HB1909, titled the Public Services Only for Citizens Act, would require all applicants for public assistance in Arkansas to verify their U.S. citizenship and state residency, even for programs already governed by federal eligibility rules. This bill mandates burdensome documentation requirements, increases administrative costs, and risks denying vital services to eligible residents due to clerical errors, lost documents, or confusion around the verification process.
The ACLU of Arkansas opposes HB1909 because it creates unnecessary barriers to essential public services, disproportionately impacts immigrants and marginalized communities, and promotes fear and discrimination under the guise of administrative enforcement. This legislation prioritizes exclusion over compassion, undermining the health and wellbeing of our communities.