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: H2/20/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 207
4
5 By: Senator K. Hammer
6 By: Representative Underwood
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND
10 REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO
11 DISCLOSE THAT PETITION FRAUD IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE;
12 AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE
17 AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A
18 CANVASSER TO DISCLOSE THAT PETITION
19 FRAUD IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE; AND TO
20 DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
23
24
25 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 7-9-103(a), concerning the requirements of
26 canvassers, is amended to add an additional subdivision to read as follows:
27 (7) A person acting as a canvasser shall not obtain a signature
28 for a petition without disclosing to the potential petitioner that petition
29 fraud is a criminal offense before the potential petitioner signs the
30 petition in the custody of the canvasser by:
31 (A) Verbal notification; or
32 (B) If verbal notification is impossible, written
33 notification with a document that is provided separately from all other
34 petition materials.
35
36 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 7-9-103(c), concerning the penalty for
*SSS087* 02-20-2025 11:30:23 SSS087
As Engrossed: H2/20/25 SB207
1 falsification of materials related to signatures for an initiative or
2 referendum petition, is amended to read as follows:
3 (10) As a canvasser, fails to disclose to a potential petitioner
4 that petition fraud is a criminal offense before the potential petitioner
5 signs the petition in the custody of the canvasser as described under
6 subdivision (a)(7) of this section.
7
8 SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this act
9 are declared to be severable and the invalidity of any provision of this act
10 shall not affect other provisions of the act which can be given effect
11 without the invalid provision.
12
13 SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
14 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the process for citizens to
15 propose initiated acts and amendments to the Arkansas Constitution is
16 critical to a well-functioning democracy in this state; that it is of the
17 utmost importance that the integrity of the initiative process be
18 strengthened through this act so that petitioners and voters maintain a high
19 degree of confidence in the soundness of their right to legislate as citizens
20 of Arkansas; and that this act is immediately necessary because any delay in
21 the implementation of this act would disrupt the initiative process for the
22 2026 general election, which would have a detrimental effect on the public
23 peace, health, and safety of Arkansas. Therefore, an emergency is declared to
24 exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the
25 public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on:
26 (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;
27 (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
28 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
29 bill; or
30 (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
31 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.
32
33 /s/K. Hammer
34
35
36
2 02-20-2025 11:30:23 SSS087Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.