Arkansas Bills

This bill, now enacted as Act 104, provides funding to the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Oil and Gas Commission for repairing the roof of its Education Center and Warehouse. The legislation allocates up to $275,274 from federal funds and an additional $296,552 from state cash reserves, with both amounts becoming effective on July 1, 2026. It includes strict financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and mandates that these specific repair costs be paid separately from the agency's general operating budget. The act also declares an emergency to allow the spending to begin immediately, bypassing potential delays in the legislative session.

HB 1096 authorizes the transfer of previously approved funds to four Arkansas State University campuses and one community college for use starting July 1, 2026. The bill allocates money for specific projects such as building renovations, technology upgrades, critical maintenance, and equipment repairs. These funds come from the Development and Enhancement Fund and are intended to support ongoing infrastructure and operational needs at the affected institutions.

This bill, now enacted as Act 75, provides funding for the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directly affects the commission's staff by establishing the maximum number of employees and their salary rates across various roles, including leadership, enforcement, and support positions. The legislation sets specific limits on the number of workers in each category and defines the annual pay for each job title within the agency. By approving these budgetary details, the bill enables the commission to operate its programs related to wildlife management, fishing, and conservation during the specified period.

This bill amends the state budget to increase funding for the Office of the Treasurer of State by $30 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The change specifically raises the allocated amount for refunding local taxes from $1.1 billion to $1.13 billion. Once signed into law, this adjustment provides additional resources to the Treasurer's office to process tax refunds for local jurisdictions.

This bill appropriates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain. The legislation specifically increases the allocated budget from $1,750,000 to $13,750,000 and adjusts the total appropriation to $30,875,000. These financial resources are intended to cover the college's operational expenses and programs for the upcoming year. Once enacted, the funds become available for the institution to use in managing its daily activities and educational services.

HB 1088, now enacted as Act 111, provides additional funding to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to support municipal fire and police pension and relief funds. The bill allocates $8 million from the Firemen's and Police Officers' Pension and Relief Fund to cover taxes for these municipal funds and an extra $5 million from the Fire Protection Premium Tax Fund to help finance fire department operations. These funds are designated as supplemental to existing appropriations and must be spent in strict compliance with state budget laws and procurement regulations.

HB 1085, now Act 108, provides funding to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for property maintenance, renovations, and construction projects. The bill appropriates approximately $20.75 million from the Development and Enhancement Fund and $35 million for facility improvements, along with $1.118 million for preserving state-owned lands and historic sites at the campus. These funds must be used strictly for the specified projects and cannot be combined with other maintenance budgets, while all spending must follow state purchasing and budget laws.

Senate Bill 26 authorizes funding for the University of Central Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically establishing the maximum number of regular employees and their corresponding salary rates. The legislation details positions across administrative, academic, and IT departments, setting specific caps on headcounts and annual pay for roles ranging from the university president to various support staff. Once enacted into law as Act 78, this bill provides the necessary budgetary framework to hire and compensate university personnel during the upcoming fiscal year.

This bill, now enacted as Act 87, reauthorizes approximately $1.36 million in state funds to the Office of State Technology within the Department of Shared Administrative Services. The money is designated specifically for replacing Uninterruptible Power Supply systems at the Data Center West facility in Little Rock to ensure critical technology infrastructure remains operational. The legislation includes standard financial controls to prevent spending beyond available funds and mandates that these capital project dollars be used exclusively for this repair work rather than general operations. An emergency clause was added to ensure the funding becomes effective on July 1, 2026, preventing any disruption to essential government services during the legislative process.

This bill appropriates $6,353,103 for the Arkansas Department of Inspector General's 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding covers regular salaries, maintenance and general operations, and an additional temporary or part-time employee for the Office of the Juvenile Ombudsman. The legislation also adjusts specific budget line items and renumbers sections to reflect these financial allocations.

Senate Bill 74, now Act 94, authorizes the State of Arkansas to pay a total of approximately $2.5 million in approved claims to various individuals and organizations across multiple state departments. The bill directs specific funds from different state accounts to cover these payments, which range from small amounts to over $1 million for a single recipient. This legislation is a routine financial measure that ensures the state fulfills its financial obligations to entities that have already been approved for reimbursement.

This bill reappropriates approximately $101,000 from the Development and Enhancement Fund to the Arkansas Department of Commerce's State Insurance Department for fiscal year 2026. The funds are designated to cover maintenance and operations for insolvent, licensed perpetual care cemeteries that have been in receivership for five years or more, as well as acquisition costs and grants for historic cemetery improvements. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls requiring strict adherence to state purchasing laws and prohibits using general maintenance funds for these specific purposes. It also declares an emergency to ensure the money becomes available on July 1, 2026, preventing potential harm to essential governmental programs.