SJR24
An Amendment To The Arkansas Constitution Concerning Initiatives, Referenda, And Constitutional Amendments Referred To Voters.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
SJR 24 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution regarding the processes for citizen-led initiatives, referenda, and legislative constitutional amendments. The bill introduces a 'county majority' requirement, mandating that for a statewide measure or constitutional amendment to pass, it must receive a majority of votes cast on the measure both statewide and in a majority of Arkansas counties. It establishes stricter thresholds for petition sponsors to correct insufficient petitions, requiring them to have already collected at least 75% of the total required signatures and 75% of the required signatures from at least 15 counties to qualify for a correction period. The bill also authorizes the General Assembly to establish readability standards for ballot titles. Additionally, it clarifies rules regarding conflicting measures, verification of signatures, and the protection of petition circulation. The proposed changes are slated to take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved by voters.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries would be proponents of legislative control and rural stakeholders, as the new requirement for a majority in a majority of counties effectively increases the influence of voters in less-populous, rural counties while increasing the difficulty of passing statewide initiatives. Legislators may also benefit from the added authority to set readability standards for ballot titles and the additional hurdle placed before citizen-led efforts, which could consolidate the influence of established political structures in the state.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary groups negatively impacted would be citizens, grassroots organizations, and advocacy groups seeking to use the initiative and referendum process to enact change. By imposing a 'county majority' requirement and raising the bar for the petition correction process, the bill makes it significantly harder and more expensive to place measures on the ballot or have them passed into law. These groups may find it more difficult to overcome the geographical diversity requirements, potentially limiting their ability to bypass the legislature on issues where they disagree with state leadership.
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