Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1724 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2		-	Act 503 of the Regular Session
3		-	SSS099 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
4		-
5		-	State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 1
	2	+	SSS099 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	3	+	State of Arkansas 1
6	4		95th General Assembly A Bill 2
7	5		Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1724 3
8	6		4
9	7		By: Representative B. McKenzie 5
10	8		By: Senator J. English 6
11	9		7
12	10		For An Act To Be Entitled 8
13	11		AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING NONPARTISAN 9
14	12		ELECTIONS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MEMBERS OF 10
15	13		LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS; TO AMEND THE LAW 11
16	14		CONCERNING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS; TO AMEND THE DATE 12
17	15		ON WHICH AN ELECTION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF 13
18	16		DIRECTORS IS HELD; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 14
19	17		15
20	18		16
21	19		Subtitle 17
22	20		TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL SCHOOL 18
23	21		BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND SCHOOL BOARD 19
24	22		ELECTIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DATE ON 20
25	23		WHICH AN ELECTION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT 21
26	24		BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS HELD. 22
27	25		23
28	26		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
29	27		25
30	28		SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-608 is amended to read as follows: 26
31	29		6-13-608. Length of directors' terms. 27
32	30		(a) All members of a school district board of directors shall be 28
33	31		elected to a term of office of not less than three (3) years nor more than 29
34		-	five (5) years four (4) years ~~or six (6) years~~ in length and with the 30
35		-	~~expiration of such terms~~ so arranged that, as nearly as possible, an equal 31
36		-	~~number of positions are~~ filled each year every school board election . 32
	32	+	five (5) years four (4) years in length and with the expiration of such terms 30
	33	+	so arranged that, as nearly as possible, an equal number of positions are 31
	34	+	filled each year every school board election . 32
37	35		(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, members of a school district 33
38	36		board of directors shall have terms of office of equal length. 34
39	37		(c)(1) A member of a school district board of directors shall not 35
40		-	serve more than one (1) full term as a holdover. 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25~~ HB1724
	38	+	serve more than one (1) full term as a holdover. 36 HB1724
41	39
42		-	2 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
	40	+	2 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	41	+	(2) If at the expiration of the holdover term a person is not 1
	42	+	elected to fill the position at the annual school election or the person 2
	43	+	elected fails to subscribe to the director's oath of office within the time 3
	44	+	provided under § 6-13-617(a)(1), the position is vacant and the school 4
	45	+	district board of directors shall fill the vacancy as provided under § 6 -13-5
	46	+	611 (1) If an entire school district board of directors is elected 6
	47	+	during the same school board election, the members of the school district 7
	48	+	board of directors who are elected during the same school board election 8
	49	+	shall initially draw lots for two -year or four-year terms so that, as nearly 9
	50	+	as possible, an equal number of positions are filled in each subsequent 10
	51	+	school board election. 11
	52	+	(2)(A) Initially, terms for members elected in May 2025 shall 12
	53	+	expire in 2028. 13
	54	+	(B) All other members shall draw for terms so, as nearly 14
	55	+	as possible, an equal number of positions are filled every school board 15
	56	+	election. 16
	57	+	(3) For members of a school district board of directors 17
	58	+	currently holding terms, terms set to expire on or in: 18
	59	+	(A) November 2025 shall expire in 2026; 19
	60	+	(B) 2026 shall expire in 2026; 20
	61	+	(C) 2027 shall expire in 2026; 21
	62	+	(D) 2028 shall expire in 2028; and 22
	63	+	(E) 2029 shall expire in 2028. 23
	64	+	(4) If after rebalancing terms, there is not, as nearly as 24
	65	+	possible, an equal number of positions filled every school board election, 25
	66	+	the school district board of directors shall adjust the minimum number of 26
	67	+	terms necessary to ensure balance between those terms expiring in 2026 and 27
	68	+	2028. 28
	69	+	29
	70	+	SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-611(e)(1), concerning vacancies 30
	71	+	generally of a school district board of directors, is amended to read as 31
	72	+	follows: 32
	73	+	(e)(1) An appointed director, except a director appointed to fill a 33
	74	+	vacancy under § 6-13-613, shall serve only to the next annual school board 34
	75	+	election, at which time the electors shall select in the usual manner 35
	76	+	directors to serve the unexpired terms of the vacating directors. 36 HB1724
43	77
