TO REQUIRE A COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE PRIOR YEAR IF A NEW ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE IS NOT ADOPTED; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB 1331 addresses situations where an Arkansas county's local legislative body does not adopt a new annual budget. The bill requires that if a new annual spending plan is not passed, the county must continue its operations and pay for expenditures, including employee salaries, based on the previous year's budget. This process continues until a new annual budget is officially adopted. The bill includes an emergency clause to ensure immediate implementation, aiming to prevent disruptions to county services and employee payments.