House panel approves ‘Citizens Only’ voting amendment; Senate defeats prison funding bill again

After a grueling day of debate at the State Capitol that lasted until nearly 8 p.m., lawmakers on the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee recommended one proposed constitutional amendment for voters to consider in the 2026 general election.

HJR 1018 by Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, the Citizens Only Voting Amendment, was the top-ranked choice of the committee. The measure states that “only a citizen of the United States meeting the qualifications of an elector under this section may vote in an election in this state.”

Supporters argue there are not enough protections in the Arkansas Constitution or state law to prevent non-citizens from voting.

HJR 1018 must now be approved by the full House of Representatives and the Senate before it will be considered as a referral to voters in the next general election.

The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee will get to refer a proposed constitutional amendment. That panel was scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon, but canceled. It is slated to meet Thursday morning.

Other proposed constitutional amendments in the House State Agencies Committee that were considered included:

• HJR 1017 by Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle — a constitutional amendment providing that a proposed statewide initiated act or constitutional amendment shall become a law when approved by a majority of the votes cast in the election and a majority of the counties of the state.
• HJR 1016 by Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle — a constitutional amendment to repeal the provision of Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 1, allowing the sponsor of an initiative or referendum petition to correct or amend a petition, in effect doing away with the cure period to collect more signatures for citizen-led ballot proposals.
• HJR 1014 by Rep. Howard Beaty, Jr., R-Crossett — a constitutional amendment concerning economic development in the state of Arkansas; and authorizing the General Assembly to provide for the creation of economic development districts to promote economic development.
• HJR 1009 by Rep. Karilyn Brown, R-Sherwood — an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to be known as the Arkansas Victims’ Bill of Rights; and to provide rights for victims of misdemeanor and felony offenses, including victims in the adult and juvenile justice systems.

The Legislature is allowed to refer up to three proposed constitutional amendments per regular session.

In the Arkansas State Senate today (April 2), lawmakers again failed to approve a $750 million funding appropriation to build a new state prison in Franklin County, near Charleston. The bill, SB 354, failed with only 18 yes votes, while 13 opposed the measure.

It needed 27 votes — a three-fourths supermajority — to pass the Senate. Yesterday, the bill received 19 votes. Legislative leaders said they will continue to try to sway votes in their favor.

Gov. Sarah Sanders is pushing for the money for the new prison construction that will house up to 3,000 state prisoners and employ 800 security officials.