The bill amends existing campaign finance laws in Arkansas, specifically regarding the reporting requirements for candidates running for school district, township, municipal, and county offices. Key changes include the requirement for candidates to file preelection reports of contributions and expenditures no later than sixty days prior to elections, as opposed to the previous seven days. Additionally, candidates must now submit these reports twenty days before elections, and final reports are required within thirty days after the election, regardless of the amount of contributions or expenditures. The bill also eliminates the previous exemptions for candidates who did not exceed $500 in contributions or expenditures, thereby standardizing reporting requirements for all candidates.

Furthermore, the bill repeals certain provisions that previously exempted candidates for county office from filing reports if they did not meet the financial threshold. This change aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign financing by ensuring that all candidates, regardless of their financial activity, adhere to the same reporting standards. Overall, the amendments seek to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in Arkansas by providing clearer and more consistent guidelines for campaign finance reporting.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1281 V2 - 2-4-2025 10:27 AM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-208, 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d), 7-6-209
Old version HB1281 Original - 1-28-2025 01:41 PM: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d)
HB 1281: 7-6-208(a), 7-6-208(d), 7-6-209(a), 7-6-209(d)