The proposed bill seeks to prohibit the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, officers, policies, or practices within local government entities in Arkansas. It introduces a new section to the Arkansas Code that defines DEI initiatives and outlines the restrictions on local government officials regarding the treatment of individuals based on race, ethnicity, sex, color, or national origin. Specifically, it prohibits local government employees from compelling others to affirm or adopt beliefs related to these characteristics and restricts differential treatment unless required by federal law. The bill also allows citizens to report violations and pursue civil action if local governments fail to address such violations within a specified timeframe.

Additionally, the bill explicitly states that local governments cannot implement DEI initiatives or require individuals to submit diversity statements as part of hiring or promotion processes. However, it clarifies that compliance with existing state or federal civil rights laws is still permissible. The legislation aims to ensure that local government practices do not promote preferences or differential treatment based on the aforementioned characteristics, except as mandated by law.