Bill
HB 1832
Arkansas HB 1832 designates the Court of Appeals as the exclusive original forum for facial constitutional challenges to statutes, codes, or rules, with a right of appeal to the Ar
Note on sources and scope
- The materials provided appear to conflate multiple different bills from different jurisdictions (an Arkansas bill amending appellate rules and unrelated Illinois bills about state property management), and the top-line metadata (an appropriation for the City of Clarksdale / Delta Blues Museum) does not match the substantive text supplied. This summary focuses on the principal legislative text included under the label “HB1832” (Arkansas, Engrossed H4/7/25) and the Department of Finance & Administration (DFA1) fiscal note that directly describe the Arkansas measure. Where records conflict (status, other state bills with the same number), see the final note below.
Purpose and intent
- The Arkansas HB 1832 seeks to amend Rule 1-2 of the Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals to change appellate assignment for facial constitutional challenges. Its purpose is to establish the Court of Appeals as the exclusive original forum for facial challenges to state statutes, code provisions, or administrative rules, and to provide for an appeal as of right from the Court of Appeals to the Arkansas Supreme Court in those cases.
Key provisions
- Exclusive original jurisdiction: Circuit courts retain original jurisdiction generally, but HB 1832 (as amended) gives the Arkansas Court of Appeals exclusive original jurisdiction over “facial constitutional challenges” — i.e., an initial pleading that seeks to declare a provision of a General Assembly act, the Arkansas Code, or an administrative rule/regulation unconstitutional in all of its applications under the U.S. or Arkansas Constitutions.
- Filing and procedure: The bill adds language addressing procedure for such proceedings (filing, pleadings, timelines) to conform with civil procedure and bench-trial practice; the Court of Appeals will handle initial adjudication of these facial challenges.
- Appeal path: It grants an appeal as of right from the Court of Appeals to the Arkansas Supreme Court in cases brought under the new Rule 1‑2(a) (facial challenges).
- Reassignment and transfers: Retains and clarifies existing transfer/certification provisions allowing the Supreme Court to transfer cases to or from the Court of Appeals for issues of significant public interest, conflict, or major legal importance.
- Other rule provisions: Maintains existing topics such as petition-for-review procedures (with the facial-challenge exception), workload allocation, and procedural protections for criminal appeals/exhaustion of remedies.
Who would be affected
- Litigants and attorneys bringing facial constitutional challenges to Arkansas statutes or state administrative rules.
- The Arkansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court (changes allocation of original appellate jurisdiction and creates a guaranteed appellate path).
- Circuit courts (fewer initial filings of pure facial-challenge actions).
- No direct fiscal or taxpayer impact is identified.
Fiscal and administrative impact
- Arkansas DFA fiscal impact statement: None — no state or local fiscal impact, no required resources, and no procedural costs identified.
Procedural / timeline notes
- One version of Amendment H1 includes an effective date provision: “This act shall be effective on and after November 1, 2025.” (as shown in the amendment language).
- The provided legislative-action timeline includes conflicting entries (committee actions, readings, reported “Act 975,” and other procedural steps). Because the record you supplied mixes entries from different bills and jurisdictions, the current official enactment status is uncertain.
Important caveat / recommended verification
- The packet you provided includes unrelated text from Illinois HB 1832 and disparate legislative action entries, and your initial metadata (appropriation for Clarksdale/Delta Blues Museum; “Died In Committee”) conflicts with the Arkansas text and DFA note. For authoritative status, effective date, and final language, consult the official Arkansas General Assembly website or the Arkansas Secretary of State / court rules publications.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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