The bill amends Arkansas law regarding initiative and referendum petitions by introducing a "cure period" for sponsors to address any insufficiencies identified by the Secretary of State. Specifically, if a petition is deemed insufficient, the Secretary of State is required to notify the sponsor in writing, allowing them thirty days to correct the identified issues. Following the resubmission of the petition or signatures, the Secretary of State must determine their sufficiency within ten days and notify the sponsor of the outcome. This process aims to support the legislative powers reserved for the people of Arkansas as outlined in the state constitution.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing legal language concerning the verification and counting of signatures on petitions. It specifies that certain provisions regarding the counting of signatures will not apply if the Secretary of State has identified insufficiencies, thereby allowing for a more flexible approach to handling petitions that may initially fall short of the required number of valid signatures. This change is intended to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of the initiative and referendum process in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
SB 398: 7-9-111, 7-9-126(b), 7-9-126(d)