The bill aims to establish uniform procedures for filling vacancies in municipal offices across Arkansas. It amends existing laws to clarify that vacancies in municipal offices, regardless of the municipality's classification or form of government, will be filled according to specific methods outlined in the new language. These methods include electing a person to serve the unexpired term at the first council meeting after the vacancy declaration or calling a special election to fill the position. Additionally, the bill specifies that in municipalities with a population of 50,000 or more, a member of the governing body cannot be appointed to fill a vacancy.

The bill also revises various sections of the Arkansas Code to ensure consistency in how vacancies are addressed, including provisions for mayors and council members. It removes previous requirements for majority votes or special elections in certain circumstances and instead mandates that all vacancies be filled under the new procedures established in Section 14-42-103. This streamlining is intended to create a more efficient process for addressing vacancies in municipal offices throughout the state.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1555 Original - 2-24-2025 11:43 AM: 14-42-103, 14-43-501(a), 14-43-411(a), 7-11-101, 14-43-304(d), 14-43-310, 14-43-401(b), 14-43-411, 14-43-412, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-104, 14-44-106, 14-45-103, 14-45-109, 14-47-113, 14-47-117(b), 14-48-112(b)
Old version HB1555 V2 - 3-31-2025 02:29 PM: 14-42-103, 14-43-501(a), 14-43-411(a), 03-31-2025, 7-11-101, 14-43-304(d), 14-43-310, 14-43-401(b), 14-43-411, 14-43-412, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-104, 14-44-106, 14-45-103, 14-45-109, 14-47-113, 14-47-117(b), 14-48-112(b)
Old version HB1555 V3 - 4-9-2025 06:26 PM: 14-42-103, 14-43-501(a), 14-43-411(a), 04-09-2025, 7-11-101, 14-43-304(d), 14-43-310, 14-43-401(b), 14-43-411, 14-43-412, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-104, 14-44-106, 14-45-103, 14-45-109, 14-47-113, 14-47-117(b), 14-48-112(b)
HB 1555: 14-42-103, 14-43-501(a), 14-43-411(a), 7-11-101, 14-43-304(d), 14-43-310, 14-43-401(b), 14-43-411, 14-43-412, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-104, 14-44-106, 14-45-103, 14-45-109, 14-47-113, 14-47-117(b), 14-48-112(b)
Act 995: 14-42-103, 14-43-501(a), 14-43-411(a), 04-09-2025, 7-11-101, 14-43-304(d), 14-43-310, 14-43-401(b), 14-43-411, 14-43-412, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-104, 14-44-106, 14-45-103, 14-45-109, 14-47-113, 14-47-117(b), 14-48-112(b)