	78	+	3 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	79	+	SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-634(d), concerning the size of a 1
	80	+	school district board of directors, is amended to read as follows: 2
	81	+	(d) Any change in the number of directors serving on a school district 3
	82	+	board of directors under this section is effective upon the directors' taking 4
	83	+	office following the next regular annual school board election. 5
	84	+	6
	85	+	SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-1415(e)(1)(B), concerning an interim 7
	86	+	school district board of directors following an involuntary consolidation or 8
	87	+	annexation, is amended to read as follows: 9
	88	+	(B) All the members of the permanent board of directors of 10
	89	+	the resulting district or receiving district are elected at -large, then the 11
	90	+	state board may stagger the terms of the interim board of directors, which 12
	91	+	shall be determined by lot so that no more than two (2) members' terms expire 13
	92	+	during any one (1) year , as nearly as possible, an equal number of positions 14
	93	+	are filled during each school board election . 15
	94	+	16
	95	+	SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-1417(a)(3), concerning the formation 17
	96	+	of a school district board of directors following an involuntary 18
	97	+	consolidation or annexation, is amended to read as follows: 19
	98	+	(3) At the first meeting of the permanent board of directors, 20
	99	+	the members shall determine the terms of the board of directors by lot so 21
	100	+	that not more than two (2) members' terms expire during any one (1) year , as 22
	101	+	nearly as possible, an equal number of positions are filled during each 23
	102	+	school board election . 24
	103	+	25
	104	+	SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102(c)(1), concerning the annual 26
	105	+	school election date and special school elections, is amended to read as 27
	106	+	follows: 28
	107	+	(c)(1) When the annual school election is not held at the same time as 29
	108	+	a preferential primary or general election, if no more than one (1) candidate 30
	109	+	for a school district director position presents a petition or notice as 31
	110	+	required by § 6-14-111 and if there are no other ballot issues to be 32
	111	+	submitted to school district electors for consideration, with the exception 33
	112	+	of the local tax rate if that rate is not being changed or restructured, the 34
	113	+	board of directors of a school district, by resolution, may request the 35
	114	+	county board of election commissioners to: 36 HB1724
44	115
45		-	(2) If at the expiration of the holdover term a person is not 1
46		-	elected to fill the position at the annual school board election or the 2
47		-	person elected fails to subscribe to the director's oath of office within the 3
48		-	time provided under § 6 -13-617(a)(1), the position is vacant and the school 4
49		-	district board of directors shall fill the vacancy shall be filled as 5
50		-	provided under § 6-13-611. 6
51		-	(d)(1) An entire school district board of directors is required to be 7
52		-	elected during the first school board election after a school district: 8
53		-	(A) Changes from an all at -large or combined at-large and 9
54		-	zoned membership and is zoned to an all zoned or combined at-large and zoned 10
55		-	membership; 11
56		-	(B) Is rezoned following the federal decennial census; 12
57		-	(C) Returns from state to local control; 13
58		-	(D) Has boundary or zone changes as a result of 14
59		-	annexation, consolidation, or reconstruction; 15
60		-	(E) Has fallen below the average daily membership 16
61		-	requirement under § 6 -13-634(a); or 17
62		-	(F) Is no longer operating under a court ordered exemption 18
63		-	to § 6-13-634(b). 19
64		-	(2) School board members shall initially draw lots for two -year 20
65		-	or four-year terms in districts with four -year terms or two-year, four-year, 21
66		-	or six-year terms in districts with six -year terms so that, as nearly as 22
67		-	possible, an equal number of positions are filled in each subsequent school 23
68		-	board election no longer than: 24
69		-	(A) Two (2) school board elections for those with four -25
70		-	year terms; or 26
71		-	(B) Three (3) school board elections for those with six -27
72		-	year terms. 28
73		-	(3) Initially, terms for members elected in 2025 shall expire: 29
74		-	(A) For school boards adopting four -year terms in 2028; or 30
75		-	(B) For school boards adopting six -year terms in 2030. 31
76		-	(4) For other members of a school district board of directors 32
77		-	currently holding terms, terms set to expire on or in: 33
78		-	(A) 2026 shall expire in 2026; 34
79		-	(B) 2027 shall expire in 2026; 35
80		-	(C) 2028 shall expire in 2028; and 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
	116	+	4 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	117	+	(A) Reduce the number of polling places; 1
	118	+	(B) Open no polling places on election day so that the 2
	119	+	election can be conducted by absentee ballot and early voting only; or 3
	120	+	(C)(i) Declare an election by candidate to be held; 4
	121	+	(ii) Open no polling places; and 5
	122	+	(iii) Allow the candidate to cast a ballot for 6
