A bill that one of our local Representatives considers “one of the biggest accomplishments of this year’s session” will be signed into law Thursday.  Governor Terry Branstad will sign Senate File 430 at the state capitol at 4:30pm Thursday.  The bill has to do with the state’s open records and public meetings laws and creates an Iowa Public Information Board. Republican Representative Chip Baltimore says the board will advise local governments and citizens on what information can and will be public record. He says they’ve passed laws about open meetings in the past but there has never really been someone designated to enforce them.

“This has been on the table for quite a few years now” says Baltimore.  “We’re pleased we were finally able to move that forward in an effort to make our governments more transparent and accountable to the people that we serve. So, that’s one thing that I’m quite pleased we were able to get done” he says.

The nine member board will be made up of three members of government, three members of the media and three regular citizens.