Latest news with #95thGeneralAssembly
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas coalition submits proposed ballot initiative to overturn legislative changes to referendum law
Video: Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A coalition of Arkansas community organizations announced Monday from the state capitol an effort to halt changes to the state's referendum process. A spokesperson said the group was submitting a ballot initiative to overturn legislation passed in the most recent session to increase restrictions on the referendum process. The spokesperson continued that if the initiative passes, it will make direct democracy an amendment to the state constitution. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' The spokesperson said the law passed during the 95th General Assembly makes it nearly impossible for 'regular people' to have a say in issues. In contrast, legislators said election integrity was at stake. One issue is a law passed requiring ballot initiatives to be at an eighth-grade reading level or lower. The attorney general's office recently rejected a similar ballot submission by the Arkansas League of Women Voters because it was above the reading level requirement. Lawmakers seek to rein in citizen ballot initiatives with new requirements for petitions Other changes made during the recent session increase the requirements for signature gathering and canvasser requirements. The Protect AR Rigths coalition includes Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, Arkansas Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Arkansas Citizens First Congress, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, For AR People, The Arkansas Education Association and NAACP Arkansas State Conference. Recent successful ballot initiatives in Arkansas were those allowing lottery proceeds to be used for vocational school scholarships and an amendment repealing the Pope County casino license. In the past, a 2018 initiative increased the state's minimum wage, and a 2016 initiative established an Arkansas medical marijuana program. ACLU representing two groups hoping to join Arkansas ballot bill lawsuit Other ballot initiatives to increase access to marijuana failed in 2022 and 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two additional groups ask to join Arkansas League of Women Voters suit against changes to referendum law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two additional groups filed in federal court on Thursday to join the Arkansas League of Women Voters lawsuit against recent changes to the election referendum law. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed the motion to intervene. It asked the court to allow Protect AR Rights and For AR Kids to challenge the changes to the referendum law made during the 95th General Assembly of the Arkansas legislature. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' Arkansas law allows voter referendums to appear on the ballot if certain steps are taken. In the recent past, the referendum process has allowed voters to raise the state minimum wage and permit access to medical marijuana. In the most recent legislative session, multiple bills were passed to make those steps more difficult to accomplish. Some of the recently passed provisions being challenged in the suit are: A requirement that citizen initiatives pass a machine-generated reading test before petitioning may begin. Rules that force circulators to recite specific warnings, verify IDs, and stop collecting signatures after an affidavit is filed. Restrictions on who may serve as a canvasser, including prohibitions on non-residents and additional burdens for paid petition circulators, and when canvassers may collect signatures Mandatory disclosures and procedures with the potential for harassment, including public release of canvasser addresses A law that gives the Secretary of State authority to exclude all signatures collected by a canvasser when the Secretary of State unilaterally determines that the canvasser violated laws or committed even technical violations. Both Protect AR Rights and For AR Kids are pursuing different referendums and are at different stages in the process. Protect AR Rights is a coalition meant to safeguard the ballot initiative process. Its members include Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Appleseed, Arkansas Citizens First Congress, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, For AR People and the Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP. Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects Arkansas League of Women Voters ballot title to overturn petition rules For AR Kids is a coalition working to amend the education clause of the Arkansas Constitution. Its member organizations include the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Arkansas Retired Teachers Association, Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP, Citizens First Congress and Stand Up Arkansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects Arkansas League of Women Voters ballot title to overturn petition rules
Video: Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An effort to overturn changes to the ballot referendum process hit a roadblock Monday when Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected the group's proposed ballot title. The submission by the Arkansas League of Women Voters was to place recent changes to the referendum process before voters as a referendum. This is the second time the group's ballot title was rejected. League of Women Voters submits Arkansas ballot question to roll back initiative changes In his rejection, Griffin cited the quality of the submitted ballot title and said it does not meet the requirements of one of the laws passed during the recent general assembly. The requirement, signed into law on April 14, requires all ballot titles to have an eighth-grade reading level. The attorney general also cited a grammatical issue with a sentence that had extra words in it, possibly a typo. The league has also filed a lawsuit in federal court to overturn the changes to the referendum process. Changes made to the process during the 95th General Assembly include the reading requirement cited in Griffin's opinion, along with tightening the signature gathering process. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' It is not unusual for a group to have ballot titles rejected by the AG before forming one that is accepted to go before voters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Central Arkansas schools prepare for laws going into effect next year
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Summer break is right around the corner for students, but it won't be a break for the state's school districts, which received plenty of homework from the state legislature. Of all the law changes coming in the 2025-2026 school year, Pulaski County Special School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janice Warren said 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' is the most challenging. The law requires students' phones to be stored during school hours. Arkansas educators experience Marine workshop in San Diego Warren said all changes made by new laws are among her biggest responsibilities this time of year. 'Whenever the session closes, you are trying to figure out, okay, what law impacts what,' Warren said. 'What laws have to do with registration? Which ones are the academic pieces?' She also categorizes changes by when they are coming which is usually one of three ways. They could take many years, like the full implementation of school choice vouchers. Some laws require adjustments over one summer, like 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' and free breakfast for all. Others are implemented immediately, such as a law passed this Spring requiring donated copies of the Ten Commandments to be hung in every classroom. New laws going into effect in Arkansas from the 95th General Assembly Some laws require curriculum changes and guidance from the Department of Education. Among them is a law requiring annual firearm safety instruction for students starting with the 2025-2026 school year. 'The big thing about that is figuring out what grade level, what subject area are you going to add this new law if it's gun safety or whatever,' Dr. Warren explained. Communication with staff and parents is a big part of preparation. PCSSD will be doing a trial phase of 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' within middle schools starting May 5, which has generated much feedback. 'It's just a task keeping up with all of them and making sure that we're implementing them correctly,' Warren said. Another law going into effect next school year requires all schools to offer accelerated learning courses. Bill to place audio recording devices in Arkansas school locker rooms headed to governor's desk A few laws are set to be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year. Act 478 requires the Founding Fathers' religious beliefs be taught. Act 134 requires education on communism and autocratic governments. Act 908 requires public schools to place audio recording devices in school locker rooms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Arkansas law establishes grant program for water and sewer facilities
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new Arkansas law provides state funding for water and sewer treatment facility improvements. Act 812, formerly House Bill 1681, was passed with bipartisan support by the 95th General Assembly. It authorizes the state to establish a Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program to be administered by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces $66.5 million in funding for Arkansas water projects The law does not establish the amount funded but instructs the state treasurer, auditor and chief fiscal officer to develop the fund consisting of 'any revenues authorized by law.' Municipalities will apply to the fund for improvements in their district, and 80% of the fund will be awarded to 'shovel-ready projects' in first and second-class cities, according to the act's language, with 20% for cities and rural areas with less than 1,200 population. First-class Arkansas cities are classified as having a population above 2,500, with second-class cities at 500 to 2,499 in population. Arkansas announces $79 million in water project funding The act includes an emergency clause, meaning it goes into effect the day it was signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who signed it on April 17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
