This bill amends Arkansas law regarding the termination of oral farmland lease agreements. It allows landowners to choose not to renew an oral lease for the upcoming calendar year. To do so, the landowner must provide written notice to the renter or lessee on or before June 30. The bill expands the acceptable methods for delivering this notice, moving beyond certified mail to include any service method allowed under the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.
House Bill 1966 authorizes incorporated towns or cities of the second class to petition for the establishment of a local public elementary school or satellite school. This option is available if the area's school district resulted from a consolidation within the last 20 years and previously included an elementary school. The town or city, along with parents and guardians, must first appeal to the receiving school district board of directors. If the local board approves, they then jointly appeal to the State Board of Education for the school's establishment. Any school created under this act would be part of the receiving district, with the possibility of in-kind contributions from the town or city.
House Bill 1131 authorizes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to delegate specific medical tasks. This bill directly impacts APRNs by expanding their ability to assign duties. It also affects medical assistants and other unlicensed staff who may perform these delegated tasks. The key mechanism is granting APRNs the legal authority to assign certain responsibilities to unlicensed personnel. This bill is now Act 959.
HB 1728 requires institutions of higher education to report the number of students who receive accommodations for a disability. This bill mandates that colleges and universities provide data on how many of their students are utilizing disability support services. The purpose is to collect information on the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities at these institutions.
HB 1471 modifies the licensing process for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Arkansas. This bill amends how licenses issued by the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology expire and are renewed. It revises the grace period for license renewals, allowing licensees up to 15 days after their license's expiration date to submit renewal requests without being considered late or incurring a penalty. If renewal payment is postmarked 16 or more days after the expiration date, a late fee may be charged.
HB 1963, now Act 963, clarifies the authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who prescribe stimulant medications. It allows these APRNs to substitute a therapeutically equivalent medication for a prescribed stimulant. A key provision requires the APRN to notify the physician who originally prescribed the stimulant when such a substitution occurs.
HB 1352 (now Act 937) is a technical amendment to a bill that primarily changes a single word in the legislation - replacing "and" with "or" on page 6, line 31. It does not introduce new policies, alter substantive requirements, or directly affect any specific groups or entities. The bill was passed by the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1 and signed into law on April 21, 2025. As a minor procedural correction, it has no meaningful impact on how the law operates or who it governs.
House Bill 1719 amends the rules for how maternity leave days are counted by schools that offer such leave. It changes the reference from "school year" to "contract year" when determining the total number of approved maternity leave days. The bill also clarifies that if a day approved as maternity leave for an eligible individual falls on an otherwise unpaid contract day, that day will still qualify for paid maternity leave. This directly affects school employees who are eligible for paid maternity leave.
House Bill 1523 codifies the existing Arkansas Amber Alert and Silver Alert systems. It also establishes the new Missing Endangered Adult Advisory System, designed to help locate missing adults with specific mental, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, or other physical or emotional disabilities who do not qualify for a Silver Alert. The Division of the Arkansas State Police will coordinate this system, setting activation procedures and ensuring safeguards for privacy and appropriate use. This new alert system will not be activated for individuals determined to be suicidal.
HB 1682, known as the "Arkansas Good Neighbor Act," clarifies and expands liability protections for entities and individuals involved in donating and distributing food. The bill grants civil and criminal immunity to good faith donors, gleaners (those who harvest donated crops), and nonprofit organizations, even if the donated food does not meet consumer safety standards or is not readily marketable due to appearance or surplus. To qualify for this protection, donors must inform the receiving organization, and the organization must inform recipients, about the food's condition to the best of their knowledge. This immunity does not apply in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The act aims to encourage food donations by reducing liability concerns for those who help provide food to the public through charitable channels.
House Bill 1683 prohibits governmental entities from purchasing electric vehicles or components manufactured using forced labor. It requires suppliers to provide information in good faith regarding their manufacturing processes. The bill also establishes that any governmental employee who knowingly violates this prohibition will be personally liable for a civil penalty of $5,000. This measure aims to prevent state funds from supporting industries that utilize forced labor in their supply chains.
HCR 1004 is a House Concurrent Resolution that congratulates Game Warden Austin Powell for receiving the Monty Carmikle Officer of the Year Award and the 2024 Robert M. Brantly Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. This resolution recognizes his achievements and service.
