This bill amends the law regarding the process by which a city of the first class can be reduced to a city of the second class in Arkansas. Specifically, it updates the criteria for such a reduction based on population size and the type of census used. The bill stipulates that when the most recent federal decennial census indicates that a city of the first class has fewer than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) inhabitants, the city may be downgraded to a second-class city.

Additionally, the bill changes the procedural requirements for this reduction. Instead of adopting a resolution, the municipal corporation's council must now pass an ordinance to request the downgrade in classification. These changes aim to clarify the population threshold and streamline the process for cities seeking to change their classification based on census data.

Statutes affected:
HB 1783: 14-37-114(a)
Act 834: 14-37-114(a)