SB515 Summary

• Creates the Arkansas Heritage Protection Act as a new subchapter of Arkansas Code Title 22, Chapter 3, protecting monuments on public property dedicated to historical persons, events, military organizations, or units, including Civil War through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, rededication, vandalization, damage, destruction, or disturbance of monuments, with exceptions for governmental entities performing maintenance, protection, preservation, care, repair, or restoration.

• Allows entities controlling public property containing monuments to petition the Arkansas History Commission for waivers, which may be granted by majority vote at regular commission meetings, with special provisions for school districts maintaining school names during reconstruction.

• Establishes criminal penalties including Class A Misdemeanor for property damage exceeding $500 with repair costs over $100, and Class D Felony for property damage exceeding $1,000 with repair costs over $1,000 and prior conviction.

• Permits courts to enjoin violations upon petition by Arkansas residents or the Arkansas History Commission.