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Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee advances multiple municipal bills; one measure pulled for revision
Summary
The committee approved several municipal-government bills by voice vote—clearing items on clerks’ authority, temporary courthouse relocation, office-combination rules and payment processing—while pulling a Department of Correction bill to clarify survivor-priority language.
The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted by voice to advance a batch of municipal governance bills and pulled one Department of Correction cleanup measure for further drafting.
The committee chair opened the session and described changes to the panel’s jurisdiction that will add firearm, alcohol and tobacco bills not tied to the criminal code. The committee first adopted its rules, including an amendment to allow "simple verbal amendments," and then moved through the agenda.
Senate Bill 81 was approved to extend to class 2 cities the authority for clerks to administer oaths of office; Mark Hayes of the Arkansas Municipal League said, "We are in favor of this bill," noting the measure removes statutory ambiguity by making the authority explicit. The committee then approved Senate Bill 76, which allows Mississippi County to relocate its Northern judicial-district courthouse into the Southern District for up to two years while repairs proceed; committee members confirmed a sunset/return requirement is in the bill.
Senate Bill 97, presented by Senator Cooper, clarifies when a municipal body may lower the salary of an elected municipal officer (only when the office is vacant), allows cities to combine clerk and treasurer or recorder and treasurer offices effective at the next election or when offices are vacant, and prevents reducing a sitting officeholder’s salary. After questions from committee members, the measure received a do-pass recommendation.
Senate Bill 98 was approved to clarify that municipalities may accept debit or credit cards and may assess customary transaction fees where permitted by contract and industry practice; Municipal League staff said industry contracts and regulatory standards generally govern fee limitations. The committee also approved SB 70, a repeal of an older municipal-reorganization statute intended to reduce confusion among competing reorganization codes, and SB 114, which allows city councils in smaller municipalities to appoint a treasurer by ordinance for a term to address staffing and audit concerns in towns with limited candidate pools.
Several bills were advanced by voice vote; the transcript records the voice approvals but does not include roll-call tallies or individual recorded votes. The chair said staff and outside liaisons would continue to work with the committee as measures move forward.
Next steps: the committee will return bills to the calendar for further action in the full chamber as appropriate.
