Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 164: TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO EMPLOY OR ACCEPT AS A VOLUNTEER A CHAPLAIN.

Senate Bill 164 would authorize public schools in Arkansas to employ or accept as volunteers school chaplains. These chaplains would provide support, services, and programs for enrolled students, staff, and parents, with schools determining their selection criteria. Chaplains would not need to be credentialed by the Department of Education but would be required to pass statewide criminal records checks and a Child Maltreatment Central Registry check, paid for by the school. The bill prohibits schools from employing registered sex offenders as chaplains and grants chaplains immunity from liability for actions taken within their duties, unless those actions are maliciously intended to cause harm or harass.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 356: TO ALLOW DISCLOSURE TO A JUDGE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE ARKANSAS CRIME INFORMATION CENTER BY THE OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT OR CRIME VICTIMS REPARATIONS BOARD.

Senate Bill 356 proposes to amend the law regarding the disclosure of information obtained from the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC). Currently, the Office of Child Support Enforcement and the Crime Victims Reparations Board can only disclose this information for their official duties or if ordered by a court. This bill would add an exception, allowing these entities to disclose ACIC information directly to a district court judge, circuit court judge, Judge of the Court of Appeals, or Justice of the Supreme Court upon request.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 363: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER SMITH HOSPITAL RESTORATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 363 proposes to appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Officer. These funds are designated for grants to cover renovation and construction-related costs specifically for Smith Hospital. The appropriation is intended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 331: CONCERNING COVERAGE FOR GENETIC TESTING FOR INHERITED CANCER MUTATIONS; AND TO CREATE THE GENETIC TESTING ACT.

Senate Bill 331 aimed to create the Genetic Testing Act, which would have mandated health insurance coverage for genetic testing related to inherited cancer mutations. The bill specified that this coverage would not be subject to typical cost-sharing requirements, such as deductibles or co-payments. This legislation would have directly affected individuals requiring genetic testing for inherited cancer risks and their health insurance providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 159: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE PENSION AND RELIEF FUNDS.

SB 159 aimed to amend the existing laws governing the administration of pension and relief funds for local police officers and firefighters. The provided text, however, only states this general purpose and does not detail the specific changes or mechanisms the bill proposed to implement. Therefore, the concrete policy changes are not available in this context.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 5: TO ADD THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG HARM OR HOMICIDE.

Senate Bill 5 aims to establish a new criminal offense related to prescription drug harm or homicide. While the full text defining this offense is not provided, an amendment to the bill clarifies that a specific fund created by the bill "shall be used" for its intended purpose, rather than explicitly by the Attorney General. This bill would directly affect individuals involved in incidents leading to harm or death from prescription drugs. The bill died in the Senate Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 65: TO SUPPORT ARKANSAS'S ENGAGING THE JUSTICE COUNTS METRICS AND TO URGE POLICYMAKERS THROUGHOUT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO IMPLEMENT AND UTILIZE THE JUSTICE COUNTS METRICS.

Senate Resolution 65 expresses the Arkansas Senate's support for the state's engagement with the Justice Counts metrics. It urges policymakers across state and local government entities to implement and utilize these metrics. This resolution formally communicates the Senate's encouragement for data-driven approaches within the justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 566: PROVIDE FOR FUNDING FOR THE EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT, OR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE AND COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; AND TO ADDRESS PRISON OVERCROWDING.

Senate Bill 566 proposed to transfer $250 million from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund to the Department of Corrections. These funds were intended to address prison overcrowding by supporting the construction and expansion of new and existing state correctional facilities, including a facility designated for mental health. The bill also allocated grants to counties. These grants were for construction-related costs for new or expanded county jails, improvements to existing jails, and principal payments on county jail debt.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 248: TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967 CONCERNING PERSONNEL RECORDS.

Senate Bill 248 aimed to amend the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act of 1967, specifically concerning the disclosure of personnel records. The bill sought to redefine what constitutes a "clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy" for records pertaining to private citizens or information about public officials not related to their official duties. It proposed that such records would be exempt from disclosure if the information is personal or intimate, and the substantial privacy interest outweighs the public's interest in disclosure. The bill also clarified that individuals could still access their own records, even if those records were otherwise exempt from public release.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.

House Bill 1686 amends Arkansas law concerning licenses to carry concealed handguns, affecting current and future licensees. The bill clarifies that law enforcement officers will confiscate a license upon arrest for certain violations and hold it until the charge is finalized. It also allows licensees to use an electronic copy of their license and requires them to display it, along with identification, upon request by an officer. Additionally, the bill introduces a 50% fee reduction for individuals aged 65 or older when requesting a replacement or duplicate license.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 602: TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE COMPANIES AND APPRAISERS FROM REQUIRING AN INSURED TO USE CERTAIN FACILITIES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY GLASS; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

SB 602 prohibits insurance companies and appraisers from requiring an insured individual to use a specific facility for the repair or replacement of damaged motor vehicle safety glass. This bill directly affects insured car owners, insurance companies, and appraisers by giving policyholders more choice in where their vehicle glass is repaired. It ensures that consumers are not mandated to use certain repair shops. The bill also includes provisions for penalties for any violations of these requirements.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 285: TO MODIFY THE COMPENSATION RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 4 OF 1948.

SB 285, as amended, modifies the workers' compensation law, specifically addressing compensation restrictions. For injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, the bill sets a maximum compensation amount at $100,000. It also caps certain injury compensation at 75% of a calculated amount under an existing subdivision of the law. These changes directly affect individuals receiving workers' compensation benefits by adjusting the limits on their compensation.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill results