TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF TITLE 6 AND TITLE 19 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING PROVISIONAL POSITIONS AND MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB 1697 increases temporary staffing limits and vehicle quotas for specific Arkansas public colleges and universities. It raises provisional staff positions at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro (375 to 425), Northwest Arkansas Community College (80 to 100), and other institutions like the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (750 to 1,000). The bill also adjusts motor vehicle authorizations, such as increasing Black River Technical College’s limit from 14 to 20 vehicles. These changes are declared an emergency to align with federal grant disbursements and fiscal year requirements, effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects state-supported higher education institutions by modifying their operational resource allocations.