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February 2025

Legislators File 43 Proposed Constitutional Amendments for 2026 Ballot
 

Many of the 43 proposed constitutional amendments Arkansas legislators filed by the Feb. 12 deadline seek to change policies previously approved by voters, from striking from the Arkansas Constitution references to greyhound racing to once again allowing judges to run on party tickets.


Read the Proposals


Topics Cover:

  • Amending previously approved amendments
  • Changing the citizen-initiative process
  • Creating economic development districts
  • Crime victim rights
  • Elections
  • Government transparency
  • Lobbying
  • Redistricting
  • Repealing the Lt. Governor position
  • Right to bear arms
  • Slavery
  • State Highway Commission
  • Suing the state
  • Taxes
  • Voting


Observations:

  • In three instances, senators and representatives filed the same amendment, which is known as a "companion bill." These duplicate measures include: requiring Arkansas voters to be U.S. citizens, a proposal establishing "Arkansas Taxpayer Bill of Rights," and creating economic development districts.


  • Several of the proposed constitutional amendments are shell bills, meaning they don't have complete details. Titles indicate they would make changes to the state's medical marijuana amendment, casino amendment, and citizen initiative process.


  • One proposed amendment would extend voting rights in Arkansas and allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they would turn 18 by the General Election.


  • Legislators in 2025 filed 10 more proposals than they did in 2023; the same number as in 2021; one less than in 2019. See past proposals in our newsletter archive that goes back to 2014.


What Next?

The Senate and House each have a State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee that reviews proposed constitutional amendments and bills related to election processes. Legislators on these committees take public comment and vote on the bills, which then go to the full House and Senate to discuss and vote on.


Legislators are limited to referring three constitutional amendments to voters. As of today, the committees have not scheduled the constitutional amendments for review. More information about these committees can be found on their webpages:

Legislators Move Forward with Changes to Arkansas Citizen Initiative Process

Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments, state laws and referendums on the statewide ballot for voters to decide. Arkansas is the only state in the southeast region with this broad form of direct democracy.


Legislators are pursuing numerous changes to the 100-year-old process through proposed laws and constitutional amendments. Below are links to recently-filed laws for consideration during the legislative session underway. Several proposed laws are moving quickly through the committee process.


HB1042 - TO CREATE THE DIRECT DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2025; TO REPEAL THE ENSURING ACCESS FOR ALL ARKANSANS AND VOTER PROTECTION ACT OF 2023; AND TO AMEND THE PROCEDURE FOR THE FILING OF A BALLOT INITIATIVE PETITION AND REFERENDUM PETITION.

Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Collins, Rep. Denise Garner, Rep. Tara Shephard, Rep. Joy Springer, Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen, Rep. Lincoln Barnett

Status: On House Committee's deferred list


HB1221 - TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVES, REFERENDA, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer

Status: Passed Senate Committee on 2/13. Now goes to full Senate for final vote.


HB1222 - TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLES FOR CONFLICTS WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE SUBMISSION OF CONFLICTING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.

Sponsor: Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer

Status: Passed Senate Committee on 2/13. Now goes to full Senate for final vote.


SB207 - TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO DISCLOSE THAT PETITION FRAUD IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Passed full Senate on 2/12. Now goes to House Committee for vote on 2/17.


SB208 - TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO VIEW A CANVASSER TO REQUEST PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A SIGNATURE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Passed full Senate on 2/12. Now goes to House Committee for vote on 2/17.


SB209 - TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Passed full Senate on 2/12, but without an emergency clause. Senate rejected emergency clause on 2/13/25. Hammer asked to expunge the emergency clause vote and to keep the bill in the Senate.


SB210 - TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Passed full Senate on 2/12, but without an emergency clause. Senate rejected emergency clause on 2/13. Hammer asked to expunge the emergency clause vote and to keep the bill in the Senate.


SB211 - TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT BEFORE SIGNATURES CAN BE COUNTED; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Passed full Senate on 2/12. Now goes to House Committee for vote on 2/17.


SB212 - TO CREATE THE DOCUMENT VALIDITY DIVISION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Sponsor: Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

Status: Failed in Senate Committee on 2/11.


The bill below affects local-option elections:

SB102 - TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSERS FOR LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPENSATION OF PAID CANVASSERS FOR LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS.

Sponsor: Sen. Breanne Davis and Rep. DeAnn Vaught

Status: Passed by House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature.

How to Find and Contact Your Legislator

Did you know you can type in your address on a state website and find who represents you at the Arkansas Senate and House of Representatives? Addresses are needed because district boundary lines can mean your neighbor has a different legislator.



Once you know who your legislators are, you can contact them through phone calls and emails. During the legislative session, you can call the Capitol and leave a message that will be put on your legislator's desk.


  • Senate In-Session: 501-682-2902
  • House In-Session: 501-682-6211

PPC In the Media

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this month wrote about the role and responsibilities of constables, a law enforcement position established by the 1874 Arkansas Constitution that has diminished over past decades with the establishment of police forces and laws passed to reduce the number of districts. The article quoted our 2022 blog post about Arkansas constables.


In addition to our blog post, we created a website to explain the roles and responsibilities of various elected county officials.

 

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The Public Policy Center was established in 2004 to provide Arkansans with timely, credible, unaligned and research-based information and education about public issues. Public issues are defined as pressing and emerging issues that involve multiple points of view and have widespread consequences.


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  • Increase citizen knowledge, awareness and understanding of public issues;
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  • Help citizens craft, evaluate and implement alternative solutions to public issues.


We are part of the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock.


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