Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1461

Introduced

2/12/25

Refer

2/12/25

Failed

5/5/25

Caption

To Amend The Law Concerning The Evaluation Of Necessity Of Various Commissions And Boards.

Impact

The implications of HB1461 are significant for state governance, especially regarding how commissions and boards are held accountable for their functions. By establishing mandatory evaluations and conditions for the abolition of boards that do not meet regularly, the bill pushes for more active engagement from these entities and aims to streamline government operations. This could potentially reduce waste and ensure that only productive commissions remain operational, thus enhancing the efficiency of state governance.

Summary

House Bill 1461 aims to amend the laws governing the evaluation and necessity of various state commissions and boards in Arkansas. The bill proposes that any state board or commission that has not convened a meeting or has not achieved quorum for two consecutive meetings within a two-year period must elect new leadership positions, namely a chair and vice chair. Furthermore, boards and commissions lacking prescribed powers or duties that have not met during the same timeframe will be abolished. The controlling agency of these bodies is mandated to inform the Legislative Council of their abolition before the next scheduled meeting.

Contention

There are points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly regarding the potential for overreach in governmental oversight. Critics might argue that the automatic abolition clause for meetings or quorum could lead to the dismantling of important commissions that may have sporadic activities yet contribute positively in the long run. Additionally, the decision on what constitutes a 'need' for a commission could be subjective and impact various stakeholders differently, potentially stifling niche interests that do not meet the broader operational thresholds.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR SB356

To Abolish Inactive State Entities; To Amend The Law Concerning The Reporting Of Boards And Commissions; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB272

To Create An Election Integrity Review Process; To Amend The Duties Of The State Board Of Election Commissioners; And To Amend The Law Concerning Election Law Violations.

AR HB1464

To Amend The Law Concerning Complaints Of Election Law Violations; And To Amend The Law Concerning The State Board Of Election Commissioners.

AR HB1513

To Create The Election Integrity Unit Within The Attorney General's Office; To Amend The Duties Of The State Board Of Election Commissioners; And To Amend The Law Concerning Violations Of Election Law.

AR SB491

To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Employees Of Institutions Of Higher Education; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HB1616

To Amend The Law Concerning Publication Of Notice; To Allow The Publication Of Notice On A Website; To Amend The Law Concerning Counties And Municipalities And Publication; And To Amend The Law Concerning Elections.

AR SB206

To Amend The Law Concerning School Elections; And To Amend The Law Concerning Members Of Local School Boards Of Directors.

AR SB573

To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code Concerning Public Education.

AR HB1306

To Amend The Law Concerning The Membership Of The Boards Of Trustees Of Various Public Retirement Systems.

AR SJR1

A Constitutional Amendment To Amend Constitutional Provisions Concerning Apportionment; And To Create The Arkansas Apportionment Commission.

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