AR HB1280

Adds economic development projects under the Local Job Creation, Job Expansion, and Economic Development Act of 2017 as a permissible purpose for executive sessions, allowing closed discussion when public discussion would advantage competitors or bidders or involve sensitive economic development records.

Requires notice of intent to call an executive session for economic development projects to be published with the open public meeting notice, and the specific purpose must be announced before entering executive session.

Permits governing bodies to invite their attorney to attend and participate in executive sessions called to discuss economic development projects.

Mandates audio recording of entire economic development executive sessions, with recordings filed with the city clerk and retained for at least one year; recordings are exempt from public disclosure.

Requires governing bodies to provide a public oral summary of executive session discussion recorded in meeting minutes, though the summary may exclude competitive information; allows circuit courts to review audio recordings in camera if citizens sue claiming improper discussion occurred.