Senator Joe Negron, District 28 — Press Release

Negron’s Bill Adds Sunshine to Public Meetings

Senate Passes SB 206 to Help Give Floridians a Voice

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a state known for its “government in the sunshine,” it may come as a surprise to many to learn that in Florida, the right to attend a public meeting does not always include the right to speak at that meeting. The Florida Senate today unanimously passed Senate Bill 206 by Senator Joe Negron, R-Stuart, helping to give Floridians a voice during public decision-making meetings.

“A city resident may be allowed to attend a local meeting relating to public oversight by a government body, but he or she does not have a legally protected right to speak up,” said Negron. “As recently as 2010, a Florida district court of appeal ruled that the open-meetings statute does not encompass the right to speak.  Most bodies do give the public an opportunity to be heard on important issues, but for those instances where the opportunity to speak is not afforded, there is no statutory right upon which we can rely.”

SB 206 provides that individuals must be given an opportunity to be heard before boards and commissions subject to the state’s open-meetings statute, known as the Sunshine Law. It creates a new section in Florida Statutes to allow the public a reasonable opportunity to speak at public meetings and creates a new Section with title to provide that boards and commissions subject to the law must give the public a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before the body.

Among its provisions, the bill stipulates that the opportunity to speak does not have to be provided if it is an emergency situation involving public safety and providing public comment would cause unreasonable delay. Further, the board or commission can adopt rules to ensure orderly meetings, including establishing time limits, requiring a representative of a group or faction to address the body when a large number of individuals wish to speak and prescribing forms to inform the board or commission of one’s desire to be heard.

“For most government bodies, this law will not change current practices,” added Negron. “It was in the Legislature’s purview to help provide a logical remedy to current public meeting policies, and that’s just what we’ve done. This bill is the product of extensive collaboration with local governments as well as the First Amendment Foundation, and I am pleased to see it pass with full support today in the Senate.”

A similar bill, HB 355, is sponsored by Representative Martin Kiar, D-Davie, in the House. To follow this bill and others making their way through the legislative process, visit www.flsenate.gov.