Senate Bill 143 would authorize the Division of Arkansas State Police to coordinate with local sheriffs and the Division of Community Correction on activities aimed at reducing and preventing crime. An amendment to the bill places specific restrictions on officers involved in these efforts. These officers would be prohibited from stopping or detaining individuals without reasonable cause for arrest, conducting warrantless searches, or executing "no-knock warrants."
Senate Bill 518 (SB 518) sought to limit the regulatory authority of local governments in Arkansas concerning flood-prone areas. The bill would have prohibited cities, towns, and counties from enacting land use regulations that are more restrictive than the specific guidelines of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for special flood hazard areas. Local governments could only adopt more restrictive measures if they provided compensation for any resulting decrease in the property's value. This bill directly affected local government's ability to set flood-related building and zoning codes.
Senate Bill 47 proposes changes to Arkansas's financial statutes by amending both the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and the Arkansas Banking Code of 1997. The bill introduces a definition for "Central Bank Digital Currency" (CBDC) within the UCC and modifies other UCC definitions related to "money" and "deposit account." A key provision clarifies that under the Arkansas Banking Code, "deposit" and "deposit account" will explicitly not include central bank digital currency or investment property. This legislation aims to update the legal framework for classifying certain digital assets and traditional bank accounts for financial institutions in Arkansas.
House Bill 1534 proposes to increase the existing homestead property tax credit. This bill directly affects homeowners by reducing the amount of property taxes they owe on their primary residence. The key mechanism is an adjustment to the credit amount, providing a larger tax reduction for eligible households.
Senate Bill 376 amends the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, focusing on requirements for public meetings of state and local governing bodies. The bill clarifies that all formal or informal meetings of more than two members of entities like municipal councils, county quorum courts, school boards, and state commissions must be public. It also adds a new provision concerning discussions held outside of public meetings. If two members of a governing body discuss a matter, they are prohibited from disclosing another member's opinion or position on that matter to other members of the governing body.
Senate Bill 11 amends the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 and the Uniform Money Services Act. The bill repeals a previous exemption that prevented individuals engaged in home digital asset mining or operating a digital asset mining business from being considered "money transmitters." It now explicitly includes these activities within the definition of "money transmission," bringing digital asset miners under the purview of the Uniform Money Services Act. Consequently, existing digital asset miners must apply for licensure under this act by September 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 396 would have amended Arkansas law regarding hunting and fishing licenses. It proposed authorizing the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission to issue hunting, fishing, or combination licenses to certain non-residents at the same cost as an Arkansas resident license. To qualify for this resident rate, a non-resident would have needed to graduate from a public, private, or home school in Arkansas and be actively pursuing a higher education degree in another state.
SB 506 proposed to amend the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act of 1967. The bill aimed to repeal a specific exemption that allowed government entities to withhold electronic data maintained by a disaster recovery system from public access. If enacted, this change would have made such electronic data subject to public records requests, directly affecting how government agencies manage and disclose their backup electronic information. This would have increased the types of government information accessible to the public under the FOIA.
House Bill 1624 proposed changes to the membership of county law library boards in Arkansas. It aimed to add one circuit court judge and one district court judge to these boards, to be appointed by the county court for two-year terms. These judicial members would serve alongside the existing board members, who are practicing attorneys appointed from local bar association nominations. The bill also clarified the board's powers regarding library operation, fund expenditure, and property management.
Senate Bill 262 sought to allow a licensed medical professional who owns a medical corporation to maintain that ownership even if their medical license becomes inactive or they retire. This would be permitted provided that all medical services continue to be delivered by currently licensed individuals. Additionally, the owner's license must have been in good standing, free from disciplinary action, suspension, or revocation, at the time it became inactive or was voluntarily surrendered.
SB 256 proposed to amend the Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979. This bill aimed to reduce the minimum annual franchise tax paid by certain corporations operating in Arkansas. It would have lowered the minimum tax from one hundred fifty dollars ($150) to one hundred dollars ($100). If it had passed, these changes would have applied to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
This bill, SB 156, aimed to amend the existing law concerning credited service for members of the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System. The provided text states its purpose is to make changes to how service is credited within this system, which directly affects local police and firefighters. However, the specific details of these amendments or new provisions are not outlined in the available bill text.
