New Bill Filed That Will Expand First Amendment Rights Of Tennesseans During Public Meetings

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

A new bill has been filed for the upcoming state legislative session that aims to expand the first amendment rights of Tennesseans during public meetings.

Last year, Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville-District 18) sponsored a bill to require government bodies to set aside an allotted amount of time at each public meeting “to allow comment on matters that are germane to the items on the agenda for that meeting.”

This year, Davis has filed House Bill 0022 (HB0022) expanding on what citizens may say at open meetings. 

Prior to 2023, there was no state law requiring governing bodies to give members of the public time to speak at meetings. While many boards or governing bodies did allow public comment, they did not have to let anyone speak, as Tennessee courts had pointed out in the past.

Davis’s bill, which passed with very few lawmakers dissenting, made a major improvement to the Open Meetings Act which had remained unchanged for years. Deborah Fisher, Executive Director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, described it as “good for citizens and for the people who serve on our governing bodies.”

While last year’s bill codified the right for citizens to speak at all, it guaranteed that right only on items on the agenda of a meeting. This year’s proposed legislation would further expand the right for public comment on “any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body, regardless of whether the matter is listed on the agenda for the meeting.”

“It is important that the voices of citizens are heard and opposing viewpoints receive representation,” said Davis last year after her bill was signed into law. “I am committed to continue to support legislation to promote good government and free speech.”

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.