State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – The legislature agreed on three proposed amendments to the state Constitution.

One measure would expand the economic development authority of local governments. Another proposal would protect the right to keep firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories and components. The third proposed amendment would prohibit people who are not citizens of the United States from voting.

Senate Joint Resolution 15 is the proposed economic development amendment. If voters approve it, the General Assembly would pass enabling legislation that sets the parameters for cities and counties to create economic development districts.

Neighboring states have similar economic development laws. Supporters of SJR 15 say that Arkansas is at a disadvantage in recruiting retail outlets, new homes and office parks.

Local governments could create districts of varying sizes, to suit their goals. They could be geographically large in order to promote housing and development in a certain part of town.

They could be relatively small to stimulate investment to restore a few deteriorating buildings.

A local development district could freeze property taxes at existing rates for a set period of time, for example, for 10 years. Revenue for local schools would remain stable. New businesses would have an incentive to move into the district to get a break on property taxes for 10 years.

The amendment, if approved by voters, would also allow districts to freeze local sales taxes to encourage economic development.

Also, districts could issue bonds for public improvements, to be paid off with district revenues.

Arkansas voters have approved a similar economic development plan when they voted in favor of Amendment 78 in 2000 by a vote of 427,000 to 356,000. However, a legal challenge that went to the Supreme Court resulted in the repeal of several provisions, diminishing its effectiveness as an economic development tool.

In every regular session the legislature can refer up to the three proposed amendments. The Secretary of State will assign numbers to the proposals adopted by the legislature. They will be labeled Issue One, Issue Two and Issue Three, and they will be on ballots statewide in the November general election next year.

A second proposed amendment is SJR 11 to protect the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, for their defense, for hunting, for recreational use and for any other lawful purpose. The right includes the possession and use of ammunition, firearm components and firearm accessories. If approved by voters it would take effect January 1, 2027.

The third proposed amendment is House Joint Resolution 1018, known as the Citizens Only Voting Amendment. It states that only United States citizens are allowed to vote in state and local elections.

When the legislature refers a proposed amendment to the ballot, it is in the form of a Joint Resolution that originates in either the House or the Senate.

This year representatives introduced 20 proposed amendments, and they were narrowed down to HJR 1018. Senators introduced 24 proposals and they were narrowed down to SJR 15 and SJR 11.