HB 1102 changes how counties pay for funds retained by the state treasurer. Effective July 1, 2024, each county must pay 25% of the prior year's amount retained by the Treasurer of State for that county (for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024). This bill directly affects counties and municipalities that receive state funds, altering their payment obligation for retained fiscal resources. It modifies a specific payment mechanism under existing state finance procedures, with no new policy provisions.
HB 1444 (now Act 548) is a technical amendment to Arkansas' sales tax exemption rules for data centers. It clarifies that data submitted to the tax commission for exemption eligibility will be used **only** for determining eligibility, not for other purposes. The bill does not change who qualifies for the exemption or alter the exemption itself - only the reporting process. This procedural adjustment was passed by the Senate and signed into law on April 10, 2025.
HB 1272 (now Act 520) requires municipalities to convey abandoned property they've taken ownership of together with the adjacent real estate, rather than selling it separately. This applies when a city vacates land (like roads or public spaces) and the property becomes abandoned. The law prevents isolated vacant parcels from remaining disconnected, ensuring such land is transferred as part of the neighboring property. It directly affects municipalities managing vacant land and adjacent property owners who may purchase or inherit combined parcels. The bill focuses on streamlining property transfers to reduce fragmented ownership.
SB 257 extends the appeal period for healthcare providers who have Medicaid payments denied under Arkansas' Medicaid program. It requires the state to provide comprehensive, clear explanations in written notices when denying payments, moving beyond vague statements. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other providers who rely on Medicaid reimbursements. The bill amends existing Medicaid rules to make the appeals process more transparent and timely for these providers. It became law as Act 515 on April 10, 2025.
HB 1707 requires candidates for school district, township, municipal, and county offices to file campaign contribution and expenditure reports electronically with the Arkansas Secretary of State instead of county clerks. The bill mandates that reports be stored electronically for eight years (accessible via the Secretary of State’s website), automatically aggregated to track contributor limits, and then transferred to the Arkansas State Archives. This centralizes reporting for local elections, aiming to increase public transparency by making contribution data searchable and publicly available online. The bill was enacted as Act 524 on April 10, 2025.
HB 1314 creates the Arkansas Medical Audit Bill of Rights Act, directly affecting healthcare providers (excluding pharmacies) facing audits by state or federal agencies. The bill limits audits to either 50 claims or 0.25% of a provider’s annual claims, whichever is greater, and gives providers the choice to conduct audits on-site, electronically, or via the method used in the initial audit. It also clarifies that overpayments must be recouped only if corrected claims are paid on the same date, preventing retroactive penalties for minor billing errors. These changes aim to make audit processes more predictable and less burdensome for healthcare providers.
HB 1618 amends Arkansas law for second-class cities and incorporated towns regarding their municipal attorney selection. It requires elected or appointed municipal attorneys to reside within the city or town, while contracted attorneys do not need to reside there. The bill sets a four-year term for elected or appointed attorneys and allows cities to jointly purchase legal services with other municipalities. This replaces older provisions for first-class cities but directly affects second-class cities and incorporated towns by clarifying their attorney selection process.
HB 1455 allows private clubs located in entertainment districts to purchase specific beer products directly from small breweries with permits, under exclusive agreements. This law affects small breweries and private clubs, requiring both to be in adjacent counties and limiting breweries to one exclusive agreement with a single private club at a time. The bill changes existing rules by enabling direct sales between these entities without requiring distributor intermediaries for eligible products. It became law as Act 500 on April 10, 2025.
HB 1733 combines Arkansas's two preschool programs - the Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program - into a single program with unified eligibility standards. It affects approximately 23,000 preschool slots for children aged birth through five, directly benefiting Arkansas families and childcare providers who use these services. The bill establishes that children meeting either program's eligibility criteria will qualify under the new unified system, administered by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. This change aims to improve program efficiency and resource utilization. The bill became Act 504 on April 10, 2025, after passing both chambers.
HB 1571 amends Arkansas' Adult Diploma Program Act to restructure payments to approved adult education programs based on specific student achievements. Programs now receive $250 for half high school credits or basic employability certifications, $500 for workforce credentials requiring 50-100 hours of training, $750 for credentials requiring over 100 hours, and $1,000 for full high school diplomas. The bill defines new milestones including "employability skills certification" and clarifies payment tiers for workforce credentials based on training hours. This directly affects all approved adult diploma programs in Arkansas that serve students seeking high school diplomas or workforce credentials.
HB 1321 prohibits healthcare insurers in Arkansas from requiring step therapy or "fail first" protocols for noninvasive ventilators under specific conditions. It blocks insurers from mandating alternative treatments if the ventilator requires frequent servicing (per CMS classification), clinical evidence shows alternatives would be less effective or cause adverse reactions, or the FDA deems it medically necessary. The bill also mandates Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse 100% of the Arkansas Medicaid Program's ventilator fee schedule. This directly affects patients prescribed noninvasive ventilators and healthcare insurers covering these devices.
SB 128 appropriates $149.4 million to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill specifically allocates $750,000 for nursing and medical student loans/scholarships to support rural healthcare providers, $1.69 million for breast cancer research, and $796,000 for the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Program. It also increases funding for UAMS regional campuses and the Poison and Drug Information Center. These funds directly support UAMS's medical education, research, and healthcare services across Arkansas.
