Mississippi House Bill HB1399

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Open Meetings Law; revise definition of "public body" for purposes of.

Impact

The amendment will include a wider array of public entities under the law, which could significantly impact how various boards and commissions operate. By defining more entities as public bodies, the bill seeks to ensure that meetings and discussions related to these entities must comply with open meetings requirements, allowing for greater public scrutiny and engagement. This is expected to enhance public awareness regarding governmental processes, especially in matters impacting local communities.

Summary

House Bill 1399 aims to amend the definition of 'public body' within Mississippi's Open Meetings Law, specifically incorporating public entities established by ordinance. This revision expands the scope of what constitutes a public body, thereby increasing accountability and transparency for entities receiving public funding or controlling public resources. The bill reflects a growing trend in governmental reform, emphasizing the need for public oversight in various sectors that impact the community.

Contention

While proponents of HB 1399 laud the intentions behind increasing transparency, there are concerns about the potential burden it may impose on smaller entities that may now be subjected to the open meetings law. Critics assert that not all entities created through ordinances have the same governance structures or capacities to uphold the stringent requirements set forth by the open meetings law. As such, there may be an ongoing debate surrounding the balance between necessary oversight and the operational capacities of smaller public entities.