Senate panel advances two bills defining ‘public meeting’ in Arkansas Freedom of Information Act

KUAR | By Sonny Albarado / Arkansas Advocate,

Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

An Arkansas Senate committee approved two bills hours apart Tuesday seeking to define a public meeting, an issue that has plagued local elected officials and government transparency advocates for decades.

Sen. Clarke Tucker, a Little Rock Democrat and sponsor of Senate Bill 227, told the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee Tuesday morning his proposal would, “after 50 years, bring clarity to the law” by setting parameters for what members of city councils, quorum courts or school boards can discuss outside of a public meeting.

The bill also would amend the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to add cybersecurity breach as a reason to meet in executive session, introduce and regulate remote meeting attendance, and allow a court to nullify official actions taken as a result of violations of open meetings law.

Senate panel advances two bills defining ‘public meeting’ in Arkansas Freedom of Information Act

Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate

Little Rock Democratic Sen. Clarke Tucker (left) considers a question from Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, at a Senate State Agencies Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Arkansas Senate advances two stalled bills that would change citizen-led ballot initiative process

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

In a reversal, the Arkansas Senate allowed two proposed changes to the state’s citizen-led ballot measure process to advance to the House on Tuesday after failing to pass the bills’ emergency clauses earlier this month.

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, is sponsoring a slew of legislation he has said would deter fraudulent behavior and protect the integrity of the signature collection process for proposed ballot measures.

Opponents of the bills have called them a threat to the public’s right to change laws and the state Constitution, which fewer than half of states allow, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Arkansas Senate advances two stalled bills that would change citizen-led ballot initiative process

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Kim Hammer (left), R-Benton, and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (right), R-Searcy, listen to the votes on the emergency clauses of two bills Hammer is sponsoring that would change Arkansas’ ballot initiative petition process on the Senate floor on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Design for Arkansas "Monument to the Unborn" revealed

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A state committee continues its work to build a pro-life memorial on the Arkansas Capitol grounds.

The “Monument to the Unborn” was created through a law the legislature passed in 2023. Bill sponsor Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, said the monument would be “tastefully done.” He wanted the memorial to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which immediately made abortion illegal in Arkansas.

The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission along with the Secretary of State are responsible for installing the monument. Last year, the group sifted through submissions from artists across the state. On Tuesday, the commission landed on a living flora wall, put forth by artist Lakey Goff.

Design for Arkansas "Monument to the Unborn" revealed

Capitol Arts And Grounds Commission/Screenshot

A rendering by artist Lakey Goff shows the proposed monument, with flower boxes on both sides.