HB 1398 requires all public schools to establish and implement a cardiac emergency response plan using nationally recognized medical protocols. This law directly affects every public school in the state by mandating specific, standardized procedures for responding to cardiac emergencies like sudden cardiac arrest. The key provision is the integration of nationally recognized elements (such as AED access, trained personnel, and clear response steps) into each school's emergency plan. The bill became law as Act 352 on March 20, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.
HB 1348 expands survivor benefits under Arkansas' public employees' and state police retirement systems to include dependent children who previously lost coverage upon reaching a certain age. The bill directly affects minor children of deceased retirees from these systems by ensuring they continue receiving benefits until age 18 (or 22 if in school), removing prior eligibility cutoffs. Key provisions amend existing statutes to clarify that dependent children qualify for survivor benefits regardless of age, provided they meet dependency requirements. The bill was passed as an emergency measure and became Act 364 on March 20, 2025.
This is a symbolic resolution designating March 21, 2025, as "World Down Syndrome Day" within the State of Arkansas. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any individuals or groups; it serves solely to recognize and celebrate this international observance. The resolution was formally adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on March 20, 2025, after committee review and passage. As a commemorative measure, it has no policy impact beyond raising awareness.
HB 1689 requires all public high schools in Arkansas to grant military recruiters equal access to campus facilities and student engagement opportunities as other groups like employers or colleges. It mandates that schools allow military recruiters to interact with students in grades 10-12 during regular school hours, at public events, or outside school hours - without extra restrictions beyond those applied to other organizations. The bill also extends this requirement to state-supported career academies and postsecondary institutions, ensuring military recruiters can share educational and career opportunities on the same terms as other entities. Schools must inform students about these opportunities through electronic means or class sessions, and the Arkansas National Guard will monitor compliance. This law directly affects students, schools, and military recruiters by standardizing access to campus recruitment activities.
HB 1583 (now Act 348) requires Arkansas' Department of Human Services to seek a waiver or expand an existing Medicaid waiver program. This enables Medicaid beneficiaries with acquired brain injuries to access home and community-based services tailored to their needs. The law directly affects Arkansans enrolled in Arkansas Medicaid who have acquired brain injuries and require non-institutional care. It changes how services are delivered by directing the state to use waiver mechanisms rather than creating new coverage.
SB 242 is a technical amendment to existing law governing loans involving state bank stock. It changes the language from "A renewal" to "Each renewal" in the relevant statute to clarify that multiple loan renewals are permitted under the same terms. This minor adjustment affects how financial institutions interpret renewal procedures for these specific loans but does not change any substantive requirements or create new obligations. The bill was enacted as Act 344 on March 20, 2025.
HB 1347 (now Act 363) allows the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System to pay annuities or retirement benefits directly to a special needs trust established for a retiree with disabilities, rather than to the individual. This change directly affects retired teachers who have set up such trusts to manage their benefits while maintaining eligibility for public assistance programs. The key provision modifies payment procedures to ensure retirement funds can be channeled through these legally established trusts for the retiree’s benefit. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility rules, only the payment method. It became law on March 20, 2025.
This House Resolution (HR 1086) formally congratulates Bonnie Pollock, a Bentonville, Arkansas 6th-grade teacher with 12 years of experience, for receiving the national Milken Educator Award and its $25,000 prize. The resolution recognizes her work at Old High Middle School and her role in developing student achievements, including leading students to the Arkansas Civics Bee state finals. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not enact any policy changes or affect any laws or regulations. It serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of her educational contributions.
HR 1084 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives to honor Martha Jarrow, Director of Member Services, for her dedicated service to the House and state. The resolution recognizes her leadership in developing staff training programs, improving legislative communication, and fostering a collaborative workplace environment. Adopted on March 20, 2025, it formally acknowledges her contributions and will be presented to her by the House Chief Clerk.
SB 336 allocates approximately $150 million in state and federal funds for capital improvements to Arkansas Department of Health facilities. It specifically funds projects including a $6.99 million steam plant conversion at the Main Campus, an $820,000 generator replacement at the Public Health Lab, and major upgrades to the main health facility totaling $144 million (split between $114 million from state treasury and $30 million from other sources). Additional smaller projects include $505,330 for Freeway Suite 305, $594,651 for parking repairs, and $250,000 for lab switchboard modifications. The bill directs these funds exclusively for physical infrastructure repairs and modernization, with no policy changes beyond the specified funding allocations.
HB 1595 amends multiple sections of Arkansas' insurance code and repeals the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Act (Subchapter 5 of Chapter 79). The bill updates rules for workers' compensation insurance plans (requiring Arkansas-based administration and commissioner approval of delegated functions), clarifies attorney bond requirements for reciprocal insurers, extends hospital examination cycles from 3 to 5 years, and revises service-of-process rules for insurers. It directly affects insurers, workers' compensation administrators, and former participants in the repealed health insurance pool, which previously provided coverage for "uninsurable" Arkansans and those eligible for federal tax credits. The repeal removes the state's alternative health insurance market, shifting focus to updated regulatory frameworks under the Insurance Commissioner.
HB 1610 is a technical amendment to Arkansas' Human Life Protection Act and Unborn Child Protection Act, clarifying existing medical exception language. It removes redundant phrases like "in the judgment of the physician" and replaces them with simpler terms such as "judgment" throughout the statutes. This change streamlines how medical professionals can cite exceptions for abortions when the mother's health is at risk, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients navigating the current abortion restrictions. The bill, now Act 387, became law on March 20, 2025, without altering the core prohibitions on abortion.
