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SJR 3

A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bryan King

SJR 3 aimed to enhance local representation on the State Highway Commission by establishing five districts for commissioners, ensuring accountability and responsiveness.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SJR 3

Summary of SJR 3: Constitutional Amendment Concerning the Membership of the State Highway Commission

Bill Number: SJR 3
Introduced On: January 17, 2025
Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment on May 5, 2025
Classification: Joint Resolution

Purpose and Intent

SJR 3 aimed to amend the Arkansas Constitution to redefine the membership structure of the State Highway Commission. The primary intent was to ensure that each commissioner represents a specific district composed of designated counties, thereby enhancing local representation and accountability within the commission.

Key Provisions

  1. District Representation:

    • The bill proposed to establish five distinct districts for the appointment of commissioners, each representing specific counties:
      • District 1: Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Van Buren.
      • District 2: Faulkner, Pulaski, and Saline.
      • District 3: Benton, Crawford, Sebastian, and Washington.
      • District 4: Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Garland, Grant, Howard, Hot Spring, Hempstead, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Perry, Polk, Scott, Sevier, and Yell.
      • District 5: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff.

  2. Residency Requirement:

    • Each commissioner would be required to reside within the district they represent during their term. If a commissioner moved out of their district, the Governor would be mandated to remove them.

  3. Senate Confirmation Process:

    • The bill specified that only senators from the district represented by the appointee would provide advice and consent for appointments. A majority vote from these senators would be required for confirmation.

  4. Term Length:

    • Commissioners would serve a term of ten years, with provisions for filling vacancies and reappointments.

  5. Removal Procedures:

    • The amendment clarified the process for removing commissioners, allowing for a hearing and review by the Chancery Court, with the possibility of appeal to the Supreme Court.

  6. Amendment Process:

    • The General Assembly would have the authority to amend the distribution of counties among districts following each federal decennial census.

Impact

If enacted, SJR 3 would have significantly altered the structure of the State Highway Commission, promoting localized governance and potentially improving the responsiveness of the commission to the needs of different regions in Arkansas. The changes would have affected the appointment process, the accountability of commissioners, and the overall governance of state highway matters.

Procedural Timeline

  • January 17, 2025: Bill filed.
  • January 21, 2025: Read for the first time, rules suspended, read a second time, and referred to the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs.
  • May 5, 2025: Bill died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

This summary provides an overview of SJR 3, detailing its intended changes to the Arkansas Constitution regarding the State Highway Commission and the implications of those changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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