HB 1867, a withdrawn bill (filed March 20, 2025; withdrawn April 3, 2025), proposed to establish the "No Government Trespassing Act" in Arkansas. It would have prohibited game wardens from entering private land without a warrant or the landowner's permission, except in emergencies like injured wildlife or public safety threats. The bill included penalties for violations, such as making illegally obtained evidence inadmissible and allowing landowners to sue for damages. It directly affected private landowners and game wardens by changing entry rules and legal accountability. As the bill was withdrawn, it did not become law.
HB 1550, which was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, would have established rules for expedited security screening services at Arkansas public airports. It defined key terms like "expedited security screening" (allowing passengers to use standard or TSA PreCheck lanes instead of regular screening) and required vendors to have dedicated TSA lanes exclusively for this service. The bill also prohibited airlines from charging passengers extra fees for expedited screening lanes they exclusively provide to their passengers. This legislation would have directly affected public airport operators, vendors offering expedited screenings, and airlines partnering with airports. As it was withdrawn, it did not become law.
This bill designates April as "Parliamentary Law Month" in Arkansas through a ceremonial resolution. It recognizes the importance of parliamentary procedure in democratic governance, citing historical figures like Thomas Jefferson and Robert's Rules of Order. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any individuals, organizations, or policies - it is purely symbolic, aligning Arkansas with the National Association of Parliamentarians' existing designation. The bill was passed unanimously by the Arkansas House of Representatives on April 3, 2025.
This bill (HR 1093) is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Izard County High School's Lady Cougars basketball team as the official 2025 Class 2A state champions. It directly affects the team by formally honoring their championship title through legislative recognition. The resolution was amended to remove an incorrect reference to the "Izard County Invitational Tournament" and passed unanimously with no policy changes or funding impacts. It serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation, with no effect on state law or regulations.
HB 1590 merges Woodruff County’s treasurer and tax collector positions into a single elected office, effective January 1, 2027. Voters in Woodruff County will elect one official to serve both roles in the 2026 general election, with the winner taking office on the effective date. The bill specifies that the combined officeholder must provide a bond, receive county-court-determined compensation within state-set limits, and manage county financial duties as outlined in existing law. This change directly affects Woodruff County residents and its elected county official, streamlining a local government role without altering tax policies or revenue collection procedures.
HB 1693 standardizes how Arkansas election officials handle damaged or defective ballots. It requires election officials to create a true duplicate of such ballots in the presence of witnesses, label both the original and duplicate with "original" and "duplicate," assign the same serial number, and securely store them before counting the duplicate. The bill also authorizes the State Board of Election Commissioners to create detailed rules for this duplication process. This directly affects election officials at polling sites and central counting facilities, ensuring consistent handling of disputed ballots during elections. The law updates existing procedures to clarify ballot duplication requirements and reporting timelines for county election boards.
HB 1673, now Act 436, is a procedural amendment adding Senator Irvin as a cosponsor to a bill titled "TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BARBERS." The bill itself contains no substantive changes to barber regulations or licensing requirements. It was passed by the Senate on March 31, 2025, and became law after being transmitted to the Governor's Office on April 3, 2025. This amendment does not alter any barber-related policies or directly affect barbers, salons, or licensing procedures.
HB 1258, now Act 435, creates a statewide certification program for community health workers in Arkansas. The bill establishes a standardized certification process, requiring workers to meet specific training and competency standards to practice. This directly affects community health workers who must obtain this certification to work legally in the state, ensuring consistent qualifications across all communities. The law replaces inconsistent local or employer-based requirements with a single state-administered system.
HB 1637 requires state agencies to prepare and present fiscal impact statements for statewide initiatives, referendums, and legislatively referred constitutional amendments. It removes references to "local" impacts, ensuring these statements focus exclusively on statewide financial effects. This change directly affects voters, election officials, and state agencies by standardizing how fiscal consequences of ballot measures are communicated. The bill became law as Act 457 on April 3, 2025, streamlining the process for transparent voter information.
HB 1245, now Act 432, establishes a registration system for behavior analysts in Arkansas. It requires practitioners to pay an application fee of up to $200 and a renewal fee of up to $150, with fines for violations ranging from $500 to $1,000 for initial offenses and up to $5,000 plus potential license revocation for repeat violations. The law directly affects behavior analysts providing services in Arkansas and explicitly states it does not require additional training or continuing education beyond existing certification. Key provisions include standardized fees, penalty structures, and verification of current certification for renewal. The bill was enacted on April 3, 2025, after Senate amendments were approved.
HB 1288 (now Act 423) requires healthcare insurers in Arkansas to pay providers retroactively for services rendered before the provider was officially approved by the insurer. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors or clinics) who treat patients while waiting for insurer credentialing approval. The key provision mandates that insurers make these retroactive payments once a provider is finally added to their network. The law aims to prevent providers from bearing financial losses for care delivered during the credentialing delay. It amends the Arkansas Health Care Consumer Act to enforce this payment requirement.
HB 1268 allows public transit authorities in Arkansas to become official participants in the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS), enabling their employees to join this state retirement program. This bill directly affects employees of public transit authorities who previously might not have had access to APERS. The key provision expands retirement coverage to transit workers by treating transit authorities as eligible public employers under existing APERS rules. The bill passed as Act 450 on April 3, 2025.
