The bill amends various sections of Arkansas campaign finance and ethics laws, specifically targeting the acceptance and reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures. Notably, it introduces a prohibition against prospective contributors, except for certain specified individuals, from making contributions to candidates or their representatives. Additionally, it clarifies that candidates or officeholders assessed fines by the Arkansas Ethics Commission cannot use campaign funds to pay these fines, replacing the term "carryover" with "remaining campaign" funds in several sections. The bill also updates the requirements for candidates and political action committees regarding the reporting of contributions and expenditures, including changes to the timelines for filing reports and the thresholds for registration.

Further amendments include the definition of ballot question and legislative question committees, adjusting the criteria for contributions and expenditures, and establishing new requirements for campaign materials. The bill mandates that campaign signs and literature must clearly state who paid for them, ensuring transparency in campaign financing. Lastly, it adds a requirement for executive directors of education service cooperatives to file their financial interest statements with the county clerk, thereby expanding the scope of financial disclosure in public service.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB351 Original - 2-28-2025 01:29 PM: 7-6-203(a), 7-6-203(f), 7-6-203(g), 7-6-206(a), 7-6-207(a), 7-6-207(b), 7-6-208(b), 7-6-209(b), 7-6-215(d), 7-6-216(c), 7-6-216(d), 7-6-220(a), 7-6-227(a), 7-6-228(c), 7-9-402(2), 7-9-402(10), 7-9-409(a), 21-8-703(a)
Old version SB351 V2 - 3-5-2025 02:48 PM: 7-6-203(a), 7-6-203(f), 7-6-203(g), 7-6-206(a), 7-6-207(a), 7-6-207(b), 7-6-208(b), 7-6-209(b), 7-6-215(d), 7-6-216(c), 7-6-220(a), 7-6-227(a), 7-6-228(c), 7-9-402(2), 7-9-402(10), 7-9-409(a), 21-8-703(a)
SB 351: 7-6-203(a), 7-6-203(f), 7-6-203(g), 7-6-206(a), 7-6-207(a), 7-6-207(b), 7-6-208(b), 7-6-209(b), 7-6-215(d), 7-6-216(c), 7-6-216(d), 7-6-220(a), 7-6-227(a), 7-6-228(c), 7-9-402(2), 7-9-402(10), 7-9-409(a), 21-8-703(a)
Act 592: 7-6-203(a), 7-6-203(f), 7-6-203(g), 7-6-206(a), 7-6-207(a), 7-6-207(b), 7-6-208(b), 7-6-209(b), 7-6-215(d), 7-6-216(c), 7-6-220(a), 7-6-227(a), 7-6-228(c), 7-9-402(2), 7-9-402(10), 7-9-409(a), 21-8-703(a)