Revision: Nov. 18, 2021, 11 a.m.
HB 1195 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2390
10/04
HOUSE BILL 1195
AN ACT relative to public comment periods at public meetings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Dolan, Rock. 5; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 10; Rep. Thomas, Rock. 5; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 22; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 4; Rep. Potucek, Rock. 6; Rep. Deshaies, Carr. 6; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 26
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that all open meetings of public bodies have a period designated for public comment.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2390
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to public comment periods at public meetings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Access to Governmental Records and Meetings; Meeting Open to the Public; Public Comment. Amend RSA 91-A:2 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. All meetings of a public body open to the public under this chapter shall include a period of public comment at the beginning of the agenda for the meeting. The chairperson may determine the length of time, for both total time and individual time, for the public comment but shall not limit or censor the content of the public comment; provided, however, that the period of public comment shall not be limited to a total time period of less than 15 minutes unless no further public comment is offered.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.