AR HB1790

Clarifies petition procedures for local option elections on intoxicating liquor licensing by requiring signatures equal to 38% of registered voters in a designated county, township, municipality, ward, or precinct, with the county clerk having 10 days to determine sufficiency.

Establishes requirements for paid canvassers, including submission of personal information, oath statements regarding criminal history, proof of training on election law, and photographs to sponsors before soliciting signatures.

Creates new sections defining terms, establishing petition circulation procedures, form requirements, and signature verification standards, including provisions for handling clerical errors and multi-county petitions.

Imposes criminal penalties including Class A misdemeanor charges for falsifying signatures or petition information, and Class D felony charges for knowingly making false statements on petition verification forms.

Requires sponsors to maintain paid canvasser information for three years after the general election and sets a two-year retention period for all signed petition documents submitted to the county clerk.