Arkansas House Bill HB1597

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25
• Report Pass: 3/4/25
• Engrossed: 3/5/25
• Refer: 3/5/25
• Report Pass: 3/12/25
• Refer: 3/18/25
• Report Pass: 3/20/25
• Enrolled: 3/31/25
• Chaptered: 4/3/25
• Passed: 4/3/25

Caption

To Amend The Law Concerning The Administration Of The Oath Of Office.

Impact

If enacted, HB1597 will bring changes to the Arkansas Code by transforming sections related to the administration of the oath of office. This could lead to increased efficiency in the process by which public officials are sworn in, aiming to eliminate ambiguities that may exist in the current statute regarding who may perform these oaths. This change may also reinforce the importance of the legal standing of oaths within government operations, thereby emphasizing the accountability of public officers.

Summary

House Bill 1597 proposes an amendment to the laws concerning the administration of the oath of office within the state of Arkansas. The bill specifies who is authorized to administer the oath for various officials, including the Governor, justices, judges, and other civil and military officers. The primary goal of this legislation is to clarify the procedural aspects surrounding the oath-taking process for public officials, ensuring uniformity across the state's administrative practices.

Contention

There may be areas of contention surrounding HB1597, particularly regarding the specified qualifications of those authorized to administer oaths. For instance, the bill outlines that former judges who served at least four years are eligible, which could raise discussions about the inclusivity of this provision and whether it sufficiently represents the diversity of qualified individuals in the state. Opponents may argue that limiting the ability to administer oaths to certain officials could hinder the process during critical transitions of governmental authority.