Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has established a working group to explore potential modifications to the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This move follows unsuccessful attempts during the recent legislative session to revise the open records and meeting law.

The seven-member Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Review Working Group is anticipated to present its recommendations in the spring or summer of 2024. These recommendations could then be incorporated into the attorney general's legislative proposals for the 2025 session.

Griffin emphasized the need for modernization, noting that the FOIA hasn't been updated since before the advent of the iPhone. The exponential growth in digital records and communication technologies has significantly increased the complexity of responding to FOIA requests, according to Griffin.

Originally enacted in 1967 under Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, the Arkansas FOIA has been the subject of numerous attempts in recent years to broaden the scope of exempted records. Two recent legislative proposals aimed at expanding exemptions and facilitating closed-door meetings for local officials were ultimately defeated due to public concerns regarding transparency.

The working group, which includes legislators, deputy attorneys general, and other legal professionals, has already convened its initial meeting and will continue to meet regularly starting in September. While these meetings will be private, given the group's advisory role, any recommendations adopted by Griffin for legislative action will be publicly disclosed.

Ashley Kemp Wimberley, Executive Director of the Arkansas Press Association and a member of the working group, expressed her support for proactive discussions and the importance of finding common ground while preserving the strength of the state's FOIA.