Gov. Otter signs open meeting law expansion bill into law

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed into law a bill that would expand Idaho’s open meeting laws.

Otter signed the measure on Monday along with nearly 40 other bills.

Beginning July 1, boards and commissions created by executive order will now be subjected to the Idaho Open Meeting Law. Currently, these panels are not required to let the public know when they’re meeting, post an agenda or keep minutes summarizing what they discussed. Nor are the meetings required to be open to the public, even though most – if not all – are.

However, the measure will continue to exempt Otter’s cybersecurity task force and the governor’s committee awarding the Idaho medal of achievement.