House committee advances bill to split Poinsett County tax collector and sheriff duties

Representative Shelton Tosh told the House State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee that House Bill 10 would separate Poinsett County’s tax-collector duties from the sheriff’s office and place election of a standalone tax collector on the 2026 general-election ballot if the measure clears the House and Senate.

The bill’s sponsor said 51 of Arkansas’s 75 counties already have separated those offices and that the Poinsett County quorum court had passed a resolution requesting legislative action. Tosh said the change would let sheriffs “be focused on public safety and not trying to collect taxes.”

Representative Baldridge asked whether language referencing the General Assembly’s classification and salary schedules in section D of the bill could hurt the county. Tosh explained that the language directs compliance with the statutory classification system that sets minimum and maximum salaries for county offices and is intended to ensure the county follows existing law.

With no members of the public signed up to speak for or against the bill, Representative Wardlaw moved that the committee give the bill a do-pass recommendation. After no discussion on the motion, the committee chair called the voice vote. The chair announced, “Aye. Ayes have it,” and the committee advanced House Bill 10 out of committee.

The bill’s text says, if enacted, election for the new tax collector would occur at the general election in 2026. The sponsor and questioners referenced the state constitutional authority and statutory classification system that govern county office salaries and classifications.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 10 — motion: do pass; mover: Representative Wardlaw; outcome: passed in committee by voice vote (committee announced “ayes”); further action: advanced to House floor for consideration.