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HB 1714

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Broadens paid canvasser definition to include rewards and any value, before or after signature, expanding who must register/train under petition laws.

Referred to Education
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Bill Summary · HB 1714

Summary — HB 1714 (Arkansas, 95th General Assembly, 2025 session)

Note: the submitted document contained multiple unrelated bills from other states also numbered HB 1714. This summary addresses the Arkansas bill text in the packet (95th General Assembly, As Engrossed S4/2/25), which proposes changes to state statutes that define “paid canvasser.”

Purpose

The bill would amend Arkansas statutory definitions of “paid canvasser” used in laws governing local option elections, initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendment petitions. The stated aim is to broaden and clarify what conduct and kinds of compensation qualify a person as a “paid canvasser.”

Key provisions

  • Amends Arkansas Code § 3-8-801(3) and § 7-9-601(c) to change the statutory definition of “paid canvasser.”
    • Adds the phrase “or as a reward for” to clarify that not only direct payments but also rewards given for soliciting signatures fall within the definition.
    • Replaces phrasing such as “receives an item of value” with broader language “receives anything of value.”
    • Clarifies that receiving money or anything of value may occur “before or after” a signature is solicited.
  • Technical/formatting changes and deletion of redundant subparts were included in the adopted Senate amendment.

Effect / Who would be affected

  • Petition circulators and organizations that hire or compensate circulators for local option election petitions, initiative/referendum petitions, or constitutional amendment petitions.
  • Election officials and prosecutors enforcing statutes and rules that apply specifically to “paid canvassers” (registration, training, disclosure, and potential criminal or administrative penalties).
  • Campaigns, third‑party signature‑gathering firms, and any person or entity that gives payments, rewards, or other items of value in connection with soliciting petition signatures — the broadened wording may capture more forms and timings of compensation.

Practical impact

  • Broadening the definition to “anything of value” and explicitly including rewards and post‑signature payments would likely expand the set of persons classified as paid canvassers, potentially subjecting more individuals to statutory requirements (e.g., registration, training) or prohibitions that apply to paid circulators.
  • The amendments clarify legislative intent that both pre‑ and post‑signature compensation and non‑monetary rewards are within scope.

Procedural history / timeline

  • Introduced (filed) according to the packet: 2024‑12‑30.
  • Passed the House (read and passed 3/17/2025), transmitted to the Senate, referred to relevant Senate committees, and an amendment was adopted and engrossed on 4/2/2025.
  • Reported as correctly engrossed but ultimately died in the Senate committee at the Sine Die adjournment (Died in Senate Committee on 2025‑05‑05).
  • Primary sponsors listed: Representative Rose and Senator K. Hammer. Companion bill: SB 332.

Current status

  • Died in committee at the end of the 2025 regular session (not enacted).

If you want, I can:
- Compare the amended definition with the existing statutory text side‑by‑side, or
- Summarize how this change would interact with specific registration/training/penalty provisions elsewhere in Arkansas law.

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

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