SB322

Senate Bill 322 amends Arkansas law to modify the process for construction and development permitting. The bill establishes a framework allowing applicants to hire private professional providers, such as engineers or architects, to perform plan reviews and site inspections. It imposes a 60-day deadline for local governments to approve, deny, or request revisions for permit applications, after which an application is automatically approved if no action is taken. The legislation outlines the standards for these private reviews, requiring them to be as rigorous as municipal reviews and to result in an affidavit of compliance. Additionally, it provides specific timelines for local government officials to respond to reports submitted by private providers. Failure of a local government to address deficiencies within specified timeframes results in the automatic issuance of a permit.