Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1982: TO AMEND THE USED TIRE RECYCLING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; TO CREATE THE TIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING ACT; TO REPEAL THE USED TIRE RECYCLING FUND; AND TO CREATE THE WASTE TIRE ABATEMENT FUND.

House Bill 1982, titled the "Tire Management and Recycling Act," aims to update Arkansas's system for managing used tires. The bill renames and amends the "Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act" to enhance standards for the hauling, collection, storage, and recycling or disposal of various tire types. It introduces an electronic uniform used tire manifest system and requires business plans to improve accountability and sustainability for used tire programs. Additionally, the legislation repeals the Used Tire Recycling Fund and establishes a new Waste Tire Abatement Fund to support these initiatives.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 2: TO REPEAL THE STATEWIDE FLUORIDATION PROGRAM; AND TO REMOVE THE MANDATE FOR WATER SYSTEMS TO MAINTAIN A FLUORIDE CONTENT.

Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) proposes to repeal the existing statewide fluoridation program in Arkansas. If enacted, this bill would remove the current mandate for water systems serving 5,000 or more people to maintain a specific fluoride content in their water supply. It would eliminate the authority of the Department of Health and State Board of Health to set rules and requirements for water fluoridation, including permissible concentrations, necessary equipment, and testing procedures. Essentially, it would end the state requirement for public water systems to add fluoride to drinking water.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SJR 14: A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE DETERMINATION OF THE TRUE VALUE IN MONEY OF REAL PROPERTY FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSES.

SJR 14 proposes a constitutional amendment concerning the method for determining the "true value in money" of real property in Arkansas for assessment purposes. If passed by the legislature, this amendment would be presented to the state's electors for approval or rejection at the next general election. If adopted by voters, it would modify the state's constitution regarding how real estate is valued for property tax assessments, directly impacting real property owners.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 274: TO CREATE A SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN ITEMS RELATED TO HUMAN BURIAL; AND TO EXEMPT A PORTION OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF A CASKET, BURIAL VAULT, OR MONUMENT FROM SALES AND USE TAX.

Senate Bill 274 proposed to create a sales and use tax exemption for specific items related to human burial in Arkansas. The bill would have exempted the first one thousand dollars ($1,000) of the purchase price of a casket, burial vault, or monument from state sales and use taxes. This provision was intended to reduce the tax burden for individuals purchasing these items. The exemption could also have been administered as a rebate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 15: TO HONOR RETIRED DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LORIE TUDOR FOR HER FORTY-ONE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER ON HER RETIREMENT.

Senate Resolution 15 is a commemorative bill that honors Lorie Tudor for her 41 years of service to the Arkansas Department of Transportation. It congratulates her on her retirement as the department's first female director, acknowledging her contributions to the state's transportation system.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 187: TO AMEND THE COMPOSITION OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW BOARD TO INCLUDE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

SB 187 amends the composition of the Arkansas Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board. This bill expands the types of healthcare professionals eligible for appointment to the board. Specifically, it adds physician assistants to the existing list, which includes physicians and advanced practice registered nurses. The board members must be licensed and practicing in Arkansas, and currently treating rare diseases or conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 45: TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 17, 2025, AS JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC., GREATER LITTLE ROCK CHAPTER DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

Senate Resolution 45 designates March 17, 2025, as Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Greater Little Rock Chapter Day at the State Capitol. This resolution celebrates the organization's long-standing commitment to youth development, philanthropy, and community service.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SMR 1: TO REMEMBER BOB R. BROOKS, JR. AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION, TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND TO THE UNITED STATES.

Senate Memorial Resolution 1 (SMR 1) is a resolution to remember Bob R. Brooks, Jr. and recognize his contributions to the legal profession, the State of Arkansas, and the United States. It also states that the Boyle Building will be known as the Bob R. Brooks, Jr. Justice Building as a lasting tribute to his career.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 79: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

SB 79 proposed changes to the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS) and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). It would have allowed certain noncontributory members, including elected officials, who erroneously retired from both systems when changing employment to adjust their retirement date by filing an affidavit. Additionally, the bill aimed to permit members in the APERS Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) to change their selected retirement annuity one time, a choice previously irrevocable. This change would require an affidavit and, if applicable, repayment of any difference in benefits received.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 415: TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO MAINTAIN A DELINQUENT LIST OF BUSINESSES FAILING TO PAY A WHOLESALER OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS FOR THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

Senate Bill 415 authorizes the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to maintain a list of businesses that fail to pay wholesalers for petroleum products. Wholesalers can report delinquent payments to the DEQ, which will then "red-tag" the business, preventing it from receiving further petroleum deliveries. To be removed from the list, the delinquent business must pay the wholesaler using specific methods, and the wholesaler must notify the DEQ of the full payment. The bill also establishes a process for a delinquent business to dispute its placement on the list if it believes the delinquency is due to issues with the quality or quantity of the petroleum product.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 476: TO ALLOW LEAVE FOR ORGAN DONATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES; AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR LIFE INSURANCE WHO ARE ORGAN DONORS.

Senate Bill 476 (SB 476) establishes new provisions for living organ donors in Arkansas. It would allow eligible full-time state employees up to twelve weeks of absence from work for recovery after donating an organ, with this time counting towards their career service. Additionally, the bill prohibits life insurance companies from canceling, limiting, or denying coverage, or establishing different premium rates, based solely on an individual's status as a living organ donor. This legislation directly affects state employees who are living organ donors and all individuals seeking life insurance in the state, along with life insurers operating there.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 163: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

SB 163 was a bill in Arkansas that aimed to amend the laws governing the administration of the State Police Retirement System. Its stated purpose was to modify how this system is managed. The bill would directly affect the State Police Retirement System and its members. However, the provided text does not detail the specific changes, mechanisms, or provisions it intended to introduce to the system's administration.

Bill results