The Indiana Publisher

days. Following this period, they could be disposed of. Smaltz said the bill wouldn't require smaller committees to record their meetings and that it is aimed towards "fiscal bodies'' such as county commissioners, county executives, county councils and town councils. Smaltz said people would like to watch and see how money is spent and what activities are happening at the local level. School board meetings would be included in the bill, but Smaltz said smaller county school boards wouldn't be required to stream their meetings unless they had the equipment and space for it. "If all the equipment's already there, didn't cost them anything, and it's pretty easy to do, we want them to do that. But if there's a meeting in the back of a firehouse township advisory board, three members and the township trustee, we're not talking about them at all," Smaltz said. Smaltz also pointed out that "a lot" of government meetings happen in a "busy society where people can't attend because of time or great distance." "I think there's meetings that we all might be interested in … and right now, other than the minutes, which are from one person's perspective and are oftentimes quite a summary of lengthy meetings, it doesn't really provide a great example of what happened during that meeting," Smaltz said. Smaltz mentioned his community of Auburn, saying its county commissioners post their meetings on YouTube. "The time has arrived that technology is so inexpensive that there really isn't any reason that we can't deliver transparency," Smaltz said. Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Portage, raised concerns about the bill, saying that a board or commission president could move a controversial meeting to a different area where they wouldn't have to stream the video and there would be no recourse. Smaltz said he would find that situation to be "very fishy," and that would attract people's attention. Amelia McClure, executive director and general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Associa- tion, testified in favor of HB 1167. McClure said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, political subdivisions have adjusted to livestreaming and recording public meetings and have seen it as an "effective way to modern- ize and expand democratic participation." She said the bill would ensure people have the opportunity to participate in local government. Page 2 March 2023 HSPA Board of Directors Board Members Richard Clark, AIM Media Gillian Kelk, Sullivan Daily Times Curt Kovener, e Crothersville Times Laurinda Swank, Indianapolis Business Journal Chris White, e Times Media Co. HSPA Board of Directors Officers President Robyn McCloskey, CNHI Vice President Robert Shegog, Indianapolis Recorder Treasurer Kathy Tretter, Ferdinand News and Spencer County Leader (Rockport) HSPA Foundation Board of Directors Officers President Bill Hackney, e La Porte County Herald-Dispatch (Michigan City) Vice President Tim Timmons, Sagamore News Media Treasurer Don Hurd, Hoosier Media Group HSPA Staff Amelia McClure, executive director, general counsel admclure@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Pamela Lego, director of operations plego@hspa.com (812) 350-7711 Shawn Goldsby, business manager sgoldsby@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com (812) 855-5898 e Indiana Publisher is published monthly by the Hoosier State Press Association, 429 E. Vermont St. #206 Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 Amelia McClure, executive director and general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association, testified in favor of HB 1167. everywhere at once. Though the bill received pushback from local governments, who were concerned that the price tag and logistics would be too difficult to overcome, it passed out of committee with one amend- ment. The amendment pushes the effective date to 2025 to make sure the proper resources are available for recording and live streaming and narrows who is mandated to record their meetings. While HB1167 makes strides toward greater access and transparency in local government, HB1186 works in the opposite direction. The legislation criminalizes being within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer who is engaged in their duties if the officer has asked the individual to move away (see related story, page 6). In an era fraught with tension between law enforcement officers and citizens the ability to monitor those who are supposed to protect and serve is critical. This bill makes that difficult. And for the media it risks criminalizing part of a behavior that is enshrined in the first amendment of the constitu- tion, freedom of the press. The author of the bill, Representative Wendy McNamara (R-Evans- ville), concurred on the Senate's changes so the bill is now heading to the governor. But that's how session sometimes goes. You win some, you lose some. And it's why it's so important that we remain in the hallway to make our objections heard and vigilantly watch the repercussions of the legislation passed in years before. I know I'll be traipsing the smooth marble floors of the state house until the fall of the gavel on Sine Die. Session Continued from Page 1 Bill Continued from Page 1 To keep up on the bills HSPA is tracking this session visit, https://tinyurl.com/HSPATRACK23 Conference committees, where represen- tatives from both chambers meet to work out details of bills that have been amended in the second house, are often the least trans- parent time of session.

• Cover