The bill amends laws related to nonpartisan elections, particularly focusing on the election processes for local school boards in Arkansas. It changes the term lengths for school board members to four or six years, replacing the previous three to five years. The bill requires that an entire school district board of directors be elected during the first election following significant structural changes, such as zoning or boundary adjustments. It also introduces provisions for the initial drawing of lots for terms to ensure balanced representation in future elections. Additionally, it repeals certain requirements regarding the annual school election date, allowing for more flexible scheduling, and clarifies the process for filling vacancies on school boards.

Moreover, the bill stipulates that nonpartisan candidates will be included on political party ballots and that separate ballots for nonpartisan candidates must be available upon request. It emphasizes that voters are not required to participate in a political party's preferential primary to vote in a nonpartisan election. A new requirement is introduced stating that no candidate can be elected to the school district board without receiving a majority of the votes. If no candidate achieves a majority, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election during the November general election, with their names appearing on the same ballots as the general election candidates.

Statutes affected:
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)
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)
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)