AR
Arkansas House Bill HB1555

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1555 Compare Versions

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11 Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2-Act 995 of the Regular Session
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4-
5-State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 1
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3+State of Arkansas 1
64 95th General Assembly A Bill 2
75 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1555 3
86 4
97 By: Representative Painter 5
108 By: Senator Hester 6
119 7
1210 For An Act To Be Entitled 8
1311 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR FILLING A 9
1412 VACANCY IN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE; AND FOR OTHER 10
1513 PURPOSES. 11
1614 12
1715 13
1816 Subtitle 14
1917 TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR 15
2018 FILLING A VACANCY IN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE. 16
2119 17
2220 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 18
2321 19
2422 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 14 -42-103 is amended to read as follows: 20
2523 14-42-103. Vacancies in municipal offices generally. 21
2624 (a)(1) Vacancies in municipal offices that are authorized by state law 22
2725 to be filled by appointment by the city or town governing body require a 23
2826 majority vote of the remaining members of the governing body. 24
2927 (2) However, a majority of a quorum of the whole number of the 25
3028 governing body is required to fill the vacancy. 26
3129 (b)(1) The governing body may appoint any qualified elector, including 27
3230 members of a governing body, to fill the vacancy. 28
3331 (2) However, a member of the governing body shall not vote on 29
3432 his or her own appointment. 30
3533 (c) This section does not apply to circumstances prescribed under § 31
3634 14-43-501(a) or § 14-43-411(a) A vacancy of a municipal office in a 32
3735 municipality, regardless of the classification or form of government of the 33
3836 municipality, shall be filled according to one (1) of the following methods: 34
3937 (1)(A) At the first council meeting after the declaration of the 35
40-vacancy, the governing body of the municipality shall elect by a majority 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
38+vacancy, the governing body of the municipality shall elect by a majority 36 HB1555
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43-
44-
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4541 vote of the governing body of the municipality a person to serve the 1
4642 unexpired term. 2
47- (B)(i) Except as otherwise provided under subdivision 3
48-(a)(1)(B)(ii) of this section, if a vacancy is filled under subdivision 4
49-(a)(1)(A) of this section, a majority of the remaining members of the 5
50-governing body of the municipality shall fill the vacancy and the governing 6
51-body of the municipality may appoint any qualified elector of the 7
52-municipality. 8
53- (ii) A member of the governing body of the 9
54-municipality shall not be appointed to fill a vacancy under this section in 10
55-municipalities with a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more; or 11
56- (2)(A) At the first council meeting after the declaration of the 12
57-vacancy, the governing body of the municipality shall call a special election 13
58-to be held at the next special election date under § 7 -11-101 et seq. to fill 14
59-the vacant position for the remainder of the term. 15
60- (B)(i) If the governing body of a municipality calls for a 16
61-special election to fill the vacancy under subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this 17
62-section, the governing body may appoint a qualified elector of the 18
63-muncipality to serve in the office until the office is filled at the special 19
64-election. 20
65- (ii) A member of the governing body of the 21
66-municipality may be appointed under subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i) of this section 22
67-to serve in the office until the vacancy is filled at a special election. 23
68- (b) For a vacancy filled under subsection (a) of this section in a 24
69-municipality having a mayor, the appointment is not subject to veto by the 25
70-mayor. 26
71- 27
72- SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-304(d), concerning mayors in a city 28
73-having a mayor-council form of government, is amended to read as follows: 29
74- (d) If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor of a city described in 30
75-this section and the unexpired term is more than one (1) year, the vacancy 31
76-shall be filled by a special election and special runoff election, if 32
77-necessary, as provided in subsection (c) of this section under § 14-42-103. 33
78- 34
79- SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-310 is amended to read as follows: 35
