This 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, and establishing that the Secretary of State will now approve or deny incorporation petitions based on specific criteria, including proximity to existing municipalities and the proposed municipality's ability to provide essential services such as police, fire, utilities, and trash services.

Additionally, the bill introduces new procedural requirements, such as the county clerk verifying petition signatures within 30 days and the Secretary of State publishing notice of the hearing on their website. It also clarifies that a petition for incorporation cannot be denied solely because the proposed boundaries span multiple counties. The Secretary of State is granted the authority to create rules to implement these changes effectively.

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