SSB 1087 (LSB 1293DP (6) 91)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED IOWA PUBLIC INFORMATION BOARD BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 21.4, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Except as provided in subsection 3, a governmental body shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting, including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of that information. Reasonable
   (1)  Giving notice under this paragraph shall include advising all of the following:
   (a)  Advising the news media who have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and posting.
   (b)  Posting the notice on a bulletin board or other in a prominent and conspicuous place which is easily accessible to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if no such office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be held annually designated for such purposes by the governmental body, in a manner such that the notice is visible at all times.
   (c)  Posting the notice on any internet site owned or maintained and regularly updated by the governmental body or other internet presence moderated by the governmental body, if applicable.
   (2)  If a tentative agenda has been posted and is amended within the time frame established in subsection 2, paragraph “a”, the governmental body shall mark the agenda “AMENDED” and identify the amended provisions. Upon amendment, the governmental body shall give notice in accordance with subparagraph (1).
    Sec. 2.  Section 21.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement or cancellation of any meeting of a governmental body unless for good cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which case as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given. 
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body. The bill requires the act of giving notice of a meeting of a governmental body to include (1) advising the news media who have filed a request for notice with the governmental body as provided under current law, (2) posting the notice in a prominent and conspicuous place that is designated annually by the governmental body, in a manner such that the notice is visible at all times, and (3) posting the notice on any associated internet site as specified in the bill. If a tentative agenda has been posted and is amended, the amended agenda shall be marked “AMENDED”, the amended provisions identified, and a new notice provided.
   The bill requires a governmental body to provide notice if a meeting is canceled. The notice must be given at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting or, for good cause shown, as soon as reasonably possible.
   By operation of law, notice for electronic meetings of governmental bodies as provided in Code section 21.8 (electronic meetings) shall comply with the notice requirements in Code section 21.4 (public notice). In addition, the bill applies to notices for public appointment and employment under Code section 35C.1 (veterans preference —— appointments and employment —— applications) and notices for whole grade sharing agreements under Code section 282.11 (procedure for whole grade sharing agreements).