Understanding Public Comments

Purpose of Public Comments

Public Comments is an online platform at Comment.iowa.gov. The public can see proposed government plans, programs, and other documents. This allows citizens to review the documents and provide feedback through comments.

The main goals are:

• Increase openness: Make government plans more transparent and accessible to the public.
• Encourage citizen participation: Let Iowans share their thoughts and concerns. This way they can help shape government decisions.
• Improve plans and programs: Get public feedback to improve plans and programs. This makes them more effective and easier to use.

When to use Public Comments

Public Comments is a valuable tool for agencies that are developing new plans, programs, or regulations. It is particularly useful when the proposed actions may impact the public in some way. Here are some key scenarios for using Public Comments:

• New programs or services: Before starting a new program or service, get feedback from future users through Public Comments. This input can help ensure the program meets the needs of the community.
• Changes to programs or services: Share proposed changes to Public Comments before making them. This helps gather feedback from users of the programs. This helps ensure the changes are positive and avoids unintended consequences.
• Proposed regulations: Before finalizing new regulations, use Public Comments to gather public input. This helps citizens see how the regulations may affect them. It lets them speak up for their interests.

Benefits of using Public Comments

Public Comments offers many advantages for both agencies and citizens:

• Enhances plans and programs: Public feedback helps agencies identify and fix issues in their proposed plans and programs. This leads to better and more efficient solutions.
• Prevents over-regulation: Public Comments helps agencies avoid regulations that burden citizens and businesses.
• Boosts efficiency: Public Comments helps agencies get feedback from more people without spending a lot. Iowans have a single location to find proposed agency plans and initiatives where they can comment on the document.
• Promotes transparency: Public Comments shows a commitment to openness. It encourages people to get involved in government decisions. Iowans often present the real-world concerns of those who use the government services.

Services included

• Commenting on specific sections: Users can easily link their comments to specific parts of the document, providing focused and relevant feedback.
• Direct communication: Submitted comments are automatically emailed to the designated agency contact person for review and consideration.

Cost

There is no cost for agencies to use Public Comments. The service is funded by IowAccess, eliminating the need for agencies to build their own commenting systems. This saves time and resources while encouraging citizen engagement in government processes.

Get started

To learn more about the Public Comments service or to request the addition of your agency documents please submit a ServiceDesk Plus request.