Legislation passed last year allowing citizens to force a public hearing needed no changes.

Citizens were empowered to force a public hearing from agencies, such as the state Education Department and the state Health Department, if they presented a petition with 125 signatures and be submitted by the 30th day after after comments on a policy had stopped being accepted.

Amendments to the bill were absolutely uncalled for by anyone but the powers that be, so sure enough last week the state Legislature approved a chapter amendment that increases the number of signatures on the petition from 125 to 450 in most circumstances, and from 125 to 750 for the Education and Health departments. Agencies will now be allowed to create the petition signature form. The amended proposal also amends the circumstances when an agency is not required to hold a public hearing to include when a rule is adopted on an emergency basis until a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is issued.

In other words, it will take 400% to 700% more signatures to hold a public hearing. Citizens have to go to the agencies to get the petitions and public hearings don’t have to be held on rules adopted as emergencies — which applies to pretty much every COVID-19 rule and policy implemented over the past three years.

As Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, said during his comments on the Assembly floor, this is a step in the wrong direction. Rather than empowering citizens to petition their government, the Legislature has neutered the public instead.

Thanks for nothing.