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Welcome to the best opinion pieces of the week from News From The States. Our commentary includes our own journalists from across our extensive network as well as outside voices to bring a wide range of perspectives and ideas. In addition to the sampling below, you can look through all our commentary here.

TOP COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK

Arkansas lawmakers conceal a weapon against transparency in rushed, last-minute legislation

Sonny Albarado | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas School Board Association Governmental Relations Director Dan Jordan (center) discusses the bill that became Act 883 before the Senate Education Committee on April 3, 2023. Association Policy Services Director Lucas Harder is at left and bill sponsor Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, is at right.
(Screen grab from Senate video)

When is an ethics law unethical? When the law hides a significant, detrimental change to the public’s right to know.

I’m talking about Act 883, which was filed in the last week of the legislative session and passed in less than a week. The central purpose of the law is to make sure local school board members know about their ethical obligations and to establish a process for the Arkansas Ethics Commission to review complaints about school board members who may violate standards or the law.

The stealth bomb inside the law will give local school boards more excuses to go into executive session. It will also allow more people to have closed-door meetings with school board members.

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