Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 240 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/19/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 208 3
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By: Senator K. Hammer 5
By: Representative Underwood 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND 9
REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO VIEW 10
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A SIGNATURE; TO 11
DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE 16
AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO VIEW A 17
CANVASSER TO REQUEST PHOTO 18
IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A 19
SIGNATURE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 7 -9-109 is amended to add an additional 24
subsection to read as follows: 25
(g)(1) A canvasser who witnesses signatures on a petition part shall 26
view a copy of a potential petitioner's photo identification to verify the 27
identity of the potential petitioner before obtaining the signature. 28
(2) If a canvasser cannot verify the identity of the potential 29
petitioner, the canvasser shall not obtain a signature from the potential 30
petitioner. 31
(3) A canvasser who submits a canvasser affidavit under 32
subsection (a) of this section swearing that to the best of the affiant's 33
knowledge and belief each signature is genuine, and that the person signing 34
is a legal voter, but does not comply with the requirements under subdivision 35
(g)(1) of this section makes a false statement on a petition verification 36 As Engrossed: H2/19/25 SB208
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form. 1
(4) As used in this subsection, "photo identification" means a 2
document or identification card permitted under § 7 -1-101(40). 3
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SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this act 5
are declared to be severable and the invalidity of any provision of this act 6
shall not affect other provisions of the act which can be given effect 7
without the invalid provision. 8
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SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and 10
determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the process 11
for citizens to propose initiated acts and amendments to the Arkansas 12
Constitution is critical to a well -functioning democracy in this state; that 13
it is of the utmost importance that the integrity of the initiative process 14
be strengthened through this act so that petitioners and voters maintain a 15
high degree of confidence in the soundness of their right to legislate as 16
citizens of Arkansas; and that this act is immediately necessary because any 17
delay in the implementation of this act would disrupt the initiative process 18
for the 2026 general election, which would have a detrimental effect on the 19
public peace, health, and safety of Arkansas. Therefore, an emergency is 20
declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the 21
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective 22
on: 23
(1) The date of its approval by the Governor; 24
(2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, 25
the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the 26
bill; or 27
(3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is 28
overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto. 29
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/s/K. Hammer 31
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APPROVED: 3/4/25 34
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