(A) Subject to this subchapter and the Open Meetings Act, the public has the right to attend and the right to speak at meetings of public bodies, and all or any part of a meeting or a public body, except for closed sessions called pursuant to Neb. RS 84-1410, may be videotaped, televised, photographed, broadcast, or recorded by any person in attendance by means of a tape recorder, a camera, video equipment, or any other means of pictorial or sonic reproduction or in writing.
(B) It shall not be a violation of division (A) of this section for any public body to make and enforce reasonable rules and regulations regarding the conduct of persons attending, speaking at, videotaping, televising, photographing, broadcasting, or recording its meetings, including meetings held by virtual conferencing. A body may not be required to allow citizens to speak at each meeting, but it may not forbid public participation at all meetings.
(C) No public body shall require members of the public to identify themselves as a condition for admission to the meeting nor shall such body require that the name of any member of the public be placed on the agenda prior to such meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda. The body shall require any member of the public desiring to address the body to identify himself or herself, including an address and the name of any organization represented by such person unless the address requirement is waived to protect the security of the individual.
(D) No public body shall, for the purpose of circumventing this subchapter or the Open Meetings Act, hold a meeting in a place known by the body to be too small to accommodate the anticipated audience.
(E) No public body shall be deemed in violation of this section if it holds its meeting in its traditional meeting place which is located in this state.
(F) No public body shall be deemed in violation of this section if it holds a meeting outside of this state if, but only if, a member entity of the public body is located outside of this state and the other requirements of Neb. RS 84-1412 are met.
(G) The public body shall, upon request, make a reasonable effort to accommodate the public’s right to hear the discussion and testimony presented at the meeting.
(H) Public bodies shall make available at the meeting, for examination and copying by members of the public, at least one copy of all reproducible written material to be discussed at an open meeting, either in paper or electronic form. Public bodies shall make available at least one current copy of the Open Meetings Act posted in the meeting room at a location accessible to members of the public. At the beginning of the meeting, the public shall be informed about the location of the posted information.
(1990 Code, § 1-509) (Ord. 885, passed 12-7-2021)
Statutory reference:
Related state law provisions, see Neb. RS 84-1412, 18-2438