Committee struggles with 'what is a meeting, anyway?'

Government meetings in Minnesota are open to the public. But what counts as a meeting?

HF1105, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville), would add a definition to the opening section of the state’s Open Meeting Law. A meeting would be defined as “a gathering of a quorum or more members of an entity covered by this section at which members discuss, decide, or receive information as a group.”

The House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee approved the bill Thursday and sent it to the House Floor. The companion, SF1715, sponsored by Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove), awaits action by the Senate Local Government Committee.

Testifiers representing associations advocating for the state’s cities, townships and school boards questioned whether the bill would complicate life for local officials. Would HF1105 require them to publish notices for American Legion, church, or social events at which a quorum might be present? What about training sessions, such as those offered for city officials by the League of Minnesota Cities?

Grace Keliher, director of government relations for the Minnesota School Boards Association, said a typical arrangement to save time and money -- “everyone get in the school van and go take the training together” – might constitute a meeting under HF1105.

Howe vowed to craft an amendment to meet those concerns, before the bill hits the House Floor. “I believe we can get this thing done,” he said. The state Legislature is currently exempt from the Open Meeting Law, but Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls) has introduced a bill, HF1065, that would extend the law to the legislative branch. It awaits action by the House Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee. A companion, SF1393, sponsored by Sen. Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights) awaits action by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.