Open-meeting bill clears Senate panel

BOISE – An illegal private meeting by the Ada County Commission in June 2005 has sparked a bipartisan bill in the Idaho Legislature to clarify when public boards can gather behind closed doors.

The measure cleared the Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday. It will now be debated in the full chamber.

The bill, being pushed by media groups including the Idaho Press Club, would require public agencies to always have an attorney present before calling an executive session to discuss legal issues.