freedom of information act
Whistleblower’s attorney claims Arkansas governor’s office altered, withheld public records
An anonymous whistleblower claims Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office improperly altered and withheld public records related to ongoing scrutiny of the office’s spending, according to the whistleblower’s attorney. Rogers-based attorney Tom Mars sent a letter Friday to state Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, offering his client’s testimony and documents to aid a requested legislative audit. […]
It’s a good idea to embed public’s right to know in Arkansas Constitution
An effort to ask voters to enshrine the state’s sunshine law in the Arkansas Constitution should come together quickly, says Nate Bell, the former lawmaker leading the charge. Bell, an independent from Mena, told the Advocate he hopes to announce the core members of a ballot question committee this week. He hopes to release a […]
Secrecy added to Arkansas public records law serves only those with secrets
This commentary was updated at 5:25 p.m., Sept. 16, 2023, to correct the day when the Legislature submitted the bill to the governor. This week’s hastily called — and unnecessary — special session of the Arkansas Legislature yielded some ugly changes to the state’s sunshine law but also provided a shining example of democracy at […]
Arkansas officials’ security records shielded from public under altered FOIA law
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Thursday altering the state’s Freedom of Information Act, one of her stated goals of the special legislative session she called for this week. Senate Bill 10, which passed the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Thursday, shields from public access all records and communications concerning the […]
Bill to shield Arkansas officials’ security records moves forward
Arkansas lawmakers’ third attempt this week to alter the state’s Freedom of Information Act advanced in both the House and Senate on Wednesday. House Bill 1012 and Senate Bill 10 would exempt from FOIA all records and communications concerning the planning or provision of security services to the governor and other state elected officials. The […]
Lawmakers offer narrower change to Arkansas FOIA after bipartisan pushback
After two days of bipartisan backlash against proposed changes to Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act, lawmakers late Tuesday filed narrower legislation to exempt information related to security services provided to the governor and other state officials. It’s the third attempt in as many business days to alter the state’s 1967 public records law. The first […]
Tidal wave of opposition swamps Arkansas governor’s FOIA battleship
UPDATE: Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester late Monday night introduced a new version of the bill to add exemptions to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. It can be read here. Proposed new exemptions to Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act drew strong opposition across the political spectrum over the weekend, forcing legislative leaders to scramble […]
Lawmakers, public await promised replacement for controversial Arkansas FOIA legislation
UPDATE: Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester late Monday night introduced a new version of the bill to add exemptions to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. It can be read here. This week’s special session of the Arkansas Legislature, expected to be a smooth-sailing three days, hit a major snag on day one when […]
Arkansas’ FOIA is The People’s Law, not government officials’ law
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s recent call to modernize the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (AFOIA), along with Gov. Sarah Sanders‘ proposal for amendments during her announcement of the special legislative session, have each raised important questions about the balance between transparency and privacy in government operations. In her announcement of the special session, the […]
Reform Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act, improve our public safety
I would be described by most as a straightforward guy. That may be why I was drawn to a career in law enforcement. To fulfill our duty to protect and serve, we deal in commonsense ideas and simple truths. We are guided by a set of cut-and-dry rules. We don’t write or interpret law. We […]
Officials can’t say they serve the people while taking shots at the public’s right to know
Pardon me if you’ve heard this before: Arkansans’ right to know how their state and local governments operate is enshrined in a 56-year-old law called the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. During this year’s legislative session, some lawmakers attempted to punch gaping holes in the FOIA’s defense against government secrecy, large enough to make much […]
A rare FOIA victory in Arkansas, thanks to the determination of the Times-Herald
Last month, the Times-Herald newspaper in Forrest City won a criminal case against the Palestine-Wheatley School Board brought against its members for meeting in secret to interview a candidate for interim school superintendent. That’s some rare good news for enforcing Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act, which protects the public’s right to observe public officials in […]