	123	+	himself or herself at a designated time and location on election day or 7
	124	+	during the period that would otherwise be designated for early voting. 8
	125	+	9
	126	+	SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102, concerning the annual school 10
	127	+	election date and special school elections, is amended to add an additional 11
	128	+	subsection to read as follows: 12
	129	+	(d) The election of a school district board of directors not elected 13
	130	+	entirely during the same election shall be held in each public school 14
	131	+	district of this state on the date of the preferential primary election. 15
	132	+	16
	133	+	SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(a), concerning the candidate 17
	134	+	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 18
	135	+	(a)(1) All candidate filings under this subchapter shall be with the 19
	136	+	county clerk of the county in which the school district is domiciled for 20
	137	+	administrative purposes. 21
	138	+	(2) A district school board member shall be elected at the 22
	139	+	preferential primary election. 23
	140	+	(2)(A)(i) (3)(A)(i) In a special school election or an annual 24
	141	+	school election not held with the preferential primary or general election, 25
	142	+	all actions required of county boards of election commissioners shall be 26
	143	+	performed by the county board of election commissioners of the county in 27
	144	+	which the school district is domiciled for administrative purposes. 28
	145	+	(ii) However, if one of that school district's 29
	146	+	nondomicile counties is holding a special election on the same date as a 30
	147	+	school election and at least one (1) qualified elector in the county is 31
	148	+	eligible to vote in both the special election and the school election, each 32
	149	+	county in which the school district has territory shall conduct the school 33
	150	+	district's school election as if it were held with the preferential primary 34
	151	+	or general election. 35
	152	+	(B) When a county clerk of a school district's nondomicile 36 HB1724
81	153
82		-	3 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
	154	+	5 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	155	+	county becomes aware that a special election will be held on the same date as 1
	156	+	a school district's annual or special school election and at least one (1) 2
	157	+	qualified elector in the county is eligible to vote in both the special 3
	158	+	election and the school election, the county clerk of the nondomicile county 4
	159	+	shall immediately notify the county clerk of the county in which the school 5
	160	+	district is domiciled for administrative purposes in writing that the school 6
	161	+	district's school election shall be conducted under subdivision (a)(3)(a)(4) 7
	162	+	of this section. 8
	163	+	(C) The county clerk of the county in which the school 9
	164	+	district is domiciled for administrative purposes shall then immediately 10
	165	+	notify the county clerks of any other nondomicile counties that the school 11
	166	+	district's election will be conducted under subdivision (a)(3)(a)(4) of this 12
	167	+	section. 13
	168	+	(3)(4) In a school election held with the preferential primary 14
	169	+	or general election, all actions required of county boards of election 15
	170	+	commissioners shall be performed by the county board of election 16
	171	+	commissioners of the county in which the electors reside. 17
	172	+	18
	173	+	SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(e)(1), concerning the candidate 19
	174	+	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 20
	175	+	(e)(1) The petition, affidavit of eligibility, and the candidate's 21
	176	+	political practices pledge shall be filed with the county clerk as follows: 22
	177	+	(A)(i) For even-numbered years, during the party filing 23
	178	+	period as set forth in § 7 -7-203 for school elections held concurrently with 24
	179	+	a preferential primary election; and 25
	180	+	(ii) For odd-numbered years, during the dates that 26
	181	+	would be the filing period as set forth in § 7 -7-203 if a preferential 27
	182	+	primary and general election were to be held in that year; or 28
	183	+	(B) During during a one-week period ending at 12:00 noon 29
	184	+	ninety (90) days before a school board election held in November. 30
	185	+	31
	186	+	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(h)(2), concerning candidate 32
	187	+	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 33
	188	+	(2) The county board of election commissioners shall not place 34
	189	+	the name of an unopposed candidate for school district director on the ballot 35
	190	+	during a school board election held concurrently with the preferential 36 HB1724
83	191
	192	+	6 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	193	+	primary election or general election school board election . 1
	194	+	2
	195	+	SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(k), concerning candidate filing 3
	196	+	procedures, is amended to read as follows: 4
	197	+	(k) The order in which the names of the respective candidates are to 5
	198	+	appear on the ballot shall be determined by lot at the public meeting of the 6
