Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/4/25 H3/18/25 S4/7/25
2 95th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1243
4
5 By: Representatives Underwood, Long, Rose, McAlindon
6 By: Senator C. Penzo
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE;
10 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
11 AND EXPENDITURES; TO AMEND REPORTING FOR CANDIDATES
12 FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWNSHIP, OR MUNICIPAL OFFICE;
13 TO AMEND REPORTING FOR CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY OFFICE;
14 TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996; AND FOR
15 OTHER PURPOSES.
16
17
18 Subtitle
19 TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING
20 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES;
21 TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING AND
22 PROTECT ELECTION INTEGRITY; AND TO AMEND
23 PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
24
25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
26
27 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 7-6-208(a), concerning reports of
28 contributions for candidates for school district, township, or municipal
29 office and resulting from Initiated Act 1 of 1996, is amended to read as
30 follows:
31 (a)(1) Reports required. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this
32 section, each candidate for school district, township, or municipal office,
33 or a person acting in the candidate's behalf, shall file with the Secretary
34 of State in an election year for the office that the candidate is seeking:
35 (1)(A) For each year in which a candidate is not listed on a
36 ballot for election, file an annual report of all contributions received and
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1 expenditures made during that year.
2 (B) The annual report shall be filed no later than fifteen
3 (15) days after the end of the year;
4 (2) No later than seven (7) days prior to any preferential
5 primary election, runoff election, general election, school election, or
6 special election in which the candidate's name appears on the ballot, file a
7 preelection report of all contributions received and expenditures made
8 between the period covered by the previous report, if any, and the period ten
9 (10) days before the election. In case of a runoff election, the report shall
10 cover all contributions received and expenditures made during that period of
11 time that begins after the date of the election from which the runoff arose
12 and ends ten (10) days before the runoff election;
13 (3) No later than thirty (30) days after the end of the month in
14 which the candidate's name has appeared on the ballot in any preferential
15 primary election, runoff election, general election, school election, or
16 special election, or when only one (1) candidate qualifies for a particular
17 office or position and no position or name of an unopposed candidate shall
18 appear on a ballot, file a final report of all contributions received and
19 expenditures made that have not been disclosed on reports previously required
20 to be filed. A final report is required regardless of whether a candidate has
21 received contributions or made expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars
22 ($500);
23 (4) File supplemental reports of all contributions received and
24 expenditures made after the date of preparation of the final report. The
25 supplemental reports shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the receipt
26 of a contribution or the making of an expenditure;
27 (5)(A) No later than thirty (30) days after the end of the month
28 in which the candidate has withdrawn, file a final report of all
29 contributions received and expenditures made that have not been disclosed on
30 reports previously required to be filed.
31 (B) If a candidate withdraws from the campaign, the
32 candidate shall notify the county clerk in writing of the withdrawal; and
33 (6) If a candidate keeps remaining campaign funds after an
34 election, the candidate shall continue filing the reports required by this
35 subsection (A)(i) A monthly report of all contributions received and
36 expenditures made during each month beginning with the month of January of a
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1 calendar year in which a candidate may be listed on a ballot for election.
2 (ii) A monthly report shall not be due under this
3 subdivision (a)(1)(A) for a month in which certain days of that month are
4 included in a preelection report required under subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this
5 section or a final report required under subdivision (a)(1)(C) of this
6 section.
7 (iii) In the case of a primary or runoff election,
8 those days of the month occurring after the date of the election shall be
9 carried forward and included in the next monthly report required under this
10 subdivision (a)(1)(A).
11 (iv) The monthly report shall be filed no later than
12 twenty (20) days after the end of each month, except that the final report
13 shall be filed as required in subdivision (a)(1)(C)(i) of this section;
14 (B)(i) No later than seven (7) days before a preferential
15 primary election, runoff election, general election, school election, or
16 special election in which the candidate's name appears on the ballot, a
17 preelection report of all contributions received and expenditures made
18 between the period covered by the previous report and the period ten (10)
19 days before the election.
20 (ii) In case of a runoff election, the preelection
21 report required under this subdivision (a)(1)(B) shall cover all
22 contributions received and expenditures made during that period of time that
23 begins after the date of the election from which the runoff arose and ends
24 ten (10) days before the runoff election;
25 (C)(i) A final report of all contributions received and
26 expenditures made for that election that have not been disclosed on reports
27 previously required to be filed no later than twenty (20) days after the end
28 of the month following the month in which the candidate's name has appeared
29 on the ballot in a primary election, runoff election, general election,
30 school election, or special election or when only one (1) candidate qualifies
31 for a particular office or position and no position or name of an unopposed
32 candidate shall appear on a ballot.
