Canvassing groups collect signatures as July deadline looms

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas groups attempting to put their ballot amendments before voters are coming up on an important deadline.

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If you want a certain issue to appear on the ballot for voters in November, you have to get tens of thousands of signatures from across the state. If you want to pass an initiative, that number is over 72,000. If the proposal you are trying to pass amends the Arkansas Constitution, you have to collect just over 90,000 signatures from 50 of the state’s 75 counties.

Groups are about a month away from a July 5 deadline to submit signatures. There are seven groups or people who are pushing amendments and initiatives; six of those are scrambling in the final stretch to collect as many signatures as they can.

Canvassing groups collect signatures as July deadline looms

Freedom of Information Act advocates ready to unveil constitutional amendment proposal

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

By next week, expect to see the first draft of a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) into the Arkansas Constitution.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Capitol View, attorney David Couch – who has successfully led ballot initiative campaigns in recent years – said the group he is working with to place an amendment to protect Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act into the state constitution should have a draft to share publicly.

“There has been a group of us that have been working diligently for the last few weeks on a draft of the amendment. I think that we’re probably going to release it early next week because since this is openness and transparency, we’re going to be open and transparent,” he said.

Freedom of Information Act advocates ready to unveil constitutional amendment proposal

Legislature Passes New Version Of 'Gun Sovereignty' Bill In Final Day Of Session

In the last moments of the 2021 Arkansas General Legislative Session, which ended early Tuesday after 1 a.m., the legislature managed to pass a bill that bans police from enforcing some federal gun laws, but addresses problems previously brought up on a similar bill that was vetoed by the governor. 

House Bill 1957, filed late Monday night, made its way through the legislature in fewer than 28 hours through a series of committee meetings, recesses and votes.

The legislation would ban all state and local law enforcement officers from enforcing any federal gun laws that conflict with the right to bear arms as outlined in both the U.S. and Arkansas Constitution. Those include any laws requiring registration, tracking or banning possession of firearms. The bill is nearly identical to Senate Bill 298, which Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed on Friday.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/legislature-passes-new-version-gun-sovereignty-bill-final-day-session

Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, presents House Bill 1957 to the House floor.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Arkansas Senate Overrides Governor Hutchinson Veto of Gun Bill

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas State Senate voted 21-12 Monday (April 26) to override Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto of SB 298, a bill that would give state and local law enforcement the ability to not cooperate with federal law enforcement officials.

It restricts local or state law enforcement or public officials from enforcing or assisting federal agencies or officers “in the enforcement of any federal statute, executive order, or federal agency directive that conflicts with the Arkansas Constitution.” The measure specifically addresses federal requirements to register or track firearms, any prohibition against possession or ownership of a firearm or accessory, or the confiscation of firearms or ammunition.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/senate-overrides-gov-hutchinson-veto-of-gun-bill/

House Advances Amendment Making Constitution Changes Harder

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

A constitutional amendment that would make it harder to amend the Arkansas Constitution or pass an initiated act passed the House of Representatives. Members voted 74-18-1 on Thursday (April 15) to advance House Joint Resolution 1005.

The Constitutional Amendment and Ballot Initiative Reform Amendment by Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, would raise the bar for amending the Constitution or passing a voter-led initiated act from the 50% to 60%. Referenda, where voters review a legislative act, would continue to require only a 50% threshold. The measure would apply to ballot measures whether they are referred by the Legislature or the voters, Ray said. He said referenda would have a lower threshold because they are a defensive measure.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/house-advances-amendment-making-constitution-changes-harder/