Senate Likes Negron Public's-Right-to-Speak Bill

Sen. Joe Negron's bill to guarantee Floridians the right to speak before a public board before the board takes any action moved forward on the Senate floor Tuesday morning. It will be placed on the calendar for a third reading.

"We only have three rights we guarantee in our Constitution," the Republican senator from Stuart said. "The right to a trial by jury, the right to vote and the right to speak.

"But we have no statutory right to speak at a public meeting. This bill simply codifies that right. It says in other words, if you're going to invite a citizen to a meeting, you have to give him a chance to speak before you vote."

Negron said SB 50 creates no new crimes, nor does it pass a mandate on to local governments about how long members of the public can occupy the podium. But it does say "if this statute is violated, a person can bring an action in court."

The motion for the bill passed unanimously.