Arkansas Bills

HB 1038 authorizes funding and staffing for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's Child Support Enforcement division for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes a maximum workforce of 775 regular employees, including child support specialists, attorneys, and administrative staff, while also permitting up to 15 temporary or part-time positions. A total of approximately $77.9 million is appropriated from the Child Support Enforcement Fund to cover salaries, operating expenses, data processing, and other necessary costs. The legislation includes an emergency clause to ensure the agency can begin operations on July 1, 2026, without delay, and was signed into law as Act 40.

HB 1061 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, specifically for its Shared Services and Division of Labor units. The bill establishes maximum staffing levels and salary rates for various positions, including administrative staff, legal counsel, inspectors, and investigators, while also authorizing temporary or part-time "extra help" when needed. A total of $3,853,152 is appropriated for Shared Services to cover salaries, benefits, and operating expenses, and an additional $2,691,381 is provided for the Division of Labor's state operations. These funds will support the department's core functions, such as industrial safety oversight, worker training, and legal support, without changing the underlying laws or regulations.

HB 1070 appropriates funds for Southern Arkansas University's 2026-2027 fiscal year, directly affecting the university's budget and staffing levels. The bill establishes maximum numbers and salary rates for various administrative and operational positions, including roles in education, IT, finance, and student services. By setting these specific limits, the legislation defines the scope of personnel the university can employ and the compensation it can offer during the upcoming fiscal year.

This bill authorizes the Arkansas Office of the Treasurer of State to use $42 million from the College Savings and Higher Education Bond Fund to pay off maturing bonds and interest for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Additionally, it allocates $43 million from the Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Bond Fund to cover debt service for related state bonds during the same period. The legislation includes a provision allowing funds to be transferred between refund and debt service categories if the Treasurer determines the original allocation is insufficient, and it declares an emergency to ensure the money is available starting July 1, 2026.

This bill authorizes funding for the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, covering staff salaries, operations, and specific land management activities. It establishes a maximum workforce of 42 regular employees with designated salary rates and allows for up to five temporary or part-time workers as needed. The legislation appropriates approximately $4.4 million for general office operations and an additional $32.3 million to handle expenses related to selling or redeeming tax delinquent land. Furthermore, it allocates funds for managing submerged lands and covers capital outlay costs totaling $267,800 for the fiscal year.

HB 1069 authorizes funding for Ozarka College for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically establishing the maximum number of regular employees and their corresponding salary rates. The bill details positions across various departments, including educational administration, information technology, public safety, and financial services, with salary caps ranging from approximately $40,000 to over $214,000. Once enacted, this legislation sets the official personnel budget limits for the college, allowing it to hire staff up to these specified numbers and pay rates without exceeding the allocated funds.

This bill, now Act 61, provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Oil and Gas Commission and Office of the State Geologist for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the hiring of specific numbers of full-time and temporary employees, including geologists, inspectors, and administrative staff, to carry out their duties. The legislation appropriates approximately $4.7 million for salaries, operations, and maintenance, while also allocating $12.5 million from a dedicated fund for well plugging expenses related to abandoned or orphaned wells. Additionally, the bill sets aside $200,000 for refunds and reimbursements to the commission.

HB 1056 provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Education's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of four full-time staff members and allows for additional temporary or part-time workers when needed. It allocates approximately $475,000 in total for salaries, operating expenses, travel, and other costs to support the commission's activities.

HB 1075 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the University of Arkansas and the Division of Agriculture - Arkansas Biosciences Institutes. The bill provides approximately $4.8 million in total appropriations, covering salaries, operating expenses, and capital outlays, with funds drawn from the Tobacco Settlement Program Fund. It includes specific rules on how the money can be transferred between budget categories and clarifies that state funds cannot replace Tobacco Settlement funds if those funds expire.

HB 1040, now Act 42, provides funding for the Arkansas State Department for Social Security Administration Disability Determination for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of up to 594 regular employees and 20 temporary staff to process disability claims and manage department operations. It appropriates approximately $77.8 million to cover salaries, operating expenses, and other costs, with funds primarily sourced from federal allocations. Additionally, the law grants the department director authority to create up to 250 extra positions if needed to meet federal program requirements.

HB 1027 provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Health's Health Services Permit Agency for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes $480,745 to cover salaries for four specific staff positions and various operating expenses like maintenance, travel, and professional fees. It also establishes rules requiring the agency to report to the state budget office if it plans to carry over unspent funds to the next year. Once signed into law, this act becomes Act 34 and allows the agency to operate without interruption starting July 1, 2026.

HB 1015 provides funding and sets staffing limits for Black River Technical College in Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes maximum numbers and salary rates for various administrative, academic, and support positions, including roles in IT, student services, and public safety. Once enacted, the college will use these funds to pay for employee salaries and cover operating expenses during the specified fiscal year.