The bill amends existing laws regarding local initiative and referendum petitions in Arkansas, introducing new definitions and requirements for the circulation and verification of these petitions. Notably, it defines "local" as pertaining to counties or municipalities and establishes that both statewide and local initiative and referendum petitions must be filed with the appropriate authorities, namely the Secretary of State for statewide petitions and the county clerk for local petitions. The bill also specifies that sponsors must provide a complete list of paid canvassers to both the Secretary of State and the county clerk, ensuring transparency and compliance with legal standards.

Additionally, the bill enhances penalties for misconduct related to petition signatures, making it a Class A misdemeanor for canvassers or sponsors to engage in fraudulent practices. It mandates that canvassers file affidavits certifying compliance with Arkansas laws, and it prohibits payment based on the number of signatures obtained. The amendments aim to strengthen the integrity of the petition process by ensuring that all signatures are collected lawfully and that the measures proposed are clearly defined and legally sound before they are circulated for public support.

Statutes affected:
SB 584: 7-9-101, 7-9-104, 7-9-105, 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(c), 7-9-103(e), 7-9-107, 7-9-111(j), 7-9-601(a), 7-9-601(b), 7-9-601(f), 7-9-601(g), 14-14-915(a), 14-14-915(b)
Act 768: 7-9-101, 7-9-104, 7-9-105, 7-9-103(a), 7-9-103(c), 7-9-103(e), 7-9-107, 7-9-111(j), 7-9-601(a), 7-9-601(b), 7-9-601(f), 7-9-601(g), 14-14-915(a), 14-14-915(b)