public comment periods, such as limiting the amount of time of the period and the amount of time of each speaker. The bill requires a public comment period for citizens to comment on items "that are germane to the items on the agenda for the meeting."

24 Jan, 2023

Bill would allow local governing body members to attend meetings electronically
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Bill would allow local governing body members to attend meetings electronically

Legislature, Open Meetings

Bill would allow local governing body members to attend meetings electronically

By Deborah Fisher|2023-01-24T10:26:35-06:00January 24, 2023|Categories: Legislature, Open Meetings|Tags: electronic meetings, meeting videotape, Rep. Dave Wright, State Sen. Richard Briggs, voting by phone|0 Comments

Members of county and city legislative bodies in Tennessee would be able to attend meetings electronically, such as by videoconference or phone, when dealing with a family or medical emergency under a bill filed by a pair of lawmakers from Knox County. Sen. Richard Briggs and Rep. Dave Wright sponsored similar legislation in 2021, which failed in a House committee.