Conservative Grassroots Organizations Urged To Support Bill To Require Enhanced Citizen Input At Public Meetings

Empowered Jefferson County Call To Action on HB 22

Image Credit: Empowered Jefferson & Canva

The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –

Most county legislative bodies, city councils, and school boards value the opinion and input of the citizens they represent. They show this by allowing those citizens to speak at their meetings, usually with time set aside on the agenda.

It is a minority of cities, counties, school boards, and other governing boards that wish to limit citizen input at meetings.

House Bill 22 is aimed at enhancing citizen input by requiring time for citizens to comment on any topic that is germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body, not just things that are on the agenda for action.

Empowered Jefferson County has made a formal resolution supporting HB 22 and is encouraging other groups to do the same. A copy of the resolution is pictured below.

If your organization wishes to make such a resolution, a WORD template is provided HERE. 

The House State and Local Government Committee will consider HB 22 on Wednesday March 5, 2025. If you care about citizen input at public meetings, you need to act immediately.

Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.