TO CREATE THE DIRECT DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2025; TO REPEAL THE ENSURING ACCESS FOR ALL ARKANSANS AND VOTER PROTECTION ACT OF 2023; AND TO AMEND THE PROCEDURE FOR THE FILING OF A BALLOT INITIATIVE PETITION AND REFERENDUM PETITION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lincoln Barnett and 5 co-sponsors

House Bill 1042 aimed to simplify Arkansas' ballot initiative process by repealing restrictive laws, making it easier for citizens to propose legislation and amendments.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1042, titled the Direct Democracy Act of 2025, was introduced to reform the process for filing ballot initiative and referendum petitions in Arkansas. The bill aimed to repeal the Ensuring Access for All Arkansans and Voter Protection Act of 2023 and to amend existing laws governing statewide petitions. The overarching goal was to streamline the process for citizens to propose legislation and constitutional amendments through direct democracy mechanisms.

Key Provisions

The bill included several significant changes to the existing legislative framework:

Repeal of Previous Legislation:

The bill sought to repeal the Ensuring Access for All Arkansans and Voter Protection Act of 2023, which may have included provisions that the sponsors of HB 1042 viewed as restrictive or unnecessary.

Amendments to Petition Procedures:

The bill proposed amendments to the procedures for filing both initiative and referendum petitions, although specific details on these changes were not fully outlined in the provided text.

Signature Verification Process:

The bill aimed to repeal certain requirements related to the counting of signatures for initiative and referendum petitions, specifically:
- The need for petitions to be filed from at least 50 counties.
- The requirement for petitions to bear signatures from at least one-half of the state and a designated percentage of electors from each county.

Affected Parties

The primary stakeholders affected by this legislation would include:
- Arkansas Voters: Citizens seeking to initiate legislation or referendums would find the process altered, potentially making it easier or more difficult to get measures on the ballot.
- Legislators: Changes to the petition process could impact how lawmakers engage with citizen-led initiatives.
- Election Officials: The bill would change the responsibilities and procedures for officials tasked with verifying signatures on petitions.

Legislative Timeline

Introduced: November 20, 2024

Amendments:

Amendment No. 1 was adopted on January 16, 2025.
Amendment No. 2 was adopted on January 23, 2025.

Committee Actions: The bill was reported correctly engrossed and placed on the second reading for amendment purposes multiple times.

Final Status: The bill ultimately died in the House Committee at sine die adjournment on May 5, 2025, meaning it did not advance to a full vote.

Conclusion

House Bill 1042 represented an effort to reshape the direct democracy landscape in Arkansas by simplifying the process for citizens to propose legislation. However, despite its introduction and subsequent amendments, the bill did not progress beyond the committee stage, reflecting the complexities and challenges of legislative reform in this area.

Bill