Bill Description: Senate Bill 1007 would clarify that school boards may not restrict public comments to agenda items only.

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Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, accountability, or election integrity? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency, accountability, or election integrity?

In the 2024 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature passed Senate Bill 1361, which required school boards to provide an opportunity for relevant public testimony during their regular meetings.

Unfortunately, this language contained a requirement that "public comment shall be limited to items listed on the meeting agenda." School boards are currently able to abuse this language to prevent parents from addressing relevant issues an agenda may have been crafted to avoid. 

Senate Bill 1007 would amend Section 33-510, Idaho Code, to strike this requirement, returning the determination of what comments are relevant to the people rather than to the drafters of the board’s agenda.

It is worth noting that a board of trustees is still empowered to establish "reasonable standards for the public comment period of the meeting, including time limits and conduct standards."

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