Arkansas General Assembly
| Arkansas General Assembly | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | 12 consecutive years; can return after a four-year break |
| Session start: | April 10, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Leslie Rutledge (R) |
| House Speaker: | Matthew Shepherd (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Blake Johnson (R) House: Marcus Richmond (R) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Greg Leding (D) House: Tippi McCullough (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 35 (Senate), 100 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art 8, Section 3, Arkansas Constitution |
| Salary: | $44,356/year + Per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Arkansas Legislature controls Congressional Redistricting, Board of Apportionment controls state legislative redistricting |
The Arkansas General Assembly is the legislative branch of the Arkansas government. The General Assembly consists of an upper branch, the Arkansas State Senate, and a lower branch, the Arkansas House of Representatives. There are 100 representatives and 35 senators. The General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. The governor of Arkansas can issue a "call" for a special session during the interims between regular sessions.
Arkansas has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is March 5, 2024, and a primary runoff is April 2, 2024. The filing deadline was November 14, 2023.
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is March 5, 2024, and a primary runoff is April 2, 2024. The filing deadline was November 14, 2023.
2022
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was March 1, 2022.
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was March 1, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for March 31, 2020. The filing deadline was November 11, 2019.
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for March 31, 2020. The filing deadline was November 11, 2019.
2018
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on May 22, 2018.[1] A primary runoff election took place on June 19, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2018.[2]
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on May 22, 2018.[3] A primary runoff election took place on June 19, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2018.[4]
2016
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[5]
Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.
The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.
Ballotpedia spoke to political analyst Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.
The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[6]
2014
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014.
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 22, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2012.
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 22, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2010.
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2010.
Sessions
Article V of the Arkansas Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to convene. Section 5 of Article V establishes the beginning date for regular sessions, but this date has been changed by law (as Section 5 allows). Under the law, the Arkansas legislature convenes its regular session on the second Monday in January of every odd numbered year. The fiscal session is convened on the second Monday in February of every even numbered year.[7]
Section 17 of Article V limits the length of sessions to sixty days, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of each legislative house.
2024
- See also: 2024 Arkansas legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on April 10, 2024, and adjourn on May 9, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on May 1, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 14, 2022, and adjourn on March 15, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2021, and adjourn on October 15, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on April 8, 2020, and adjourn on April 24, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On March 24, 2020, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) issued a proclamation convening a special session of the state legislature to begin March 26, 2020, and continuing indefinitely. The proclamation specified that one purpose of the special session would be "to create the COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund; to transfer funds to the COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund; and to Declare an Emergency." The special session adjourned on March 28, 2020. Lawmakers reconvened on April 8, 2020, and adjourned their regular session on April 24, 2020.[8][9] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 14, 2019, through April 24, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from February 12, 2018, through March 13, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2017, through May 1, 2017. The legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare.[10] The legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2. The legislature had a special session from May 26 to May 28. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included Medicaid expansion, tax cuts, prisons, abortion, same-sex marriage, and education reforms.[11] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from February 10 to March 20. Major issues in 2014Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included private option Medicaid expansion and a $5 billion proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The legislature also established an entrepreneurship program for college seniors called the Arkansas Fellowship.[12] Due to a 2008 constitutional amendment, sessions held in even-numbered years may only address financial matters.[13] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 14 to May 17. Major issues in 2013Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included an agreement on expanding the Medicaid program by providing private insurance for low-income residents, a two percent increase in per-student funding for public schools, and a bill that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls.[14] During the first budget negotiations of the year, the Joint Budget Committee rejected a pay increase for elected officials.[15] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from February 13 to March 13. 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 10 to April 27. 2010
In 2010, the legislature convened for its fiscal session, meeting from February 8th to March 4th. |
Role in state budget
- See also: Arkansas state budget and finances
Arkansas on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[16][17]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in May of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
- State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in July.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in November.
- The state legislature adopts a budget between January and April. The budget must be passed by a three-fourths majority.
- The fiscal year begins July 1.
Arkansas is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[16]
The governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. The legislature is not legally required to pass a balanced budget.[16]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $44,356/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $59/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $155/day. |
When sworn in
Arkansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January following their election.
Senate
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
The Arkansas State Senate is the upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Senate consists of 35 members.
As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state senators represented an average of 86,107 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 83,607 residents.
Arkansas senators are subject to term limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.[18] Service in the state legislature is part-time.
The senators are elected to four-year terms, the Senate being renewed by half every two years. Therefore a Senate lasts two years with the same composition.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 6 | |
| Republican Party | 29 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Arkansas State Senate in 2012. In 2022, they won a 29-6 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Arkansas Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Arkansas State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Republicans | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
Before 1992
Democrats held the chamber between 1874 and 2012. From 1914 to 1968, there were no Republican members of the chamber.
House of Representatives
The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state.
As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state representatives represented an average of 30,138 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 29,262 residents.