80- 14-43-310. Council member ceasing to reside in ward. 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
43+ (B) If a vacancy is filled under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of 3
44+this section, a majority of a quorum of the whole number of the governing 4
45+body of the municipality shall fill the vacancy and the governing body of the 5
46+municipality may appoint any qualified elector of the municipality, including 6
47+without limitation members of the governing body of the municipality, 7
48+provided that a member of the governing body of the municipality shall not 8
49+vote on his or her own appointment ; or 9
50+ (2)(A) At the first council meeting after the declaration of the 10
51+vacancy, the governing body of the municipality shall call a special election 11
52+to be held at the next special election date under § 7 -11-101 et seq. to fill 12
53+the vacant position for the remainder of the term. 13
54+ (B) If the governing body of a municipality calls for a 14
55+special election to fill the vacancy under subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this 15
56+section, the governing body may appoint a qualified elector of the 16
57+municipality, including without limitation a member of the governing body of 17
58+the municipality, to serve in the office until the office is filled at the 18
59+special election. 19
60+ (b) For a vacancy filled under subsection (a) of this section in a 20
61+municipality having a mayor, the appointment is not subject to veto by the 21
62+mayor. 22
63+ 23
64+ SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-304(d), concerning mayors in a city 24
65+having a mayor-council form of government, is amended to read as follows: 25
66+ (d) If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor of a city described in 26
67+this section and the unexpired term is more than one (1) year, the vacancy 27
68+shall be filled by a special election and special runoff election, if 28
69+necessary, as provided in subsection (c) of this section under § 14-42-103. 29
70+ 30
71+ SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-310 is amended to read as follows: 31
72+ 14-43-310. Council member ceasing to reside in ward. 32
73+ If any duly elected council member shall cease to reside in the ward 33
74+from which he or she was elected, that person shall be disqualified to hold 34
75+the office and a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as prescribed by 35
76+law under § 14-42-103. 36 HB1555
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79+ 1
80+ SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 14-43-401(b), concerning the office of 2
81+mayor generally in a city of the first class, is amended to read as follows: 3
82+ (b)(1)(A) In case of the mayor's death, disability, resignation, or 4
83+other vacation of his or her office, the city council, by vote of a majority 5
84+of all its members, may appoint some other person to act until the expiration 6
85+of his or her term or disability if the unexpired term of his or her office 7
86+is less than one (1) year. Otherwise, an election shall be ordered in 8
87+accordance with the laws of the state vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-9
88+103. 10
89+ (B)(2) A removal from the city shall be deemed a vacation 11
90+of his or her office. 12
91+ (2)(A) In all cases in which the unexpired term has one (1) year 13
92+or more to run and a special election has been called to fill the vacancy in 14
93+the office of mayor, the city governing body may appoint a qualified elector 15
94+of the city, including any member of the city council, to serve as acting 16
95+mayor until the office is filled at the special election. 17
96+ (B) A member of the council shall not vote on his or her 18
97+own appointment. 19
98+ 20
99+ SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-411 is amended to read as follows: 21
100+ 14-43-411. Council member vacancy in mayor -council form of government. 22
101+ (a)(1)(A) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in 23
102+a city of the first class having a population of less than twenty thousand 24
103+(20,000) according to the most recent federal decennial census, at the first 25
104+regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy, the city council shall 26
105+proceed to elect by a majority vote of the remaining members elected to the 27
106+council a council member to serve for the unexpired term vacancy shall be 28
107+filled under § 14-42-103. 29
108+ (B)(i) However, at least a quorum of the whole number of 30
109+the city council shall remain in order to fill a vacancy. 31
110+ (ii) The election by the remaining members of the 32
111+city council is not subject to veto by the mayor. 33
112+ (2) The person elected by the council shall be a resident of the 34
113+ward where the vacancy occurs at the time of the vacancy. 35
