The Arkansas Guidance Out of the Darkness Act aims to enhance transparency and accountability within state agencies by requiring them to publish federal guidance documents online. This new legislation mandates that state agencies create a dedicated webpage on their publicly accessible websites to display any federal guidance documents they receive, particularly those that influence state laws, rules, or the administration of federal funds. Agencies must publish these documents within thirty days of receipt and provide a summary of their content and potential impact. Additionally, if a federal guidance document is marked as confidential, the agency must indicate its existence and inquire about what can be disclosed.

The Act also includes provisions for exemptions from publication, such as classified documents, personally identifiable information, and sensitive security information. Compliance with the Act will be overseen by the directors of state agencies, and the Auditor of State is tasked with conducting annual reviews of compliance, reporting findings to the Legislative Council. The legislation emphasizes the importance of public access to federal guidance to foster trust in government operations.