County · Resolution · Sample
Resolution [number]: public comment time limits
Plain-language summary
Changes the Board's rules of procedure so each speaker gets one minute of public comment per agenda item instead of three. The limit applies to every agenda item, including budget hearings.
Constitutional baseline
Amendment I
“Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Courts apply this to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Read the full text of Amendment I →Where it aligns
Courts have generally allowed reasonable time limits on public comment, as long as they apply equally to every speaker and viewpoint.
Source: [case law or legal analysis]
Where it may be in tension
Residents argue one minute is too short to meaningfully petition on complex items like the budget.
From [#] verified residents
Why this might still serve the public
Supporters say shorter limits let more people speak and keep meetings from running past midnight.
From [#] verified residents
The Pillory maps the Constitution. It doesn't rule on it.
How your reps voted
No recorded votes: this is a sample law. Real voting records appear on real bills under Laws.
Verified district signal
Verified residents of your districts only. Individual responses stay private.
Related issues
County · Public meetings
ExamplePublic comment cut to one minute at Board of Supervisors meetings
Calaveras County Board of Supervisors