Arkansas · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure
Issue No. 3: what your vote means
Economic development districts. On every Arkansas ballot. Official sources checked October 26, 2026.
Issue No. 3 · Legislatively referred constitutional amendment (SJR 15, 2025)
Economic development districts
Heads up: voting YES on this measure exempts economic development district bonds from existing constitutional bond provisions (Article 16, § 1, Amendments 62 and 65) and repeals or modifies any conflicting constitutional provisions.
POPULAR NAME: 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 Within Cities, Counties, or Cooperative Areas to Promote Economic Development Within the Economic Development District. BALLOT TITLE: AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS WITHIN CITIES, COUNTIES, OR COOPERATIVE AREAS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
Popular name and ballot title as published in the Arkansas Secretary of State’s notice to the public for this issue.
A YES vote means:
The General Assembly could create economic development programs, make loans and grants of public money for economic development, and create economic development districts that may issue bonds.
A NO vote means:
The constitution would not change.
What it would change
- Who is affected: cities, counties, property owners in any districts created, and the General Assembly.
- District bonds: could be repaid from district funds, would not count toward the debt limit in Article 12, § 4, and would not be subject to Article 16, § 1, Amendment 62, or Amendment 65.
- Property taxes: the text amends Article 16, § 5 on property tax exemptions for property within districts, other than district taxes and charges.
- Conflicts: any constitutional provision that conflicts with the amendment would be repealed or modified; effective January 1, 2027.
- Fiscal impact: No official fiscal impact statement is published with this referred measure by the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Who supports it and who opposes it
These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.
Who supports it
- Arkansans for Strong Communities Arkansas Ethics Commission filing: ballot question committee (support), listed in the UA Cooperative Extension ballot guide
Who opposes it
- League of Women Voters of Arkansas League of Women Voters of Arkansas: Arkansas Ballot Issues 2026
- Scott County Republican Party Committee Arkansas Ethics Commission filing: ballot question committee (oppose), listed in the UA Cooperative Extension ballot guide
- Truth in Politics Against Issue 3 Arkansas Ethics Commission filing: ballot question committee (oppose), listed in the UA Cooperative Extension ballot guide
Official sources
- Arkansas Secretary of State: notice and full text of Issue No. 3 (PDF)
- Arkansas Secretary of State: initiatives and referenda
SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.