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ArkansasHB17782025 Regular SessionHouse

TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF STALKING TO INCLUDE PLACING A PERSON IN FEAR OF SEXUAL ACTS; AND TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF COURSE OF CONDUCT WITH RESPECT TO STALKING.

Sponsored By: Jimmy Gazaway (Republican), Ben Gilmore (Republican)

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Broader stalking protections and criminal charges

Arkansas expands second-degree stalking to cover threats of unwanted sexual acts against a person or their family or household members. It also covers threats of death or serious injury against the person, their immediate family, or household members. The offense requires a knowing pattern of harassment and a terroristic threat intended to cause immediate fear of these harms. A pattern means two or more acts, separated by at least 36 hours, within one year. Covered acts include following, monitoring, watching, surveillance, threats, communications to or about someone, and interference with their property. Communications include mail, email, texts, and other electronic messages through the internet, websites, or social media. These changes expand protections for people targeted by stalking and expose more conduct to criminal charges. Constitutionally protected activity remains excluded. If a defendant claims this protection, the court must decide its legal validity and exclude valid protected activity from evidence.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Jimmy Gazaway

    Republican • House

  • Ben Gilmore

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 223 • No: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 2:29:27 PM

Yes: 93 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 8:08:19 PM

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2025

House Vote - Monday, March 31, 2025 2:47:46 PM

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that HB1778 is now Act 832

    4/17/2025House

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

    4/15/2025House

  3. TO BE ENROLLED

    4/14/2025House

  4. Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.

    4/14/2025House

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

    4/10/2025House

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

    4/9/2025Senate

  7. Read the third time and passed.

    4/9/2025Senate

  8. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/8/2025Senate

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

    4/8/2025Senate

  10. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    4/8/2025Senate

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

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE

    3/31/2025Senate

  13. Received from the House.

    3/31/2025Senate

  14. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    3/31/2025House

  15. Returned by the Committee Do Pass

    3/20/2025House

  16. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE

    3/13/2025House

  17. Filed

    3/13/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB1778 - Introduced

    3/13/2025

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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