Legislation that would require audio or video recording of all open public meetings narrowly cleared the Senate on Wednesday, a day after falling two votes short of clearing the chamber.
The Senate voted 19-3 to approve House Bill 1928 by Rep. Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, sending it to the governor. Eighteen votes for the bill are required for approval in the 35-member Senate. With 18 senators not voting, the Senate voted 16-0 on the bill on Tuesday.
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It would require all public bodies to record their meetings, with exceptions for volunteer fire departments and executive sessions, and store those recordings for at least a year.
This year, the Senate began videostreaming its proceedings. The House has been videostreaming its meetings for several years.
— Michael R. Wickline