Bill > HB1365

This bill removes racial and gender quotas and membership qualifications from various state boards, commissions, and councils in Arkansas. Specifically, the bill eliminates mandated requirements for minority representation, gender balance, and demographic diversity across multiple state entities, including the Arkansas Financial Education Commission, State Board of Education, Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap, Professional Bail Bond Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board, State Athletic Commission, Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, and several other boards and advisory groups. The changes mean that when appointing members to these bodies, state officials will no longer be required to ensure representation based on race, ethnicity, or gender. Instead, appointments will be made based on qualifications, expertise, and other criteria without explicit demographic requirements. The bill also repeals entire sections of state code related to minority representation recommendations, effectively removing previous guidelines that sought to ensure diverse representation in state agencies. A severability clause is included, which means that if any part of the bill is found to be invalid, the rest of the bill can still be implemented.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1365&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R