STATEHOUSE (March 1, 2023) – The Indiana House of Representatives recently passed legislation co-authored by State Reps. David Abbott (R-Rome City) and Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) that would provide more government transparency by requiring public meetings be livestreamed and archived.
The bill would require executive and fiscal bodies of state and local agencies, and school boards, to livestream their meetings on publicly accessible platforms, and archive the recordings with links to agendas and minutes.
"Transparency is key to having accountability," Abbott said. "Streaming and archiving these public meetings will make it easier for the public to view and stay engaged with their government."
To maintain records of meetings, the legislation would require each public agency to make recordings available to the public for at least 90 days after the meeting date. Governing bodies could also utilize free livestreaming on social media platforms or host it on their existing websites. Additionally, any technological failures during a livestream, like a loss of internet service, would not invalidate actions taken at any public meeting.
If passed, the bill would take effect in July, but smaller government entities would have an additional year to make the necessary changes.
"Technology has made streaming and archiving meetings easier than ever, and we want to utilize these advancements to help Hoosiers find information faster," Miller said. "Constituents should be able to see and hear what the different levels of government are doing with their tax dollars."
House Bill 1167 now heads to the Indiana Senate where it has been referred to the Local Government Committee for consideration. Watch session live and view legislation at iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. David Abbott (R-Rome City) represents House District 18,
which includes portions of Elkhart, Kosciusko, Noble and Whitley counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) represents House District 48,
which includes a portion of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
