Marshall County Commissioners discuss new law requiring streaming of government meetings

Last month the Marshall County Commissioners discussed the Indiana law that goes into effect on July 1 requiring all governing bodies to provide a platform for the public to view their meetings.

The bill, HB1167, was passed by the Indiana General Assembly in April 2023 and requires state and local governing bodies to provide a publicly accessible platform to live stream public meetings and archive copies of the live streaming with links to any meeting agendas, minutes, or memoranda. Governing bodies that don’t have internet capability for live streaming of public meetings shall record the meeting and provide access to the recording for a minimum of 90 days.

Commissioner Stan Klotz said he had been approached by some Township Trustees on the new law’s requirements.  They wonder if the county can do anything to help them. 

Last year the commissioners discussed the possibility of creating a second smaller room in the building to live-stream smaller meetings, but no action was taken.  At that time their thinking was the conference room in the EMA office.  Klotz said he doesn’t want the building open to people walking in and out after hours.  His concern is the security of the building and offices, and he thought there might be another area that could work.     

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon asked IT Director Michael Marshall if the county’s live streaming could be improved to allow a board or commission member to participate in a meeting remotely. Bohannon said he attends the MACOG meetings in Mishawaka but about 1 in 3 he participates virtually because it is so easy.    

Marshall said there are options to have remote access to meeting participation but there are also disadvantages.  His recommendation would only permit board and commission members to be virtual and not the general public. Allowing public participation would require someone to be the moderator during the meetings.

The commissioners asked Marshal to look into the possibilities and cost and come back to them with additional information.