SJR 4 Summary

• Amends Arkansas Constitution Article 5, § 1 to establish a pre-circulation title approval process for initiative petitions, requiring General Assembly to enact laws approving measure titles before petition circulation begins, with signatures collected before approval deemed invalid.

• Changes constitutional amendment approval threshold from simple majority to 60% of statewide votes cast, while regular initiatives remain at majority vote requirement.

• Adds new geographic distribution requirements for constitutional amendments, requiring signatures from at least one-fourth (1/4) of counties in each congressional district rather than just 15 counties statewide.

• Prohibits constitutional amendments that are restricted to specific counties/municipalities or that bestow power/privileges on specific individuals or private business entities, or create business monopolies.

• Establishes new challenge procedures with 30-day filing deadlines after title approval for text and title challenges, and 30-day deadlines after petition sufficiency determination for signature challenges.

• Effective date: January 1, 2021.