An act CONCERNING MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL 10 DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of ArkansasAs Engrossed: S1/27/25 S2/5/25 S2/10/25 H4/7/25 H4/9/25

2 95th General Assembly            A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                           SENATE BILL 90

4

5 By: Senator J. English

6 By: Representative Brooks

7

8                            For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT CONCERNING MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL

10  DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS; TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF

11  THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT

12  PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT

13  BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

14

15

16                                 Subtitle

17                        TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE

18                        AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT

19                        PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH MEETING OF A

20                        SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

21

22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

23

24  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 6-13-619, concerning meetings requirements

25 for school district boards of directors, is amended to add an additional

26 subsection to read as follows:

27  (f)(1)(A) Prior to the consideration of any business or an executive

28 session at a meeting of a board of directors, any member of the public shall

29 be afforded the opportunity to give public comment on any matter that is

30 within the powers and duties of the board of directors as provided under � 6-

31 13-620 if the member of the public providing the public comment:

32                           (i) Resides within the public school district;

33                           (ii) Is a parent, legal guardian, or person standing

34 in loco parentis to a student enrolled in the public school district; or

35                           (iii) Is employed by the public school district.

36                           (i) Resides within the public school district;

    *TNL107*                                                      04-09-2025 10:59:38 TNL107
    As Engrossed: S1/27/25 S2/5/25 S2/10/25 H4/7/25 H4/9/25                   SB90

1                       (ii) Is a parent, legal guardian, or person standing

2 in loco parentis to a student enrolled in the public school district; or

3                       (iii) Is employed by the public school district.

4   (B) However, a member of the public shall not provide

5 public comment that prejudices the board of directors concerning a student or

6 personnel matter that is on the agenda for the board of director's

7 consideration of a disciplinary or employment action.

8   (2)(A) A board of directors shall not require prior approval for

9 a member of the public to give public comment under subdivision (f)(1) of

10 board of directors.

11  (3) A board of directors shall allow each member of the public

12 who presents public comment under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section at

13 least three (3) minutes to deliver his or her public comment.

14  (4) If the public comment period at the beginning of a board of

15 directors meeting exceeds thirty (30) minutes, the board of directors may

16 move public comment on matters within the powers and duties of the board of

17 directors as provided under � 6-13-620 that are not on the board of directors

18 meeting agenda for action to a time later in the board of directors meeting.

19  (B) However, a board of directors may utilize a sign-up

20 sheet for members of the public providing public comment so long as the sign-

21 up sheet is accessible to the public until the start of the meeting of the

22 board of directors.

23  (3) A board of directors shall allow each member of the public

24 who presents public comment under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section at

25 least three (3) minutes to deliver his or her public comment.

26  (4) If the public comment period at the beginning of a board of

27 directors meeting exceeds thirty (30) minutes, the board of directors may

28 move public comment on matters within the powers and duties of the board of

29 directors as provided under � 6-13-620 that are not on the board of directors

30 meeting agenda for action to a time later in the board of directors meeting.

31

32                      /s/J. English

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