PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville) testifies in the House Chamber on the importance of protecting public input at school board meetings Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse. With the governor's signature, this legislation is now law, and the first authored by O'Brien.
STATEHOUSE (March 15, 2022) – State Rep. Tim O'Brien's (R-Evansville) first law on the books ensures Hoosiers' voices are heard at local school board meetings.
The new law recently signed by the governor requires school boards to allow time for public comment from those physically present at a meeting. O'Brien said school boards can limit time for those speaking, take reasonable steps to maintain order in meetings and set an overall limit on the allotted time for total testimony.
"When it comes to the critical issue of our children's education, input and ideas from parents, students, teachers and community stakeholders play an important role," O'Brien said. "Listening to feedback helps inform decision making and leads to better policy. While this isn't an issue in all communities, we have seen some school boards temporarily eliminate public comment and now is the time to act."
Supporters of the new law effective July 1 include the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents and the Indiana School Boards Association.
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State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville) represents House District 78,
which includes portions of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
