M5

The Open Meetings Act does not address a right to comment during public meetings.

(This section is blank. See the subpoints below.)

The statute does not address a right to comment, although governing bodies have traditionally allowed citizen comment.

(This section is blank. See the subpoints below.)

There is no right to comment under Missouri law.

The Act does not create a right to comment. Charlestown Homeowners Ass'n Inc. v. LaCoke, 507 S.W.2d 876, 883 (Tex. Civ. App.-Dallas 1974, writ ref'd n.r.e.). In Op. Tex. Att'y Gen. No. H-188 (1973), the Attorney General concluded that, although the Act does not give the public a right to speak during meetings under the Act, the governmental body may allow members of the public to speak and participate. In doing so, however, the governmental body must allow comments in an even-handed fashion and may not discriminate among views seeking expression.

(This section is blank. See the subpoints below.)

The Montana Constitution declares:

The public has a right to expect governmental agencies to afford such reasonable opportunity for citizen participation in the operation of the agencies prior to the final decision as may be provided by law.

There is no provision in Utah law that provides an affirmative right to comment.

(This section is blank. See the subpoints below.)