	199	+	county board of election commissioners held not later than : 7
	200	+	(1) The the deadline to conduct the ballot draw for the 8
	201	+	preferential primary or general election for an annual school election held 9
	202	+	in even-numbered years; 10
	203	+	(2) The seventh day of March for an annual school election held 11
	204	+	on the second Tuesday in May of an odd -numbered year; and 12
	205	+	(3) Seventy-two (72) days before an annual school election held 13
	206	+	on the second Tuesday of November of an odd -numbered year. 14
	207	+	15
	208	+	SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-121(a)(3), concerning runoff 16
	209	+	elections, is amended to read as follows: 17
	210	+	(3) The runoff election shall be held : 18
	211	+	(A) Four (4) weeks following the date of an election held 19
	212	+	in any odd-numbered year; 20
	213	+	(B) On the date designated for the general primary 21
	214	+	election if the annual school election is held with the preferential primary 22
	215	+	election; or 23
	216	+	(C) On the date designated for the general runoff election 24
	217	+	if the annual school election is held with the general election at the same 25
	218	+	time as the general election . 26
	219	+	27
	220	+	SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-121(c), concerning runoff elections, 28
	221	+	is amended to read as follows: 29
	222	+	(c) If one (1) of the two (2) candidates who received the highest 30
	223	+	number of votes for a position withdraws before certification of the result 31
	224	+	of the school board election, the remaining candidate who received the most 32
	225	+	votes at the school board election shall be declared elected to the office 33
	226	+	and there shall be no school board election runoff. 34
	227	+	35
	228	+	SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 7 -10-102 is amended to read as follows: 36 HB1724
84	229
85		-	(D) 2029 shall expire in 2028. 1
86		-	(5) If after rebalancing terms, there is not, as nearly as 2
87		-	possible, an equal number of positions filled every school board election, 3
88		-	the school district board of directors shall adjust the minimum number of 4
89		-	terms necessary to ensure balance between those terms expiring in 2026 and 5
90		-	2028. 6
91		-	SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-611(e), concerning vacancies generally 7
92		-	of a school district board of directors, is amended to read as follows: 8
93		-	(e)(1) An appointed director, except a director appointed to fill a 9
94		-	vacancy under § 6-13-613, shall serve only until his or her elected successor 10
95		-	subscribes to the director's oath of office under § 6 -13-617 to the next 11
96		-	annual school election, at which time the electors shall select in the usual 12
97		-	manner directors to serve the unexpired terms of the vacating directors. 13
98		-	(2) If there is not an individual who has filed as a candidate 14
99		-	to serve an unexpired term of a vacating director, the position shall be: 15
100		-	(A) Deemed vacant; and 16
101		-	(B) Filled in accordance with this section . 17
102		-	SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-634(d), concerning the size of a 18
103		-	school district board of directors, is amended to read as follows: 19
104		-	(d) Any change in the number of directors serving on a school district 20
105		-	board of directors under this section is effective upon the directors' taking 21
106		-	office following the next regular annual school board election. 22
107		-	23
108		-	SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-1415(e)(1)(B), concerning an interim 24
109		-	school district board of directors following an involuntary consolidation or 25
110		-	annexation, is amended to read as follows: 26
111		-	(B) All the members of the permanent board of directors of 27
112		-	the resulting district or receiving district are elected at -large, then the 28
113		-	state board may stagger the terms of the interim board of directors, which 29
114		-	shall be determined by lot so that no more than two (2) members' terms expire 30
115		-	during any one (1) year , as nearly as possible, an equal number of positions 31
116		-	are filled during each school board election . 32
117		-	33
118		-	SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102(a)(1)(B), concerning the annual 34
119		-	school election date, is repealed. 35
120		-	(B)(i) A school district shall adopt a policy setting 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
121		-
122		-	4 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
123		-
124		-
125		-	forth which election date under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section the 1
126		-	school district chooses to hold the annual school election upon. 2
127		-	(ii) At least one hundred (100) days before the 3
128		-	first day of the respective candidate filing period set forth in § 6 -14-4
129		-	111(e)(1)(A), a school district shall provide a copy of the policy under 5
130		-	subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section to: 6
131		-	(a) The county board of election commissioners 7
132		-	of the county in which the school district is domiciled for administrative 8
133		-	purposes; and 9
134		-	(b) The county clerk of each county within the 10
