Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas SB459: TO AMEND THE MINIMUM AGE NECESSARY TO ADJUDICATE A JUVENILE DELINQUENT
Status: Failed, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to amend the minimum age necessary to adjudicate a juvenile delinquent; to require that a juvenile who is nine years of age or younger and causes the death of another person to be adjudicated a juvenile in a family in need of services matter; and for other purposes. subtitle to amend the minimum age necessary to adjudicate a juvenile delinquent.
From the introduced text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO AMEND THE MINIMUM AGE NECESSARY TO ADJUDICATE A JUVENILE DELINQUENT; TO REQUIRE THAT A JUVENILE WHO IS NINE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER AND CAUSES THE DEATH OF ANOTHER PERSON TO BE ADJUDICATED A JUVENILE IN A FAMILY IN NEED OF SERVICES MATTER; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO AMEND THE MINIMUM AGE NECESSARY TO ADJUDICATE A JUVENILE DELINQUENT. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Very young children under ten (10) years of age should be held accountable in an appropriate way, but do not have the intellectual capacity and maturity to understand the consequences of their actions and the charges against them, and scientific research has found that in children this young, qualities such as impulse control and future orientation are not well developed in the brain; (2) Children under ten (10) years of age do not have the ability to form mens rea or criminal intent, but should still receive services and treatment when they engage in what would otherwise be delinquent or criminal behavior; and (3) States such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Kansas have set a minimum age of delinquency adjudication *LJH185* …
Sponsors
- Greg Leding (D, 30) · primary sponsor
- Ashley Hudson (D, 75)
Latest actions
- : Died in House at Sine Die adjournment.
- : REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
- : Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
- : Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
- : Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 1
- : Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
- : RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
- : Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
- : Read the third time and passed.
- : REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
Votes
- Senate Roll Call #698 (March 31, 2025): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #134 (February 10, 2025): 25 yea, 1 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB459?
- SB459 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO AMEND THE MINIMUM AGE NECESSARY TO ADJUDICATE A JUVENILE DELINQUENT.
- What does SB459 do?
- In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to amend the minimum age necessary to adjudicate a juvenile delinquent; to require that a juvenile who is nine years of age or younger and causes the death of another person to be adjudicated a juvenile in a family in need of services matter; and for other purposes. subtitle to amend the minimum age necessary to adjudicate a juvenile delinquent.
- What is the status of SB459?
- Failed as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB459?
- Greg Leding (D, 30), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB459?
- On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=SB459
Source: official Arkansas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.