The bill amends the law regarding initiative and referendum petitions in Arkansas by requiring the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes. Specifically, if the Attorney General finds that a ballot title is misleading or conflicts with constitutional or federal law, they have the authority to reject the entire petition and instruct the petitioners to redesign it. This amendment aims to ensure that voters are not misled by the language used in ballot titles and that proposed measures comply with higher legal standards.

Additionally, the bill introduces a prohibition against submitting multiple conflicting initiative or referendum petitions. Sponsors are restricted from submitting conflicting measures for review, with exceptions allowing for submission after the next general election following certification or after a rejection of a previous petition. The Attorney General is mandated to reject any petitions submitted in violation of this new rule. The bill also includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1222 V2 - 2-6-2025 09:15 AM: 7-9-107(e), 7-9-107
Old version HB1222 Original - 1-24-2025 04:14 PM: 7-9-107(e), 7-9-107
HB 1222: 7-9-107(e), 7-9-107
Act 154: 7-9-107(e), 7-9-107