(AP) – Arkansas lawmakers have approved bills that would
limit public access to government records, including measures keeping security
information about the state Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion secret.
The Senate on Monday approved a bill to exempt from the Freedom of Information
Act information related to the operations, emergency procedure and security
personnel from the state Capitol police. The bill passed on a 23-4 vote and
heads to the House.
A bill approved by the House on a 77-7 vote would exempt records, surveillance
footage, security procedures and emergency plans possessed by the Arkansas State
Police concerning the Governor’s Mansion. That measure heads to the Senate.
The bills are among several FOI exemptions advancing in the Legislature that
press groups have criticized for limiting public access to information.
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