One of the bills passed during the third week of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly and signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will affect a portion of north central Arkansas. House Bill 1137 will result in Searcy County’s sheriff and tax collector to serve as separate offices beginning in 2027.
Currently, Kenny Cassell serves in both positions in Searcy County. The bill, sponsored by District 27 Representative Steven Walker of Horseshoe Bend and District 24 Senator Missy Irvin of Mountain View, will result in the county’s voters electing a sheriff and a tax collector separately in the 2026 general election. The winners of each race will take office after being sworn in the following New Year’s Day. The compensation for both positions is to be decided by the Searcy County Quorum Court.
The bill first passed the House unanimously on Jan. 23, with the exception of three representatives who did not vote. The Senate unanimously approved the bill on Wednesday, and Gov. Sanders signed it into law on Thursday.
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