21.1 Intent — declaration of policy. This chapter seeks to assure, through a requirement of open meetings of governmental bodies, that the basis and rationale of governmental decisions, as well as those decisions themselves, are easily accessible to the people. Ambiguity in the construction or application of this chapter should be resolved in favor of […]
21.10 Information to be provided. The authority which appoints members of governmental bodies shall provide the members with information about this chapter and chapter 22. The appropriate commissioner of elections shall provide that information to members of elected governmental bodies. 89 Acts, ch 73, §2
21.11 Applicability to nonprofit corporations. This chapter applies to nonprofit corporations which are defined as governmental bodies subject to section 21.2, subsection 1, paragraph “f”, only when the meetings conducted by the nonprofit corporations relate to the conduct of pari-mutuel racing and wagering pursuant to chapter 99D. 90 Acts, ch 1175, §2
21.2 Definitions. As used in this chapter: 1. “Governmental body” means: a. A board, council, commission, or other governing body expressly created by the statutes of this state or by executive order. b. A board, council, commission, or other governing body of a political subdivision or tax-supported district in this state. c. A multimembered body […]
21.3 Meetings of governmental bodies. 1. Meetings of governmental bodies shall be preceded by public notice as provided in section 21.4 and shall be held in open session unless closed sessions are expressly permitted by law. Except as provided in section 21.5, all actions and discussions at meetings of governmental bodies, whether formal or informal, […]
21.4 Public notice. 1. a. Except as provided in subsection 3, a governmental body shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of that information. Reasonable notice […]
21.5 Closed session. 1. A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public vote of either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to the extent a closed session is necessary for any of […]
21.6 Enforcement. 1. The remedies provided by this section against state governmental bodies shall be in addition to those provided by section 17A.19. Any aggrieved person, taxpayer to, or citizen of, the state of Iowa, or the attorney general or county attorney, may seek judicial enforcement of the requirements of this chapter. Suits to enforce […]
21.7 Rules of conduct at meetings. The public may use cameras or recording devices at any open session. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a governmental body from making and enforcing reasonable rules for the conduct of its meetings to assure those meetings are orderly, and free from interference or interruption by spectators. [C79, 81, […]
21.8 Electronic meetings. 1. A governmental body may conduct a meeting by electronic means only in circumstances where such a meeting in person is impossible or impractical and only if the governmental body complies with all of the following: a. The governmental body provides public access to the conversation of the meeting to the extent […]
21.9 Employment conditions discussed. A meeting of a governmental body to discuss strategy in matters relating to employment conditions of employees of the governmental body who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under chapter 20 is exempt from this chapter. For the purpose of this section, “employment conditions” mean areas included in the […]
