Bill > HB1043

This bill aims to enhance transparency and public confidence in appellate judicial elections in Arkansas by introducing comprehensive disclosure requirements for noncandidate expenditures. Specifically, the bill mandates that any person or committee making noncandidate expenditures exceeding $1,000 in a calendar year must register with the Secretary of State and file detailed reports about their contributions and expenditures. These reports must include information about contributors, expenditure amounts, and the specific details of communications targeting judicial candidates for the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. The bill prohibits coordination between candidates and noncandidate expenditure committees, requires funds to be maintained in segregated accounts, and allows registered voters to bring legal action to enforce compliance. Noncandidate expenditures are defined as communications naming or showing a judicial candidate within 120 days of an election and targeted to at least 1,000 voters, with specific exemptions for news articles, organizational communications, and informational guides. The bill establishes registration requirements, reporting deadlines, and penalties for non-compliance, with initial implementation set to begin for the 2026 judicial elections, giving committees time to prepare for the new reporting standards.

Government Affairs

https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1043&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R