The bill amends Arkansas campaign finance laws to improve transparency for candidates running for various local offices, including school districts, townships, municipalities, and counties. It establishes a requirement for candidates to file detailed reports with the Secretary of State during election years, starting with monthly reports from January and including additional preelection and final reports based on campaign activities. Notably, candidates with contributions or expenditures under $500 are exempt from preelection reports, while those with amounts between $500 and $5,000 must file limited reports. Furthermore, candidates who withdraw from their campaigns are now required to notify the Secretary of State and submit final reports of their financial activities.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new annual reporting requirement for candidates seeking county office, mandating that they file a report by December 31 in years without an election for their position. This report must detail all contributions and expenditures for that year. The bill also clarifies that personal funds used to pay filing fees will not be included in the calculations for determining whether candidates need to file preelection reports. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the reporting process and enhance the integrity of elections in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1243 V2 - 2-4-2025 10:34 AM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-209(a)
Old version HB1243 V3 - 3-18-2025 10:22 AM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d)
Old version HB1243 V4 - 4-7-2025 06:57 PM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d)
Old version HB1243 Original - 1-27-2025 01:29 PM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-209(a)
HB 1243: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-209(a)
Act 994: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d)