114+ (b) When a vacancy occurs in any position of council member in a city 36 HB1555
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117+having a population of twenty thousand (20,000) or more according to the most 1
118+recent federal decennial census, a new council member shall be chosen in the 2
119+following manner: 3
120+ (1) If the unexpired portion of the term of a council member 4
121+exceeds one (1) year, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of 5
122+the vacancy, the city council shall proceed to either elect by a majority 6
123+vote of the remaining members elected to the council a council member to 7
124+serve for the unexpired term or call for a special election to be held in 8
125+accordance with § 7-11-101 to fill the vacancy; or 9
126+ (2) If the unexpired portion of the term of a council member is 10
127+one (1) year or less, a successor shall be chosen by a majority vote of the 11
128+members of the council the vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 12
129+ 13
130+ SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-412 is amended to read as follows: 14
131+ 14-43-412. Vacancies in other elected offices. 15
132+ (a) In case any office of an elected officer, except council members 16
133+of the ward, becomes vacant before the expiration of the regular term, then 17
134+the vacancy shall be filled by the city council until a successor is duly 18
135+elected and qualified. 19
136+ (b) The successor shall be elected for the unexpired term at the first 20
137+general election that occurs after the vacancy has happened under § 14-42-21
138+103. 22
139+ 23
140+ SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-103(b)(2), concerning the filling of 24
141+vacancies for council members in a city of the second class, is amended to 25
142+read as follows: 26
143+ (2) If any duly elected council member shall cease to reside in 27
144+the ward from which he or she was elected, that person shall be disqualified 28
145+to hold the office and a vacancy shall exist, which shall be filled as 29
146+prescribed by law under § 14-42-103. 30
147+ 31
148+ SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-104 is amended to read as follows: 32
149+ 14-44-104. Vacancy in council member's office. 33
150+ (a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in any city of 34
151+the second class, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 35
152+vacancy, the city council shall proceed to elect, by a majority vote of the 36 HB1555
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85- If any duly elected council member shall cease to reside in the ward 1
86-from which he or she was elected, that person shall be disqualified to hold 2
87-the office and a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as prescribed by 3
88-law under § 14-42-103. 4
154+ 5 02/21/2025 11:25:06 AM SSS175
155+council, a council member to serve for the unexpired term. 1
156+ (b) The election to fill the vacancy under subsection (a) of this 2
157+section is not subject to veto by the mayor vacancy shall be filled under § 3
158+14-42-103. 4
89159 5
90- SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-401(b), concerning the office of 6
91-mayor generally in a city of the first class, is amended to read as follows: 7
92- (b)(1)(A) In case of the mayor's death, disability, resignation, or 8
93-other vacation of his or her office, the city council, by vote of a majority 9
94-of all its members, may appoint some other person to act until the expiration 10
95-of his or her term or disability if the unexpired term of his or her office 11
96-is less than one (1) year. Otherwise, an election shall be ordered in 12
97-accordance with the laws of the state vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-13
98-103. 14
99- (B)(2) A removal from the city shall be deemed a vacation 15
100-of his or her office. 16
101- (2)(A) In all cases in which the unexpired term has one (1) year 17
102-or more to run and a special election has been called to fill the vacancy in 18
103-the office of mayor, the city governing body may appoint a qualified elector 19
104-of the city, including any member of the city council, to serve as acting 20
105-mayor until the office is filled at the special election. 21
106- (B) A member of the council shall not vote on his or her 22
107-own appointment. 23
108- 24
109- SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-411 is amended to read as follows: 25
110- 14-43-411. Council member vacancy in mayor -council form of government. 26
111- (a)(1)(A) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in 27
112-a city of the first class having a population of less than twenty thousand 28
113-(20,000) according to the most recent federal decennial census, at the first 29
114-regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy, the city council shall 30
115-proceed to elect by a majority vote of the remaining members elected to the 31
