government transparency

Arkansas

What are possible ballot measures for Arkansas’ 2024 election?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — In the past couple of years, Arkansas has seen changes made to the state’s Freedom of Information Act, abortion rights, education and more. This pushed organizations to create measures for Natural State voters to decide what they want in the November 5 election. In Arkansas, a ballot measure has to be […]

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Arkansas

Auditor: Report on Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase should be finished in March

Arkansas’ chief legislative auditor expects to complete a report on the investigation of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern by the end of next month, but it’s unclear when the report will be made public. Auditors began investigating the controversial purchase immediately upon approval from the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee on Oct. […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas AG approves proposed FOIA changes; supporters plan to start gathering signatures soon

Arkansas government transparency advocates expect to begin collecting signatures this week for two proposed ballot measures meant to make government records and meetings more accessible to the general public. On Monday, Attorney General Tim Griffin certified ballot language for a proposed set of changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The decision came less […]

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Arkansas

Group will submit fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG’s office after third rejection

A government transparency group will send a fourth draft of proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act after Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected its third proposal on Thursday. In his opinion, Griffin cited a “misleading provision” of the text of the proposed act and ballot title. Previous submissions contained the same problem that […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas transparency group will collect signatures for proposed amendment OK’d by AG

Arkansas government transparency advocates will begin collecting signatures for a November ballot measure to enshrine government openness in the state Constitution. Attorney General Tim Griffin certified language for four potential popular names and ballot titles, including “The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2024,” a title he substituted for the submission of “The Arkansas Government Transparency […]

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Arkansas

Group submits third proposed Arkansas FOIA change to attorney general after second rejection

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin received a third proposed set of changes to the state’s Freedom of Information Act after he rejected the second ballot proposal Tuesday. Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) submitted a new draft Tuesday evening after deleting the two sections from the previous draft that Griffin said made it unfit for the […]

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Arkansas

UPDATED: Third proposed Arkansas government transparency amendment submitted to AG

This story was updated at 8:16 p.m. to include the third submission of the proposed amendment. Proposed ballot language that would make government transparency a constitutional right in Arkansas still lacks clarity and is unfit for a statewide vote, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Monday opinion. In response, the nonpartisan Arkansas Citizens for […]

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Arkansas

New ballot language submitted for proposed changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information Act

A nonpartisan group of government transparency advocates has revised its proposal for a citizen-initiated act that would alter the state’s Freedom of Information Act. On Thursday, Arkansas Citizens for Transparency again submitted ballot language for the proposed 2024 initiative. Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected a previous iteration of the popular name and ballot title on […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas AG rejects proposed ballot measure meant to add clarity to Freedom of Information Act

Proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act aren’t sufficient to appear on the 2024 statewide ballot, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Monday opinion. Griffin rejected the proposed ballot title and popular name for the Arkansas Government Transparency Act a week after rejecting a companion proposal for a constitutional amendment. Both proposals […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas AG rejects proposed ballot measure to make government transparency a constitutional right

A proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would create the right to state government transparency isn’t sufficient for the 2024 statewide ballot, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Tuesday opinion. Griffin rejected the proposed ballot title and popular name, saying the amendment lacks clarity in its use of specific terms, including “government transparency.” […]

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