WLJ Week 5 Legislative Update: Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Week 5 of the 91st General Assembly included the deadline for legislators to file proposed amendments to the Arkansas Constitution. These resolutions, if referred by the full assembly, will be on the general election ballot for voters to consider in November of 2018. As is usually the case, far more proposed amendments have been filed this year than can be referred; likely only two of the 31 proposed amendments will be referred to the voters. All 31 measures are listed below, with links to the primary sponsor and the text of the resolution.Possible proposed amendments include several competing ideas on tort reform (SJR8, HJR1018, HJR1019, SJR14 ), proposals to eliminate the fiscal session (HJR1006, SJR1), several education-related offerings (HJR1009, HJR1010, HJR1011, SJR5 ), proposals to alter the method of selecting Arkansas Supreme Court justices (HJR1012, SJR4), voter identification changes (HJR1016, SJR6) and a proposal from Sen. Bryan King to create a new Board of Pardons composed primarily of legislative appointees and authorized to issue pardons for criminal convictions (SJR11). Many of the proposed amendments filed this week are “shell bills,” with only a title and a general statement rather than a fully formed piece of legislation. Some of these shell bills will be amended in the coming weeks to fill in the full purpose, while others will not go beyond the shell stage. – Erika Gee

AR – HJR1002 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF EMERGENCY INTERIM SUCCESSORS TO CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A CATASTROPHIC EVENT.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Stephen Meeks (R)

AR – HJR1003 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO AMEND THE PROCESS FOR PLACING PROPOSED MEASURES AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT FOR CONSIDERATION BY VOTERS AT AN ELECTION.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Jeremy Gillam (R)

AR – HJR1004 AN AMENDMENT TO ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5, SECTION 1, CONCERNING THE FILING OF INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND THE PROCESS FOR CHALLENGING THE SUFFICIENCY OF A PETITION.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Greg Leding (D)

AR – HJR1005 THE PUBLIC EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AMENDMENT OF 2018.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Mark Lowery (R)

AR – HJR1006 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REPEALING THE FISCAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Kim Hendren (R)

AR – HJR1007 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE BALLOT TITLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Kim Hendren (R)

AR – HJR1008 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION SHALL BE GOVERNED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ALL OTHER STATE AGENCIES.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Jim Dotson (R)

AR – HJR1009 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERINGS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Jim Dotson (R)

AR – HJR1010 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFERED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Jim Dotson (R)

AR – HJR1011 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE APPLICABILITY OF ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 33, TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative R. Trevor Drown (R)

AR – HJR1012 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO REVISE THE METHOD OF SELECTION OF JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Matthew J. Shepherd (R)

AR – HJR1013 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION REVISING THE PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSED MEASURES AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO VOTERS FOR APPROVAL OR REJECTION.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Bob Ballinger (R)

AR – HJR1014 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE INCREASE OF THE RATES FOR SALES AND USE TAXES.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Andy Mayberry (R)

AR – HJR1015 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE THAT AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION SHALL NOT SPECIFICALLY BESTOW POWERS, PRIVILEGES, OR AUTHORITY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESS ENTITIES IDENTIFIED BY NAME.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Andy Mayberry (R)

AR – HJR1016 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING VOTER IDENTIFICATION WHEN CASTING A BALLOT.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Robin Lundstrum (R)

AR – HJR1017 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION PROVIDING CERTAIN ADDITIONAL RIGHTS TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Charlotte V. Douglas (R)

AR – HJR1018 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING CIVIL ACTIONS AND COURT PROCEDURES.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Matthew J. Shepherd (R)

AR – HJR1019 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING AWARDS IN CIVIL ACTIONS.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Jimmy Gazaway (R)

AR – HJR1020 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO REPEAL THE FISCAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL REGULAR SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative Andy Davis (R)

AR – HJR1021 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT A MONUMENT OR STATUE SHALL NOT BE PLACED UPON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS UNLESS AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE STATE SIGN A PETITION IN FAVOR OF THE PLACEMENT.

• Primary Sponsor: Representative James J. Sorvillo (R)

AR – SJR1 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN SESSION; AND REPEALING THE FISCAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Jim Hendren (R)

AR – SJR3 THE PUBLIC EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AMENDMENT OF 2018.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Blake Johnson (R)

AR – SJR4 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT BY THE GOVERNOR, SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THE SENATE.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Jeremy Hutchinson (R)

AR – SJR5 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION PROVIDING THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL BE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE EVALUATOR OF WHETHER THE SYSTEM OF FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SATISFIES THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Alan Clark (R)

AR – SJR6 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING VOTER IDENTIFICATION WHEN CASTING A BALLOT IN PERSON.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Bryan King (R)

AR – SJR8 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIMITING CONTINGENCY FEES AND AWARDS OF PUNITIVE AND NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES; AND CHANGING THE POWERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SUPREME COURT REGARDING RULES OF PLEADING, PRACTICE, AND PROCEDURE.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Missy Irvin (R)

AR – SJR10 AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO REVISE THE PROCESS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SUBMIT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE AT A GENERAL ELECTION.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Linda Collins-Smith (R)

AR – SJR11 A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CREATING THE BOARD OF PARDONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANTING PARDONS AFTER CONVICTIONS.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Bryan King (R)

AR – SJR12 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING COURT DECISIONS PERTAINING TO INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5, § 1.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Jim Hendren (R)

AR – SJR13 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING AWARDS IN CIVIL ACTIONS.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Bruce Maloch (D)

AR – SJR14 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING RETIREMENT SALARY AND PENSION FUNDS FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS AND MUNICIPAL FIREFIGHTERS.

• Primary Sponsor: Senator Keith Ingram (D)