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: H2/19/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 208
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 VIEW
11 PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A SIGNATURE; TO
12 DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE
17 AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO VIEW A
18 CANVASSER TO REQUEST PHOTO
19 IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A
20 SIGNATURE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
23
24 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 7-9-109 is amended to add an additional
25 subsection to read as follows:
26 (g)(1) A canvasser who witnesses signatures on a petition part shall
27 view a copy of a potential petitioner's photo identification to verify the
28 identity of the potential petitioner before obtaining the signature.
29 (2) If a canvasser cannot verify the identity of the potential
30 petitioner, the canvasser shall not obtain a signature from the potential
31 petitioner.
32 (3) A canvasser who submits a canvasser affidavit under
33 subsection (a) of this section swearing that to the best of the affiant's
34 knowledge and belief each signature is genuine, and that the person signing
35 is a legal voter, but does not comply with the requirements under subdivision
36 (g)(1) of this section makes a false statement on a petition verification
*SSS086* 02-19-2025 11:09:14 SSS086
As Engrossed: H2/19/25 SB208
1 form.
2 (4) As used in this subsection, "photo identification" means a
3 document or identification card permitted under � 7-1-101(40).
4
5 SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this act
6 are declared to be severable and the invalidity of any provision of this act
7 shall not affect other provisions of the act which can be given effect
8 without the invalid provision.
9
10 SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and
11 determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the process
12 for citizens to propose initiated acts and amendments to the Arkansas
13 Constitution is critical to a well-functioning democracy in this state; that
14 it is of the utmost importance that the integrity of the initiative process
15 be strengthened through this act so that petitioners and voters maintain a
16 high degree of confidence in the soundness of their right to legislate as
17 citizens of Arkansas; and that this act is immediately necessary because any
18 delay in the implementation of this act would disrupt the initiative process
19 for the 2026 general election, which would have a detrimental effect on the
20 public peace, health, and safety of Arkansas. Therefore, an emergency is
21 declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the
22 preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective
23 on:
24 (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;
25 (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
26 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
27 bill; or
28 (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
29 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.
30
31 /s/K. Hammer
32
33
34
35
36
2 02-19-2025 11:09:14 SSS086Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.