Arkansas Senate approves six bills to enhance ballot initiative integrity

The Arkansas State Legislature convened on February 11, 2025, to discuss several key legislative measures concerning state agencies and governmental affairs. The meeting primarily focused on amendments to Senate Bill 83 and the presentation of six additional bills aimed at enhancing the integrity of the ballot initiative process.

The session began with a review of Senate Bill 83, which had recently passed both the Senate and the House. Senator Sullivan introduced two amendments to the bill. The first amendment removed the criminal penalty as an enforcement mechanism, while maintaining a civil cause of action. The second amendment clarified that if a party successfully sues the state for a violation related to race, *** or preference, the recovery of attorney fees would go through the claims commission rather than the court. Both amendments were adopted unanimously following motions from Senators Sullivan and Payton.

Following the discussion on Senate Bill 83, Senator Hammer presented six bills, starting with Senate Bill 210. This bill mandates that canvassers must ensure potential signers read the ballot title before accepting their signatures. Senator Hammer emphasized the importance of this measure, citing instances where citizens were misled into signing petitions under false pretenses.

Next, Senate Bill 208 was introduced, which requires voter identification for petition signing. Senator Hammer noted that this measure aims to prevent duplicate signatures, a problem highlighted during the recent medical marijuana amendment process.

Senate Bill 212 was then discussed, which seeks to grant the Secretary of State investigative authority over fraudulent petition documents. This bill aims to address the current lack of oversight regarding reported petition fraud.

The fourth bill, known as the Honest Canvassing Act, was presented to enhance protections against canvasser fraud. This legislation requires canvassers to swear under oath that they have complied with all relevant laws while canvassing.

Finally, Senate Bill 209 clarifies that signatures obtained through criminal means will be disqualified. This bill establishes a higher standard of evidence for determining the validity of signatures, moving beyond a simple review of the petition's face value.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to uphold the integrity of the ballot initiative process in Arkansas, as legislators prepare to address public concerns regarding the gathering of signatures for initiatives. Further discussions and potential votes on these bills are anticipated in upcoming sessions.