All Roll Calls
Yes: 113 • No: 12
ArkansasSB2912025 Regular SessionSenate
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DEADLINES FOR COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS.
Sponsored By: Kim Hammer (Republican), Ryan A. Rose (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Election board faces deadlines for complaint decisions
Arkansas’s State Board of Election Commissioners must finish investigations and take final action within 182 days after the election’s final complaint-filing deadline. If the Board misses that deadline, the law still requires final administrative action to take effect within the same 182-day period. If the Board’s settlement offer is rejected, it may continue proceedings, including holding a hearing. In those cases, it must take final action within 245 days after the election’s final complaint-filing deadline.
New access rules for election records
Arkansas election complaint investigation records stay exempt from public disclosure until a public hearing is set or the final-decision waiting period ends. That waiting period ends 30 days after the State Board of Election Commissioners’ final decision. Records used for the Board’s findings then become open to public inspection. State election monitor records are not covered by these exemptions. The Board may share confidential information with law enforcement or other proper entities when needed for an investigation.
New filing limits for election complaints
Arkansas election-law complaints generally must be filed from 49 days before an election through 49 days after it. Covered issues include voter registration, absentee-ballot requests and delivery, voting, ballot counting, and certification of results. The window also covers election administration, processes, conduct, and the elections affected. Joint Performance Review Committee referrals to the State Board of Election Commissioners bypass the separate 30-day filing requirement. A county official’s refusal to provide election-integrity review records can support a complaint alleging a potential criminal election-law violation. The Board may treat that refusal as evidence, allowing filing more than 49 days after the election certification deadline.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Kim Hammer
Republican • Senate
Ryan A. Rose
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/10/2025
House Vote - Monday, March 10, 2025 3:02:18 PM
Yes: 88 • No: 8 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, March 3, 2025 2:28:59 PM
Yes: 25 • No: 4 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB291 is now Act 279
3/12/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
3/11/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
3/11/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
3/10/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
3/10/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
3/10/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/10/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/5/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE
3/3/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
3/3/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
3/3/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
2/27/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE
2/25/2025SenateFiled
2/25/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB291 - Introduced
2/25/2025
Act Version
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