Arkansas ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Arkansas Issue 4, explained

Up to $500 million in water, waste disposal and pollution abatement bonds. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.

The official wording

Ballot Title: Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2025. Ballot Question: Shall the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission be authorized to issue general obligation bonds under the authority of the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2025, for the financing and refinancing of the development of water, waste disposal, water pollution control, abatement and prevention, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands and aquatic resources projects to serve the citizens of the State of Arkansas, in total principal amount not to exceed five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000), with no more than one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($165,000,000) in total principal amount of such bonds to be issued to finance and refinance the development of irrigation facilities, in series from time to time in principal amounts not to exceed, without prior approval of the General Assembly, sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) in any two-year period beginning on July 1 of each odd-numbered year, which bonds shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas? ___ FOR Issuance of State of Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities general obligation bonds. ___ AGAINST Issuance of State of Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities general obligation bonds.

This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.

What it actually means

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission lends money to communities for water and sewer work, funded by bonds voters have approved before. Those bonds carry the state's full faith and credit, which is why the constitution requires a statewide vote. This question renews and enlarges that authority: up to $500 million in total, of which no more than $165 million may go to irrigation, and no more than $60 million may be issued in any two-year period without the legislature's approval.

If you vote YES

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission could issue up to $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance and refinance water supply, waste disposal, water pollution control, drainage, irrigation, flood control and wetlands and aquatic resources projects.
No more than $165 million of that total could go to irrigation facilities.
Bonds could be issued in series, but no more than $60 million in any two-year period beginning July 1 of each odd-numbered year without prior approval of the General Assembly.
The bonds would be secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas, meaning state revenues stand behind repayment.
The commission's existing bond authority, which sponsors say runs out in 2027, would be replaced by this larger authority.

If you vote NO

No new general obligation bond authority would be created for the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
The commission would keep only the bond authority already approved by voters; the amendment's House sponsor told legislators that remaining authority "will be exhausted in 2027."
The state would not pledge its full faith and credit to the new borrowing, and would not take on the associated repayments.
Communities needing water and wastewater financing would depend on the commission's remaining funds, federal programmes and their own borrowing.

The numbers that matter

Maximum total principal: $500,000,000
Maximum for irrigation facilities: $165,000,000
Maximum issued per two-year period without legislative approval: $60,000,000

Why supporters say YES

The need is far larger than the borrowing and the current authority is running out: "Current estimates [are] that the wastewater needs are about $13 billion over the next 20 years. Remaining bond authority will be exhausted in 2027."
— State Rep. Howard Beaty (R-Crossett), a sponsor
"It's been $300 million of these bonds, but we're increasing that up to $500 million. We all know how inflation has hurt the market. We want to continue to be able to provide adequate water funds for our communities that need them."
— State Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs), a sponsor; the supporting committee is The Committee for Water Infrastructure Now (WIN) for Arkansas

Why opponents say NO

"At first blush, the vagueness of this bill causes one to pause and remember our recent history when too much money was available with too little oversight from voters. Now, Sen. Bart Hester's very broad, vague bill looks like another chapter to add to our reckless past."
— Conduit News, an Arkansas outlet, quoted by Ballotpedia; state Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R) is listed as an opponent

What’s genuinely uncertain

The Committee for Water Infrastructure Now (WIN) for Arkansas has registered with the Arkansas Ethics Commission in support; no committee has registered in opposition, so the case against comes from an outlet and a dissenting senator rather than a campaign.
The $13 billion wastewater figure comes from the sponsor's remarks to legislators, not from a published state fiscal note; no official estimate of annual debt service on the bonds was located.
Which specific projects would be financed is not decided by the ballot question; the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission allocates the money afterwards.

The bottom line

Whether to pledge the state's credit behind up to $500 million of new borrowing for water, sewer, flood control and irrigation projects; sponsors say the existing authority runs out in 2027 against needs in the billions, critics say the authorisation is broad and loosely supervised.

One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.

Sources:sos.arkansas.gov uaex.uada.edu ballotpedia.org

Checking it against the official text

The Arkansas Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Arkansas Secretary of State.

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