SB 232 amends the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act to require the Arkansas Lottery to meet Multi-State Lottery Association reserve requirements and clarify accounting procedures for the lottery's unrestricted net position account. The bill directly affects the Arkansas Lottery's financial management, ensuring proper handling of reserves and accounting adjustments. It also declares an emergency to expedite the bill's passage. The legislation became law as Act 429 on April 7, 2025.
SB 389 repeals a requirement for Arkansas' Department of Finance to submit biennial reports on alcohol production, consumption, and tax collections. The bill removes the specific duty to track and report statistics about wine, spirits, malt liquor sales, tax revenue, and annual consumption trends. This change only affects the Department of Finance, ending a reporting obligation under Arkansas law.
HR 1100 is a ceremonial resolution celebrating Hope, Arkansas's sesquicentennial (150th anniversary since its founding in 1852). The resolution highlights Hope's history, including its incorporation in 1875, its role as the birthplace of notable figures like Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee, and recent community initiatives. This non-binding resolution does not create new policies or affect any stakeholders; it solely expresses the Arkansas House of Representatives' symbolic recognition of Hope's historical legacy. The resolution was adopted by the House on April 7, 2025.
SB 380 repeals a requirement that the Office of Child Support Enforcement submit semiannual reports to the Legislative Council about the child support program's performance and progress. This bill directly affects the Office of Child Support Enforcement within Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration, removing its obligation to file these reports. The key change is eliminating the specific reporting mandate outlined in Arkansas Code § 25-10-118, which previously required the office to document program administration under federal law. The bill does not alter child support enforcement policies or funding, only the reporting process. It became law as Act 439 on April 7, 2025.
SB 370 transfers the Arkansas Wine Producers Council from the Department of Commerce to the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. This administrative change affects the council itself, its staff, records, and funding (including the Arkansas Wine Producers Council Fund), moving all operations to the new department. The bill also updates state codes to reflect the council’s new location and ensures continued funding for wine tourism promotion. An emergency clause makes the transfer effective July 1, 2025, to avoid funding disruptions during the transition.
SB 280 transfers administrative responsibilities from the Office of the State Geologist to the Oil and Gas Commission. Specifically, it designates the Oil and Gas Commission as the custodian of all property and the disbursing agent for all funds previously managed by the State Geologist's office. This is an organizational change affecting state agency operations, not a policy impacting citizens or new programs. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 15-55-204 to reflect this transfer of duties.
SB 83 requires health insurance plans to cover breast reconstruction surgeries following mastectomy, directly affecting patients needing this care and insurers providing coverage. The bill mandates prior authorization (meaning insurers must approve coverage before surgery) and sets a minimum reimbursement rate for providers, aligning it with an existing rate under Arkansas law. It applies to all health insurance plans sold in Arkansas, ensuring consistent coverage standards for this specific medical procedure. The law became effective after Governor approval as Act 424 on April 7, 2025.
SB 99 allows physician assistants (PAs) in Arkansas to delegate specific non-complex medical tasks, such as administering certain drugs, to non-licensed staff members. This affects PAs and their office-based support staff who perform routine tasks under the PA's direct supervision. The bill requires that delegated tasks must not require specialized medical judgment, be performed only within the provider's office, and not misrepresent the staff as licensed healthcare professionals. It also maintains that the PA remains fully responsible for all delegated work and prohibits delegation of anesthesia or transfer of supervisory duties. The law was enacted as Act 437 on April 7, 2025.
SB 381 repeals a requirement that the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration submit an annual report detailing the state's participation in the Multistate Tax Commission's activities. The bill removes the obligation for the department to prepare and file this report with legislative leaders by September 30 each year. This change directly affects the Department of Finance and Administration by eliminating a specific reporting duty related to the Multistate Tax Commission. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on removing an existing administrative requirement without altering tax policy or creating new obligations.
SB 271 amends Arkansas election law to change the timing for certifying school board candidates. It modifies the process so that county clerks must certify school board candidates for elections held in even-numbered years concurrently with general elections (replacing the previous reference to "preferential primary elections"). This directly affects county clerks who handle election certifications and school board candidates in Arkansas. The bill makes a technical adjustment to align school board election timing with general elections, without creating new policies or altering voting procedures.
SB 387 repeals a requirement for occupational licensing entities (like boards for cosmetologists, plumbers, or electricians) to submit an annual report tracking how many individuals received automatic or expedited occupational licenses. This bill removes the specific provision in Arkansas law that mandated these entities to report the number of people granted such licenses each year. The change affects all occupational licensing boards covered under Arkansas Code § 17-4-110, eliminating their obligation to provide this data to the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs. The bill does not alter licensure standards or processes, only the reporting requirement.
SB 366 creates the "Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program" and a dedicated fund to provide financial grants for retrofitting or constructing single-family homes to meet wind-resistant FORTIFIED Home standards. The program directly assists homeowners and nonprofit organizations owning eligible "insurable dwellings" (owner-occupied primary residences with homestead exemptions) to reduce damage from wind and hail events. Grants cover costs to upgrade homes to FORTIFIED Roof or FORTIFIED Silver standards, requiring certified evaluators, local permits, and contractor bids. The fund collects donations, grants, and state/federal funds but does not create automatic entitlements for property owners.
