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Bill

HB 1387

TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A PUBLIC WATER AUTHORITY TO PUBLISH THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION UNDER THE WATER AUTHORITY ACT.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cameron Cooper and 1 co-sponsor

Arkansas law now requires public water authority board members to publish their contact information for citizen accessibility and transparency purposes.

Notification that HB1387 is now Act 239
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Bill Summary · HB 1387

Legislative bill overview

HB 1387 requires members of public water authority boards in Arkansas to publish their contact information publicly. This transparency measure ensures that citizens and stakeholders can easily reach board members regarding water utility matters. The bill has already been signed into law as Act 239 as of March 4, 2025.

Why is this important

Water authorities control critical infrastructure affecting public health and utility rates, making board member accessibility a transparency issue. Citizens often need to contact board members about service issues, rate disputes, or policy concerns, and publicly available contact information facilitates this civic engagement. This requirement addresses a basic accountability mechanism in local governance.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Board members may worry about personal harassment, unwanted contact, or privacy implications of publishing direct contact information
  • Resource burden: Water authorities must establish systems to maintain and update contact directories, potentially requiring administrative staff time
  • Vague implementation details: The bill may lack specifics on what constitutes adequate "publication" (website, printed directory, social media, etc.) and how frequently information must be updated

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

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