CONCERNING NOTIFICATION TO PERSONS ELECTED TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE YEARS OF SERVICE REMAINING BEFORE REACHING THE LIMITATION ON SERVICE UNDER THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brit McKenzie

HB 1873 sought to notify newly elected Arkansas legislators of their remaining service years, enhancing transparency and accountability in the General Assembly.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Bill Information

Bill Number: HB 1873

Title: Concerning Notification to Persons Elected to Serve as a Member of the General Assembly of the Years of Service Remaining Before Reaching the Limitation on Service Under the Arkansas Constitution

Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment

Introduced: March 20, 2025

Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1873 aimed to establish a formal notification process for newly elected members of the Arkansas General Assembly regarding their remaining years of service before reaching the constitutional limit. This initiative was intended to enhance transparency and ensure that elected officials are aware of their tenure limits as stipulated by Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 73, § 2.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed the following key provision:

Notification Requirement:

The Secretary of State would be required to notify candidates who have been certified as winners of elections for the General Assembly within 30 days of their election.
This notification would inform them of the number of years they may serve before reaching the service limitation set by the Arkansas Constitution.

Impact

Affected Parties:

The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be newly elected members of the General Assembly, who would gain clarity on their service limits.
The Secretary of State's office would also be impacted, as it would need to implement a system for tracking and notifying elected officials.

Potential Benefits:

Increased awareness among legislators about their service limits could lead to more informed decision-making regarding their political careers and legislative priorities.
This could also foster a culture of accountability and transparency within the General Assembly.

Legislative Timeline

March 20, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time; rules suspended, read a second time, and referred to the House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs.

April 1, 2025: The bill was returned by the committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation and read a third time, passing the House.

April 2, 2025: The bill was received by the Senate, read for the first time, and referred to the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs.

May 5, 2025: The bill died in the Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1873 aimed to improve the legislative process by ensuring that elected officials are informed of their service limits, it ultimately did not progress past the Senate Committee stage. The bill reflects ongoing efforts to enhance governance and accountability within the Arkansas General Assembly.

Bill