Arkansas General Assembly
General information
Type:	State legislature
Term limits:	12 consecutive years; can return after a four-year break
Session start:	April 8, 2026
Website:	Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:	Leslie Rutledge (R)
House Speaker:	Brian Evans (R)
Majority Leader:	Senate:Blake Johnson (R) House:Howard Beaty (R)
Minority Leader:	Senate:Greg Leding (D) House:Andrew Collins (D)
Structure
Members:	35 (Senate), 100 (House)
Length of term:	4 years (Senate),2 years (House)
Authority:	Art 8, Section 3, Arkansas Constitution
Salary:	$45,244/year + Per diem
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Redistricting:	Arkansas Legislature controls Congressional Redistricting, Board of Apportionment controls state legislative redistricting

TheArkansas General Assembly is the legislative branch of the Arkansas government. The General Assembly consists of an upper branch, theArkansas State Senate, and a lower branch, theArkansas House of Representatives. There are 100 representatives and 35 senators. The General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. Thegovernor of Arkansas can issue a "call" for a special session during the interims between regular sessions.

Arkansas has a Republicantrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

See also:Arkansas House of Representatives,Arkansas State Senate,Arkansas Governor

Senate

See also:Partisan composition of state senates

TheArkansas State Senate is the upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Senate consists of 35 members.

As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state senators represented an average of86,107 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented83,607 residents.

Arkansas senators are subject toterm limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.^[1] Service in the state legislature is part-time.

The senators are elected to four-year terms, the Senate being renewed by half every two years. Therefore a Senate lasts two years with the same composition.

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Arkansas State Senate in 2012. In2024, they won a 29-6 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Arkansas Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

Democrats held the chamber between 1874 and 2012. From 1914 to 1968, there were no Republican members of the chamber.

House of Representatives

TheArkansas House of Representatives is thelower house of the Arkansas General Assembly. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state.

As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state representatives represented an average of30,138 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented29,262 residents.

In Arkansas, representatives serve two-year terms withterm limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.^[1]

TheSpeaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. His or her duties include the supervision and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order and germaneness, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees. In the Speaker's absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore presides.

The Arkansas House of Representatives meets regularly every two years at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2012. In2024, they won an 81-19 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Arkansas House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

Democrats held the chamber between 1874 and 2012. The Democratic majority did not fall below 95 seats from 1900 to 1978.

Elections

2026

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2026 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2026

Elections for theArkansas State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isMarch 3, 2026, and the primary runoff isMarch 31, 2026. The filing deadline wasNovember 12, 2025.

Elections for theArkansas House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isMarch 3, 2026, and the primary runoff isMarch 31, 2026. The filing deadline wasNovember 12, 2025.

2024

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2024 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for theArkansas State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasMarch 5, 2024, and the primary runoff wasApril 2, 2024. The filing deadline wasNovember 14, 2023.

Elections for theArkansas House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasMarch 5, 2024, and the primary runoff wasApril 2, 2024. The filing deadline wasNovember 14, 2023.

2022

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2022 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2022

Elections for theArkansas State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was March 1, 2022.

Elections for theArkansas House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was March 1, 2022.

2020

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2020 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office ofArkansas State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for March 31, 2020. The filing deadline was November 11, 2019.

Elections for the office ofArkansas House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for March 31, 2020. The filing deadline was November 11, 2019.

2018

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2018 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2018

Elections for theArkansas State Senate took place in 2018. Anopen primary election took place on May 22, 2018.^[2] Aprimary runoff election took place on June 19, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMarch 1, 2018.^[3]

Elections for theArkansas House of Representatives took place in 2018. Anopen primary election took place on May 22, 2018.^[4] Aprimary runoff election took place on June 19, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMarch 1, 2018.^[5]

2016

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2016 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for theArkansas State Senate took place in2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.^[6]

Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.

The reason for thelow competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties.Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.

TheDemocratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win thestate Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.

Ballotpedia spoke to political analystRichard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.

The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.^[7]

2014

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2014 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for theArkansas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014.

Elections for theArkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014.

2012

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 22, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2012.

Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 22, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2012.

2010

See also:Arkansas State Senate elections, 2010 andArkansas House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2010.

Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2010.

Sessions

Article V of the Arkansas Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to convene. Section 5 of Article V establishes the beginning date for regular sessions, but this date has been changed by law (as Section 5 allows). Under the law, the Arkansas legislature convenes its regular session on the second Monday in January of every odd numbered year. The fiscal session is convened on the second Monday in February of every even numbered year.^[8]

Section 17 of Article V limits the length of sessions to sixty days, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of each legislative house.