33 (ii) A final report is required under this
34 subdivision (a)(1)(C) whether or not a candidate has received contributions
35 or made expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500); and
36 (D)(i) A final report of all contributions received and
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1 expenditures made that have not been disclosed on reports previously required
2 to be filed.
3 (ii) The final report under this subdivision
4 (a)(1)(D) shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the
5 month in which the candidate has withdrawn.
6 (iii) If a candidate withdraws from the campaign,
7 the candidate shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the
8 withdrawal.
9 (2)(A) A candidate shall not be required to file a fourth
10 quarter report under this subsection if the candidate keeps remaining
11 campaign funds after an election but does not have any activity before the
12 end of the year.
13 (B) A candidate shall continue filing the reports required
14 by this subsection if the candidate keeps remaining campaign funds and raises
15 campaign funds for a future campaign or expends campaign funds for office
16 holder expenses or a future election.
17 (3) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, in a
18 year for which there is no election for the office that the candidate is
19 seeking, each candidate for school district, township, or municipal office,
20 or a person acting in the candidate's behalf, shall file with the Secretary
21 of State no later than December 31 an annual report of all contributions
22 received and expenditures made for the year.
23
24 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 7-6-208(d), concerning reports of
25 contributions not required for candidates for school district, township, or
26 municipal office and resulting from Initiated Act 1 of 1996, is amended to
27 read as follows:
28 (d) Reports Not Required.
29 (1) A candidate who has not received contributions or made
30 expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) shall not be required
31 to file any preelection reports required under subdivision (a)(1) subsection
32 (a) of this section.
33 (2) A candidate who has received contributions or made
34 expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) but not exceeding five
35 thousand dollars ($5,000) shall only file:
36 (A) A preelection report required under subdivision
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1 (a)(1)(B) of this section; and
2 (B) A final report required under subdivision (a)(1)(C) of
3 this section.
4 (3) In calculating the amount of contributions received or
5 expenditures made for purposes of this exception, the payment of the filing
6 fee from the candidate's personal funds shall not be considered as either a
7 contribution or an expenditure.
8 (2)(4) The preelection reports referenced in subdivision (a)(1)
9 subsection (a) of this section are required only for candidates with
10 opponents in those elections.
11
12 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 7-6-209(a), concerning reports of
13 contributions for candidates for county office and resulting from Initiated
14 Act 1 of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
15 (a)(1) Reports Required. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this
16 section, each candidate for county office or a person acting in the
17 candidate's behalf shall file with the Secretary of State in an election year
18 for the office that the candidate is seeking:
19 (1)(A) For each year in which a candidate is not listed on a
20 ballot for election, file an annual report of all contributions received and
21 expenditures made during that year.
22 (B) The annual report shall be filed no later than fifteen
23 (15) days after the end of the year;
24 (2) No later than seven (7) days prior to any preferential
25 primary election, runoff election, general election, or special election in
26 which the candidate's name appears on the ballot, file a preelection report
27 of all contributions received and expenditures made between the period
28 covered by the previous report, if any, and the period ten (10) days before
29 the election. In case of a runoff election, the report shall cover all
30 contributions received and expenditures made during that period of time that
31 begins after the date of the election from which the runoff arose and ends
32 ten (10) days before the runoff election;
33 (3) No later than thirty (30) days after the end of the month in
34 which the candidate's name has appeared on the ballot in any preferential
35 primary election, runoff election, general election, or special election, or
36 when only one (1) candidate qualifies for a particular office or position and
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1 no position or name of an unopposed candidate shall appear on a ballot, file
2 a final report of all contributions received and expenditures made that have
3 not been disclosed on reports previously required to be filed. A final report
4 is required regardless of whether a candidate has received contributions or
5 made expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500);
6 (4) File supplemental reports of all contributions received and
7 expenditures made after the date of preparation of the final report, and the
8 supplemental reports shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the receipt
9 of a contribution or the making of an expenditure;
10 (5)(A) No later than thirty (30) days after the end of the month
11 in which the candidate has withdrawn, a final report of all contributions
12 received and expenditures made that have not been disclosed on reports
13 previously required to be filed.
