HF 52 Summary

• Creates new requirement that all public bodies subject to Minnesota's open meeting law must allow public comment periods permitting members of the public to directly address the body on any agenda item before or during consideration of that item.

• Public bodies may adopt reasonable rules limiting total time for public comments on particular issues or individual speakers, and may limit comment scope to specific agenda items currently before the body.

• Applies public comment requirements to meetings conducted by electronic means (telephone, interactive television, or other electronic methods), with same conditions as in-person meetings including ability for public present at regular location to participate in comment periods.

• Amends multiple statutes governing specific boards and councils to explicitly add "and to participate in testimony or public comment periods" when describing requirements for remote meeting participation and monitoring.

• Maintains existing conditions for electronic meetings including requirement that all members can hear/see one another, members of public at regular location can hear/see all proceedings and votes, at least one member physically present at regular location, and all votes conducted by roll call.