Senate Bill 490 allows a court to waive certain fees for juveniles who are ordered to register as sex offenders. This bill provides courts with the discretion to reduce financial burdens on these individuals.
Senate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.
This bill, SB 397, protects the personal information of railroad crew members involved in fatal incidents. It mandates that public records concerning railroad fatalities must be maintained in a way that keeps the personal details of the involved crew confidential. This protection applies to custodians of these records, preventing general public access to that specific information. However, the confidentiality requirement does not apply to federal agencies like the United States National Transportation Safety Board or the Department of Transportation when they are investigating railroad accidents or incidents.
SB 632, now Act 964, amends Arkansas's Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require warning labels on certain hair relaxers sold in the state. The bill mandates that hair relaxers containing chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive toxicants by recognized health organizations must display a clear, conspicuous warning label. This label, printed in a minimum twelve-point font, will notify consumers that the product contains chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. This act directly affects consumers purchasing hair relaxers and businesses selling these products in Arkansas.
House Bill 1178 amends laws pertaining to municipal legal services and district court finances. The bill specifically allows cities of the second class and incorporated towns that do not maintain a city attorney office to contract with an attorney for legal representation. It also modifies laws concerning sums collected by district courts and the cost sharing for district court expenses, although specific details for these provisions are not provided in the excerpt. This bill has been enacted into law as Act 993.
SB 611, now Act 900, amends the Social Media Safety Act to implement new default settings for minors using social media platforms in Arkansas. The bill requires platforms to automatically stop non-safety notifications for minor users between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. CST, with options for parents or guardians to modify this setting. It also mandates that privacy and safety settings for minors default to the most protective level offered by the platform. Additionally, the act clarifies the definition of "personal information" as "personally identifiable information."
Senate Bill 546, enacted as Act 935, revises the law concerning a trust fund contribution fee associated with water permits. This legislation directly affects nonmunicipal domestic sewage treatment works, which are private or commercial facilities handling domestic sewage. A key provision within the bill modifies the criteria for these permits, specifying that any "other viable alternative" considered must also be "cost-effective."
This is a procedural amendment to HB 1656, which only adjusts the bill's title wording and section references without changing any oil and gas regulations. The amendment corrected the bill's introductory text from "TO AMEND" to "TO ADDRESS" and updated some section numbering references (e.g., changing "(e)" to "(d)"). It did not alter any substantive policy provisions related to oil and gas production or conservation. The bill was finalized as Act 1024 after Senate amendments on April 15-16, 2025.
SB 625 amends the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program. It allows educational services for students with disabilities to be provided in nontraditional settings, if recommended by a licensed practitioner or physician. The bill also establishes an appeal process for parents whose student accounts are closed and creates rules for late applications for specific situations, such as families moving into the state. Additionally, it clarifies that "intentional misuse" of account funds is the standard for certain program violations.
SB 519 amends the standard nonforfeiture law for life insurance policies. The bill regulates the payment of interest on any cash surrender value that is deferred according to the policy's terms. As amended, it adjusts a specified timeframe within this process from 60 days to 45 days. This legislation directly affects life insurance policyholders who surrender their policies for cash value and the life insurance companies that issue these policies.
HB 1163 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds for the Department of Labor and Licensing's various boards and commissions. It provides financial resources for their operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill specifically appropriates a total of $112,182, covering expenses such as general operations and professional fees. This funding enables the affected boards and commissions to carry out their mandated functions.
HB 1625 amends the law concerning insurance requirements for licensed home inspectors. The bill specifies that, in addition to general liability insurance, these professionals must also maintain a professional liability insurance policy or an errors and omissions insurance policy. This required professional coverage must be approved by the State Insurance Department.
