This bill amends the rules governing the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Arkansas to establish exclusive original jurisdiction for the Court of Appeals over facial constitutional challenges. Specifically, it allows the Court of Appeals to 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 procedure for such challenges aligns with that of bench trials in circuit courts.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing rules regarding the jurisdiction and procedures of both courts. 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 Original - 3-18-2025 01:57 PM: 16-13-201(a)
Old version HB1832 V2 - 4-7-2025 10:36 AM: 16-13-201(a)
HB 1832: 16-13-201(a)
Act 975: 16-13-201(a)