TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.

Senate Bill 584 amends Arkansas law regarding local initiative and referendum petitions, which allow citizens to propose or challenge county and municipal ordinances. The bill requires sponsors of local petitions to file information about paid canvassers with the county clerk before they collect signatures. It also expands the list of prohibited actions for canvassers and sponsors, making certain fraudulent practices in signature collection a Class A misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill mandates that sponsors submit the original draft of local petitions to the county clerk for review and approval of the ballot title and popular name before circulation. Finally, it allows county clerks to refuse to count signatures collected by canvassers who violate state laws during the petition process.