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--- version:Bill Text+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,606 +1,51 @@-LEGISLATURE+ST+A+TEMENTOF-THE-STATE-OF-IDAHO-Sixty-eighth-Legislature-Second-Regular-Session---2026-IN-THE-HOUSE-OF-REPRESENTATIVES-HOUSE-BILL-NO.-627-BY-LOCAL-GOVERNMENT-COMMITTEE-AN-ACT-1-RELATING-TO-OPEN-MEETINGS;-AMENDING-SECTION-74---203,-IDAHO-CODE,-TO-RE---2-VISE-PROVISIONS-REGARDING-REQUIREMENTS-FOR-OPEN-PUBLIC-MEETINGS;-AND-3-DECLARING-AN-EMERGENCY-AND-PROVIDING-AN-EFFECTIVE-DATE.-4-Be-It-Enacted-by-the-Legislature-of-the-State-of-Idaho:-5-SECTION-1.-That+PURPOSE+RS33280+/+H0627+This+legislation+amends+Idaho+CodeSection-74---203,-Idaho-Code,-be,-and-the-same-is-hereby-6-amended+74-203,to-read-as-follows:-7-74---203.-GOVERNING-BODIES-----REQUIREMENT-FOR-OPEN-PUBLIC-MEETINGS.-(1)-8-Except-as-provided-below,-all-meetings-of+revise+provisions+regarding+requirements+for+open+public+meetings.+The+bill+addsa-governing-body-of-a-public-agency-9-shall-be-open+sectionto-the-public-and-all-persons-shall-be-permitted-to-attend-any-10-meeting-except-as-otherwise-provided-by-this-act.-No-decision-at-a-meeting-of-1-1-a-governing-body-of-a-public-agency-shall-be-made-by-secret-ballot.-12-(2)-Deliberations-of-the-board-of-tax-appeals-created-in-chapter-38,-ti---13-tle-63,-Idaho-Code,-the-public-utilities-commission-and-the-industrial-com---14-mission-in-a-fully-submitted-adjudicatory-proceeding-in-which-hearings,-if-15-any-are-required,-have-been-completed,-and-in-which-the-legal-rights,-duties-16-or-privileges-of-a-party-are-to-be-determined-are-not-required-by-this-act-to-17-take-place-in-a-meeting-open-to-the-public.-Such-deliberations-may,-however,-18-be-made-and/or-conducted-in-a-public-meeting-at-the-discretion-of-the-agency.-19-(3)-Meetings-of-the-Idaho-life-and-health-insurance-guaranty-associa---20-tion-established-under-chapter-43,-title-41,-Idaho-Code,-the-Idaho-insurance-21-guaranty-association-established-under-chapter-36,-title-41,-Idaho-Code,-the-22-surplus-line-association-approved-by-the-director-of-the-Idaho-department-of-23-insurance-as-authorized-under-chapter-12,-title-41,-Idaho-Code,-and-the-Idaho-24-depredating-wildlife-appeals-board-established-under-chapter-55,-title-22,-25-Idaho-Code,-are-not-required-by-this-act-to-take-place-in-a-meeting-open-to-the-26-public.-27-(4)-A-governing-body-shall-not-hold-a-meeting-at-any-place-where-dis---28-crimination-on-the-basis-of-race,-creed,-color,-sex,-age-or-national-origin-29-is-practiced.-30-(5)-All-meetings-may-be-conducted-using-telecommunications-devices-31-which-enable-all-members-of-a-governing-body-participating-in-the-meeting-32-to-communicate-with-each-other.-Such-devices-may-include,-but-are-not-lim---33-ited-to,-telephone-or-video-conferencing-devices-and-similar-communications-34-equipment.-Participation-by-a-member-of-the-governing-body-through-telecom---35-munications-devices-shall-constitute-presence-in+current+law+that+noperson-by-such-member-at-36-the-meeting;-provided-however,-that-at-least-one-(1)-member-of-the-govern---37-ing-body,-or-the-director-of-the-public-agency,-or-the-chief-administrative-38-officer-of-the-public-agency-shall-be-physically-present-at-the-location-39-designated-in-the-meeting-notice,-as-required-under-section-74---204,-Idaho-40-Code,-to-ensure-that-the-public-may-attend-such-meeting-in-person.-The-com---41--2-munications-among-members-of-a-governing-body-must-be-audible-to-the-public-1attendingthemeeting-in-person-and-the-members-of-the-governing-body.-2-(6)-No-person-attending-meetingsshallbepreventedorprohibitedfrom-3recordingsuch-meetings.-For-purposes-of-this-subsection,-"recording"-4-means-the-capturing-of+meetings+byaudio,video,or@@ -609,86 +54,128 @@electronicordigital-5means.-A+Thegoverningbodymaytake-measures+measures,+however+,toensuretheorderlyconductof-6its-meetings-but-shall-not-prohibit+meetings.+FISCAL+NOTE+This+legislation+causes+no+increaseor-unreasonably-restrict-recording+decrease+in+revenue,+or+additional+expenditure+of+funds+at+the+state+or+local+level+of+government;+therefore,+this+legislation+has+no+fiscal+impact.+Contact:+Representative+Lori+Ann+McCann+(208)+332-1000+DISCLAIMER:+This+statement+of+purpose+and+fiscal+note+ar+e+a+mer+e+attachment+to+this+bill+and+pr+epar+ed+by+a+pr+oponent+of+the+bill.+It+is+neither+intendedas-7-provided-under-this-subsection.-No-person-shall-be-removed-or-excluded-from-8-meetings+an+expr+ession+of+legislative+intent+nor+intendedfor-recording-pursuant-to+any+use+outside+ofthe-provisions+legislative+pr+ocess,+including+judicial+r+eview+(Joint+Rule+18).+Statementof-this-subsection.-9-SECTION-2.-An-emergency-existing-therefor,-which-emergency-is-hereby-10-declared-to-exist,-this-act-shall-be-in-full-force-and-effect-on-and-after-1-1-July-1,-2026.-12+Purpose+/+Fiscal+Note+Bill+SOP/FN+INTRODUCED:+02/1+1/2026,+8:42+AM
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