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Senate committee approves bill limiting local limits on short‑term rentals after hours of testimony
Summary
The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted to advance SB 197, a bill sponsors say protects property rights and standardizes treatment of short‑term rentals statewide; witnesses from cities, planners and STR owners clashed over local authority, septic risks and enforcement tools.
Little Rock — The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted to advance SB 197 after lengthy testimony for and against the measure, which backers described as a statute to protect private property rights and opponents said would trim municipal tools to manage nuisance and public‑health risks.
Sponsor Sen. Joshua Bridal (District 32) told the committee the bill is intended to ensure “the right to sell or to rent one's property” remains a constitutional property right that municipalities should not extinguish through zoning or local ordinances. Bridal said the measure treats short‑term rentals as residential uses and leaves nuisance enforcement to local police powers.
The bill drew sustained opposition from the Arkansas…
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