State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

HB 1769 proposes new standards for law enforcement officers by requiring psychological evaluations. This bill directly affects individuals seeking to become or remain employed as law enforcement officers. As amended, it would mandate that current law enforcement officers undergo a psychological evaluation every five years. Additionally, any officer seeking employment with a new law enforcement agency must provide a psychological evaluation completed within the last two years.

HB 1631 proposes to amend Arkansas law regarding hunting and fishing licenses. The bill would allow the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission to categorize foreign exchange students in the same manner as nonresident college students for the purpose of issuing these licenses. This change directly affects foreign exchange students who wish to obtain a hunting or fishing license, potentially allowing them to access licenses under the same terms as nonresident college students.

HJR 1007 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a process for recalling elected officials in Arkansas. This amendment would allow qualified electors to petition for the recall of a wide range of officials, including the Governor, state legislators, judges, and various county and local officeholders. To initiate a recall, a notice of intent must be filed, followed by a recall petition. The petition requires signatures from at least 25% of the votes cast for Governor in the last election within the relevant jurisdiction, with specific county distribution requirements for statewide recalls. The Secretary of State or Attorney General would then determine the petition's sufficiency.

HJR 1008 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how personal and real property are taxed in Arkansas. It would authorize the General Assembly to reduce or eliminate personal property taxes and create exemptions. The amendment would also repeal the current requirement that personal and real property be taxed at an equal rate. Additionally, it modifies existing constitutional provisions for local library taxes (Amendments 30 and 38) to allow these taxes to be levied on real property, personal property, or both.

HJR 1017 proposes a constitutional amendment in Arkansas to change the requirements for state-wide initiated acts and constitutional amendments to become law. Currently, these measures pass with a state-wide majority vote. Under this proposed amendment, they would also need to receive a majority of votes in a majority of the state's counties to be approved. However, an act or measure subject to a state-wide referendum would still be repealed if rejected by a state-wide majority of voters, regardless of county-level results. This amendment, if approved by voters, would take effect on January 1, 2027.