SJR1
An Amendment To The Arkansas Constitution To Require A Vote Of Three-fourths Of Each House Of The General Assembly To Enact, Amend, Or Repeal Laws Concerning Access To Public Records Or Access To Public Meetings.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would establish a supermajority requirement for legislative actions regarding public records and public meetings. Specifically, it mandates that any law enacted, amended, or repealed concerning access to public records or public meetings must receive an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This requirement applies to existing statutes, including the Freedom of Information Act of 1967. If passed by the legislature, the proposal would be submitted to the Arkansas electorate for final approval or rejection at the next general election. The amendment, if ratified, would become effective on January 1, 2027.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries would be state and local government entities, as the supermajority requirement creates a significant legislative barrier that would make it more difficult to modify or repeal existing public record and meeting laws. This could provide greater stability and protection for administrative processes against rapid or frequent legislative shifts regarding transparency requirements.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary groups negatively impacted would be members of the press, government watchdog organizations, and the general public who advocate for government transparency. By raising the threshold for legislative changes to a three-fourths supermajority, the amendment makes it substantially harder to strengthen public access laws or amend them to reflect modern technological or societal needs, effectively granting a minority of legislators the power to block changes to transparency statutes.
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