Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1504: TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MANUFACTURING, MODIFYING, SELLING, TRANSFERRING, OR OPERATING A ROBOTIC DEVICE OR AN UNCREWED AIRCRAFT THAT IS EQUIPPED OR MOUNTED WITH A WEAPON.

House Bill 1504 aimed to create new offenses related to robotic devices and uncrewed aircraft. The bill would have made it unlawful to manufacture, modify, sell, transfer, or operate a robotic device or uncrewed aircraft (drone) equipped or mounted with a weapon. Additionally, it sought to prohibit knowingly modifying the programming of a robotic device with the purpose of harming a human being or property. These provisions would have directly affected individuals involved in such activities.

Topics ✗ Technology

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1329: TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND TO REORGANIZE THE STANDING COMMITTEES AND THE SUBJECT MATTER INTERIM COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HB 1329 was a procedural bill designed to amend Arkansas law concerning the committees of the General Assembly. Its primary purpose was to reorganize the standing committees and the subject matter interim committees within the House of Representatives.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1776: TO AMEND THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A SOLID WASTE LANDFILL OR TRANSFER STATION PERMIT OR AN EXPANSION OF A SOLID WASTE LANDFILL OR TRANSFER STATION PERMIT.

House Bill 1776 aimed to amend the requirements for obtaining or expanding permits for solid waste landfills and transfer stations in Arkansas. The bill defined a "host community" as the closest governmental unit with zoning authority within a twelve-mile radius of the proposed site. It stipulated that applicants must first obtain a certificate of need from the regional solid waste management board, which would expire after four years during the permit application process. Furthermore, the application would need to include a city council resolution or quorum court minute order from the host community reflecting its decision, voted on at a regularly scheduled public meeting.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1388: TO EXEMPT CERTAIN STORAGE SERVICES FROM SALES TAX; AND TO EXEMPT THE SERVICE OF FURNISHING ACCOMMODATIONS BY A TOURIST CAMP OR A TOURIST COURT FROM SALES TAX, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 19 OF 1958.

HB 1388 aims to amend state sales tax laws by creating specific exemptions for certain services. The bill proposes to exempt particular storage services from sales tax. Additionally, it seeks to exempt the sales tax on accommodations provided by tourist camps or tourist courts, referencing Referred Act 19 of 1958. These changes would directly affect businesses offering these services and their customers by removing the sales tax on these transactions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1132: TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES; AND TO AMEND THE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY OF AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE.

House Bill 1132 aims to increase access to healthcare by expanding the prescriptive authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Arkansas. The bill allows APRNs to prescribe Schedule II opioids for a period of five days or less. It also permits APRNs to prescribe Schedule II stimulants for a patient's ongoing treatment, provided a physician originally initiated the prescription, evaluated the patient within six months, and the prescription is for the same condition. The bill requires the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to establish rules for prescribing these medications, consistent with those of the State Medical Board.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1914: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1955; AND TO REQUIRE AN OPERATOR OF A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TO HAVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.

House Bill 1914 proposed an amendment to the Arkansas Motor Carrier Act of 1955. The bill sought to require operators of commercial motor vehicles in Arkansas to possess sufficient English language proficiency. This proficiency would entail the ability to converse with the general public, understand English highway signs, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records. Operating a commercial motor vehicle without meeting these English language requirements would constitute a violation subject to a fine.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1192: TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND E-CIGARETTES BY STUDENTS; AND TO REQUIRE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO USES, POSSESSES, OR SMOKES TOBACCO, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR E-CIGARETTES TO PAY A FINE.

House Bill 1192 prohibits public school students from possessing or using tobacco, tobacco products, or e-cigarettes on school property, including buses. The bill requires the parent of a student found violating this rule to pay a fine. This fine would be directed to the police department of the town where the school is located. However, this parental fine provision does not apply to students who are in the custody of the Division of Children and Family Services or the Division of Youth Services.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1588: TO REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SEEKS OR IMPLEMENTS AN EXPANSION OF COVERAGE FOR THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM.

HB 1588 would have required the Department of Human Services (DHS) to receive approval from the General Assembly. This approval would be necessary before DHS could seek or implement any expansion of coverage for the Arkansas Medicaid program. The bill aimed to give the General Assembly oversight regarding changes to Medicaid program coverage.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1434: TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE PRESUMPTION THAT AN AWARD OF JOINT CUSTODY BETWEEN PARENTS IS IN A CHILD'S BEST INTEREST WHEN THERE IS DOMESTIC ABUSE.

House Bill 1434, as amended, aims to modify existing law concerning child custody awards between parents when domestic abuse is present. The bill redefines "domestic abuse" for these legal purposes, encompassing physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or certain sexual conduct between family or household members. It adjusts the legal presumption regarding an award of *sole* custody in cases involving domestic abuse. The bill also clarifies how a child's well-being is to be considered during custody determinations under these circumstances.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1177: TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS FRANCHISE PRACTICES ACT; AND TO CLARIFY THE APPLICABILITY OF THE ARKANSAS FRANCHISE PRACTICES ACT.

HB 1177 amends the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act to clarify its applicability. The bill explicitly states that the Act does not apply to the business relationship between an insurance company and its agents who sell insurance on its behalf. This change means that the rules governing franchise relationships will not apply to how insurance companies interact with their agents. The bill also applies these clarifications retroactively to earlier effective dates of the Act.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HJR 1009: AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO BE KNOWN AS THE ARKANSAS VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS; AND TO PROVIDE RIGHTS FOR VICTIMS OF MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY OFFENSES, INCLUDING VICTIMS IN THE ADULT AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

House Joint Resolution 1009 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution, establishing what would be known as the "Arkansas Victims' Bill of Rights." This amendment aims to provide specific rights for individuals who are victims of both misdemeanor and felony offenses. It would directly affect victims involved in both the adult and juvenile justice systems within the state. The bill intends to enshrine these rights into the state's constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1323: TO LIMIT THE INVESTMENT OF ARKANSAS'S PENSION AND RETIREMENT SYSTEM FUNDS IN ENTITIES CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND ITS GOVERNING COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA.

House Bill 1323 aimed to limit how Arkansas's state pension and retirement system funds are invested. The bill's purpose was to prevent these funds from being placed in businesses or organizations closely connected with the People's Republic of China and its Communist Party. This would have directly affected the investment strategies of Arkansas's public retirement systems.

Bill results