arkansas citizens for transparency

Citizen-initiated government transparency act proposal submitted to Arkansas Attorney General

BY: - December 4, 2023

Arkansas government transparency advocates proposed a ballot measure on Monday that would define a public meeting and create a special body to help citizens denied access to public records.   Arkansas Citizens for Transparency submitted a proposed ballot title and popular name for the “Arkansas Government Transparency Act,” a companion to a proposed constitutional amendment submitted […]

First ballot language submitted for Arkansas government transparency amendment

BY: - November 27, 2023

A government transparency group took the first formal step Monday to refer a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2024 ballot that would prevent the state Legislature from making government less open without a statewide vote.  Arkansas Citizens for Transparency submitted a proposed ballot title and popular name for the “Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment” to Attorney […]

COMMENTARY
Several drafters of a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution participated in a public forum in Little Rock on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. From left: attorney David Couch, Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, attorney Jen Standerfer and former independent state representative Nate Bell. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Proposed FOIA law would provide needed help for citizens denied access to public records, meetings

BY: - November 20, 2023

The cause of government transparency in Arkansas took a significant step in the right direction last week.  The group that hopes to make government transparency a constitutional right for Arkansans released a separate proposal on Monday that would amend state law to, among other things, define a “public meeting” and create an Arkansas Government Transparency […]

Arkansas transparency group unveils new drafts for FOIA constitutional amendment, initiated act

BY: - November 14, 2023

The government transparency group hoping to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution released a second draft of a proposed amendment with an accompanying citizen-initiated act Monday. Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) unveiled its first draft of the proposed amendment last month, with the goal of qualifying for the 2024 statewide […]

Several drafters of a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution participated in a public forum in Little Rock on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. From left: attorney David Couch, Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, attorney Jen Standerfer and former independent state representative Nate Bell. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Transparency advocates hear public input on proposal to enshrine FOIA in Arkansas Constitution

BY: - November 3, 2023

Members of a government transparency group answered questions from a small crowd in Little Rock on Thursday about their effort to bolster the state’s public records and open meetings law that they hope will appear on the 2024 Arkansas ballot. Last month, Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) unveiled a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine […]

Transparency group unveils proposal to enshrine Arkansas FOIA in state Constitution

BY: - October 11, 2023

This story was updated at 4:22 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 with additional information about the proposal. A government transparency group on Wednesday released its awaited proposal to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act into the state Constitution. Formed in the wake of last month’s special session to add exemptions to Arkansas’ public […]