The bill amends Arkansas law regarding paid canvassers by establishing new residency requirements. Specifically, it stipulates that individuals must be residents of Arkansas and domiciled in the state when acting as paid canvassers for statewide initiative or referendum petitions. This amendment is reflected in the addition of new language to Arkansas Code 7-9-103(a) and 7-9-103(d), which prohibits sponsors or their agents from hiring non-residents or those not domiciled in Arkansas for these roles.

Furthermore, the bill introduces penalties for non-compliance, imposing a fine of $2,500 for each violation related to hiring paid canvassers who do not meet the residency requirements. It also includes provisions for reporting suspected forgery of signatures on petitions to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, the bill contains a severability clause, ensuring that if any part of the act is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. The Supreme Court's interpretation of domicile is referenced to clarify the requirements for establishing residency in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1574 V2 - 3-10-2025 11:19 AM: 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(d)
Old version HB1574 Original - 2-25-2025 09:44 AM: 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(d)
HB 1574: 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(d)
Act 453: 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(d)