No Place Like Home: New Bill Would Block Out-of-State Petition Canvassers

Legislation,

New legislation filed at the capitol on Tuesday would require petition canvassers to live in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Constitution lets people circulate petitions to place measures on the ballot for a vote. However, Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be. Instead of giving citizens a way to pass good laws, powerful special interests have hired canvassers to collect petition signatures for their own legislative purposes.

Arkansans have testified in committee alleging that canvassers for the 2024 Arkansas Abortion Amendment violated state law and were paid bonuses for “altercations” with pro-lifers who opposed the abortion amendment.

If the Arkansas Legislature does not enact good laws that bring accountability and transparency to the ballot initiative process, these sorts of problems will simply continue to get worse.

H.B. 1574 by Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R — Horatio) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) requires petition canvassers to be Arkansas residents who actually live in the state.

Companies that specialize in gathering petition signatures for ballot measures often hire canvassers as temporary workers. Current law may make it possible for canvassers from out-of-state to move to Arkansas temporarily to work as petition canvassers for these businesses.

The ballot initiative process is supposed to give Arkansans a way to change their own state laws. H.B. 1574 will help clarify that canvassers must be Arkansas residents who truly live in Arkansas.

You Can Read H.B. 1574 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas Senate Backs Good Bill Affirming Religious Liberty at School

Legislation,

On Tuesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 223, the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025.

This good bill  by Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs) affirms public school students’ and teachers’ religious liberties.

S.B. 223 does not create any new rights or liberties. It simply provides public schools and students with an outline of existing religious freedoms — such as the right to pray or discuss religion during free time at school, and public schools’ ability to offer academic courses on the Bible under state laws passed in 2013 and 2019.

The bill also ensures public schools and public school students are informed about how religious liberty is protected under state and federal law. This will help prevent schools from squelching anyone’s religious liberties.

When it comes to religious liberty, public schools have been a battleground for more than 60 years. It’s important that we stand up for religious freedom at school. S.B. 223 is a good bill that helps do exactly that.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration. Below is an overview of how each senator voted on S.B. 223.

The Following Senators Voted FOR S.B. 223

  • J. Boyd
  • J. Bryant
  • A. Clark
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • Dees
  • J. Dotson
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hill
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Johnson
  • B. King
  • M. McKee
  • J. Payton
  • C. Penzo
  • J. Petty
  • Rice
  • Stone
  • G. Stubblefield
  • D. Sullivan
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST S.B. 223

  • S. Flowers
  • Hickey
  • Irvin
  • G. Leding
  • F. Love
  • R. Murdock
  • J. Scott
  • C. Tucker

The Following Senators Did Not Vote

  • Caldwell
  • J. Dismang

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Good Bill Would Let Public Schools Provide Chaplain Services

Legislation,

New legislation would let public schools in Arkansas offer chaplain services.

S.B. 266 by Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville) and Rep. Harlan Breaux (R — Holiday Island) clarifies that public schools can adopt policies letting chaplains serve public school students and their families as well as public school employees.

The bill does not require public schools to provide chaplain services, but it does clarify that schools are free to adopt policies making chaplain services available if they want.

Under S.B. 266, school chaplains would be members of the clergy who serve as volunteers or as employees of the school district. Chaplains would be required to pass a background check, and students would not be able to receive chaplain services without parental consent.

America has a longstanding tradition of recognizing the valuable services that chaplains provide. In Arkansas, county sheriff offices employ chaplains to provide spiritual support to employees and to inmates. Hospitals like UAMS provide chaplain services to patients, employees, and their families.

Public schools should have the same freedom to make chaplain services available to their students, employees, and families as well. S.B. 266 is a good bill that will help do that.

You Can Read S.B. 266 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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