WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SJR 24

AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING INITIATIVES, REFERENDA, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO VOTERS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Johnson

SJR 24 aimed to require majority approval for initiatives from both votes cast and counties, impacting how citizens could enact legislation in Arkansas.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SJR 24

Summary of SJR 24: Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution Concerning Initiatives, Referenda, and Constitutional Amendments

Bill Number: SJR 24
Introduced: February 12, 2025
Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment on May 5, 2025
Classification: Joint Resolution

Purpose and Intent

SJR 24 aimed to amend the Arkansas Constitution to clarify and modify the processes surrounding initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments that are referred to voters. The resolution sought to ensure that measures submitted to voters would require approval not only by a majority of votes cast but also by a majority of counties in the state.

Key Provisions

The proposed amendments included the following significant changes:

  1. Majority Requirement:

    • A measure would take effect if approved by a majority of votes cast, without needing a majority of all electors voting in the election.
    • For state-wide measures, approval would also require a majority of votes in a majority of the counties.

  2. Conflicting Measures:

    • If multiple conflicting measures were approved at the same election, the one with the highest number of affirmative votes would become law.

  3. Ballot Title Submission:

    • Petitioners would need to submit the exact title for the ballot at the time of filing, ensuring that titles are clear, concise, and do not exceed 500 words.

  4. Verification of Signatures:

    • Only legal votes would be counted on petitions, and each part of a petition must include an affidavit from the circulator confirming the authenticity of the signatures.

  5. Amendment of Petitions:

    • If a petition was deemed insufficient, sponsors would be notified and allowed a specified period (30 days for state-wide petitions, 10 days for local) to correct or amend the petition.

  6. Prohibition of Unwarranted Restrictions:

    • The amendment would prohibit laws that restrict compensation for petition circulators or interfere with the circulation of petitions, while still allowing laws against fraudulent practices.

Impact

The proposed changes would have affected the processes by which citizens could initiate legislation or referendums, potentially making it easier to pass measures that reflect the will of the electorate while ensuring that such measures had broader geographic support across the state.

Procedural Timeline

  • February 12, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time.
  • March 31, 2025: Amendment #2 adopted, and the bill was reported correctly engrossed.
  • May 5, 2025: The bill died in the Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

SJR 24 represented an effort to refine the democratic processes in Arkansas concerning voter initiatives and referenda. Although it did not advance past the committee stage, the proposed amendments highlighted ongoing discussions about electoral processes and citizen engagement in governance.

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

Sign in to ask a question.