In Arkansas, representatives serve two-year terms with term limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.[18]
The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. His or her duties include the supervision and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order and germaneness, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees. In the Speaker's absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore presides.
The Arkansas House of Representatives meets regularly every two years at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 18 | |
| Republican Party | 82 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2012. In 2022, they won an 82-18 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Arkansas House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Arkansas House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 89 | 88 | 86 | 76 | 72 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 71 | 55 | 49 | 36 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 18 |
| Republicans | 10 | 12 | 14 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 45 | 51 | 64 | 73 | 74 | 78 | 82 |
Before 1992
Democrats held the chamber between 1874 and 2012. The Democratic majority did not fall below 95 seats from 1900 to 1978.
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Arkansas are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? A majority of members in both chambers.
| A simple majority of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 51 of the 100 members in the Arkansas House of Representatives and 18 of the 35 members in the Arkansas State Senate. Arkansas is one of six states that requires a majority vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
Authority: Article 6, Section 15 of the Arkansas Constitution.
| "Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the General Assembly, shall be presented to the Governor; if he approve it, he shall sign it; but if he shall not approve it, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated; which house shall enter the objections at large upon their journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, a majority of the whole number elected to that house, shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other house; by which, likewise, it shall be reconsidered; and, if approved by a majority of the whole number elected to that house, it shall be a law; but in such cases the vote of both houses shall be determined by "yeas and nays;" and the names of the members voting for or against the bill, shall be entered on the journals." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Arkansas State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Arkansas State Senate for 21 years while the Republicans were the majority for one year. The Arkansas State Senate is 1 of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final year of the study depicted a shift in the Arkansas senate which changed to Republican control.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Arkansas State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Arkansas State House of Representatives for the first 21 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last year. The Arkansas State House is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final year of the study depicted a shift in the Arkansas House of Representatives which changed to Republican control for the first time.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the office of the governor of Arkansas, the Arkansas State Senate and the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Arkansas state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Within the 1992 to 2013 period, Arkansas had never had a Republican trifecta, but did have two Democratic trifectas, between 1992 and 1996 and also between 2007 and 2011. Arkansas ranked in the bottom-10 of the SQLI ranking for each year of the study. Its highest ranking (41st) occurred in the early 1990s under a Democratic trifecta, while its worst ranking (47th) occurred in 1999 and 2000 under divided government. 2013 was the first year in which Arkansas’s divided government included a Democratic governor and Republican legislature. In all other years of divided government, Arkansas had a Republican governor and a Democratic legislature.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 43.18
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
- SQLI average with divided government: 45.30
Joint legislative committees
- See also: Public policy in Arkansas
There are four joint legislative standing committees in the General Assembly. The General Assembly also holds additional joint councils, commissions, hearings, and reviews.
- Joint Budget Committee, Arkansas General Assembly
- Joint Energy Committee, Arkansas General Assembly
- Joint Performance Review Committee, Arkansas General Assembly
- Public Retirement and Social Security Programs Committee, Arkansas General Assembly
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Arkansas Constitution can be amended:
The Arkansas Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process and a legislative process. Arkansas requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Arkansas, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Arkansas requires that a petition must contain qualified signatures equaling at least half of the required percentage of signatures (5%) from each of 50 of the state's 75 counties. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Legislature
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Arkansas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Arkansas State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Arkansas 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
| Arkansas Lottery Proceed Funding for Vocational-Technical School Scholarships and Grants Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 18 | Yes votes: 30 (85.71%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 5; No: 0 | Yes: 25; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 51 | Yes votes: 97 (97.00%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 17; No: 0 | Yes: 80; No: 0 |
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Arkansas State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed May 29, 2017
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2018 Election Dates," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed May 29, 2017
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2018 Election Dates," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Digital Archives, "1874 Arkansas Constitution," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ State of Arkansas Executive Department, "Proclamation," March 24, 2020
- ↑ UA Little Rock Public Radio, "Arkansas Lawmakers Conclude Coronavirus Special Session Early Saturday," March 28, 2020
- ↑ arkansasmatters.com, "Arkansas Works Set for Special Session," accessed April 6, 2016
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Things to watch in 2015 Arkansas legislative session," January 10, 2015
- ↑ The Arkansas Traveler, "Arkansas State Legislature Creates Entrepreneurship Program for College Seniors," accessed May 9, 2014
- ↑ akrnasasbusiness.com, "Fiscal Session 2014: A User's Guide to the Arkansas Legislature," February 10, 2014
- ↑ arkansasbusiness.com, "Sine Die: Arkansas Lawmakers Formally End Legislative Session," May 17, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Arkansas online, " Legislative panel rejects pay rise for elected officials," January 16, 2013
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ Appropriations are considered annually for certain departments. See Page 13 here for more information.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Arkansas Digital Archives, "Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874," accessed February 9, 2021 Cite error: Invalid
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