Monday, April 14 — Arkansas Senate
The Arkansas Senate passed three separate proposals on Monday — one aimed at restricting the language of citizen-initiated ballot measures, and two others that would be referred to voters in the 2026 general election. Each touches on major areas: constitutional authority, immigration and voting, and economic development.
✔️ Passed Senate 24–7 | Needs House Approval | Sponsor: Sen. Mark Johnson (R-Ferndale)
Senate Bill 569 would require that ballot titles of citizen-led constitutional amendments be:
✅ Readable, clear, and concise
✅ Under 500 words
📘 And subject to readability standards set by the Legislature.
But there’s more: SB569 doubles as a constitutional test case. It challenges a long-standing 1951 Arkansas Supreme Court ruling (Game & Fish Commission v. Edgmon) that said the Legislature cannot amend voter-approved constitutional amendments, even with a two-thirds vote.
Sen. Johnson said the point is to force the Court to reconsider that precedent:
"If we pass this and the House passes it, someone will challenge it — and we’ll get a ruling.”
SB569 leans on later rulings — including the 2018 Andrews case — arguing the Court should stick to plain language in the Constitution. Johnson says Article 5, Section 1 gives the Legislature the power to amend constitutional amendments with a supermajority, and it’s time to clarify that in law.
🧾 This bill barely failed last week but passed Monday with exactly the two-thirds threshold needed: 24 out of 35 senators.
✔️ Passed Senate 27–0 | Sponsor: Rep. David Ray (R-Maumelle)
A constitutional amendment proposal to bar noncitizens from voting passed unanimously in the Senate.
While Arkansas law already limits voting to citizens, the current constitutional language is vague:
"Any person may vote..." if they meet certain criteria.
HJR1018 would update that to say:
"To vote in an election in this state, a person shall be..." a U.S. citizen, Arkansas resident, age 18+, and registered.
📊 14 other states have passed similar amendments, all by wide margins.
✔️ Passed Senate 28–6 | Moving to House | Sponsor: Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy)
This amendment would allow the General Assembly to:
✅ Create economic development districts
✅ Approve loans and grants of public money for projects
✅ Let those districts issue bonds to finance improvements
It would apply “notwithstanding any other provision” of the Arkansas Constitution — effectively superseding other restrictions on public financing.
💬 Dismang’s goal: Boost flexibility for regional economic investment.
✔️ Advanced in House Committee | Sponsor: Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn)
This proposed amendment would strengthen the language in the Constitution about the right to bear arms, declaring:
It’s a “natural, fundamental, and individual right”
Arkansans may possess firearms, ammunition, accessories, and components
The right covers common defense, lawful hunting, recreation, and any other lawful purpose.
🧠 This effort mirrors other red-state constitutional amendments that expand 2nd Amendment protections beyond federal wording.
SB569 heads to the House and could prompt a constitutional showdown.
The three joint resolutions (HJR1018, SJR15, SJR11) are headed to the ballot — or will be, once they finish clearing the House side.