SB 319 clarifies how charging orders - court orders allowing creditors to collect on a member's interest in a limited liability company (LLC) - interact with existing agreements. It specifies that charging orders do not override security agreements (like pledges or assignments) between an LLC member and their creditor, nor invalidate written agreements executed without violating the LLC's operating documents. The bill also ensures members retain exemption benefits applicable to their LLC interests. This directly affects LLC members, creditors, and LLC operating agreements by clarifying legal boundaries around debt collection.
This is a ceremonial resolution (HR 1098) passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives to recognize the Energy Council's 50th anniversary. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any specific group or policy. The resolution simply expresses the House's formal commendation of the Energy Council - a nonpartisan forum for state legislators across 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces - to discuss energy policy. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect or concrete policy impact.
SB 91 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from setting limits on rental application fees or security deposits for private residential or commercial properties. It directly affects landlords who set these fees and renters who pay them by removing local regulatory authority. The bill amends existing law to state that local units have no power to control these specific charges, except as outlined in a separate provision (§18-16-304). This means landlords can set these fees without local government oversight, and the policy change applies to all private rental properties covered by the law.
SB 403 creates the 2030 Arkansas Complete Count Committee to coordinate statewide efforts for the 2030 U.S. Census. The bill requires the committee to plan and conduct educational outreach programs aimed at increasing community awareness and participation in the federal decennial census. This directly affects all Arkansas residents, as accurate census counts determine federal funding allocations and political representation for the next decade. The key mechanism is the establishment of a dedicated state committee tasked with organizing community engagement initiatives to ensure full participation in the 2030 Census. The bill passed as Act 449 on April 1, 2025.
SB 368 amends Arkansas laws governing mineral, timber, and resource management on state lands. It reduces the Natural Resources Committee membership from nine to eight members by renumbering existing positions (removing the former (E) slot). The bill also updates notification requirements, adding the Arkansas Forestry Commission and Department of Energy and Environment to the list of state agencies that must receive notices about leases and permits for state land resources. These changes affect state agencies involved in land management, leasing, and resource oversight, streamlining committee structure and notification processes without altering resource management policies.
SB 344 transfers Arkansas's Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program from the Department of Health to the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, effective as of April 7, 2025 (now Act 444). The program, which rewards state employees for healthy habits like exercise and nutrition, will now be managed by the new department, including all administrative functions, records, personnel, and funding. State agencies must make the program available to employees by July 1, 2026, and may grant up to three days of paid leave annually for participation. This transfer does not affect existing program rules or standards.
SB 329, now Act 426, creates the Online Marketplace Guarantees Act by defining what constitutes an "online marketplace guarantee." The law requires that such guarantees must be secondary to a business's primary operations and cannot be provided as a state or local government service. It directly affects businesses offering guarantees on online marketplaces by setting clear eligibility rules for these services. The bill focuses on clarifying regulatory boundaries for marketplace guarantees rather than imposing new fees or restrictions.
SB 275 amends Arkansas' liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) regulations to replace specific technical requirements with broader authority for the LPG Board. It eliminates mandatory odorization standards (§15-75-107), safety meeting rules (§15-75-108), and financial statement requirements for multiple permit classes (e.g., §§15-75-308, 309, 311, 316). The bill establishes new training mandates requiring LPG employees to complete board-approved courses for certification, with failure to attend risking suspension. It also repeals outdated container strength standards (§§15-75-401-403) and retail account statement rules (§15-75-407), shifting oversight to the LPG Board’s rulemaking authority. These changes primarily affect LPG businesses, permit holders, and their employees operating in Arkansas.
SB 378 repeals a requirement that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission submit quarterly reports on the Arkansas Industry Training Program's activities. The bill removes the mandate for the Commission to prepare and submit these reports to the Governor, Legislative Council, or Joint Budget Committee. This change affects only the Commission's administrative reporting duties, not the program's operations or participants. The bill does not alter the training program's purpose or eligibility. (This is a procedural change with no direct impact on program beneficiaries or funding.)
HR 1096 is a symbolic House Resolution recognizing Arkansas' advanced energy sector (including nuclear, renewables, and grid modernization) for contributing to energy independence, economic growth, and energy resilience. It does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it merely expresses legislative support through a formal statement. The resolution was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, before advancing further.
HB 1856 would have increased civil penalties for violations by licensed funeral and cemetery service providers in Arkansas. The bill specifically amended the law to double the maximum penalty for license violations, raising it from $500 to $1,000 per violation. This change directly affected embalmers, funeral directors, cemetery operators, and burial service professionals who fail to comply with state regulations or board orders. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, before becoming law.
HJR 1006 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not enacted legislation) that would prohibit Arkansas governmental bodies (including state agencies, counties, cities, and school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay for lobbying services on their behalf. It specifically bans using state or local funds to contract with lobbyists, cover membership dues for lobbying organizations, or pay for lobbying activities through third parties. The amendment defines "lobbying" broadly as efforts to influence legislative or administrative actions and clarifies that governments may still hire staff directly for lobbying (without using public funds for external lobbyist contracts). The measure was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, and never advanced to a vote.
