HB 1690 moves Arkansas' Nuclear Planning and Response Program from the Department of Health to the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2025. The transfer includes all program assets - staff, records, contracts, funds, and responsibilities - while existing radiation surveillance rules and regulations remain in effect. The bill amends statutes to clarify the Division of Emergency Management’s role in managing nuclear emergency planning, radiation monitoring, and public safety protocols near nuclear facilities. This law, now Act 583, updates administrative oversight but does not change funding mechanisms or public safety requirements.
HB 1703 (now Act 570) establishes a new process for reimbursing healthcare providers for drugs. It directly affects healthcare providers and insurance companies or health plans (referred to as "contracting entities"). The key provision requires providers to notify insurers when a drug’s cost to them is below the agreed reimbursement rate; upon receiving this notice, insurers must adjust rates to at least 110% of the provider’s actual drug cost without requiring an appeal. This change ensures faster reimbursement adjustments for low-cost drugs, streamlining the process for affected providers.
HB 1467, now Act 557, amends the Uniform Money Services Act. The bill's text provided focuses solely on adding Representative McCollum as a cosponsor (via Amendment No. 1), not on substantive policy changes to the act. It does not describe specific provisions, mechanisms, or direct effects on businesses or consumers. The bill was enacted on April 14, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers. (Note: The provided context lacks details on the actual policy amendments to the Uniform Money Services Act.)
SB 123 (now Act 553) removes a restriction preventing insurance coverage for mammograms and breast ultrasounds. The bill amends state law by deleting language that previously stated such screenings "shall not" be covered, requiring insurers to provide coverage for these preventive services. This directly affects Arkansans with health insurance who need routine mammograms or breast ultrasounds for early cancer detection. The change ensures these medically necessary screenings are covered under most insurance plans without prior authorization barriers.
HB 1696 (now Act 566) requires all Arkansas state-supported colleges and universities to implement a standardized minimum general education core curriculum by fall 2027. This core curriculum must be fully transferable between all state institutions and apply toward associate and bachelor’s degree requirements. The law affects all students enrolled in Arkansas public higher education institutions, ensuring consistent foundational coursework regardless of which campus they attend. The bill establishes a unified framework for general education, streamlining course requirements for students transferring between schools. It passed both chambers and became law on April 14, 2025.
HB 1426 amends the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act to clarify rules governing healthcare contracts between insurers and providers. It prohibits enforcing hidden "all-products clauses" (rules requiring providers to accept all insurer products) even if not explicitly stated in contracts. The bill also requires insurers to give providers the right to opt out of network transfers during sales/leases and to disclose specific contact information (name, address, phone, email) for customer service. These changes directly affect healthcare insurers, providers, and third-party administrators managing health benefit plans.
HB 1740 exempts specific agricultural data from public disclosure under Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act. It protects veterinary inspection certificates and personal information linked to animal identification tags held by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. This directly affects farmers and ranchers who provide this information to the Department, as it prevents public access to these records through FOIA requests. The law changes how certain farm-related data is handled, making it non-public without altering broader agricultural regulations.
SB 503 reduces the employee threshold requiring Arkansas employers to file annual income tax withholding statements electronically, from 125 to 75 employees. This change directly affects Arkansas businesses with 75 or more employees, mandating they submit these tax forms electronically instead of on paper. The bill also requires third-party payroll services handling Arkansas wages to file electronically if their client employers meet the new threshold. It includes a hardship waiver option for employers facing undue difficulty with electronic filing. The law takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, for the threshold change.
SB 498 amends Arkansas law to limit public access to driver and vehicle records, primarily protecting individuals' personal information. It restricts who can obtain these records (e.g., only the driver, authorized parties, courts, law enforcement, or employers with written consent) and requires written agreements for electronic copies, with fees of $1 for certified copies and $20.50-$30 per 1,000 electronic records. The bill repeals older provisions that allowed broader public inspection of driver records and explicitly prohibits using records for solicitation or unauthorized disclosure. These changes directly affect drivers (by limiting how their data is shared), courts/law enforcement (who retain access for official purposes), and businesses/employers (who must now secure written consent).
SB 127 is an appropriation bill that allocates $1.2 billion in state funding for the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (UAF) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly sets maximum salary caps for approximately 120 key leadership and administrative positions, including deans, vice chancellors, and IT staff, as specified in the bill's detailed salary schedules. This funding covers personal services and operating expenses, ensuring UAF's budget for leadership roles and essential operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill was enacted as Act 612 on April 14, 2025.
SB 252 requires retailers to include clear health risk warnings about vapor and e-liquid products on product packaging and in advertising, directly affecting businesses selling these items in Arkansas. The bill defines "vapor product" and "e-liquid" while excluding certain refillable nicotine solutions and devices, ensuring the requirements apply only to specific products. It increases penalties for noncompliance from $250 to $500 per violation and sets a November 1, 2025 effective date. The law aims to inform consumers, particularly youth, about health risks without restricting product access or sales.
SB 412 authorizes Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration to set the per-mile deduction rate for business travel expenses on state income tax returns via proclamation, rather than through fixed legislation. It requires the Department to set the rate close to the IRS's current mileage rate (capped at $1.00 per mile) and update it within 30 days when the IRS changes its rate. This directly affects Arkansas taxpayers who deduct business travel costs on their state tax returns. The bill streamlines the process for adjusting the deduction amount to align with federal standards without needing new legislative action each year.
