The proposed legislation, known as the Direct Democracy Act of 2025, aims to amend the procedures for filing ballot initiative and referendum petitions in Arkansas. It seeks to repeal the Ensuring Access for All Arkansans and Voter Protection Act of 2023, thereby changing the current legal framework governing these processes. The act introduces new legal language that designates it as the "Direct Democracy Act of 2025," establishing a clear title for the legislation.

Additionally, the bill repeals specific provisions in Arkansas Code 7-9-126 regarding the signature count requirements for initiative and referendum petitions. The deleted sections previously mandated that petitions must be filed from at least fifty counties and include a certain percentage of signatures from each county to be certified for the statewide election ballot. By removing these requirements, the bill aims to simplify the process for citizens to initiate ballot measures and referendums.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1042 Original - 11-20-2024 03:44 PM: 7-9-126(e)
HB 1042: 7-9-126(e)