135		-	school district's boundaries. 11
136		-	(iii) If a school district fails to timely provide a 12
137		-	copy of its most current policy to the county board of election commissioners 13
138		-	and county clerks in accordance with subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii) of this 14
139		-	section, the school district shall be required to hold the school district's 15
140		-	annual school election in accordance with the most recent policy the school 16
141		-	district has provided to the county board of election commissioners and 17
142		-	county clerks. 18
143		-	19
144		-	SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 6 -13-1417(a)(3), concerning the formation 20
145		-	of a school district board of directors following an involuntary 21
146		-	consolidation or annexation, is amended to read as follows: 22
147		-	(3) At the first meeting of the permanent board of directors, 23
148		-	the members shall determine the terms of the board of directors by lot so 24
149		-	that not more than two (2) members' terms expire during any one (1) year , as 25
150		-	nearly as possible, an equal number of positions are filled during each 26
151		-	school board election . 27
152		-	28
153		-	SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102(c)(1), concerning the annual 29
154		-	school election date and special school elections, is amended to read as 30
155		-	follows: 31
156		-	(c)(1) When the annual school election is not held at the same time as 32
157		-	a preferential primary or general election, if no more than one (1) candidate 33
158		-	for a school district director position presents a petition or notice as 34
159		-	required by § 6-14-111 and if there are no other ballot issues to be 35
160		-	submitted to school district electors for consideration, with the exception 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
161		-
162		-	5 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
163		-
164		-
165		-	of the local tax rate if that rate is not being changed or restructured, the 1
166		-	board of directors of a school district, by resolution, may request the 2
167		-	county board of election commissioners to: 3
168		-	(A) Reduce the number of polling places; 4
169		-	(B) Open no polling places on election day so that the 5
170		-	election can be conducted by absentee ballot and early voting only; or 6
171		-	(C)(i) Declare an election by candidate to be held; 7
172		-	(ii) Open no polling places; and 8
173		-	(iii) Allow the candidate to cast a ballot for 9
174		-	himself or herself at a designated time and location on election day or 10
175		-	during the period that would otherwise be designated for early voting. 11
176		-	12
177		-	SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 6-14-121(a)(1), concerning runoff 13
178		-	elections, is amended to read as follows: 14
179		-	(a)(1)(A) Whenever there are more than two (2) candidates for election 15
180		-	to any position on a board of directors at any election held in this state 16
181		-	and whenever no candidate for any school district position receives a 17
182		-	majority of the votes cast for the office or whenever there is a tie vote, 18
183		-	there shall be a runoff election held in the school district. 19
184		-	(B) In the event of a runoff election, the current member 20
185		-	of the position for which there is a runoff election shall serve as a 21
186		-	holdover until the person elected in the runoff election receives 22
187		-	certification of the administration of the oath under § 6 -13-617. 23
188		-	24
189		-	SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102(a)(1)(A), concerning the annual 25
190		-	school election date and special school elections, is amended to read as 26
191		-	follows: 27
192		-	(a)(1)(A) The annual school election shall be held in each school 28
193		-	district of the state: 29
194		-	(i) In even-numbered years, on the date of the : 30
195		-	(a) Preferential preferential primary election; or 31
196		-	(b) General election ; and 32
197		-	(ii) In odd-numbered years, on the : 33
198		-	(a) Second Tuesday in November; or 34
199		-	(b) Second first Tuesday in May after the first 35
200		-	Monday in March. 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
201		-
202		-	6 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
203		-
204		-
205		-	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-102, concerning the annual school 1
206		-	election date and special school elections, is amended to add an additional 2
207		-	subsection to read as follows: 3
208		-	(d) The election of a school district board of directors not elected 4
209		-	entirely during the same election shall be held in each public school 5
210		-	district of this state on the date of the preferential primary election. 6
211		-	7
212		-	SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(a), concerning the candidate 8
213		-	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 9
214		-	(a)(1) All candidate filings under this subchapter shall be with the 10
215		-	county clerk of the county in which the school district is domiciled for 11
216		-	administrative purposes. 12
217		-	(2) A district school board member shall be elected at the 13
218		-	preferential primary election. 14
