To Amend The Law Concerning Contribution Limits For Ballot Question Committees And Legislative Question Committees.
Impact
By implementing these stricter contribution limits, HB1773 is set to affect election financing significantly. It requires all contributions to be reported clearly, aiming to reduce the likelihood of undue influence from large donations and to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The Arkansas Ethics Commission will be responsible for enforcing these rules, which could lead to a reevaluation of how political campaigns are funded across the state. With these changes, the bill intends to foster a more equitable playing field for candidates and committees working to influence ballot measures and legislative decisions.
Summary
House Bill 1773 aims to amend the existing laws surrounding contribution limits for ballot question committees and legislative question committees in Arkansas. The bill sets forth a new framework that dictates how much individuals and entities can contribute to these committees, striving to ensure that contributions remain transparent and regulated. Specifically, it prohibits contributions exceeding $100 in cash and establishes further restrictions to prevent anonymous contributions of $50 or more. This bill seeks to tighten controls on political donations and enhance accountability amongst those involved in ballot and legislative questions.
Contention
While supporters argue that the bill is a necessary step toward ensuring fair electoral practices, critics may see these restrictions as overly burdensome. The debate may center around whether such limits appropriately balance the need for campaign finance regulation with the rights of individuals and entities to support candidates and causes of their choosing. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the Arkansas Ethics Commission in administrating and enforcing these new regulations could become a focal point during discussions surrounding the bill.
Concerning Paper Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning Paper Ballots And The Marking And Counting Of Paper Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning The Declaration Of Election Results; And To Declare An Emergency.
To Amend The Law Concerning Contribution Limits To Political Action Committees; To Amend Campaign Finance Law; To Amend Portions Of Initiated Act 1 Of 1990 And Initiated Act 1 Of 1996.
To Amend The Law Concerning Campaign Finance And Campaign Finance Reports; To Amend The Law Concerning The Arkansas Ethics Commission; And To Amend Portions Of Initiated Act 1 Of 1990 And Initiated Act 1 Of 1996.
To Amend The Law Concerning The Correction Of Errors On Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning Election Procedures; And To Create A Procedure For Candidate Review Of Ballots.
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.
To Amend The Law Concerning Paper Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning Marking And Counting Paper Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning The Declaration Of Election Results; And To Declare An Emergency.
To Create The Arkansas Absentee Voter Integrity Act Of 2023; To Amend The Law Concerning Counting Absentee Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning Elections; And To Amend The Law Concerning The Duties Of The Secretary Of State.
To Amend The Law Concerning Campaign Finance; To Amend Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, Section 28; And To Amend Portions Of Initiated Act 1 Of 1990 And Initiated Act 1 Of 1996.
To Amend The Law Concerning Disclosure For Matters Referred To Voters; And To Ban Foreign Funding For Ballot Measures; To Amend Portions Of The Arkansas Code That Resulted From Initiated Act 1 Of 1996.