A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Voters To Decide Amendments After Being Advanced By Legislature

Election vote
Michael Hibblen
/
KUAR News

Arkansas voters next year will decide on proposals regarding the governor's power; tax breaks for corporations; and longer terms for elected county officials after the House and Senate advanced a trio of proposed state constitutional amendments.

The Senate voted 33-0 Thursday for a plan to increase the terms of most county offices to four years, relax restrictions on what crimes prevent people from holding office and remove unopposed candidates from ballots.

The House voted 80-0 to allow the governor to retain power and duties while out of state and voted 70-22 for a proposal to remove a cap on bonds the state can issue to attract employers. Supporters say it's necessary to compete with what other states do while detractors call it corporate welfare.

The issues will be on the November 2016 ballot.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.