219		-	(2)(A)(i) (3)(A)(i) In a special school election or an annual 15
220		-	school election not held with the preferential primary or general election, 16
221		-	all actions required of county boards of election commissioners shall be 17
222		-	performed by the county board of election commissioners of the county in 18
223		-	which the school district is domiciled for administrative purposes. 19
224		-	(ii) However, if one of that school district's 20
225		-	nondomicile counties is holding a special election on the same date as a 21
226		-	school election and at least one (1) qualified elector in the county is 22
227		-	eligible to vote in both the special election and the school election, each 23
228		-	county in which the school district has territory shall conduct the school 24
229		-	district's school election as if it were held with the preferential primary 25
230		-	or general election. 26
231		-	(B) When a county clerk of a school district's nondomicile 27
232		-	county becomes aware that a special election will be held on the same date as 28
233		-	a school district's annual or special school election and at least one (1) 29
234		-	qualified elector in the county is eligible to vote in both the special 30
235		-	election and the school election, the county clerk of the nondomicile county 31
236		-	shall immediately notify the county clerk of the county in which the school 32
237		-	district is domiciled for administrative purposes in writing that the school 33
238		-	district's school election shall be conducted under subdivision (a)(3)(a)(4) 34
239		-	of this section. 35
240		-	(C) The county clerk of the county in which the school 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
241		-
242		-	7 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
243		-
244		-
245		-	district is domiciled for administrative purposes shall then immediately 1
246		-	notify the county clerks of any other nondomicile counties that the school 2
247		-	district's election will be conducted under subdivision (a)(3)(a)(4) of this 3
248		-	section. 4
249		-	(3)(4) In a school election held with the preferential primary 5
250		-	or general election, all actions required of county boards of election 6
251		-	commissioners shall be performed by the county board of election 7
252		-	commissioners of the county in which the electors reside. 8
253		-	9
254		-	SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(e)(1), concerning the candidate 10
255		-	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 11
256		-	(e)(1) The petition, affidavit of eligibility, and the candidate's 12
257		-	political practices pledge shall be filed with the county clerk as follows: 13
258		-	(A)(i) For even-numbered years, during the party filing 14
259		-	period as set forth in § 7 -7-203 for school elections held concurrently with 15
260		-	a preferential primary election; and 16
261		-	(ii) For odd-numbered years, during the dates that 17
262		-	would be the filing period as set forth in § 7 -7-203 if a preferential 18
263		-	primary and general election were to be held in that year; or 19
264		-	(B) During a one-week period ending at 12:00 noon ninety 20
265		-	(90) days before a school election held in November beginning at 12:00 noon 21
266		-	on the first day of the party filing period under § 7 -7-203 and shall end at 22
267		-	12:00 noon on the last day of the party filing period under § 7 -7-203. 23
268		-	24
269		-	SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(h)(2), concerning candidate 25
270		-	filing procedures, is amended to read as follows: 26
271		-	(2) The county board of election commissioners shall not place 27
272		-	the name of an unopposed candidate for school district director on the ballot 28
273		-	during a school board election held concurrently with the preferential 29
274		-	primary election or general election. 30
275		-	31
276		-	SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-111(k), concerning candidate filing 32
277		-	procedures, is amended to read as follows: 33
278		-	(k) The order in which the names of the respective candidates are to 34
279		-	appear on the ballot shall be determined by lot at the public meeting of the 35
280		-	county board of election commissioners held not later than : 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
281		-
282		-	8 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
283		-
284		-
285		-	(1) The the deadline to conduct the ballot draw for the 1
286		-	preferential primary or general election for an annual school election held 2
287		-	in even-numbered years; 3
288		-	(2) The seventh day of March for an annual school election held 4
289		-	on the second Tuesday in May of an odd -numbered year; and 5
290		-	(3) Seventy-two (72) days before an annual school election held 6
291		-	on the second Tuesday of November of an odd -numbered year. 7
292		-	8
293		-	SECTION 15. Arkansas Code § 6-14-121(a)(3), concerning runoff 9
294		-	elections, is amended to read as follows: 10
295		-	(3) The runoff election shall be held : 11
296		-	(A) Four (4) weeks following the date of an election held 12
297		-	in any odd-numbered year; 13
298		-	(B) On the date designated for the general primary 14
