On Sunday afternoon, signatures will be collected for two bi-partisan citizen initiated petitions from 1 until 4 at 406 E. Main Street in Gassville. Signatures are being collected for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 and the Arkansas Government Disclosure Act of 2024 to be placed on the November 2024 ballot.
The Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 is said to be an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to change Arkansas law regarding abortion. Current Arkansas law prohibits abortion except to save the life of the pregnant female in a medical emergency. The proposed amendment would provide that the government of Arkansas should not prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion services in cases of rape, incest, in the event of a fatal fetal anomaly, or when, in a physician’s good-faith medical judgement, abortion services are needed to protect a pregnant female’s life or to protect a pregnant female from a physical disorder, illness or injury.
A complete look at the amendment can be found here.
The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act proposed amendment would establish government transparency as a right for Arkansas citizens. It also would make it more difficult for the state legislature to change the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers that would not take effect until after final approval from voters through a statewide referendum. Immediate changes to the Freedom of Information Act would require a nine-tenths vote in the General Assembly that could be overturned by a statewide referendum under the amendment.
The proposed measure would also undo a provision passed in 2023 that would regulate when school board members could meet in private.
It would also define “cybersecurity,” “government transparency,” “minority party,” and “public notice”; protect citizens’ right to appeal FOIA decisions and collect any resulting attorneys’ fees; create the Arkansas Government Transparency Commission, with members appointed by state elected officials, to help citizens enforce their rights to obtain public records and observe public meetings; and create stiffer civil penalties for violating the FOIA.
The full language for the Arkansas Government Disclosure Act can be found here.
The proposed constitutional amendment requires valid signatures from at least 90,704 voters, while proposed state laws require valid signatures from a minimum of 72,563 Arkansas voters.
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