Ark. Code Ann. » Title 21 Chapter 08
Arkansas Code Annotated

Ark. Code Ann. § 21-8-607 (2026)

Prohibited acts

✓ current as of May 2026
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  1. No person shall purposely employ any lobbyist who is required to register as a registered lobbyist but is not registered pursuant to this chapter.
  2. No person engaging in lobbying shall:
    1. Influence or attempt to influence, by coercion, bribery, or threat of economic sanction, any public servant in the discharge of the duties of his or her office;
    2. Purposely provide false information to any public servant as to any material fact pertaining to any legislative or administrative action;
    3. Purposely omit, conceal, or falsify in any manner information required by the registration and lobbyist activity reports;
    4. Contract to receive or accept compensation that is dependent in any manner upon:
      1. The success or failure of a legislative or administrative action; or
      2. The outcome of any executive, legislative, or administrative action relating to the solicitation or securing of a procurement contract; or
      1. Provide payment for food or beverages at any location or event at which the lobbyist is not present physically.
      2. Subdivision (b)(5)(A) of this section shall not apply to a special event under § 21-8-402(20).
    1. A person convicted of violating subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section is:
      1. Prohibited from acting as a registered lobbyist for a period of three (3) years from the date of the conviction; and
      2. Subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
    2. Any person violating the three-year ban shall be deemed guilty of an additional violation of this subchapter.
  4. Any person who acts as a lobbyist as defined by § 21-8-402(11) but purposely fails to register within five (5) days of beginning lobbying activities as required by § 21-8-601 is subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
    1. On a lobbyist registration form, a person acting as a lobbyist shall not:
      1. Purposely provide false information; or
      2. Purposely omit information.
    2. A person who violates subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall:
      1. Not be considered a registered lobbyist; and
      2. Be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
  6. A person convicted of three (3) or more violations of a provision of this subchapter shall be permanently prohibited from acting as a registered lobbyist in this state.
  7. An expunged record shall not serve as the basis for disqualification under this section.

History. Init. Meas. 1988, No. 1, § 1; Acts 1989, No. 719, § 2; 2009, No. 963, § 2.

Amendments. The 2009 amendment added (b)(4) and (b)(5); rewrote (c); and added (d) through (g).

Cross References. Arkansas Ethics Commission, § 7-6-217.

Subchapter 7 — Disclosure by State and Local Officials — Statement of Financial Interest

Effective Dates. Init. Meas. 1988, No. 1, § 1: Jan. 1, 1989.

Acts 2001, No. 1839, § 35: became law without governor's signature. Approved Apr. 20, 2001. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly that various provisions of the Arkansas Code relating to campaign financing and ethics are vague or otherwise in need of modification; that this act accomplishes those purposes; and that this act should go into effect as soon as possible so that those persons who are subject to the provisions of the various ethics and campaign finance statutes receive the benefit of the clarifications as soon as possible. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall become effective on the date of its approval by the Governor. If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, it shall become effective on the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill. If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, it shall become effective on the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 2015, No. 999, § 5: Apr. 2, 2015. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the retention of certain public records such as campaign contribution reports and statements of financial interest filed by public officials warrants recognition, promotion, and protection by this state; that it is of vital importance that the state immediately designates an official custodian of these records so that the public can be assured that a designated state office will keep the records; and that this act is immediately necessary to ensure that the records will be available for immediate inspection. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: (1) The date of its approval by the Governor; (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill; or (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 2015, No. 1280, § 16: Apr. 8, 2015. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the people of Arkansas adopted Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 94, at the 2014 General Election, which added Sections 28, 29, and 30 to Article 19 of the Arkansas Constitution; that Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 94, requires the General Assembly to provide by law that Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, Sections 28, 29, and 30 be under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Ethics Commission; that this act should become effective at the earliest opportunity to allow the commission to enforce Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, Sections 28, 29, and 30 and issue guidance to affected public officials; and that the additional provisions of this act provide clarity to the ethics laws of the State of Arkansas and should become effective at the earliest opportunity to prevent confusion and avoid incorrect applications of the state's ethics laws. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: (1) The date of its approval by the Governor; (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill; or (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 2015 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 4, § 8: May 29, 2015. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that independent candidates may circulate petitions for candidacy for ninety (90) days before the deadline for filing as a candidate for office; and that without an emergency clause, the effective date of this act will cause confusion regarding the rights and interests of independent candidates and the time period for circulating petitions for candidacy. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: (1) The date of its approval by the Governor; (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill; or (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Research References

U. Ark. Little Rock L.J.

Survey, Miscellaneous, 12 U. Ark. Little Rock L.J. 653.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 1988–1988 · leading case: Gaines v. McCuen, 758 S.W.2d 403 (Ark. 1988).
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Gaines v. McCuen, 758 S.W.2d 403 (Ark. 1988). · cites it 4× “” Initiative § 21-8-607 (b) (1) and (2). The only difference between a “lobbyist” and a “person engaged in lobbying” is that a lobbyist is paid, or spends more than $250.”
Ark. Code Ann. § 21-8-607(b)(1): 1 case
Gaines v. McCuen, 758 S.W.2d 403 (Ark. 1988). “” Initiative § 21-8-607 (b) (1) and (2). The only difference between a “lobbyist” and a “person engaged in lobbying” is that a lobbyist is paid, or spends more than $250.”
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