116-council a council member to serve for the unexpired term vacancy shall be 32
117-filled under § 14-42-103. 33
118- (B)(i) However, at least a quorum of the whole number of 34
119-the city council shall remain in order to fill a vacancy. 35
120- (ii) The election by the remaining members of the 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
160+ SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-106 is amended to read as follows: 6
161+ 14-44-106. Vacancy in office. 7
162+ If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, marshal, recorder, 8
163+treasurer, or recorder -treasurer in any city of the second class, at the 9
164+first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy the city council 10
165+shall proceed to elect a person to fill the vacancy either by a majority vote 11
166+of the council members or by a call for a special election to be held in 12
167+accordance with § 7-11-101 et seq under § 14-42-103. 13
168+ 14
169+ SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 14 -45-103 is amended to read as follows: 15
170+ 14-45-103. Vacancies. 16
171+ (a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in an 17
172+incorporated town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 18
173+vacancy, the town council shall elect by a majority vote of the town council 19
174+a council member to serve for the unexpired term the vacancy shall be filled 20
175+under § 14-42-103. 21
176+ (b) When a vacancy occurs in the office of recorder -treasurer in an 22
177+incorporated town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 23
178+vacancy, the town council shall elect by a majority vote of the town council 24
179+a recorder-treasurer to serve for the unexpired term the vacancy shall be 25
180+filled under § 14-42-103. 26
181+ (c) When a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor in an incorporated 27
182+town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy, the 28
183+town council shall: 29
184+ (1) Elect by a majority vote of the council members a mayor to 30
185+serve the unexpired term; or 31
186+ (2)(A) Call for a special election to be held under § 7 -11-101 32
187+et seq. to fill the vacancy. 33
188+ (B) At the special election, a mayor shall be elected to 34
189+complete the unexpired term the vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 35
190+ (d) When a vacancy occurs in the office of marshal in an incorporated 36 HB1555
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192+ 6 02/21/2025 11:25:06 AM SSS175
193+town and the marshal was elected under § 14 -45-109, at the first regular 1
194+meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy the town council shall elect by a 2
195+majority vote of the town council a marshal to serve for the unexpired term 3
196+vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 4
197+ 5
198+ SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-113 is amended to read as follows: 6
199+ 14-47-113. Director Mayor or director vacancy. 7
200+ Whenever a vacancy shall occur by any reason in the office of a 8
201+director, the board of directors shall elect a person by majority vote to 9
202+fill the vacancy and serve for the unexpired term thereof If a vacancy occurs 10
203+in the office of mayor or the office of a member of the board of directors, 11
204+the board of directors shall fill the vacancy under § 14 -42-103 at the first 12
205+regular meeting after the vacancy occurs . 13
206+ 14
207+ SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-117(b)(2)(A), concerning a vacancy 15
208+in the office of assistant mayor in a city manager form of government, is 16
209+amended to read as follows: 17
210+ (2)(A) If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs, the assistant 18
211+mayor shall perform the duties of mayor until a successor mayor is elected or 19
212+appointed under § 14 -42-103. 20
213+ 21
214+ SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-117(b)(2)(B)(i), concerning a 22
215+vacancy in the office of assistant mayor in a city manager form of 23
216+government, is amended to read as follows: 24
217+ (B)(i) If the mayor shall be continuously absent or 25
218+disabled for more than six (6) months, his or her office will automatically 26
219+become vacant and a successor mayor shall be elected or appointed under § 14 -27
220+42-103. 28
221+ 29
222+ SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-112(b)(2)(A), concerning a vacancy 30
223+in the office of assistant mayor or vice mayor in a city administrator form 31
224+of government, is amended to read as follows: 32
225+ (2)(A) If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs, the assistant 33
226+mayor or vice mayor shall perform the duties of mayor until a successor mayor 34
227+is elected or appointed under § 14 -42-103. 35
228+ 36 HB1555
123229
124-
125-city council is not subject to veto by the mayor. 1
126- (2) The person elected by the council shall be a resident of the 2
