The bill aims to amend existing laws regarding the territorial jurisdiction of municipalities in Arkansas by repealing the authority for municipalities to exercise jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of a county. Specifically, it repeals Arkansas Code 14-17-208(i), which previously allowed municipalities to control subdivisions in adjacent unincorporated areas, and removes related provisions that required municipalities to transmit proposed plats to county planning boards for review. Additionally, the bill repeals several other sections of the law that pertain to municipal territorial jurisdiction, including provisions related to annexation and the exercise of planning authority outside corporate limits.

Furthermore, the bill amends Arkansas Code 14-284-207(a) to clarify that fire protection districts created after January 1, 2021, cannot include areas within the territorial jurisdiction of a municipality that has adopted an ordinance for fire protection services, unless a majority of the municipality's governing body waives this restriction. Overall, the bill significantly reduces the scope of municipal authority over unincorporated areas and streamlines the regulatory framework governing land use and planning in these regions.

Statutes affected:
HB 1510: 14-17-208(i), 14-17-208(l), 14-38-101(b), 14-40-208, 14-56-413, 14-56-417(c), 14-56-422(5), 14-284-207(a), 17-28-305(b), 18-15-1702(6), 18-15-1703(e)
Act 314: 14-17-208(i), 14-17-208(l), 14-38-101(b), 14-40-208, 14-56-413, 14-56-417(c), 14-56-422(5), 14-284-207(a), 17-28-305(b), 18-15-1702(6), 18-15-1703(e)