The Arkansas General Assembly may refer up to three (3) proposed constitutional amendments each Regular Session to be placed on the ballot during the statewide general election. Historically the House and the Senate leadership will select one proposed amendment each and a third may then be agreed upon jointly. Each proposed amendment must pass both chambers by a simple majority.
Below are proposed amendments that the House and/or Senate are considering in committee, to be placed on the 2024 general election ballot.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Details:
House Proposed Amendments – Hearing Monday, April 3 at 10 Minutes Upon House Adjournment
HJR1006 – Allowing Lottery Proceeds to Provide Scholarships for Vo-Tech & Technical Institutes – NO POSITION
By: Rep. Robin Lundstrum
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow proceeds from the lottery to provide scholarships for not only public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities, but also for vocational-technical schools or technical institutes.
HJR1009 – Election of Judges on Partisan Basis – SUPPORT
By: Rep. Robin Lundstrum
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow the voter to know with which political party a judicial candidate is aligned. It would allow candidates to associate with a political party but could also run as an independent. This would apply for district court, circuit court, court of appeals, and supreme court judicial candidates.
Senate Proposed Amendments – Hearing Tuesday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m.
SJR1 – Creating a Commission to Draw Legislative Districts – OPPOSE
By: Sen. Bryan King
This proposed constitutional amendment would create a new commission to draw legislative districts. This would move the power away from the current apportionment board that consists of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. Instead of allowing statewide elected officials elected by a vote of the people to draw the districts, this would shift the power to unelected commissioners appointed to their positions. Liberals who cannot win elections have lobbied for these types of commissions to try and help their standing in redrawing legislative districts.
SJR2 – Allowing for the Recall of Certain Elected Officials – NO POSITION
By: Sen. John Payton & Rep. Fran Cavenaugh
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow for the recall of certain elected officials by a popular vote of the jurisdiction/district of which they are elected. This would include the following: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State, Commissioner of State Lands, Members of the House of Representatives, Members of the Senate, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Supreme Court, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Judges of the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court Judges, District Court Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys, County Judges, Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Circuit Clerks, County Clerks, Assessors, Coroners, Treasurers, County Surveyors, Collectors of Taxes, and Constables.
Statewide recalls would require petitions with signatures of at least 25% of the votes cast for Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected. At least 10% of the number of signatures must come from at least fifty (50) different counties of the state.
District, county, circuit, and township recalls would require petitions with signatures of at least 25% of the votes cast for Governor in that specific district at the last general election at which a Governor was elected.
SJR4 – Jungle Primary Elections to Help Democrats and Liberal Republicans – OPPOSE
By: Sen. Clarke Tucker
This proposed constitutional amendment would undermine elections in Arkansas by forcing all candidates to run against each other in a “jungle” style primary instead of separate primaries for Democrats and Republicans. After the jungle primary, then the top two candidates from all voters would run against each other in the general election. This would ensure that the more liberal Republicans and a Democrat would advance instead of the most conservative candidate. Because Democrats currently win few elections in Arkansas and more liberal Republicans are becoming more exposed as RINOs, some want to change the rules for a more preferred outcome.
SJR5 – Allowing for Welfare Program for Water Services – OPPOSE
By: Sen. Clarke Tucker
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow a county, city, town, or other municipal corporation to establish and fund a new government program to provide welfare for water services.
SJR6 – Repeal of Absolute Sovereign Immunity Protecting Government Against Lawsuits – SUPPORT
By: Sen. Alan Clark
This proposed constitutional amendment would peel back the current absolute sovereign immunity protections for government actors from lawsuits. This change would allow people to sue government actors if their claim asserts violations of the U.S. or Arkansas constitution, or is otherwise authorized by Arkansas law.
SJR10 – Victims Bill of Rights – NO POSITION
By: Sen. Dave Wallace & Rep. Jeff Wardlaw
This proposed constitutional amendment would create a victim’s bill of rights. Victims of violent or sexual crimes would have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse through the criminal justice process. They would have the right to be informed, upon request, when someone accused of a crime against them or convicted is released or escaped from custody. They shall have the right to be present at and, upon request, be informed of all criminal proceedings in which the defendant has a right to be present. They would have the right to be heard before any post-arrest release decision, negotiated plea, disposition, or sentencing. They would have the right to receive restitution payments before any fines, costs, and fees of the court. They would have the right that all rules of criminal procedure and admissibility of evidence in all criminal proceedings protect victims’ rights.
SJR15 – Equal Representation from Geographic Areas of Arkansas on the State Highway Commission – NO POSITION
By: Sen. Bryan King
This proposed constitutional amendment would require that the members of the state highway commission are more geographically represented. Parts of the state representing Northwest, Central, East, Southwest, and North Arkansas would each have a person from that area as a member on the commission. The number of commissioners could be later increased by the legislature.