127-ward where the vacancy occurs at the time of the vacancy. 3
128- (b) When a vacancy occurs in any position of council member in a city 4
129-having a population of twenty thousand (20,000) or more according to the most 5
130-recent federal decennial census, a new council member shall be chosen in the 6
131-following manner: 7
132- (1) If the unexpired portion of the term of a council member 8
133-exceeds one (1) year, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of 9
134-the vacancy, the city council shall proceed to either elect by a majority 10
135-vote of the remaining members elected to the council a council member to 11
136-serve for the unexpired term or call for a special election to be held in 12
137-accordance with § 7-11-101 to fill the vacancy; or 13
138- (2) If the unexpired portion of the term of a council member is 14
139-one (1) year or less, a successor shall be chosen by a majority vote of the 15
140-members of the council the vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 16
230+ 7 02/21/2025 11:25:06 AM SSS175
231+ SECTION 15. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-112(b)(2)(B)(i), concerning a 1
232+vacancy in the office of assistant mayor or vice mayor in a city 2
233+administrator form of government, is amended to read as follows: 3
234+ (B)(i) If the mayor is continuously absent or disabled for 4
235+more than six (6) months, his or her office will automatically become vacant, 5
236+and a successor mayor shall be elected or appointed under § 14 -42-103. 6
237+ 7
238+ SECTION 16. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-115 is amended to read as follows: 8
239+ 14-48-115. Mayor or director vacancy. 9
240+ In the case of a vacancy in the office of mayor or in the office of a 10
241+member of the board of directors, the board, at the first regular meeting 11
242+after the occurrence of the vacancy and by majority vote , shall appoint a 12
243+person or call for a special election to be held in accordance with § 7 -11-13
244+101 et seq. to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term fill 14
245+the vacancy under § 14 -42-103. 15
246+ 16
141247 17
142- SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 14 -43-412 is amended to read as follows: 18
143- 14-43-412. Vacancies in other elected offices. 19
144- (a) In case any office of an elected officer, except council members 20
145-of the ward, becomes vacant before the expiration of the regular term, then 21
146-the vacancy shall be filled by the city council until a successor is duly 22
147-elected and qualified. 23
148- (b) The successor shall be elected for the unexpired term at the first 24
149-general election that occurs after the vacancy has happened under § 14-42-25
150-103. 26
151- 27
152- SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-103(b)(2), concerning the filling of 28
153-vacancies for council members in a city of the second class, is amended to 29
154-read as follows: 30
155- (2) If any duly elected council member shall cease to reside in 31
156-the ward from which he or she was elected, that person shall be disqualified 32
157-to hold the office and a vacancy shall exist, which shall be filled as 33
158-prescribed by law under § 14-42-103. 34
159- 35
160- SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-104 is amended to read as follows: 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
161-
162- 5 04-09-2025 18:26:22 SSS175
163-
164-
165- 14-44-104. Vacancy in council member's office. 1
166- (a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in any city of 2
167-the second class, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 3
168-vacancy, the city council shall proceed to elect, by a majority vote of the 4
169-council, a council member to serve for the unexpired term. 5
170- (b) The election to fill the vacancy under subsection (a) of this 6
171-section is not subject to veto by the mayor vacancy shall be filled under § 7
172-14-42-103. 8
173- 9
174- SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 14 -44-106 is amended to read as follows: 10
175- 14-44-106. Vacancy in office. 11
176- If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, marshal, recorder, 12
177-treasurer, or recorder -treasurer in any city of the second class, at the 13
178-first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy the city council 14
179-shall proceed to elect a person to fill the vacancy either by a majority vote 15
180-of the council members or by a call for a special election to be held in 16
181-accordance with § 7-11-101 et seq under § 14-42-103. 17
182248 18
183- SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 14 -45-103 is amended to read as follows: 19
184- 14-45-103. Vacancies. 20
185- (a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of council member in an 21
186-incorporated town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 22
