Iowa board eager to produce open records training for local officials as new law takes effect

DES MOINES — Materials to help local government officials implement a new state law that requires training on Iowa’s open meetings and records laws are on the way from the state board that oversees the laws.

The Iowa Public Information Board during its regular meeting Thursday discussed training materials submitted by four entities and approved an advisory opinion that amounts to a FAQ about the new law for local officials.

The Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier this year passed a law that requires all locally elected officials to complete training on Iowa’s open meetings and open records laws.

The Public Information Board has been working to develop guidance and supply training materials for local government officials who will be subject to the new law’s requirements. The state board’s members Thursday expressed a sense of urgency given Iowa’s city and school elections coming up in November.

Four groups have submitted applications to provide open records and meetings training under the new law: the Iowa League of Cities, Iowa State Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development, Linn County, and the Des Moines law firm Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.

Public Information Board members indicated a willingness to approve multiple training materials if they meet the board’s standards and the new law’s requirements, potentially giving local government officials multiple options from which to choose. The board voted Thursday to allow its staffers to analyze and determine which applicants’ proposals meet those thresholds.

“We’re getting a lot of questions about this. People want to know where is it available and when,” board member Barry Lindahl, of Dubuque, said during the meeting.

“This is going to be a big, team effort,” board chairwoman Catherine Lucas said. “We appreciate all the folks: the (ISU) Extension, Ahlers, all of you folks for helping us get this big goal accomplished.”

Darrin Gage, Linn County’s Director of Policy and Administration, said the county would be willing to offer its training to other jurisdictions’ elected officials. Gage said the county’s plan was to provide the training for Linn County employees and appointed board and commission members. He also said the Linn County Supervisors have had early discussions with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments about a partnership to offer something in the latter’s six-county area.

“We’re also more than willing to make it available to any board or commission members in neighboring communities if they’d like to come,” Gage said. “I didn’t want to presume that other jurisdictions might want to attend our training, but we’re certainly more than happy to let neighboring cities and counties know that we’re providing it.”

Rep. Gary Mohr, a Republican from Bettendorf, had pushed for the legislation, House File 706, following the 2023 partial collapse of a building in downtown Davenport and a $1.6 million departure agreement with Davenport’s city administrator that was approved without a public city council vote.

The bill passed with broad, bipartisan support in both chambers of the Legislature — 83-10 in the House and 34-13 in the Senate — and Reynolds signed it into law June 6. Much of the opposition to the legislation came from a provision that exempted Iowa Capitol building security camera footage and identification card access system data from the state’s open records law.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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