HB1494
To Create The Arkansas Guidance Out Of The Darkness Act; And To Require State Agencies To Publish Federal Guidance Documents Online.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1494, titled the 'Arkansas Guidance Out of the Darkness Act' (Ark-GOOD Act), mandates that all Arkansas state agencies publish federal guidance documents they receive on a publicly accessible website. The bill defines federal guidance as statements from federal agencies that set policy or interpret laws, excluding formal rules promulgated through standard federal rulemaking processes. Agencies must post the full text, date of receipt, and a summary of these documents within 30 days of receiving them. Exemptions are provided for documents that are classified, protected by federal law, contain personally identifiable information, or constitute sensitive security information. The Auditor of State is tasked with conducting an annual compliance review and submitting a report to the Legislative Council to ensure transparency and accountability in how federal guidance influences state regulatory decisions.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are members of the general public, government watchdog groups, journalists, and legal researchers who seek greater transparency into how federal policies and non-binding guidance influence state-level regulatory and administrative decisions. By centralizing these documents, citizens and stakeholders gain easier access to information about how state agencies interpret federal requirements.
Who Might Suffer?
State agencies and their administrative staff may be negatively impacted as they will face increased administrative burdens and operational costs associated with tracking, reviewing, summarizing, and publishing federal guidance documents within the mandated 30-day timeframe. These entities must dedicate personnel and resources to ensure ongoing compliance and prepare for annual audits by the Auditor of State.
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