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 is now responsible for approving incorporation petitions, which must be verified by the county clerk within 30 days of receipt. The bill also stipulates that the Secretary of State will publish notice of the hearing on the petition on their website at least three weeks prior to the hearing.

Further amendments include the requirement that the proposed business plan for the municipality must address the continuation of essential services such as police, fire, utilities, and trash services. The bill clarifies that a petition for incorporation cannot be denied solely because the proposed boundaries span more than one county. Lastly, the Secretary of State is granted the authority to promulgate rules to implement the new subchapter, ensuring a structured approach to the incorporation process.

Statutes affected:
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
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
SB 525: 14-38-101, 14-38-103, 14-38-104, 14-38-107(b), 14-38-117