299		-	election if the annual school election is held with the preferential primary 15
300		-	election; or 16
301		-	(C) On the date designated for the general runoff election 17
302		-	if the annual school election is held with the general election at the same 18
303		-	time as the general election . 19
304		-	20
305		-	SECTION 16. Arkansas Code § 6 -14-121(c), concerning runoff elections, 21
306		-	is amended to read as follows: 22
307		-	(c) If one (1) of the two (2) candidates who received the highest 23
308		-	number of votes for a position withdraws before certification of the result 24
309		-	of the school board election, the remaining candidate who received the most 25
310		-	votes at the school board election shall be declared elected to the office 26
311		-	and there shall be no school board election runoff. 27
312		-	28
313		-	SECTION 17. Arkansas Code § 7 -10-102 is amended to read as follows: 29
314		-	7-10-102. Nonpartisan election of judges, justices, and prosecuting 30
315		-	attorneys, and school board members . 31
316		-	(a) The offices of Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of 32
317		-	Appeals, circuit judge, district judge, and prosecuting attorney , and a 33
318		-	member of a school district board of directors are nonpartisan offices. 34
319		-	(b)(1) The general elections for nonpartisan offices shall be held on 35
320		-	the same date and at the same times and places as provided by law for 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 S4/1/25 HB1724
321		-
322		-	9 04-01-2025 12:45:20 SSS099
323		-
324		-
325		-	preferential primary elections. 1
326		-	(2)(A) The names of nonpartisan candidates shall be: 2
327		-	(i) Included on the ballots of the political 3
328		-	parties; and 4
329		-	(ii) Designated as nonpartisan candidates. 5
330		-	(B) Separate ballots containing the names of nonpartisan 6
331		-	candidates shall be: 7
332		-	(i) Prepared; and 8
333		-	(ii) Made available to voters requesting a separate 9
334		-	ballot. 10
335		-	(3) A voter shall not be required to vote in a political party's 11
336		-	preferential primary to be able to vote in a nonpartisan election. 12
337		-	(c)(1) A person shall not be elected to the office of Justice of the 13
338		-	Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of Appeals, circuit judge, district judge, 14
339		-	or prosecuting attorney , or a member of a school district board of directors 15
340		-	unless the person receives a majority of the votes cast at the election for 16
341		-	the office. 17
342		-	(2) In a nonpartisan election in which no person receives a 18
343		-	majority of the votes cast, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest and 19
344		-	next highest number of votes shall be certified to a runoff election, which 20
345		-	shall be held on the same date and at the same times and places as the 21
346		-	November general election. 22
347		-	(3) The names of the candidates in a nonpartisan runoff election 23
348		-	shall be placed on the same ballots as used for the November general 24
349		-	elections. 25
350		-	26
351		-	/s/B. McKenzie 27
352		-	28
353		-	29
354		-	APPROVED: 4/10/25 30
355		-	31
356		-	32
	230	+	7 03/10/2025 9:23:46 AM SSS099
	231	+	7-10-102. Nonpartisan election of judges, justices, and prosecuting 1
	232	+	attorneys, and school board members . 2
	233	+	(a) The offices of Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of 3
	234	+	Appeals, circuit judge, district judge, and prosecuting attorney , and a 4
	235	+	member of a school district board of directors are nonpartisan offices. 5
	236	+	(b)(1) The general elections for nonpartisan offices shall be held on 6
	237	+	the same date and at the same times and places as provided by law for 7
	238	+	preferential primary elections. 8
	239	+	(2)(A) The names of nonpartisan candidates shall be: 9
	240	+	(i) Included on the ballots of the political 10
	241	+	parties; and 11
	242	+	(ii) Designated as nonpartisan candidates. 12
	243	+	(B) Separate ballots containing the names of nonpartisan 13
	244	+	candidates shall be: 14
	245	+	(i) Prepared; and 15
	246	+	(ii) Made available to voters requesting a separate 16
	247	+	ballot. 17
	248	+	(3) A voter shall not be required to vote in a political party's 18
	249	+	preferential primary to be able to vote in a nonpartisan election. 19
	250	+	(c)(1) A person shall not be elected to the office of Justice of the 20
	251	+	Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of Appeals, circuit judge, district judge, 21
	252	+	or prosecuting attorney , or a member of a school district board of directors 22
	253	+	unless the person receives a majority of the votes cast at the election for 23
	254	+	the office. 24
	255	+	(2) In a nonpartisan election in which no person receives a 25
	256	+	majority of the votes cast, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest and 26
	257	+	next highest number of votes shall be certified to a runoff election, which 27
	258	+	shall be held on the same date and at the same times and places as the 28
	259	+	November general election. 29
	260	+	(3) The names of the candidates in a nonpartisan runoff election 30
	261	+	shall be placed on the same ballots as used for the November general 31
	262	+	elections. 32
357	263		33
358	264		34
359	265		35
360	266		36