SB291

Senate Bill 291 amends Arkansas law regarding the filing, investigation, and transparency of election law violation complaints processed by the State Board of Election Commissioners. The bill adjusts the timeline for filing complaints, establishing a window that begins 49 days prior to an election and ends 49 days following the election date. It modifies public access to records, specifying that records of investigations remain exempt from Freedom of Information Act disclosures until 30 days after a final adjudication or when a public hearing is set, while also exempting state election monitor reports from these protections. The bill extends several procedural deadlines for the Board to conclude investigations and issue final actions from 180 to 182 days. Additionally, it clarifies that the failure of a county official to provide requested documents for an election integrity review may be considered an indication of a criminal election law violation. These changes aim to standardize the administrative process for addressing election-related grievances.