HB 1551 (now Act 485) creates a new criminal offense for coercing someone into an abortion through fraud, such as falsely claiming a medical necessity. It directly affects individuals who might be pressured into an abortion under false pretenses and medical providers who engage in such fraudulent coercion. The bill adds a specific criminal penalty for this conduct, separate from existing abortion laws. This law, passed in Arkansas on April 8, 2025, focuses on preventing deceptive practices in abortion decisions.
This bill (HB 1561) is a technical amendment to remove all references to "the State of Qatar" from existing state laws. It deletes phrases like "or the State of Qatar" or "from the State of Qatar" from 17 different sections of the code, correcting outdated or erroneous text. The bill does not create new policies, affect any individuals or groups, or change legal requirements. It was passed by both chambers and became law as Act 473 on April 8, 2025, solely to update legal references.
HB 1382, now Act 481, requires Arkansas' designated Protection and Advocacy Agency and Client Assistance Program to submit specific reports to the state. The bill mandates these agencies provide regular updates on their activities and services to the Arkansas General Assembly. This procedural requirement directly affects those two state agencies, ensuring transparency in their operations. The law does not change existing services but establishes a new reporting obligation for the agencies.
HB 1549, now Act 489, requires Arkansas state agencies to organize cybersecurity personnel under a "functional report" structure, meaning cybersecurity staff must directly report to the State Cybersecurity Office. This affects all state agency employees with cybersecurity or information security duties, including those handling threat monitoring, incident response, and compliance. The law sets statewide minimum cybersecurity standards that agencies can exceed but not lower, while mandating that federal standards override state rules when stricter. It clarifies that agencies must follow these reporting and standards requirements without accessing data protected by other laws.
HB 1125 is a budget amendment that increases funding for the Department of Finance & Administration's Regulatory Division and Racing Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It raises total appropriations from $3,272,051 to $4,378,056, adding $7,000 for "EXTRA HELP" support and increasing salaries for veterinary staff and attorney specialists. The bill establishes new employee positions and salary limits for the Racing Commission's Casino Gaming Section, including 40 regular staff roles with specific grade levels. This funding directly affects regulatory staff and casino gaming oversight personnel within the Department of Finance & Administration. The bill passed and became law as Act 495 on April 8, 2025.
HB 1094 allocates $14.6 million in state funding for Arkansas' Department of Health tobacco prevention and cessation programs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill authorizes 31 full-time staff positions (including nurses, public health specialists, and program coordinators) and up to four temporary workers, with $1.7 million designated for regular salaries. It also funds operational expenses like outreach, nutrition programs, and health services totaling $9.2 million. This funding directly supports the state’s efforts to reduce tobacco use through prevention initiatives and cessation support services. The bill is a budget appropriation, not a policy change, and was signed into law as Act 494 on April 8, 2025.
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.
HB 1569, the "Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025," would have required commercial drivers operating in Arkansas to hold a valid license from a U.S. state, territory, or specified foreign jurisdictions (Canada/Mexico), while banning employers from hiring B-1/B-2 visa holders as truck drivers. The bill aimed to align Arkansas licensing rules with existing federal standards for commercial transportation workers, referencing requirements for pilots and international aviation. It specifically prohibited Arkansas-based trucking companies from employing nonimmigrant visitor visa holders (B-1/B-2) as commercial drivers within the state. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 7, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 1861 would criminalize operating illegal online casinos or sports betting by classifying it as a felony. It proposes creating the "Interactive Gaming Act" to establish a regulatory framework for legal internet gaming, specifically including name, image, and likeness (NILL) games like fantasy sports and casino-style games. The bill also aims to regulate these activities under the new act while explicitly covering games already authorized under Arkansas' Scholarship Lottery Act. The bill declared an emergency to expedite its passage but was withdrawn by the author on April 7, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee for interim study.
HB 1711 allows municipal port authorities to create their own police forces. The bill specifies that these officers would share jurisdiction with local city and county law enforcement within the port authority's facilities and adjacent areas. Key provisions define patrol zones to include the port's industrial facilities, nearby roads, shoreline areas, and up to five miles along navigable waterways adjacent to the port. This directly affects port authorities seeking dedicated security for their operations, without expanding police powers beyond these defined boundaries. The bill focuses on enabling port-specific enforcement authority through clear jurisdictional boundaries.
SB 414 modifies Arkansas election procedures by requiring county clerks to send election commissioners a written oath notice via registered mail within 30 days of their selection. It also mandates that county clerks notify political party committee chairs about candidate ballot filing deadlines at least 100 days before general elections, using registered mail or certified mail. The bill allows email notification (with read receipt) as an alternative method if both political parties agree in writing. These changes directly affect county clerks, election commissioners, and political party committees involved in election administration.
SB 432 amends Arkansas accounting laws to streamline practice rights for out-of-state certified public accountants (CPAs). It revises the definition of "substantial equivalency" to allow CPAs licensed in states verified by NASBA as meeting Arkansas standards to practice without additional licensing, while requiring others to obtain NASBA verification. The bill eliminates fee requirements for applicants eligible under board programs and clarifies that verified out-of-state CPAs may offer services (including audits) without notifying the state board. This directly affects licensed accountants seeking to practice across state lines, reducing barriers for those from states with aligned licensing standards.
