Public Comment Opportunity Expanded for North Dakota Board Meetings
Beginning August 1, every public board meeting in North Dakota, including local subdivisions, school districts, park districts, and water resource boards, will be mandated to include a public comment period. This initiative follows the passage of Senate Bill 2180, signed into law by Governor Kelly Armstrong on April 30.
The legislation aims to enhance community participation in public discussions by ensuring that attendees can voice their concerns, thus addressing past issues where public input was inadequately considered. According to Sen. Jose Castaneda (R-Minot), chair of the bill’s conference committee, this law establishes a minimum standard while allowing boards some flexibility in how they facilitate public comments.
The bill stipulates that public comment periods can be regulated based on total duration or individual speaking time, with topics limited to current and previous meeting agendas. This was a point emphasized by community members like Karen Krenz from Williston, who highlighted the essential role of public input in shaping decisions reflective of community needs.
While the new law sets guidelines, it also requires boards to develop specific public comment policies that ensure decorum during meetings. Comments must remain relevant and cannot include defamatory or confidential content. Sen. Chuck Walen (R-New Town) supported the balanced approach, noting that restricting comments to just recent agendas helps maintain focus.
Previous proposals had sought to restrict comments further, highlighting the lawmakers’ commitment to enabling public engagement while ensuring meetings remain productive. This legislation is expected to foster a more responsive governance climate within North Dakota’s public entities.
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