AR
Arkansas House Bill HB1630

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1630

Introduced
2/27/25  
Refer
2/27/25  
Report Pass
3/18/25  
Engrossed
3/20/25  
Refer
3/20/25  
Report Pass
4/2/25  
Enrolled
4/9/25  
Chaptered
4/14/25  

Caption

To Add A Misdemeanor Controlled Substance Offense To The Predicate Offenses For Capital Murder, Murder In The First Degree, And Manslaughter.

Impact

If enacted, this bill would broaden the scope of what constitutes capital murder in Arkansas. It would allow law enforcement and prosecutors the ability to pursue capital murder charges on a greater range of offenses related to controlled substances, which were historically not considered serious enough for such extreme classifications. Proponents argue this measure will serve as a deterrent for more heinous crimes committed in conjunction with drug offenses and could lead to a decrease in violent crime rates.

Summary

House Bill 1630 seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning capital murder by adding misdemeanor controlled substance offenses as predicate offenses. This change means that individuals committing capital murder could potentially face more severe penalties if their crime is associated with any misdemeanor involving controlled substances. As such, the definition of actions constituting capital murder will be expanded, impacting individuals charged under these new stipulations.

Contention

Critics of the bill may raise concerns regarding the implications of including misdemeanor offenses as predicate crimes for capital murder. There is significant debate among civil rights advocates who argue that the bill could result in particularly harsh penalties for individuals whose offenses may not reflect a significant moral turpitude or intent to kill. The expansion of the capital murder definition could also lead to disparities in how justice is administered, with potential overreach in utilizing capital punishment for lesser offenses.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR SB552

To Create The Offense Of Capital Rape.

AR HB1043

To Amend Penalties For Offenses Involving Fentanyl; And To Enhance Sentences For Certain Offenses Involving Fentanyl.

AR HB1456

Creating The Fentanyl Enforcement And Accountability Act Of 2023; Concerning Fentanyl And Other Controlled Substances; To Establish Increased Penalties; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB283

Creating The Fentanyl Enforcement And Accountability Act Of 2023; Concerning Fentanyl And Other Controlled Substances; To Establish Increased Penalties; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HB1251

To Clarify That Criminal Background Checks Apply To All Emergency Medical Services Personnel; And To Amend The Criminal Background Check Law To Include Offenses Prosecuted In Other States Or By Federal Courts.

AR SB495

To Create The Protect Arkansas Act; To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Sentencing And Parole; To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Certain Criminal Offenses; And To Create The Legislative Recidivism Reduction Task Force.

AR HB1536

To Amend The Law Concerning Murder In The Second Degree; To Permit An Intoxicated Driver Or Operator Of An Aircraft Who Causes The Death Of A Person To Be Charged With Murder In The Second Degree; And To Create Von's Law.

AR SB270

To Amend The Criminal Offense Of Sexual Indecency With A Child.

AR HB1459

To Amend The Law Concerning Human Trafficking And Related Offenses; And To Amend The Law Concerning Fines For Human Trafficking.

AR SB358

To Prohibit Industrial Hemp That Contain Certain Delta Tetrahydrocannabinol Substances; To Include Certain Tetrahydrocannabinol In The List Of Schedule Vi Controlled Substances; And To Declare An Emergency.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.