Backroom Deals vs. Public Trust – Arkansas’ FOIA Fight

Host: Kandi Cox Guest: Joey McCutchen, Attorney & FOIA Advocate Podcast: Arkansas 1st Reports In this episode of Arkansas 1st Reviews, host Kandi Cox sits down with Joey McCutchen, a longtime attorney and advocate for government transparency, to discuss two major bills that could redefine Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Good Bill – SB227 SB227 is a strong, well-crafted bill that protects and clarifies FOIA by: ✔ Clearly defining public meetings to prevent secret deliberations. ✔ Ensuring government decisions happen in public, not behind closed doors. ✔ Strengthening notice requirements so citizens are informed. ✔ Gaining support from transparency advocates, journalists, and local government organizations. The Bad Bill – SB376 SB376 threatens FOIA protections by creating a loophole that allows: ❌ “Daisy-chain” meetings, where officials meet in small groups to avoid public scrutiny. ❌ Secret backroom deals that undermine transparency. ❌ Politicians to dodge accountability by sidestepping public meetings. Why It Matters If SB376 passes, it will gut FOIA protections and make it easier for government officials to operate in secret, without taxpayer oversight. Meanwhile, SB227 provides clear definitions and safeguards to protect the public’s right to know.