SB 589, the "340B Program Transparency Act," requires certain Arkansas hospitals and healthcare providers participating in the federal 340B drug discount program to report annually on how they utilize their program savings. These "covered entities" must submit a detailed report to the Department of Health each year. The report outlines the total 340B savings realized and provides an itemized account of how those savings were allocated. This includes funds directed towards uncompensated care, patient financial assistance, expanding healthcare access in medically underserved areas, and administrative operations, aiming to ensure accountability and transparency.
Senate Bill 284 modifies Arkansas's workers' compensation law, impacting injured employees and employers. It changes the process for selecting treating physicians, allowing injured workers to choose their regular primary care physician for initial treatment, provided that physician complies with managed care requirements for specialist referrals. The bill also establishes new requirements for independent medical exams (IMEs), mandating that employers obtain commission approval and share all related records and reports with the injured worker or their counsel. Additionally, injured workers gain the right to depose IME examiners, subject to covering associated fees.
The provided text is Amendment No. 1 to SB 179, not the full bill. Based on the title, SB 179 aims to establish the "Strengthen Arkansas Homes Act" and create the "Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program Premium Tax Fund." Amendment No. 1 modifies provisions regarding the admissibility of certain information, clarifying that it would be admissible as evidence in private civil actions. It also specifies that these provisions do not prevent disclosure to legislative auditing bodies or preclude subpoena authority.
Senate Bill 283, as amended, modifies the law concerning unclaimed property for certain nonprofit organizations. It specifically affects nonprofits with less than five million dollars in annual revenue. These organizations must turn over property unclaimed for one year to the state administrator. The administrator then has two years to locate the property's owner. If the owner is not found within that period, the unclaimed property is returned to the original nonprofit organization.
SB 86 modifies the rules for nonprofit, tax-exempt, or governmentally funded hospitals to hold retail pharmacy permits and introduces new regulations for pharmacy contracting. It would allow eligible hospitals, meeting criteria like a minimum inpatient census and providing emergency care, to hold one retail pharmacy permit at each licensed hospital location. These pharmacies must be located on or near the hospital campus and offer 24/7 access to emergency medications. The bill also prohibits pharmacies from entering contracts with parent entities that create anti-competitive advantages or limit patient choice, with enforcement by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.
House Bill 1485 proposed to create a new sales and use tax exemption in Arkansas. This exemption would apply to the gross receipts from sales of tangible personal property, digital products, or services. It would specifically benefit the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery Foundation and certain other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. To qualify, these nonprofits must be registered with the state and established to support veterans' cemeteries, veterans' homes, or facilities administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs within Arkansas.
Senate Bill 12 is a procedural amendment to Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and redistricting communication rules. It primarily updates section numbering in the law (e.g., changing references from "(d)" to "(c)") without altering substantive requirements for public records access or redistricting communications. The bill does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups, as it only adjusts existing legal references. It passed the Senate in March 2025 but died in the House committee in May 2025 without becoming law.
This bill, SB 312, proposes to remove the existing moratorium on adding new beds or expanding capacity within psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Arkansas. Currently, these facilities are prohibited from increasing their bed count. If enacted, the bill would allow psychiatric residential treatment facilities to add new beds or expand their existing capacity, with no cap set on the number of beds. This change would directly affect these facilities and individuals seeking psychiatric residential treatment services.
Senate Resolution 64 (SR 64) is a resolution from the Arkansas Senate urging the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to modify several federal policies. The resolution calls for changes such as repealing specific federal rules, streamlining reporting requirements for local agencies, and reducing federal performance standards related to homelessness programs. It also urges a shift towards block grant funding to give Arkansas greater flexibility in allocating resources. The aim is to empower state and local governments and service providers to design housing solutions better tailored to the unique needs of their communities and individuals experiencing homelessness.
House Bill 1714 aims to revise the legal definition of a "paid canvasser." The bill expands what qualifies as compensation by including actions taken "as a reward for" in addition to "in exchange for" services. It also broadens the type of value received from "an item of value" to "anything of value" when determining if someone is a paid canvasser. These changes directly affect individuals engaged in canvassing activities and organizations that employ or coordinate them, by altering the criteria for how they are legally classified.
Senate Bill 258, known as the "Arkansas Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Trust Act," aims to establish rules for how companies handle consumer data. The bill, as amended, clarifies definitions for terms such as "identified or identifiable individual" and "targeted advertising." It outlines specific provisions for processing sensitive consumer data and details exclusions for certain entities, including financial institutions and healthcare providers. This legislation, intended to govern digital data practices affecting consumers in Arkansas, is set to become effective on July 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 569 proposed an amendment to Article 5, Section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution, concerning the ballot titles of proposed measures. This bill would require all ballot titles for statewide, county, and municipal measures to be readable, clear, concise, and not exceed 500 words. This change would directly affect petitioners who submit proposed measures and the election boards responsible for placing these titles on the ballot. The General Assembly would also be authorized to enact laws establishing specific standards for title readability.
