Bill > HB1272

This bill amends Arkansas law concerning property ownership when a municipality abandons a street or alley, clarifying and expanding the rights of abutting property owners. Under the proposed changes, when a city or town abandons a street or alley, the absolute ownership of that property automatically vests in the owners of the adjacent real estate, with each abutting owner taking title up to the center line of the abandoned street or alley. The bill further stipulates that future property conveyances involving land adjacent to an abandoned street or alley will automatically include those abandoned portions unless the abutting owner explicitly makes a reservation. Additionally, for platted real estate, the property plats will be automatically amended to incorporate the abandoned street or alley sections. Importantly, the bill has a retroactive provision, applying these rules to streets and alleys abandoned by cities or towns since February 6, 1945, which means this change could affect property ownership retrospectively. The legislation does not impact any legal suits that were already pending at the time of its adoption.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1272&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R