Arkansas Legislators Refer Three Constitutional Amendments to Voters on 2026 Ballot

by Kristin Higgins - April 16, 2025

On the last day of the 95th General Assembly, Arkansas legislators approved the last of three constitutional amendments they're sending to voters on the November 2026 statewide ballot. 

Legislators selected the three proposed amendments, two from the Senate and one from the House, from a list of 43 bills filed before a February deadline. 

Two of the proposals would amend the state's constitution and the third would add a new section. Next year, the Secretary of State's Office will assign ballot numbers to each proposal. Historically, they were labeled in order of their approval at the legislature. Unlike citizen initiatives, proposals from the legislature do not have to score at an eighth grade reading level on the Flesch Kincaid Calculator.

Below are links to the amendments in order of their passing the legislature. We will publish the 2026 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide in September 2026.

HJR1018 - THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT

Sponsor: Rep. David Ray of Maumelle

Link to bill: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHJR1018.pdf 

Link to votes: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=HJR1018&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R

SJR11 - A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 2, § 5, TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

Sponsor: Sen. John Payton of Wilburn

Link to bill: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSJR11.pdf 

Link to votes: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SJR11&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R 

SJR15 - A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Sponsor: Sen. Jonathan Dismang of Little Rock

Link to bill: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSJR15.pdf

Link to votes: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SJR15&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R