Arkansas Bills

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 36: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 36 is an appropriation act for the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill specifically establishes and funds the "Fight Senior Hunger Community Grant Match Program" with an appropriation of $400,000. This program provides state matching grants to Arkansas counties, cities, and qualified nonprofit organizations to help address senior hunger in their communities. To receive a grant, these entities must develop an approved plan to provide meals or food to senior citizens and secure local matching funds or in-kind contributions equal to at least half of the program's cost, with state grants capped at $20,000 per program. The bill requires Area Agencies on Aging to report annually on their senior food insecurity programs and expenditures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 41: AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 41 (SB 41) is an appropriation act that allocates funds for the Office of the Governor for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This bill establishes the maximum number of regular employees allowed for the Governor's office and sets their maximum annual salary rates according to specific grades. It directly affects the staffing levels and compensation for 59 positions within the Governor's office, including roles like Chief of Staff, various advisors, directors, and support personnel.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 106: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

SB 106 is an appropriation bill that provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill allocates financial resources to support the department's operations and programs. An amendment to the bill specifically increased two designated funding amounts, thereby adjusting the total appropriation available to the department. This ensures the department has the necessary budget to carry out its functions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 52: AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - OPERATIONS AND UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 52 is an act that appropriates funds for the Auditor of State's operations and its Unclaimed Property Program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill establishes specific employee positions within the Unclaimed Property Program, such as Claims Examiners and Compliance Agents, along with their maximum annual salary rates. It allocates funds for various expenses, including $1,000,000 for data matching. Overall, this legislation provides the Auditor of State's office with $3,985,089 to support its functions for the specified fiscal year, directly impacting its staffing and financial resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 35: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

This bill allocates funds for the Department of Human Services - Division of Children and Family Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides money for staff salaries, operating expenses, and sets the maximum number of employees for the division. The bill also specifically appropriates funds for programs like foster care, state residential treatment, and child abuse and neglect prevention. This funding supports the division's services for children and families in Arkansas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 32: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

SB 32 is an appropriation bill for the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It allocates funds for the division's personal services, including salaries for 121 regular employees and 36 temporary staff, and covers general operating expenses. The bill also appropriates funds for specific programs, such as community-based sanctions for juveniles and the purchase of services from community providers. Additionally, it provides funding for federally supported child and youth service grants and the operation of residential services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 577: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES; AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO NOTIFY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONCERNING SALES AND USE TAXES THAT ARE SET TO EXPIRE.

Senate Bill 577 requires the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to notify local governments about the upcoming expiration of certain local sales and use taxes. This bill directly affects the DFA and local entities such as county quorum courts and city governing bodies that levy these taxes. The DFA must provide notice at least 120 days before a tax expires. This notification will include the tax's current expiration date and the specific requirements for extending it, covering various local sales and use taxes, including those for capital improvements, community colleges, and economic development projects.

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 9: TO CREATE THE MAKE ARKANSAS HEALTHY AGAIN ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT MANUFACTURING, SELLING, DELIVERING, DISTRIBUTING, HOLDING, OR OFFERING FOR SALE A FOOD PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS CERTAIN SUBSTANCES.

Senate Bill 9, known as the "Make Arkansas Healthy Again Act," prohibits the manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale of food products that contain certain unspecified substances within Arkansas. This legislation directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers operating in the state. An amendment to the bill changed the effective date of these prohibitions from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. (The specific "certain substances" are not detailed in the provided text.)

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 313: CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT; AND TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND QUALITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Senate Bill 313, as amended, concerns forensic mental health evaluations and treatment within the legal system. It establishes procedures for prosecutors and defense counsel to request mental health evaluations for defendants, allowing for ex parte or in camera hearings when privileged information is involved. The bill details the court's authority to order the administration of medication to incarcerated defendants to maintain their fitness to proceed, outlining specific conditions based on whether the defendant poses a danger. Additionally, time spent in the department's physical custody under these provisions counts towards credit for time served.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 367: TO REPEAL THE SMALL BUSINESS REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES ACT; AND TO REPEAL THE SMALL BUSINESS REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

Senate Bill 367, now Act 735, repeals the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund for Pollution Control and Prevention Technologies Act. It also repeals the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund. This legislative action means that the specific loan funds established by these acts, which previously offered financial assistance to small businesses for purposes like pollution control, will no longer be authorized or operate under these legal frameworks.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 430: AN ACT TO REQUIRE MANDATORY RESTITUTION TO BE AWARDED TO A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS CRIME VICTIMS REPARATIONS ACT.

Senate Bill 430 requires individuals convicted of human trafficking in Arkansas to pay mandatory restitution to their victims. This restitution covers various expenses, including medical and psychological treatment, temporary housing, child care, and relocation costs for victims and their families. Additionally, the bill amends the Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Act, extending the time limit for victims to file claims from one year to five years after the incident, with specific provisions for minor victims. This bill is now Act 666.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 375: TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; AND TO AMEND A PORTION OF ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 3 OF 1936.

Senate Bill 375 creates the new offense of "capital rape" in Arkansas, targeting individuals who commit sexual offenses against victims aged thirteen (13) years or younger under specific aggravated circumstances. This offense is defined by actions such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing certain other felonies concurrently, using a deadly weapon, or having prior convictions for similar offenses. For offenders aged eighteen (18) or older, the penalties include death or life imprisonment without parole, while offenders younger than eighteen (18) face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years. The bill also ensures that prosecution for capital rape can be commenced at any time.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill results