Public Comment Periods at North Dakota Local Government Meetings Becomes Mandatory August 1st

(Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Michael Achterling. North Dakota Monitor) – Every meeting of a public board in North Dakota will be required to hold a public comment period during each of its meetings beginning Aug. 1.

Senate Bill 2180, signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on April 30, requires local subdivisions, school districts, park districts and water resource boards to give meeting attendees the opportunity to make public comments to the board during their meetings.

The bill states public boards may only limit the comment period based on total time of the comments, the time of each individual speaker to deliver their comments, or both. It would also limit the public comment topics to the current meeting’s agenda items or the preceding meeting’s agenda.

Sen. Jose Castaneda, R-Minot, chair of the bill’s conference committee, said the law sets the minimum standard and boards can choose to be less restrictive on public comments.