Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances municipal and county government bills, holds two items for later
Summary
The committee advanced measures to allow Holiday Island to receive municipal turnback funds based on GIS estimates, align statutes with a 2016 amendment changing county officer terms, and let some cities call special elections for certain vacancies; two senate bills were held for later consideration.
The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on the agenda advanced a package of mostly noncontroversial bills that change administrative processes for municipalities and counties.
Senator Ballenger introduced Senate Bill 416 to let the state treasury use an estimate provided by GIS — rather than delayed census counts — to calculate municipal turnback funds for Holiday Island following the community’s vote to incorporate. "It doesn't mean any additional money from the state," Ballenger said, adding the change was developed with the municipal league, GIS staff and the treasurer's office.
The committee also moved House Bill 1328, which the presenter described as a statutory cleanup following Amendment 95 (passed in February 2016) that changed county officer terms from two to four years; the presenter said the bill makes no substantive policy changes and simply aligns statutory language to the constitutional amendment.
House Bill 1331 was advanced to allow city councils in second-class cities the option to call a special election to fill vacancies in offices such as marshal or recorder/treasurer; the measure preserves the council's existing option to appoint. Lanny Richmond, legal counsel with the Arkansas Municipal League, told the committee the change "is very positive and pretty noncontroversial."
Senator Johnson asked to hold Senate Bills 452 and 454 until Tuesday; the committee agreed to defer those items. The committee also skipped House Bill 1228 during the session.
All advanced bills were carried out of committee by voice vote. The measures will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.
