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HB 1978

TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIP TO THE SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT OF THE STATE DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jimmy Gazaway and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1978 aimed to add a judgeship in Arkansas's Seventeenth District Court, improving case handling and access to justice for Clay and Greene counties.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 1978

Summary of House Bill 1978

Bill Number: HB 1978
Title: To Add an Additional Judgeship to the Seventeenth District of the State District Court System
Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment
Introduced: April 02, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1978 aimed to enhance the judicial capacity of the Seventeenth District Court in Arkansas by adding an additional judgeship. This initiative was intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the court system in handling cases within the district, which comprises the counties of Clay and Greene.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several significant changes to the existing law regarding the Seventeenth District:

  1. Addition of Judgeship:

    • The bill sought to increase the number of state district court judges from one to two for the Seventeenth District.

  2. Judgeship Locations:

    • The Seventeenth District would continue to have five departments located in:
      • Paragould
      • Marmaduke
      • Corning
      • Piggott
      • Rector

  3. Salary and Benefits:

    • The salary and benefits for the new judgeship would be funded as follows:
      • The state would cover the salary and benefits.
      • Funding would be shared among the City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County, with specific allocations:
      • Paragould: 37.5% of the salary and benefits
      • Greene County: 37.5% of the salary and benefits
      • Clay County: 25% of the salary and benefits
    • Payments for the judgeship would need to be remitted to the Administration of Justice Funds Section by January 15 each year.

  4. Implementation Timeline:

    • The new judgeship was set to become effective on January 1, 2027.
    • The election for the new judgeship was to be included in the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election.

Impact

If passed, HB 1978 would have directly affected the judicial system in the Seventeenth District by providing an additional judge to handle cases, potentially reducing the backlog and improving access to justice for residents in Clay and Greene counties. The funding structure outlined in the bill would also have implications for local government budgets in the involved counties.

Legislative Actions

  • April 02, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time.
  • April 03, 2025: Rules suspended, read a second time, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
  • May 05, 2025: The bill died in the House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

This summary provides an overview of HB 1978, detailing its purpose, key provisions, and potential impact on the judicial system in Arkansas.

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

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