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Arkansas Lawmakers Start Filing Bills for 2026 Ballot Issues

by Kristin Higgins - November 20, 2024

Arkansas legislators are filing proposed laws to consider in the 2025 legislative session, including proposed constitutional amendments for the 2026 ballot. This blog post will track those proposals through the end of the 95th General Assembly.

Filing started Nov. 20, 2024. Legislators have until Feb. 12, 2025 to file bills seeking to amend Arkansas' 1874 Constitution. They are allowed to refer up to three constitutional amendments to the voters to decide in the 2026 election.

Proposed Constitutional Amendments for the 2026 Arkansas Ballot

 

Amending Previously Approved Citizen Initiatives

Bill

Amendment's Popular Name

Lead Sponsor

Companion Bill

Companion Sponsor

SJR6

No popular name included.

Bill name:

A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CASINO GAMING SHALL BE USED FOR CRIME REDUCTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANCE FOR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION SERVICES.

Sen. Bryan King

 

 

SJR7

No popular name included.

Bill name:

AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 98, CONCERNING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

Sen. Bryan King

 

 

SJR8

No popular name included. 

Bill name:

AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 100, CONCERNING CASINO GAMING.

Sen. Bryan King

 

   

 

Elections

Bill

Amendment's Popular Name

Lead Sponsor

Companion Bill

Companion Sponsor

SJR4

A constitutional amendment providing that an annual Ad Valorem Tax for the maintenance and operation of schools and the retirement of indebtedness shall not appear on the annual school election ballot if the proposed rate of tax levy is the same as the rate of tax levy approved when a rate of tax levy appeared on the ballot; providing that the annual school election shall not be held if the rate of the tax levy does not appear on the ballot and there are no other matters to be decided.

 

Sen. Justin Boyd

   

HJR1007

A constitutional amendment to create a procedure for the recall of persons elected to the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State, Commissioner of State Lands, Member of the House of Representatives, Member of the Senate, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice of the Supreme Court, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Judge of the Court of Appeals, Circuit Judge, District Judge, County Judge, Justice of the Peace, Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Assessor, Coroner, Treasurer, County Surveyor, Collector of Taxes, or Constable.

 
Rep. Frances Cavenaugh     

 

Crime Victim Rights

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1009

A constitutional amendment to be known as the "Arkansas Victims' Bill of Rights" and to provide rights for victims of misdemeanor and felony offenses, including victims in the adult and juvenile justice systems.

Rep. Karilyn Brown    

 

Government Efficiency

Bill

Amendment's Popular Name

Lead Sponsor

Companion Bill

Companion Sponsor

SJR10

No popular name included.

Bill name:

A CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT CONCERNING EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

Sen. Bryan King

 

 

 

Government Transparency

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1003

The Government Disclosure Amendment

Rep. Andrew Collins    
SJR1

An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to require a vote of three-fourths of each house of the General Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal laws concerning access to public records or access to public meetings.

Sen. Bryan King    

 

Lobbying

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1006

A constitutional amendment providing that a governmental body shall not use state or local funds to enter into a contract with a lobbyist for the purpose of lobbying on behalf of the governmental body.

Rep. Brit McKenzie    

 

Redistricting

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1001

A constitutional amendment to create the Citizens' Redistricting Commission and to repeal the Board of Apportionment.

Rep. Andrew Collins    
SJR2

A constitutional amendment to create the Arkansas Apportionment Commission to apportion districts for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the United States House of Representatives.

Sen. Bryan King    

 

Repeal Lt. Governor Position

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
SJR5

An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to repeal the office of Lieutenant Governor

Sen. Bryan King    

 

Slavery

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1002

An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to repeal the exception to the prohibition of slavery and involuntary solitude.

Rep. Andrew Collins    

 

State Highway Commission

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
SJR3

A constitutional amendment concerning the membership of the State Highway Commission; Providing that each member of the State Highway Commission shall represent a district comprised of certain counties of the state; Providing that a member of the State Highway Commission shall reside within his or her district; Amending and clarifying the duties of the Senate regarding advice and consent for appointments to the State Highway Commission and the removal of commissioners; and providing for the implementation of the amendment.

Sen. Bryan King    

 

Suing the State

Bill

Amendment's Popular Name

Lead Sponsor

Companion Bill

Companion Sponsor

SJR9

No popular name included.

Bill name:

A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PERMITTING THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO BE SUED AS A DEFENDANT IN STATE COURT TO ENFORCE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW.

Sen. Bryan King

 

 

 

Taxes

Bill Amendment's Popular Name Lead Sponsor Companion Bill Companion Sponsor
HJR1005

An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to create the "Arkansas Taxpayer Bill of Rights." 

Rep. Wayne Long    
HJR1008

A constitutional amendment concerning the taxation of personal property and real property in the state of Arkansas; Authorizing the General Assembly to reduce or eliminate the taxation of personal property by law and to create exemptions by law for the taxation of personal property; and repealing the requirement that personal property and real property be taxed at an equal rate.

Rep. Stephen Meeks    

 

How Do You Change The State Constitution?

Arkansas voters adopted the state constitution in 1874. The only way to change the constitution is through the legislative process currently underway or by citizens collecting and submitting enough voter signatures to qualify their proposals for the statewide ballot. 

When you look at the document today, you will see 102 amendments. Voters in 2024 approved one proposal from the legislature as well as a proposed amendment from the citizen initiative process.

The Arkansas General Assembly considers constitutional amendments when they meet in an odd-numbered years. They are limited by the state constitution to proposing three constitutional amendments to voters plus one about their salary. Some years, they will send one proposal to the voters, or two or three. When they last considered proposals in 2023, legislators filed 33 constitutional amendments to review. That was 10 less than what was filed for the 2024 ballot.

In recent years, proposals covered a variety of topics, including election laws, lawsuit damages, changes to city or state authority. 

Once the Feb. 12 deadline passes, representatives and senators will narrow down the proposals at State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee meetings. 

Curious about how today's filings compare to the last session? Look back at the 2023 legislative filings for the 2024 ballot.

Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program

The Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has provided neutral, research-based fact sheets on every statewide ballot issue since 2004. The purpose is to provide voters with a better understanding of what is being asked on them.

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