14 (B) If a candidate withdraws from the campaign, the
15 candidate shall notify the county clerk in writing of the withdrawal; and
16 (6) If a candidate keeps remaining campaign funds after an
17 election, the candidate shall continue filing the reports required by this
18 subsection (A)(i) A monthly report of all contributions received and
19 expenditures made during each month beginning with the month of January of a
20 calendar year in which a candidate may be listed on a ballot for election.
21 (ii) A monthly report shall not be due under this
22 subdivision (a)(1)(A) for a month in which certain days of that month are
23 included in a preelection report required under subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this
24 section or a final report required under subdivision (a)(1)(C) of this
25 section.
26 (iii) In the case of a primary or runoff election,
27 those days of the month occurring after the date of the election shall be
28 carried forward and included in the next monthly report required under this
29 subdivision (a)(1)(A).
30 (iv) The monthly report shall be filed no later than
31 twenty (20) days after the end of each month, except that the final report
32 shall be filed as required in subdivision (a)(1)(C)(i) of this section;
33 campaign contributions or expenditures exceed five hundred dollars ($500);
34 (B)(i) No later than seven (7) days before a preferential
35 primary election, runoff election, general election, or special election in
36 which the candidate's name appears on the ballot, a preelection report of all
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1 contributions received and expenditures made between the period covered by
2 the previous report and the period ten (10) days before the election.
3 (ii) In case of a runoff election, the preelection
4 report required under this subdivision (a)(1)(B) shall cover all
5 contributions received and expenditures made during that period of time that
6 begins after the date of the election from which the runoff arose and ends
7 ten (10) days before the runoff election;
8 (C)(i) A final report of all contributions received and
9 expenditures made for that election that have not been disclosed on reports
10 previously required to be filed no later than twenty (20) days after the end
11 of the month following the month in which the candidate's name has appeared
12 on the ballot in a primary election, runoff election, general election, or
13 special election or when only one (1) candidate qualifies for a particular
14 office or position and no position or name of an unopposed candidate shall
15 appear on a ballot.
16 (ii) A final report is required under this
17 subdivision (a)(1)(C) whether or not a candidate has received contributions
18 or made expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500); and
19 (D)(i) A final report of all contributions received and
20 expenditures made that have not been disclosed on reports previously required
21 to be filed.
22 (ii) The final report under this subdivision
23 (a)(1)(D) shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the
24 month in which the candidate has withdrawn.
25 (iii) If a candidate withdraws from the campaign,
26 the candidate shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the
27 withdrawal.
28 (2)(A) A candidate shall not be required to file a fourth
29 quarter report under this subsection if the candidate keeps remaining
30 campaign funds after an election but does not have any activity before the
31 end of the year.
32 (B) A candidate shall continue filing the reports required
33 by this subsection if the candidate keeps remaining campaign funds and raises
34 campaign funds for a future campaign or expends campaign funds for office
35 holder expenses or a future election.
36 (3) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, in a
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1 year for which there is no election for the office that the candidate is
2 seeking, each candidate for county office, or a person acting in the
3 candidate's behalf, shall file with the Secretary of State not later than
4 December 31 an annual report of all contributions received and expenditures
5 made for the year.
6
7 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 7-6-209(d), concerning reports of
8 contributions not required for candidates for county office and resulting
9 from Initiated Act 1 of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
10 (d) Reports Not Required.
11 (1) A candidate who has not received contributions or made
12 expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) shall not be required
13 to file any preelection reports required under subdivision (a)(1) subsection
14 (a) of this section.
15 (2) A candidate who has received contributions or made
16 expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) but not exceeding five
17 thousand dollars ($5,000) shall only file:
18 (A) A preelection report required under subdivision
19 (a)(1)(B) of this section; and
20 (B) A final report required under subdivision (a)(1)(C) of
21 this section.
22 (3) In calculating the amount of contributions received or
23 expenditures made for purposes of this exception, the payment of the filing
24 fee from the candidate's personal funds shall not be considered as either a
25 contribution or an expenditure.
26 (2)(4) The preelection reports referenced in subdivision (a)(1)
27 subsection (a) of this section are required only for candidates with
28 opponents in those elections.
29 /s/Underwood
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8 04-07-2025 18:57:06 SSS033Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.