ACT submitted the language rejected today on December 20, along with four proposed popular names and ballot titles. The proposed popular names include the Open Meetings and Open Records in State and Local Government Amendment, the Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment, the Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment and the Arkansas Government Openness Amendment.

In response to today’s rejections, the Drafting Committee is issuing the following statement: 

From the beginning, our goal has been to ensure that any law that reduces government transparency must be approved by the people. Initially, the committee hoped for the legislature to retain the power to pass laws that strengthen government transparency, without those laws having to go to a public ballot. It has become clear, however, that the Attorney General will not provide his approval for any amendment where the legislature retains this power. 

We have therefore submitted a revised third amendment, where any legislative proposal that affects government transparency, even if the bill strengthens transparency laws, must be submitted to the people for their approval.

The group resubmitted the revised amendment at 6 p.m. this evening.

The full text of the revised Amendment is an addendum to this release.

To learn more or become involved, visit https://arcitizens4transparency.org/

To make a secure online donation to help cover the costs of getting the Amendment on the 2024 ballot, visit https://goodchange.app/donate/arfortransparency

Members of the drafting committee include Sen. Clarke Tucker, Chairman; Nate Bell; David Couch; Jennifer Waymack Standefer; Robert Steinbuch; John E. Tull, III; and Ashley Kemp Wimberley.