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ArkansasHB15552025 Regular SessionHouse

TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR FILLING A VACANCY IN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE.

Sponsored By: Bart Hester (Republican), Stetson Painter (Republican)

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Uniform vacancy rules for Arkansas local governments

This law sets statewide rules for filling vacant municipal offices across Arkansas's city and town government types. At their first meeting after a vacancy is declared, remaining council members must appoint a replacement or call a special election. Appointments to finish the term require a majority vote, and appointees must be qualified local voters. In municipalities with 50,000 or more people, sitting council members cannot receive these appointments. Below 50,000, council members can be appointed, but cannot vote for themselves. Special elections fill the remaining term on the next date allowed by law. A qualified local voter, including a council member regardless of population, can serve temporarily until that election. Mayors cannot veto these appointments. The law also sets temporary duty arrangements until a successor takes office. A mayor's continuous absence or disability lasting more than six months creates a vacancy. These rules cover residency-related vacancies and mayoral vacancies, including those with more than one year left in the term.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Bart Hester

    Republican • Senate

  • Stetson Painter

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 347 • No: 4

House vote • 4/15/2025

House Vote - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 3:10:10 PM

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

House Vote - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 3:10:02 PM

Yes: 95 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Senate Vote - Thursday, April 10, 2025 3:44:10 PM

Yes: 33 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 1, 2025 4:38:31 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 1

House vote • 3/6/2025

House Vote - Thursday, March 6, 2025 2:04:07 PM

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that HB1555 is now Act 995

    4/22/2025House

  2. Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.

    4/16/2025House

  3. TO BE ENROLLED

    4/15/2025House

  4. Senate amendment # 2 read and concurred in.

    4/15/2025House

  5. Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.

    4/15/2025House

  6. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass, concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 & 2

    4/14/2025House

  7. Re-referred to the Committee on CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE- HOUSE

    4/10/2025House

  8. Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1 & 2

    4/10/2025House

  9. Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 & 2 .

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Read the third time and passed.

    4/10/2025Senate

  11. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/9/2025Senate

  12. Amendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    4/9/2025Senate

  13. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    4/9/2025Senate

  14. Rules suspended.

    4/9/2025Senate

  15. Motion to Expunge the Vote by which HB1555 passed for purpose of Amendment. Motion Carried.

    4/9/2025Senate

  16. Returned from the House as requested.

    4/8/2025Senate

  17. Returned to the Senate as requested.

    4/8/2025House

  18. Re-referred to the Committee on CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE- HOUSE

    4/1/2025House

  19. Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1

    4/1/2025House

  20. Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 .

    4/1/2025Senate

  21. Read the third time and passed.

    4/1/2025Senate

  22. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    3/31/2025Senate

  23. Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    3/31/2025Senate

  24. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    3/31/2025Senate

  25. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1

    3/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • HB1555 - Introduced

    2/24/2025

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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