This is a commemorative resolution (not a law) recognizing the Catholic High School for Boys Rockets golf team as the 2024 Class 6A Arkansas state champions. It formally honors their victory at the October 2024 championship, including their team score and individual achievements, with no policy changes or government action required. The resolution is purely symbolic, acknowledging both their athletic success and the team's collective 3.718 GPA. It was adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on April 14, 2025.
This House Memorial Resolution (HMR 1010) honors Attorney Roger Colbert, who passed away in February 2025, for his professional and community contributions. It specifically recognizes his legal work in Paragould and Greene County, leadership roles in the Greene-Clay Bar Association and Arkansas Bar Association, and service with organizations like the Community Foundation of Greene County. The resolution formally commemorates his legacy and directs that a copy be presented to his family. As a memorial resolution, it does not create any new laws or policies.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the Gravette High School Lions wrestling team as the 2025 Class 4A state champions. It does not create new policy or affect any laws; it is purely a symbolic gesture of acknowledgment. The resolution will be presented to the team's coach, A.J. Herrlein, following its adoption by the Arkansas House of Representatives. This type of recognition resolution is common for athletic achievements and has no financial or regulatory impact.
HB 1526 authorizes Arkansas' Department of Military and Arkansas National Guard to form public-private partnerships (e.g., with businesses for facility maintenance or training support) while adding transparency requirements. It directly affects the military department, National Guard, and private entities entering such agreements. The bill requires the department to report partnerships valued between $10,000-$50,000 annually or $350,000 total to the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee for review, and mandates full committee review for partnerships exceeding those thresholds. This updates existing gift rules to cover partnership agreements, ensuring legislative oversight of significant military spending without creating new funding.
HB 1859 amends Arkansas law to strengthen health insurance coverage for mastectomy patients. It requires health insurers to cover specific benefits including a minimum 48-hour hospital stay post-mastectomy, full breast reconstruction (including both breasts for symmetry), prostheses, lymphedema treatment, and coverage for mesh/nerve grafts. Insurers must provide written coverage notices at enrollment and annually, and cannot deny coverage or penalize providers for following these requirements. The law applies to most health plans (excluding state/public school employee plans) and expires June 30, 2031.
HB 1821 creates a single State Captive Insurance Program to replace fragmented property insurance systems for public schools, state-supported colleges/universities, and state-owned properties in Arkansas. It combines these entities under one program, prohibits the use of public adjusting firms (which the bill states increased premiums), and requires independent reappraisals of higher education properties to ensure proper valuation. The bill also establishes the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage the program and mandates coordination among state agencies for a smooth transition. These changes aim to stabilize insurance costs and improve market competitiveness for these public entities.
HB 1089 is a funding bill that adjusts staffing levels for the Arkansas Waterways Commission within the Department of Commerce for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifically increases the maximum number of "Research Project Analyst" positions (B076C) from one to three employees. This change directly affects the commission's operational staffing structure but does not alter the overall funding amount. The bill passed as Act 618 after amendments to its personnel allocation.
HB 1789 prohibits Arkansas local governments (counties, cities of first/second class, and incorporated towns) from funding or issuing identification cards to individuals without proof of lawful U.S. presence. The bill requires local ID programs to verify legal immigration status before providing cards or financial support for such cards. It specifically targets local government-run ID programs that provide access to services like schools, banks, or law enforcement, but does not affect state-issued ID cards. The law aims to prevent local programs from being used as part of sanctuary policies, aligning with Arkansas' stance against such initiatives.
Arkansas SB 237 updates licensing rules for captive insurance companies, primarily adjusting minimum capital and surplus requirements based on the company type (e.g., increasing the required capital for association captive insurers from $250,000 to $400,000). It introduces a new provisional licensing process allowing temporary licenses under specific conditions, such as when the commissioner determines it serves the public interest. The bill also removes outdated definitions of "Commissioner" and "Department" from the statute. These changes directly affect captive insurers operating in Arkansas, including pure captives, sponsored captives, and association captives, by modifying their financial obligations and licensing pathways.
SB 405 amends Arkansas' Online Marketplace Consumer Inform Act to require online marketplaces (like Amazon or Etsy) to verify the identity and contact details of high-volume sellers - those generating $20,000+ annually. It mandates platforms to confirm seller information (including government IDs, tax documents, and contact details) within 10 days and require annual certification of that information. Sellers must disclose their full name, physical address, and whether they manufacture or resell products, displayed prominently to consumers on product listings. The law applies specifically to platforms hosting third-party sellers and aims to increase transparency about who sells products online.
HB 1515 (now Act 574) amends Arkansas law to expand the authority of the Adjutant General to order the Arkansas National Guard into active service. It specifically authorizes the Guard for two purposes: (1) supporting military justice proceedings when federal duty orders are unavailable, and (2) providing voluntary state active-duty support to address critical security staffing shortages in military operations. The bill directly affects the Arkansas National Guard and state military justice processes. This change became law on April 14, 2025, after passing both chambers of the legislature.
HB 1344 updates Arkansas's teacher retirement system rules to correct outdated references to the Arkansas School for the Blind and Arkansas School for the Deaf (now officially named the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind). It specifically adjusts service credit requirements for employees at these schools, lowering the minimum annual service needed for full retirement credit from 11 months to 9 months for those employed with these institutions. This change ensures consistency in retirement benefits for educators working at these schools as they transition under a separate merger bill (HB1810). The bill directly affects current and future employees of these schools who participate in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.
