The Arkansas House recently passed a bill sponsored by Rep. David Ray that would give the state attorney general more authority to reject citizen-initiated ballot measures. The bill, known as HB1222, would allow the AG to reject a ballot measure if it conflicts with the United States Constitution or a federal statute. It would also prohibit groups from submitting multiple proposals on the same subject matter.
Ray argued that the current process is not strong enough to prevent problematic ballot measures from passing, citing a 1996 campaign finance reform act as an example. However, Rep. Nicole Clowney spoke out against the bill, expressing concerns that it would give the attorney general too much power to interpret federal law and could make it harder for everyday Arkansans to get initiatives on the ballot.
The bill passed in the House with a vote of 62-30 and will now go to a Senate committee for further consideration. This bill is just one of several proposed measures this session aimed at making it more difficult for citizens to change state laws through petitions.
In addition to the ballot measure bill, the House also passed other unrelated bills addressing issues in Jefferson County, creating a new criminal offense for illegal squatting, and addressing probation and parole violations. The passing of these bills demonstrates the Arkansas House’s commitment to addressing various issues facing the state.
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