11-02-2025
Series of constitutional amendments filed in Arkansas legislature on Monday
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Legislators filed five separate resolutions for Arkansas constitutional amendments on Monday.
Resolutions filed would impact property taxes, property assessment, general assembly rules, judicial politics and municipal boards. All amendments are placed before voters before they become law.
PROPERTY TAXES
House Joint Resolution 1012 would amend the constitution's Amendment 79 to fix a property's assessed value until it is sold. It removes the language in the amendment for property re-assessment, a significant part of the current language.
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If voters approve this change, it will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027, using the most recent property assessment before Dec. 31, 2026.
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
Senate Joint Resolution 14 is a one-sentence-long constitutional amendment 'concerning the determination of the true value in money of real property for assessment purposes.'
GENERAL ASSEMBLY RULES
House Joint Resolution 1011 would re-write Article 5 of the state constitution regarding fiscal sessions of the general assembly. Article 5 states that the General Assembly will meet in fiscal session beginning in February of even-numbered years 'to consider only appropriations bills.'
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Non-fiscal bills may be considered in the article's language if two-thirds of the assembly vote in favor of considering the bill. Under HJR 1011, a bill may be considered if it is filed seven days before the fiscal session begins and up to seven days after the session has started, while keeping the two-thirds vote rule.
If this becomes law, it will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027.
JUDICIAL POLITICS
Senate Joint Resolution 13 changes the state's non-partisan judicial election rules to allow a candidate for judge to display their party affiliation alongside their name. The resolution included the ability for a judicial candidate to use 'independent' as a party and would not compel a candidate to list a party affiliation.
MUNICIPAL BOARDS
House Joint Resolution 1010 would allow the Senate to remove a member of an independent citizen commission for cause after a hearing. Removing someone requires more than two-thirds of the Senate to vote in favor of removing the member of the board or commission.
The resolution also removes the governor's ability to remove a commissioner, placing that responsibility with the Senate.
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All these resolutions will go through the approval process, including committee hearings, before being placed on the ballot for voters to decide.
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