SB 440 amends existing laws concerning embalmers and funeral directors. The bill introduces regulations for the use of alkaline hydrolysis, a method for body disposition. It also establishes rules and oversight for facilities that provide alkaline hydrolysis services. This legislation directly affects licensed funeral professionals and businesses offering this specific alternative to traditional burial or cremation.
Senate Bill 509 creates the new criminal offense of "Theft of Equipment Rental Services" in Arkansas. This bill directly affects individuals who rent or lease equipment and the businesses that provide these services. It outlines that a person commits this offense by knowingly failing to return equipment after the rental period, damaging leased equipment, or failing to pay for the time they had control of the equipment. Penalties range from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B felony, depending on the monetary value of the unreturned service or damage. The bill also requires convicted individuals to pay restitution for any unpaid rental services and equipment damage.
SJR 21 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution concerning the vote requirements for initiated acts and constitutional amendments. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, this measure would change the threshold needed for ballot measures to be considered approved at a general election. This directly affects Arkansas voters and groups seeking to pass new laws or constitutional changes through the ballot initiative process.
Senate Bill 447 aimed to require permitted common carriers to submit detailed reports for all alcoholic beverage shipments entering the state. These reports would have included specific information such as the common carrier's parcel tracking number, the recipient's zip code, and the name and business address of each supplier or manufacturer. Additionally, the reports would have specified the weight of the alcoholic beverages shipped. This bill was designed to track the movement of alcoholic beverages into the state via common carriers.
SB 155 aimed to amend the existing laws governing the administration of the Arkansas State Highway Employees' Retirement System. The bill's stated purpose was to modify the rules and procedures by which this retirement system operates. However, the provided text does not detail the specific changes or mechanisms it intended to introduce.
SJR 12 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to establish a revised election process for federal, state, county, and nonpartisan offices. This amendment would require a single ballot for primary elections, where all candidates appear regardless of party affiliation, and the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. It also mandates a separate, party-affiliated process for presidential primaries to select delegates and for choosing presidential electors. These changes would not apply to municipal or other local offices.
SJR 23 proposes a constitutional amendment in Arkansas to change how certain funds are used. If approved by the state's electors, this amendment would allow proceeds generated under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 91, to be applied to multilane highway improvements. This would expand the permissible uses for these specific funds to include multilane highway projects.
Senate Bill 557 amends Arkansas law concerning water permits and wastewater discharge, affecting permit applicants, retail developers, and local officials. It authorizes the Division of Environmental Quality to deny wastewater permits to applicants with a history of environmental noncompliance, making denial mandatory if there are five or more noncompliance events within five years. The bill also prohibits certain wastewater discharges into ephemeral or intermittent streams and requires mail notification to residents near proposed new or modified permit facilities. Additionally, it mandates the Division of Environmental Quality to establish a method for local officials to receive immediate technical support during sewage or storm water emergencies.
Senate Bill 110 proposes to allow Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) or Certified Nursing Assistants who provide in-home services to beneficiaries in the Arkansas Medicaid Program to perform additional care and duties. This authorization is contingent on the CNA being appropriately trained for the specific skill and the beneficiary or their representative consenting to the care. The bill specifies that these provisions do not apply to CNAs working in inpatient settings or skilled nursing facilities. To implement these changes, the Department of Human Services would be required to seek any necessary federal waivers or Medicaid state plan amendments.
Senate Bill 117 aims to establish a legal framework for naturopathic physicians in Arkansas. It seeks to create the Naturopathic Physician Practice Act, which would mandate the licensure of naturopathic physicians in the state. To oversee this process, the bill also proposes the creation of the Arkansas State Board of Natural Medicine. A key provision of the bill requires all applicants for licensure to undergo state and federal criminal background checks, with specific criteria for disqualification and a waiver process for certain offenses.
SB 321 amends Arkansas' State Administration of Justice Fund law to change the order of funding priority when the fund balance is insufficient. It directs that available funds must first cover: court reporters' costs, the Arkansas District Judges Council's executive director, the Trial Court Administrator Fund, and county juror reimbursements. This bill directly affects court operations and funding for judicial support services across Arkansas. The bill passed the Senate in March 2025 but died in the House Judiciary Committee on May 5, 2025, without becoming law.
HB 1994 amends the law concerning self-service storage facilities in Arkansas. It requires operators of these facilities to notify an occupant if their leased storage space is "compromised." A space is considered compromised if it has been forcibly accessed, property has been taken, or it has been damaged to allow unauthorized access. Operators must contact the occupant by telephone, email, or regular mail within five business days of having actual knowledge that the space was compromised. The bill specifies that it does not impose responsibility on the operator for the occupant's personal property or create a duty to determine if a space has been compromised.
