SF3487

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to amend Minnesota's Open Meeting Law, allowing government bodies to use social media platforms to live broadcast their meetings, making them more accessible to the general public.

Main Provisions

• Use of Social Media: Members of a public body can use social media to interact with the public, provided these interactions are open to everyone. Email is not considered a form of social media in this context.
• Live Broadcasts: Public bodies are permitted to use social media to live broadcast their meetings. This is optional and does not require a public comment feature to be enabled during the broadcast.
• Public Comments: If a public comment feature is enabled, comments made by the public during the broadcast are not automatically part of the official government records unless specifically stated in the meeting notification. If accepted as public testimony, the public body must have established rules for handling these comments.
• Notification Requirements: Public bodies that use social media for live broadcasts must include this information in their meeting notices. They should also outline how public comments will be submitted and treated if allowed during the meeting.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill allows for the live broadcast of meetings via social media, which was not previously specified in the Open Meeting Law.
• It clarifies the status of public comments made during such broadcasts, offering guidance on how these should be managed and whether they should be included in official records.

Relevant Terms

social media, live broadcast, public comments, Open Meeting Law, public body, meeting record, government records, interactive technology