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Bill > SB375

AR SB375

AR SB375
To Create The Offense Of Capital Rape; And To Amend A Portion Of Arkansas Code Which Resulted From Initiated Act 3 Of 1936.

summary

Introduced
03/04/2025
In Committee
04/08/2025
Crossed Over
03/12/2025
Passed
04/10/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/18/2025

Introduced Session

95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)

Bill Summary

AN ACT TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; TO AMEND A PORTION OF ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 3 OF 1936; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

AI Summary

This bill creates a new offense called "capital rape" in Arkansas law, which significantly expands the potential criminal penalties for rape involving children under 13 years old. Specifically, the bill allows for the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole for individuals who engage in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with a child 13 years or younger under certain circumstances, such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing the rape during another felony, using or threatening a deadly weapon, or having a prior rape conviction. The bill amends numerous sections of Arkansas Code to incorporate this new offense, including provisions related to sentencing, juvenile justice, background checks, and other legal procedures. The legislative findings suggest the bill is partly a response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that previously limited capital punishment for child rape cases. The bill provides detailed sentencing guidelines, with different provisions for offenders who were 18 or older at the time of the offense versus those who were younger. It also explicitly states that the victim's consent is not a defense to capital rape and allows for permanent no-contact orders against convicted individuals.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (56)

Jeremiah Moore (R)*,  Matt Stone (R)*,  Brandon Achor (R),  Wade Andrews (R),  Howard Beaty (R),  Mary Bentley (R),  Harlan Breaux (R),  Karilyn Brown (R),  Matt Brown (R),  Josh Bryant (R),  Joey Carr (R),  Paul Childress (R),  Cameron Cooper (R),  Bruce Cozart (R),  Steve Crowell (R),  Breanne Davis (R),  Tyler Dees (R),  Jonathan Dismang (R),  Matt Duffield (R),  James Eaton (R),  Les Eaves (R),  Jane English (R),  Scott Flippo (R),  Tony Furman (R),  Ben Gilmore (R),  Justin Gonzales (R),  Brad Hall (R),  Bart Hester (R),  Steve Hollowell (R),  Missy Irvin (R),  Lane Jean (R),  Blake Johnson (R),  Mark Johnson (R),  Roger Lynch (R),  John Maddox (R),  Richard McGrew (R),  Matt McKee (R),  Jon Milligan (R),  Jason Nazarenko (R),  Stetson Painter (R),  John Payton (R),  Jim Petty (R),  Chad Puryear (R),  Terry Rice (R),  Scott Richardson (R),  Ryan Rose (R),  Johnny Rye (R),  Gary Stubblefield (R),  Randy Torres (R),  Dwight Tosh (R),  Kendon Underwood (R),  Steve Unger (R),  DeAnn Vaught (R),  Steven Walker (R),  Dave Wallace (R),  Richard Womack (R), 

Last Action

Notification that SB375 is now Act 662 (on 04/18/2025)

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