Arkansas: Right to Transparency, Freedom of Information Act
Campaign Status: Active
The Policy
Establish government transparency as a right of Arkansas citizens, and prohibit the General Assembly from enacting laws affecting government transparency without a vote of the people.
Background
How much should a Governor’s official lectern cost? What about her security detail on family vacations? When taxpayers are footing the bill, shouldn’t they at least get to see the receipt? After a major public ethics scandal and subsequent legislation passed to weaken existing transparency requirements, the people of Arkansas have decided to take government transparency into their own hands. The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2024 is their answer, to enshrine a right to transparency in state law and protect it from future tampering by lawmakers.
Who’s Involved?
RepresentUs is supporting partners in-state including Arkansas Citizens for Transparency and the Arkansas League of Women Voters.
GET INVOLVED
You can make an impact on campaigns like this no matter where you live.
The Latest On This Campaign
Group submits third proposed Arkansas FOIA change to attorney general after second rejection
Jan 9 2024
A primary goal of the proposed act, the drafters have said, is to codify a definition of a “public meeting” and broaden the legal definitions of a “governing body” and “communication” among members.
Read More
AG Griffin rejects 4 submissions of Arkansas FOIA amendments
Jan 9 2024
The proposals were submitted by a group trying to make a plan to protect Arkansas' transparency laws before voters.
Read More
Polypartisan squad launches push to enshrine transparency in the Arkansas constitution
Oct 11 2023
A team of Democrats, Republicans, independents, attorneys and journalists is forming to protect Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act, and they’re inviting you to join the effort.
Read More