Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs change to Arkansas Fair Housing Commission membership and terms
Summary
House Bill 17‑74 would reduce the Fair Housing Commission from 13 to seven members, broaden appointment qualifications and set four‑year terms; supporters said the current statutory requirements were too narrow and made recruitment difficult.
A Senate committee voted to pass House Bill 17‑74, which amends the composition and appointment process for the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission.
Representative Howard Beatty, the House sponsor, said the commission currently has a 13‑member board with tightly specified appointment requirements that make recruiting difficult. "What this bill would do is change the composition of the board to a 7 member board with 4 year terms," Beatty said. Under the amended bill five governor appointments would require Senate confirmation, and two legislative leaders would each appoint one member with demonstrated interest in fair‑housing issues.
Beatty said the change "broadens the pool of candidates" and would make it easier for appointing authorities to fill vacancies. He told committee members current commissioners would serve out their existing terms and that the restructuring would take effect as seats become available.
No outside witnesses are recorded in the transcript. The committee approved the bill on a voice vote; the motion to "do pass" was made by Senator Tucker and seconded by Senator Dodson, and the transcript records passage without a roll‑call tally.
Supporters argued the change would make the commission more active and engaged, while questions from members focused on transition timing and whether current members would be grandfathered until the end of their terms.
