The bill amends existing laws regarding the filing of original drafts for initiative and referendum petitions in Arkansas. It introduces a requirement that ballot titles for initiated measures must be written at or below an eighth-grade reading level, as determined by the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test. If the Attorney General rejects a proposed ballot title for exceeding this reading level, they are mandated to provide reasons for the rejection and guide petitioners on how to revise the title to comply with the new standard. Additionally, the bill includes legislative findings that emphasize the importance of protecting the integrity of the initiative and referendum processes, as well as safeguarding voters from misleading or unlawful measures.

The bill also declares an emergency, stating that immediate action is necessary to ensure clarity and consistency in the procedures for initiatives and referenda. It specifies that the new regulations will not apply retroactively to any proposed ballot titles that have already been certified by the Attorney General prior to the bill's effective date. The emergency clause underscores the urgency of the legislation in preserving public peace, health, and safety by enhancing transparency in the initiative approval process.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1713 Original - 3-10-2025 01:05 PM: 7-9-107
Old version HB1713 V2 - 3-17-2025 11:23 AM: 7-9-107
HB 1713: 7-9-107