Requiring Public Comment Period at Local Meetings Debated in North Dakota State Legislature

State Sen. Bob Paulson, R-Minot, testifies in support of a bill during a public hearing at the Capitol on Jan. 24, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(Michael Achterling – North Dakota Monitor) -North Dakota school boards pushed back on a Senate bill that would require public comment periods during regular meetings of local subdivisions.

Sen. Bob Paulson, R-Minot, said he is sponsoring Senate Bill 2180 in response to complaints he’s heard from around the state. Complaints include public comment being limited to once per year at local government meetings or requirements that comments be approved ahead of time or limited to agenda items.

“These things are currently happening in North Dakota and I believe it is incumbent upon us as legislators to protect our constituents’ ability to redress their government at all levels of our state,” Paulson told members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee last week.

An amended version of the original bill would mandate local subdivisions offer a public comment period during regular meetings at least once per month.

The bill states the local subdivision may only limit the public comment period to the time of each speaker or total time of the comment period, but it may not limit the topic of public comments to agenda items of the current meeting.