Open government bills to watch in 2022
We are monitoring several bills during the 2022 legislative session, including a bill that would create new fees to inspect public records.
11
Feb, 2022
28
Jan, 2022
Amended bill removes reference to social media platform for posting meeting notices
A bill that proposed allowing county legislative bodies to satisfy the public notice laws by posting notice of public meetings on a "social media platform" was amended this week in a House subcommittee to remove the mention of social media platforms.
28
Dec, 2021
Let the people speak at public meetings
Governing bodies such as school boards and county commissions should be careful about their rules on public comment. They may regulate the public comment period to protect the safety and the orderly flow of a meeting. But barring someone just because they are critical or express antagonistic views violates free speech rights and is repressive.
19
Jul, 2021
6th Circuit says school board’s public comment rules violate First Amendment
A citizen cannot be thrown out of a public meeting simply because he or she offends, antagonizes or harshly criticizes a governing body or members of a governing body during public comment period, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said this month.
1
Jul, 2021
Judge to consider if ban on livestreaming county commission meetings violates First Amendment
A federal district judge is scheduled to hold a bench trial in Nashville late this summer to decide if a ban on livestreaming meetings of the Montgomery County Commission violates the First Amendment. His decision could turn on whether the ban is narrowly tailored enough to address the government’s concern about security of commission chambers.