HB1221

House Bill 1221 amends Arkansas law regarding the state's initiative and referendum process for ballot measures. It establishes that the certification of a ballot title and popular name expires on the date of the next general election following certification. Additionally, it mandates that signatures collected on initiative or referendum petitions after that same general election date are invalid and shall not be counted. The bill also expands the list of criteria for disqualifying signatures during the verification process to include those obtained after the expiration of the ballot title. It includes a severability clause and declares an emergency, meaning the act would take effect immediately upon becoming law to apply to the 2026 election cycle.