What is the status of SB426?

Chaptered as of April 18, 2025. Latest action: Notification that SB426 is now Act 654 (April 18, 2025).

Bart Hester (R, 33), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB426?

On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=SB426

Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)

Arkansas SB426: TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE

Q: What is SB426?

SB426 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE.

Q: What does SB426 do?

In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to create the defense against criminal illegals act; to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens who commit serious felonies involving violence; to ensure that sheriff's offices and the division of correction can participate in the warrant service officer program; to expand the state's current ban on sanctuary cities to include counties and unincorporated areas; and for other purposes. subtitle to create the defense against criminal illegals act; and to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens who commit serious felonies involving violence.

Status: Chaptered, April 18, 2025

What the bill says

An act to be entitled an act to create the defense against criminal illegals act; to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens who commit serious felonies involving violence; to ensure that sheriff's offices and the division of correction can participate in the warrant service officer program; to expand the state's current ban on sanctuary cities to include counties and unincorporated areas; and for other purposes. subtitle to create the defense against criminal illegals act; and to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens who commit serious felonies involving violence.

From the enrolled text:

An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE; TO ENSURE THAT SHERIFF'S OFFICES AND THE DIVISION OF CORRECTION CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE WARRANT SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM; TO EXPAND THE STATE'S CURRENT BAN ON SANCTUARY CITIES TO INCLUDE COUNTIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act". SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, is amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 5-4-708. Enhanced penalties for serious felonies involving violence *JMB473* 04-02-2025 13:51:29 JMB473 As Engrossed: S3/20/25 S4/1/25 S4/2/25 SB426 committed while in the country illegally -- Definition. (a) As used in this section, "serious felony involving violence" (2) Murder in the second degree, § 5-10-103; (3) Battery in the first degree, § 5-13-201; (4) Aggravated assault, § 5-13-204; (5) Terroristic threatening, § 5-13-301, if a felony; (6) Terroristic act, § 5-13-310; (7) Rape, § 5-14-103; (8) Causing a …

Read the full official text

Arkansas SB426: TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE

What the bill says

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