Statesman Op-Ed Richert Sends This Heads Up

Senate Bill 1085, printed in the Senate Monday, would considerably tighten the Idaho Open Meetings Law’s language on executive sessions. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, and Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, would require public agencies to have an attorney present for an executive session on legal issues. This, as you may recall, is the subject of an Open Meetings Law violation involving Ada County commissioners, a case pending before the Idaho Supreme Court. The bill also strikes the vague existing language in the law, allowing executive sessions to discuss issues “where there is a general public awareness of probable litigation.” Executive sessions instead would be allowed for discussions of “pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated.” The bill also clarifies public agencies’ requirements for providing minutes from executive sessions. The bill is the result of negotiations involving local government groups, Idaho Allied Dailies and the Idaho Press Club. The Press Club supports this bill and would encourage your editorial support.

Kevin Richert
Vice president, Idaho Press Club
Idaho Statesman Editorial Page editor