SB 200 (now Act 329) expands Arkansas's sales tax exemption for public schools by including leased textbooks and instructional materials alongside purchased ones. It directly affects Arkansas public school districts, schools receiving state funding, and the state government when distributing materials. The key change modifies tax exemption rules to explicitly cover materials "leased" by qualifying schools or the state, removing a previous distinction that only applied to purchased items. This policy change reduces costs for schools using leased educational resources without altering existing exemptions for other items like extracurricular supplies. The bill became law on March 18, 2025.
SB 298 repeals Arkansas Code § 18-60-510, which previously allowed individuals to challenge a court's final quiet title decision within three years (or anytime after removing disabilities like infancy or mental illness). This change eliminates the ability to contest past quiet title rulings, creating finality in land ownership disputes. It directly affects landowners or claimants who might have sought to overturn a prior court decision establishing clear title to property. The bill, now enacted as Act 320, streamlines property rights by preventing future challenges to settled quiet title actions.
Senate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.
SB 337 appropriates $800,000 from the state treasury to the Department of Transformation and Shared Services' Building Authority Division for hydronic piping repairs at the state-owned building located at 501 Woodlane. The bill authorizes the department to use this funding for the specific capital improvement project, with disbursement controls requiring compliance with state fiscal laws and prohibiting use of maintenance funds for this purpose. It does not create new policies or affect public programs beyond this targeted infrastructure repair. The funding is intended for a single, defined project at a specific state building.
SB 301 amends Arkansas law to create an enhanced penalty for theft of commercial cargo, directly affecting individuals convicted of stealing goods in transit. The bill defines "cargo" as commercial shipments moving between points (excluding direct-to-consumer goods) and adds a 10-year consecutive prison term for such thefts, requiring prosecutors to notify defendants in writing. It also prohibits earned release credits for the enhanced sentence portion. The General Assembly declared an emergency, citing economic harm to businesses from cargo theft. The bill became law (Act 322) on March 18, 2025, after passing the legislature.
SB 300 creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas for "organized retail theft," targeting individuals who coordinate group thefts of consumer goods (like clothing or electronics) valued at over $1,000 within 120 days. The bill defines specific actions as part of this offense, such as organizing thefts, using devices to bypass security, or using stolen vehicles to facilitate the theft. It classifies the crime as a Class D felony (for $1,001-$5,000 value), Class C felony ($5,001-$25,000), or Class B felony (over $25,000), with penalties increasing based on the total value stolen. This law directly affects those involved in organized retail theft operations and provides clearer legal standards for prosecuting such cases.
HB 1503 prohibits local governments from imposing certain restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as secondary housing units on residential property. The bill specifically blocks municipalities from banning ADUs entirely or setting fees exceeding $250 for their approval. It also invalidates local rules conflicting with this provision and requires water/sewer system approvals or health department clearance for ADU construction. This law directly affects homeowners, developers, and city planners by expanding opportunities to build small secondary homes on existing residential lots.
HB 1527 allows guardians managing a ward's estate (such as a minor or incapacitated adult) to invest funds in the Arkansas Brighter Future Fund Plan without needing court approval. This bill amends Arkansas law to explicitly add this state-created retirement savings plan as a permissible investment option for guardians. The change simplifies financial management for guardians by removing the prior requirement for judicial permission when using this specific investment vehicle.
HB 1634 establishes the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act, allowing Arkansas public colleges and universities and their approved nonprofit affiliates to conduct raffles tied to official athletic games. These raffles can be sold digitally or in person, with proceeds limited to supporting student-athletes (e.g., scholarships, publicity rights), athletic programs, and facility improvements - never for staff compensation. The law prohibits sales to minors, caps transactions at $250, and requires public prize announcements. It amends gambling laws to exempt these sports-linked raffles from standard restrictions, effective as Act 305.
HB 1238 allows homeowners (mortgagors) to recover reasonable attorney fees if a court invalidates a foreclosure sale due to a lender's (mortgagee's) failure to follow Arkansas foreclosure procedures. It directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure and lenders who may face fee recovery claims. The bill creates a new provision (Ark. Code § 18-50-118) permitting fee recovery when a foreclosure sale is set aside for procedural errors, but excludes cases where the homeowner and lender resolved the debt, bankruptcy was filed, or the lender relied in good faith on title insurance or other property records. This law changes the financial consequences for lenders who don't strictly follow foreclosure rules.
HB 1307 amends Arkansas' Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act to require institutions managing funds (like retirement or endowment funds) to document and publicly share specific details about service providers they consult. The bill mandates that institutions record fees, historical investment performance, and proof of compliance with existing rules, then publicly post notices seeking new service providers. This directly affects fund managers by increasing transparency in their vendor selection process. The law became effective as Act 308 on March 18, 2025, after passing the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1.
HB 1068 (now Act 311) expands Arkansas' Employees' Retirement System to include employees of metropolitan port authorities. This policy change directly affects port authority workers by granting them access to the state's existing retirement benefits program. The bill amends the retirement system's membership criteria to explicitly cover these employees, requiring port authorities to enroll them in the system without creating new retirement structures. The bill passed both chambers and became law on March 18, 2025.
