HB 1546 provides $19.5 million in supplemental funding for medical contracts and $6.5 million for county jail reimbursements to Arkansas' Department of Corrections. The bill transfers these amounts from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund to cover essential costs not fully addressed by prior funding (Act 49 of 2024). It directly affects the Department of Corrections' operations and counties housing state inmates. As a funding measure, it does not change laws or policies but ensures continued service delivery due to "unforeseen circumstances" as declared in the emergency clause.
SB 334 appropriates $5 million from the Educational Buildings Maintenance Fund to cover maintenance, renovation, repairs, and operations for four specific buildings owned by the Arkansas Department of Education in the Capitol Complex. The funds are restricted to these capital improvement projects and cannot be used for the Department’s regular maintenance or general operations budget. The bill allows the Department to supplement state funds with grants, donations, or unobligated cash income while requiring strict compliance with state purchasing and budget laws. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, as an emergency measure to ensure uninterrupted operations for these facilities.
HB 1103 is a budget appropriation bill that funds Arkansas' Division of Community Correction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It allocates $123.2 million for state operations (including $74 million for 1,538 staff positions across roles like parole officers and program administrators) and $14.9 million for special revenue operations. The bill directly affects correctional staff and community supervision programs by authorizing specific personnel levels and operational expenses. It does not create new policies but provides funding for existing services, including reentry programs and facility maintenance. This bill was enacted as Act 334 on March 18, 2025.
HB 1547 would have amended Arkansas' Water Authority Act to redefine "qualified corporation" to include nonprofit water providers and certain government entities, enabling them to convert to public water authorities. This would allow eligible organizations - such as nonprofits distributing water to the public or government entities managing water systems - to access tax-exempt financing by converting to public entities, potentially lowering water rates. The bill specified requirements for conversion, including board resolutions, service area details, and bylaws. However, the bill was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, and is no longer active.
HB 1299 would prohibit healthcare insurers from seeking repayment (recoupment) for services paid to providers more than one year after the initial payment. This directly affects healthcare providers who receive payments from insurers, as it limits insurers' ability to reclaim funds for alleged errors or overpayments after a one-year window. The bill defines key terms like "fraud," "waste," and "abuse" in healthcare billing but centers on establishing this strict one-year deadline for recoupment actions. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session, passed committee, and was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, before becoming law.
HB 1319, which was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, would have created a state sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, their unremarried spouses, and surviving spouses of disabled veterans in Arkansas. The bill would have allowed these individuals to exclude up to $5,000 annually in sales tax on tangible personal property and certain digital products purchased at physical stores within the state. To claim the exemption, veterans would have needed an identification card from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, while surviving spouses would have required certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption would not apply to local sales taxes or the compensating use tax.
HB 1165 (withdrawn by author on March 17, 2025) would have prohibited Arkansas Medicaid from paying different reimbursement rates for identical services provided by the same type of healthcare provider (e.g., physicians) in different settings - such as a doctor's office versus a behavioral health agency - when using the same billing codes. The bill aimed to address disparities where providers in behavioral health settings received lower payments for the same services compared to office-based settings, which the bill’s findings stated disadvantaged behavioral health services. It required the Arkansas Department of Human Services to seek federal approvals to implement this uniform payment policy. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.
HB 1584 requires the Arkansas Medicaid Program to complete independent assessments for beneficiaries seeking home- and community-based services (HCBS) within 30 days of application. This applies to all applicants, including those needing a full assessment or an abbreviated review if previously approved for similar services. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to implement this timeline and seek necessary federal approvals. Note: The bill was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, and is no longer active.
HR 1065 is a resolution recognizing the Joe T. Robinson High School Senators boys' swim team as the 2025 Class 1A-4A state champions. The resolution, adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on March 17, 2025, formally acknowledges the team's achievement as the first-year program to win the state championship with 292 total points. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to head coach Jackie Bracey by the House Chief Clerk, honoring the team's athletic success and academic accomplishments. This is a symbolic gesture with no policy changes or financial implications, solely celebrating the team's championship victory.
HB 1748 adopts the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act, establishing standards for publishing Arkansas legal materials (including state laws, court decisions, and agency rules) electronically. It requires official publishers - such as the Arkansas Code Revision Commission, Secretary of State, and state courts - to authenticate electronic records to verify they are unaltered and accurate, and to preserve these materials securely for permanent public access. Authenticated electronic legal materials are presumed to be reliable copies, reducing reliance on physical documents in legal contexts. The act aligns Arkansas with similar laws adopted by other states and modifies certain federal electronic signature provisions.
This resolution formally recognizes March 9-15, 2025, as "AmeriCorps Week" in Arkansas. It symbolically honors the service of AmeriCorps members and volunteers - over 3,100 in Arkansas last year - who support community needs like disaster response, youth mentoring, and addressing the opioid crisis. The resolution has no policy changes or funding impact; it is a ceremonial gesture to acknowledge their contributions. It was adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on March 13, 2025.
This ceremonial resolution (HR 1040) recognizes the Smackover High School varsity cheerleading team as the 2024 Class 3A state champions. It formally congratulates the team for winning the championship title with a score of 76.9 points at the state competition, including victories in cheer overall, building, jumps, and tumbling. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely serves to honor the team's achievement and will be provided to their head coach.
