How a bill becomes law in Arkansas, step by step

This page walks through the path of a bill in the Arkansas General Assembly, with the vote counts and deadlines that apply at each step. The process is set by the Arkansas Constitution and by the rules each chamber adopts. Where a number comes from a chamber's rule book, the edition is named, because the House and Senate adopt their rules again at the start of every General Assembly.

The steps

Idea and drafting. An idea often comes from a constituent or a group. A legislator asks for a bill, and an attorney at the Bureau of Legislative Research drafts it.
Filing and numbering. The bill gets a number when it is filed. Senate bills are numbered from SB 1 and House bills from HB 1001. See bill numbers.
First and second reading. The bill is read in the chamber where it starts. The second reading usually follows the first right away, and the bill is then referred to a committee. See readings.
Committee. The sponsor presents the bill, members of the public may speak for or against it, and the committee may amend it before it votes.
Third reading and floor vote. A bill with a favorable report goes on the chamber's calendar. It is read a third time, debated and voted on by roll call. See third reading.
The other chamber. The bill repeats the committee and floor steps in the second chamber. If that chamber amends it, the bill goes back to the first chamber to concur in the amendment.
The Governor. After both chambers pass the same text, the bill goes to the Governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature.
Act and effective date. A bill that becomes law gets an Act number. Many acts take effect 90 days after the session adjourns sine die.

In committee

A committee can report a bill "do pass," "do pass as amended," or "do not pass," or it can leave the bill on its agenda without acting. Under House Rule 55 (92nd General Assembly edition), the House does not act on a bill without a "do pass" or "do pass as amended" report. In the Senate, a bill reported "do not pass" can still reach the floor, but only with an extraordinary majority of the full Senate, which the Senate describes as rare.

House standing committee: 20 members, 5 from each of the four House district caucuses.
House votes to report a bill: 11 members with the Speaker present if the Speaker is a member of the committee, and 10 when the Speaker is not present. The House committee rules say a committee recommendation requires these same numbers (House Rule 66, 92nd General Assembly edition).
Senate standing committee: 8 members.

Terms: do pass, do pass as amended, do not pass, without recommendation.

Votes needed on the floor

The Constitution requires every bill to be read on three different days in each house, unless two-thirds of the house suspend the rules, and to pass on a recorded roll call with a majority of each house voting yes (art. 5, § 22). Some bills need more than a simple majority.

Vote	House (100)	Senate (35)	Used for
Simple majority	51	18	Most bills, and overriding a veto
Two-thirds	67	24	An emergency clause, changes to an initiated act, and considering a non-budget bill in a fiscal session
Three-fourths	75	27	Appropriations and some tax increases

The three-fourths rule for spending comes from Amendment 19, printed as article 5, section 39 ("State expenses") in the edition of the Constitution cited below. It bars the Legislature from appropriating more than $2.5 million a year for all purposes unless three-fourths of each house agree, except for money "raised or collected for educational purposes, highway purposes, to pay Confederate pensions and the just debts of the State." The same amendment requires three-fourths of each house, or a vote of the people, to raise existing property, excise, privilege or personal tax rates. See two-thirds vote and appropriation bill.

Counting votes on a bill? The thresholds above are counted against the full membership of each house, not just the members present. Our guide to running a whip count shows how teams track it.

The Governor's options

Article 6, section 15 of the Constitution sets the rules:

Sign it. The bill becomes law.
Veto it. The Governor returns it, with objections, to the chamber where it started.
Do nothing. If the Governor does not return the bill within five days, not counting Sundays, it becomes law without a signature.
After adjournment. If the Legislature has adjourned and the bill cannot be returned, it becomes law unless the Governor files it, with objections, with the Secretary of State and gives public notice within 20 days after adjournment.

To override a veto, a majority of the whole number elected to each house must vote yes on a roll call: 51 in the House and 18 in the Senate. That is the same number needed to pass the bill in the first place. See veto and override.

When a law takes effect

The default. Many acts take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die. The 90 days line up with the window the Constitution gives voters to file a referendum petition against an act.
Emergency clause. An act with an emergency clause takes effect when the Governor signs it. The clause must state the facts that make it an emergency and pass on a separate roll call with two-thirds of the members elected to each house (art. 5, § 1).
A set date. Some acts name their own effective date.
Appropriations. Most take effect on the first day of the next fiscal year.

Limits on bills

No law may be passed except by bill, and a bill may not be amended in a way that changes its original purpose (art. 5, § 21).
No new bill may be introduced in the last three days of a regular or fiscal session (art. 5, § 34).
The joint rules set filing deadlines for some kinds of bills. For 2027 they are listed on the 2027 session dates page.

Questions

How many votes does it take to pass a bill in Arkansas?

A majority of each house: 51 of 100 in the House and 18 of 35 in the Senate. Appropriations and some tax increases need three-fourths, which is 75 and 27, and an emergency clause needs two-thirds, which is 67 and 24.

How are Arkansas bills numbered?

Senate bills start at SB 1 and House bills start at HB 1001. The number is assigned when the bill is filed.

How long does the Governor have to act on a bill?

Five days, not counting Sundays, while the Legislature is in session. If adjournment prevents the bill's return, the Governor has 20 days after adjournment to file a veto with the Secretary of State.

How is a veto overridden in Arkansas?

By a majority of the members elected to each house, 51 in the House and 18 in the Senate, on a recorded vote. That is the same number needed to pass a bill.

When does a new Arkansas law take effect?

Many take effect 90 days after the session adjourns sine die. Acts with an emergency clause take effect on signature, some acts set their own date, and most appropriations start with the next fiscal year.

What does "do pass as amended" mean?

The committee recommends the bill pass with the amendments it adopted. The amended text is then engrossed, which means the amendments are written into the bill.