2025 Session Last amended: 1997 session

§ 13D.03 — Closed Meetings for Labor Negotiations Strategy

Plain-Language Summary

This section is the one exception that allows a government body to hold a closed (private) meeting -- only for discussing labor negotiation strategy. The closed meeting must be recorded, and the recording becomes public after all labor contracts are signed.

Practical Notes
If your city or school board closes a meeting to discuss union contract negotiations, this law requires them to first vote publicly to close the meeting, announce when and where the closed session will happen, and record the entire session. If you believe they discussed other business during the closed session, you can bring a court action and the judge will review the recording privately.