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: S3/13/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1597
4
5 By: Representative Dalby
6 By: Senator A. Clark
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION
10 OF THE OATH OF OFFICE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE
15 ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE.
16
17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 14-42-106(b), concerning oaths required for
20 elected or appointed municipal officers, is amended to read as follows:
21 (b)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2) of this section, the
22 officers shall take their oaths before:
23 (A) The Secretary of State or his or her official
24 designee;
25 (B) A justice or judge; of the:
26 (i) Supreme Court;
27 (ii) Court of Appeals;
28 (iii) Circuit court, including any former circuit or
29 chancery judge who served for at least four (4) years; or
30 (iv) District court, including any former municipal
31 or district judge who served for at least four (4) years;
32 (C) A judge of the county court;
33 (D) A federal justice or judge of the:
34 (i) United States Supreme Court;
35 (ii) United States Court of Appeals; or
36 (iii) United States District Court;
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As Engrossed: S3/13/25 HB1597
1 (E) A clerk of the:
2 (i) County court;
3 (ii) Circuit court; or
4 (iii) City of the first class;
5 (E)(F) A recorder of:
6 (i) A city of the second class; or
7 (ii) An incorporated town; or
8 (F)(G) A justice of the peace.
9 (2) The council members also may take their oaths before the
10 mayor of the municipality.
11
12 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 21-2-105(a), concerning who may administer
13 an oath of office, is amended to read as follows:
14 (a)(1) The Governor shall take the oath of office before:
15 (A) A justice or judge of the:
16 (i) Supreme Court;
17 (ii) Court of Appeals;
18 (iii) Circuit court; or
19 (iv) District court;
20 (B) A federal justice or judge of the:
21 (i) United States Supreme Court;
22 (ii) United States Court of Appeals; or
23 (iii) United States District Court;
24 (C) The county clerk; or
25 (C)(D) The clerk of the circuit court.
26 (2) The justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of
27 Appeals, judges of the circuit courts, judges of the district court,
28 Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, and Auditor of State shall take their
29 oaths before:
30 (A) The Governor;
31 (B) A justice or judge of the:
32 (i) Supreme Court;
33 (ii) Court of Appeals;
34 (iii) Circuit court, including any former circuit or
35 chancery judge who served for at least four (4) years; or
36 (iv) District court, including any former municipal
2 03-13-2025 14:01:52 CEB185
As Engrossed: S3/13/25 HB1597
1 or district judge who served for at least four (4) years;
2 (C) A federal justice or judge of the:
3 (i) United States Supreme Court;
4 (ii) United States Court of Appeals; or
5 (iii) United States District Court;
6 (D) The clerk of the county court; or
7 (D)(E) The clerk of the circuit court.
8 (3) All other officers, both civil and military, shall take
9 their oaths before:
10 (A) The Secretary of State or his or her official
11 designee;
12 (B) A justice or judge of the:
13 (i) Supreme Court;
14 (ii) Court of Appeals;
15 (iii) Circuit court, including any former circuit or
16 chancery judge who served for at least four (4) years;
17 (iv) District court, including any former municipal
18 or district judge who served for at least four (4) years; or
19 (v) County court;
20 (C) A federal justice or judge of the:
21 (i) United States Supreme Court;
22 (ii) United States Court of Appeals; or
23 (iii) United States District Court;
24 (D) The clerk of the county court;
25 (D)(E) The clerk of the circuit court;
26 (E)(F) A justice of the peace;
27 (F)(G) A clerk of a city of the first class; or
28 (G)(H) A recorder of a city of the second class or
29 incorporated town.
30
31 /s/Dalby
32
33
34
35
36
3 03-13-2025 14:01:52 CEB185Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.