The bill amends the law regarding the incorporation and organization of municipalities in Arkansas by transferring the responsibilities of incorporation from the county court to the Secretary of State. Key changes include reducing the number of signatures required for a petition for incorporation from 200 to 75 or a majority of qualified voters in the area. Additionally, the Secretary of State will now be responsible for approving incorporations, setting hearing dates, and publishing notices, which were previously duties of the county court. The bill also introduces a requirement for the county clerk to verify petition signatures within 30 days and mandates that the Secretary of State publish notice of the hearing on their website.
Furthermore, the bill specifies that the Secretary of State must ensure that the proposed business plan for the new municipality addresses the continuation of essential services such as police, fire, utilities, and trash services. It also clarifies that a petition for incorporation cannot be denied solely because the proposed boundaries span more than one county. The Secretary of State is granted the authority to promulgate rules to implement these changes effectively. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the incorporation process and enhance the role of the Secretary of State in municipal organization.
Statutes affected: Old version SB525 V2 - 4-2-2025 10:15 AM: 14-38-101, 04-02-2025, 14-38-103, 14-38-104, 14-38-107(b), 14-38-117
Old version SB525 Original - 3-19-2025 04:03 PM: 14-38-101, 14-38-103, 14-38-104, 14-38-107(b), 14-38-117
SB 525: 14-38-101, 14-38-103, 14-38-104, 14-38-107(b), 14-38-117