The bill amends various provisions related to nonpartisan elections in Arkansas, specifically targeting the structure and election processes for local school boards of directors. It changes the term lengths for school board members from a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years to a fixed term of four or six years. The legislation introduces new requirements for the election of an entire school district board of directors under certain conditions, such as changes in membership structure or district boundaries, and establishes procedures for filling vacancies while ensuring staggered terms for future elections. Additionally, the timing of school board elections will now align with preferential primary elections, and candidate filing procedures will be adjusted accordingly.

Moreover, the bill clarifies the status of school board members as nonpartisan officeholders, aligning their election processes with those of judges and prosecuting attorneys. It mandates that nonpartisan candidates' names be included on political party ballots and allows for separate ballots for those candidates upon voter request. Importantly, voters are not required to participate in a political party's preferential primary to vote in a nonpartisan election. The bill also stipulates that candidates for certain judicial and educational offices must receive a majority of votes to be elected, with provisions for runoff elections if no candidate achieves a majority. These changes aim to streamline the election process and enhance governance within local school boards in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1724 V2 - 3-19-2025 02:35 PM: 6-13-608, 03-19-2025, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-611, 6-13-611(e), 6-13-634(d), 6-13-1415(e), 6-13-1417(a), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-102(a), 6-14-102, 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-14-121(a), 6-14-121(c)
Old version HB1724 V3 - 4-1-2025 12:45 PM: 6-13-608, 04-01-2025, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-611, 6-13-634(a), 6-13-634(b), 6-13-611(e), 6-13-634(d), 6-13-1415(e), 6-14-102(a), 6-13-1417(a), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-121(a), 6-14-102, 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-14-121(c)
Old version HB1724 Original - 3-10-2025 02:08 PM: 6-13-608, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-611(e), 6-13-634(d), 6-13-1415(e), 6-13-1417(a), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-102, 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-14-121(a), 6-14-121(c)
HB 1724: 6-13-608, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-611(e), 6-13-634(d), 6-13-1415(e), 6-13-1417(a), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-102, 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-14-121(a), 6-14-121(c)
Act 503: 6-13-608, 04-01-2025, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-611, 6-13-634(a), 6-13-634(b), 6-13-611(e), 6-13-634(d), 6-13-1415(e), 6-14-102(a), 6-13-1417(a), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-121(a), 6-14-102, 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-14-121(c)