‘Let the people be heard’ legislation goes to Scott

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Let the people be heard.

Legislation (SB 50) requiring that people be given the right to speak at a public meeting passed the House 113-2 on Wednesday and was sent to the governor.

While most meetings must be open to the public, courts have found that under current law there is no guarantee that the public must be allowed to speak. The bill, which had passed the Senate earlier, changes that. “This is America,” said Rep. Jim Waldman. “Let us be heard.”

If signed into law by the governor, the legislation would exempt emergency meetings from requiring public input. Additionally, time and decorum limits could still be set.

Via the News Service of Florida.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.