2025

See also:2025 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2025, and adjourn on May 5, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also:2024 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on April 10, 2024, and adjourn on May 9, 2024. 2023 See also:2023 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on May 1, 2023. 2022 See also:2022 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 14, 2022, and adjourn on March 15, 2022. 2021 See also:2021 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2021, and adjourn on October 15, 2021. 2020 See also:2020 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on April 8, 2020, and adjourn on April 24, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On March 24, 2020, Arkansas GovernorAsa Hutchinson (R) issued a proclamation convening a special session of the state legislature to begin March 26, 2020, and continuing indefinitely. The proclamation specified that one purpose of the special session would be "to create the COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund; to transfer funds to the COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund; and to Declare an Emergency." The special session adjourned on March 28, 2020. Lawmakers reconvened on April 8, 2020, and adjourned their regular session on April 24, 2020.[9][10] 2019 See also:2019 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 14, 2019, through April 24, 2019. 2018 See also:2018 Arkansas legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from February 12, 2018, through March 13, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017 See also:Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2017, through May 1, 2017. The legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3. 2016 See also:Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare.[11] The legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation. 2015 See also:Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2. The legislature had a special session from May 26 to May 28. Major issues in 2015 Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included Medicaid expansion, tax cuts, prisons, abortion, same-sex marriage, and education reforms.[12] 2014 See also:Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from February 10 to March 20. Major issues in 2014 Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included private option Medicaid expansion and a $5 billion proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The legislature also established an entrepreneurship program for college seniors called the Arkansas Fellowship.[13] Due to a2008 constitutional amendment, sessions held in even-numbered years may only address financial matters.[14] 2013 See also:Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 14 to May 17. Major issues in 2013 Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included an agreement on expanding the Medicaid program by providing private insurance for low-income residents, a two percent increase in per-student funding for public schools, and a bill that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls.[15] During the first budget negotiations of the year, the Joint Budget Committee rejected a pay increase for elected officials.[16] 2012 See also:Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from February 13 to March 13. 2011 See also:Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 10 to April 27. 2010 See also:Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions In 2010, the legislature convened for its fiscal session, meeting from February 8th to March 4th.

Role in state budget

See also:Arkansas state budget and finances

Arkansason

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[17][18]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inMay of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inJuly.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inNovember.
4. The state legislature adopts a budget betweenJanuary and April. The budget must be passed by a three-fourths majority.
5. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.

Arkansas is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[17][19]

The governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. The legislature is not legally required to pass a balanced budget.^[17]

Legislators

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

When sworn in

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

Arkansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January following their election.^[21]

District maps

State Senate

State House

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Arkansas are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? A majority of members in both chambers.

Authority:Article 6, Section 15 of theArkansas Constitution.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Arkansas

Partisan breakdown of the Arkansas legislature from 1992-2013

Arkansas State Senate:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Arkansas State Senate for 21 years while the Republicans were the majority for one year. The Arkansas State Senate is 1 of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final year of the study depicted a shift in the Arkansas senate which changed to Republican control.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Arkansas State House of Representatives:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Arkansas State House of Representatives for the first 21 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last year. The Arkansas State House is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final year of the study depicted a shift in the Arkansas House of Representatives which changed to Republican control for the first time.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theoffice of the governor of Arkansas, theArkansas State Senate and theArkansas House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Arkansas state government (1992-2013).

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on theState Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, clickhere.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Arkansas state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Within the 1992 to 2013 period, Arkansas had never had a Republican trifecta, but did have two Democratic trifectas, between 1992 and 1996 and also between 2007 and 2011. Arkansas ranked in the bottom-10 of the SQLI ranking for each year of the study. Its highest ranking (41st) occurred in the early 1990s under a Democratic trifecta, while its worst ranking (47th) occurred in 1999 and 2000 under divided government. 2013 was the first year in which Arkansas’s divided government included a Democratic governor and Republican legislature. In all other years of divided government, Arkansas had a Republican governor and a Democratic legislature.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 43.18
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
• SQLI average with divided government: 45.30

Chart displaying the partisanship of Arkansas government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Joint legislative committees

See also:Public policy in Arkansas

The General Assembly also holds additional joint councils, commissions, hearings, and reviews.

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Arkansas Constitution can be amended:

See also:Section 22, Article 19, of the Arkansas Constitution andLaws governing ballot measures in Arkansas

TheArkansas Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process and a legislative process. Arkansas requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also:Initiated constitutional amendment

Aninitiated constitutional amendment is acitizen-initiated ballot measure that amends astate's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Arkansas, thenumber of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Arkansas requires that a petition must contain qualified signatures equaling at least half of the required percentage of signatures (5%) from each of 50 of the state's 75 counties. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Legislature

See also:Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for theArkansas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in theArkansas House of Representatives and 18 votes in theArkansas State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

Elections	Arkansas State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Arkansas elections, 2024 Arkansas elections, 2022 Arkansas elections, 2020 Arkansas elections, 2018	Arkansas State Senate Arkansas House of Representatives Governor of Arkansas Arkansas Supreme Court	State legislative elections:2025,2024,2023,2022,2021,2020,2019, and2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• Arkansas General Assembly

Footnotes

	v • e State ofArkansas Little Rock (capital)
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