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Committee weighs bill to require public comment time at public meetings; cities, school boards raise concerns
Summary
House Bill 3883 would require public bodies to provide a reasonable period for public comment at the beginning of every public meeting (except executive session). Supporters called it a needed statutory baseline; local governments and school boards urged amendments on timing, scope and operational impacts.
On April 14 the House Committee on Rules held a public hearing on House Bill 3883, which would require a governing body of a public body to provide time for public comment at the beginning of every public meeting, except executive sessions.
Representative Kim Wallin (House District 6) described the bill’s intent as adding a statutory requirement that publicly elected bodies provide an opportunity for the public to comment during meetings. “I actually think there should be a requirement for publicly elected bodies who are making public laws and rules for the public to follow, that public comment should be a component of their meetings,” Wallin said, adding the bill as drafted uses the legal standard “reasonable” to define…
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