Committee approves bill to centralize local campaign reports on Secretary of State portal

Representative Hawk brought House Bill 1707 to the committee to require that locally elected officials file election reports using the Secretary of State’s online portal, joining how state officials currently file.

The measure’s sponsor said the change would create “a centralized transparency location” so any Arkansan, the Ethics Commission or other oversight bodies could access campaign finance reports without traveling to county clerks’ offices or submitting formal public‑records requests.

Supporters told the committee the Secretary of State’s office can add titles for local posts (city council, quorum court, school board, sheriff) so candidates select the proper title when filing. Josh Bridges, assistant director of elections…