This bill amends the rules governing the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Arkansas to grant exclusive original jurisdiction to the Court of Appeals for facial constitutional challenges. Specifically, it establishes that the Court of Appeals will handle cases where a party seeks to declare a provision of an act of the General Assembly, the Arkansas Code, or an administrative rule unconstitutional in all its applications. The bill also modifies Rule 1-2 of the court rules to reflect this change, ensuring that the procedures for such challenges align with those used in circuit court bench trials.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing rules regarding the jurisdiction and procedures of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. It clarifies that appeals from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court will only be allowed under specific circumstances, such as tie votes or conflicts with prior decisions. The bill also updates the content requirements for petitions to the Supreme Court and outlines the grounds for review. The changes will take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1832 V2 - 4-7-2025 10:36 AM: 16-13-201(a)
Old version HB1832 Original - 3-18-2025 01:57 PM: 16-13-201(a)
HB 1832: 16-13-201(a)
Act 975: 16-13-201(a)