187-vacancy, the town council shall elect by a majority vote of the town council 23
188-a council member to serve for the unexpired term the vacancy shall be filled 24
189-under § 14-42-103. 25
190- (b) When a vacancy occurs in the office of recorder -treasurer in an 26
191-incorporated town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the 27
192-vacancy, the town council shall elect by a majority vote of the town council 28
193-a recorder-treasurer to serve for the unexpired term the vacancy shall be 29
194-filled under § 14-42-103. 30
195- (c) When a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor in an incorporated 31
196-town, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy, the 32
197-town council shall: 33
198- (1) Elect by a majority vote of the council members a mayor to 34
199-serve the unexpired term; or 35
200- (2)(A) Call for a special election to be held under § 7 -11-101 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
201-
202- 6 04-09-2025 18:26:22 SSS175
203-
204-
205-et seq. to fill the vacancy. 1
206- (B) At the special election, a mayor shall be elected to 2
207-complete the unexpired term the vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 3
208- (d) When a vacancy occurs in the office of marshal in an incorporated 4
209-town and the marshal was elected under § 14 -45-109, at the first regular 5
210-meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy the town council shall elect by a 6
211-majority vote of the town council a marshal to serve for the unexpired term 7
212-vacancy shall be filled under § 14 -42-103. 8
213- 9
214- SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-113 is amended to read as follows: 10
215- 14-47-113. Director Mayor or director vacancy. 11
216- Whenever a vacancy shall occur by any reason in the office of a 12
217-director, the board of directors shall elect a person by majority vote to 13
218-fill the vacancy and serve for the unexpired term thereof If a vacancy occurs 14
219-in the office of mayor or the office of a member of the board of directors, 15
220-the board of directors shall fill the vacancy under § 14 -42-103 at the first 16
221-regular meeting after the vacancy occurs . 17
222- 18
223- SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-117(b)(2)(A), concerning a vacancy 19
224-in the office of assistant mayor in a city manager form of government, is 20
225-amended to read as follows: 21
226- (2)(A) If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs, the assistant 22
227-mayor shall perform the duties of mayor until a successor mayor is elected or 23
228-appointed under § 14 -42-103. 24
229- 25
230- SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 14 -47-117(b)(2)(B)(i), concerning a 26
231-vacancy in the office of assistant mayor in a city manager form of 27
232-government, is amended to read as follows: 28
233- (B)(i) If the mayor shall be continuously absent or 29
234-disabled for more than six (6) months, his or her office will automatically 30
235-become vacant and a successor mayor shall be elected or appointed under § 14 -31
236-42-103. 32
237- 33
238- SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-112(b)(2)(A), concerning a vacancy 34
239-in the office of assistant mayor or vice mayor in a city administrator form 35
240-of government, is amended to read as follows: 36 As Engrossed: S3/31/25 S4/9/25 HB1555
241-
242- 7 04-09-2025 18:26:22 SSS175
243-
244-
245- (2)(A) If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs, the assistant 1
246-mayor or vice mayor shall perform the duties of mayor until a successor mayor 2
247-is elected or appointed under § 14 -42-103. 3
248- 4
249- SECTION 15. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-112(b)(2)(B)(i), concerning a 5
250-vacancy in the office of assistant mayor or vice mayor in a city 6
251-administrator form of government, is amended to read as follows: 7
252- (B)(i) If the mayor is continuously absent or disabled for 8
253-more than six (6) months, his or her office will automatically become vacant, 9
254-and a successor mayor shall be elected or appointed under § 14 -42-103. 10
255- 11
256- SECTION 16. Arkansas Code § 14 -48-115 is amended to read as follows: 12
257- 14-48-115. Mayor or director vacancy. 13
258- In the case of a vacancy in the office of mayor or in the office of a 14
259-member of the board of directors, the board, at the first regular meeting 15
260-after the occurrence of the vacancy and by majority vote , shall appoint a 16
261-person or call for a special election to be held in accordance with § 7 -11-17
262-101 et seq. to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term fill 18
263-the vacancy under § 14 -42-103. 19
249+ 19
264250 20
265-/s/Painter 21
251+ 21
266252 22
267253 23
268-APPROVED: 4/22/25 24
254+ 24
269255 25
270256 26
271257 27
272258 28
273259 29
274260 30
275261 31
276262 32
277263 33
278264 34
279265 35
280266 36