Bill > HJR1016

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 1, specifically removing the current provision that allows petition sponsors to correct or amend an insufficient petition within a specified timeframe. Currently, state-wide petitions can be corrected if they contain at least 75% of required signatures, including signatures from at least 15 counties. The proposed amendment eliminates this correction process entirely, instead focusing on shifting the burden of proof in legal challenges to petitions. If a legal proceeding challenges a petition's validity, the burden would now be on the party attacking the petition to prove its insufficiency. The amendment is set to become effective on January 1, 2027, and would be submitted to Arkansas voters at the next general election for Representatives and Senators. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment will become part of the state constitution, effectively making it more difficult for petition sponsors to salvage insufficient ballot initiatives or referendum petitions.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hjr1016&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R