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SJR 1

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.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bryan King

SJR 1 sought to require a three-fourths vote in Arkansas' General Assembly to change public records laws, enhancing transparency but ultimately died in committee.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SJR 1

Summary of SJR 1: Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution on Public Records Access

Bill Number: SJR 1
Introduced: November 15, 2024
Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment (May 5, 2025)
Sponsor: Senator B. King
Classification: Joint Resolution

Purpose and Intent

SJR 1 aimed to amend the Arkansas Constitution to establish a higher threshold for enacting, amending, or repealing laws related to access to public records and public meetings. The intent behind this amendment was to enhance the protection of public access to information by requiring a supermajority vote in the General Assembly.

Key Provisions

The proposed amendment included the following key provisions:

  1. Voting Requirement:

    • Laws concerning access to public records or public meetings could only be enacted, amended, or repealed by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of each house of the General Assembly.

  2. Applicability:

    • This voting requirement would apply to any amendments or repeals of laws concerning public records or meetings that exist on or after January 1, 2027. This includes potential changes to the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 (Arkansas Code § 25-19-101 et seq.).

  3. Effective Date:

    • The amendment would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved by voters.

  4. Ballot Title and Popular Name:

    • The ballot title for the proposed amendment was designated as "A Constitutional Amendment to Require a Vote of Three-Fourths of the General Assembly to Enact, Amend, or Repeal Laws Concerning Access to Public Records or Access to Public Meetings."

Impact

If enacted, SJR 1 would have significantly impacted the legislative process regarding public access laws in Arkansas by making it more challenging to modify existing laws. This could have implications for transparency and accountability in government, as it would require broader consensus among lawmakers to change access to public information.

Legislative Actions

  • November 15, 2024: Bill filed.
  • January 13, 2025: Read for the first time, rules suspended, read a second time, and referred to the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs.
  • May 5, 2025: Bill died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

SJR 1 represented an effort to strengthen protections for public access to records and meetings in Arkansas by requiring a higher legislative threshold for changes to these laws. However, the bill did not progress beyond the committee stage and ultimately did not become law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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