Access to public meetings
N.D. Cent. Code § 44-04-19
in effect44-04-19. Access to public meetings
Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all meetings of a public entity must be
open to the public. That portion of a meeting of the governing body of a public entity as defined
in subdivision c of subsection 13 of section 44-04-17.1 which does not regard public business is
not required to be open under this section.
1. This section is violated when any person is denied access to a meeting under this
section, unless such refusal, implicitly or explicitly communicated, is due to a lack of
physical space in the meeting room for the persons seeking access or lack of
electronic capacity to allow public viewing of the meeting through electronic means.
2. For purposes of this section, if the meeting is held in person, the meeting room must
be accessible to, and the size of the room must accommodate, the number of persons
reasonably expected to attend the meeting. If the meeting is held by electronic means,
the electronic capacity must accommodate the number of persons reasonably
expected to attend the meeting remotely.
3. The right of a person to attend a meeting under this section includes the right to
photograph, to record on audiotape or videotape, and to broadcast live on radio or
television the portion of the meeting that is not held in executive session, provided
there is no active interference with the conduct of the meeting. The exercise of this
right may not be dependent upon the prior approval of the governing body. However,
the governing body may impose reasonable limitations on recording activity to
minimize the possibility of disruption of the meeting.
4. For meetings subject to this section, if the meeting is held through any electronic
means, the information necessary to join or view the meeting electronically must be
included in the notice issued under section 44-04-20.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t44c04.pdf#nameddest=44-04-19Fetched: 10/16/2026