Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas SB630: TO REQUIRE ONLY A COURT TO FIX PUNISHMENT IF A DEFENDANT IS CHARGED WITH A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR; AND TO REQUIRE ONLY A JUDGE TO SENTENCE A DEFENDANT FOR A CHARGE THAT RESULTS IN A CONVICTION
Status: Failed, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to require only a court to fix punishment if a defendant is charged with a felony or misdemeanor; to amend the law concerning bifurcated sentencing procedures; to require only a judge to sentence a defendant for a charge that results in a conviction; and for other purposes. subtitle to require only a court to fix punishment if a defendant is charged with a felony or misdemeanor; and to require only a judge to sentence a defendant for a charge that results in a conviction.
From the introduced text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO REQUIRE ONLY A COURT TO FIX PUNISHMENT IF A DEFENDANT IS CHARGED WITH A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BIFURCATED SENTENCING PROCEDURES; TO REQUIRE ONLY A JUDGE TO SENTENCE A DEFENDANT FOR A CHARGE THAT RESULTS IN A CONVICTION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO REQUIRE ONLY A COURT TO FIX PUNISHMENT IF A DEFENDANT IS CHARGED WITH A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR; AND TO REQUIRE ONLY A JUDGE TO SENTENCE A DEFENDANT FOR A CHARGE THAT RESULTS IN A CONVICTION. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 5-4-103 is amended to read as follows: 5-4-103. Sentencing -- Role of jury and court. (a) If Except in a case in which a defendant is charged with capital murder, § 5-10-101, if a defendant is charged with a felony or misdemeanor and is found guilty of an offense by a jury, the jury court shall fix punishment in a separate proceeding as authorized by this chapter according to § 16-97-101 et seq. (b) Except as provided by §§ 5-4-601 -- 5-4-605, § 5-4-607, and § 5-4608, the court shall fix punishment as authorized by this chapter in any case in which: *CEB312* 04/04/2025 4:50:47 PM CEB312 SB630 (1) The defendant pleads …
Sponsors
- Breanne Davis (R, 25) · primary sponsor