AR SB548

Court approval for municipal incorporation is no longer required when the governing body affirmatively consents by written resolution OR when the area seeking incorporation contains a population of 1,500 or more persons.

Areas within 3 miles of an existing municipal corporation or within its planning territorial jurisdiction can be incorporated without the existing municipality's consent if the new area has a population of 5,000 or more persons.

Reduced the minimum population requirement for alternative incorporation method from 4,000 inhabitants to 1,500 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census.

County judge approval process for alternative incorporation methods requires verifying petition filing procedures were followed, signature requirements met, territory boundaries accurately described, and that the petition is right and proper before granting an election.