HB 1409, known as the "Electric Reliability Act," aims to ensure a stable supply of electricity for Arkansas residents and businesses. The bill prohibits the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) from approving the retirement of electric generation facilities (such as those using hydroelectric, coal, natural gas, or nuclear fuel) unless an equal or greater amount of new "firm power" is available to replace it on the electric grid. "Firm power" is defined as dispatchable, reliable power generation with more than 24 hours of battery storage. Additionally, the APSC must consider closures in other states when assessing replacement power needs and seek waivers or pursue litigation if federal regulations force facility closures.
House Bill 1141 proposed creating a new criminal offense in Arkansas related to the use of "deep fakes" in election campaigns, directly affecting individuals involved in political communication and candidates for office. The bill defined a "deep fake" as media deliberately manipulated using artificial intelligence to falsely depict a real person performing an action, with the intent to deceive and injure a candidate. It would have made it unlawful to create or distribute such a deep fake with the intent to injure a candidate during the 90 days before a general election. A clear label identifying the communication as a deep fake would have served as an affirmative defense against prosecution for this offense.
House Bill 1038, titled the "No-Excuse Absentee Voting Act of 2025," aimed to change the current laws regarding absentee voting. This bill would have allowed all eligible voters to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason or qualification. It sought to repeal existing voter qualifications for absentee voting, making the process accessible to a broader range of voters who wish to vote absentee.
House Bill 1448 aims to amend Arkansas law concerning municipal planning areas and land acquisition. It sets a one-year deadline for public boards to decide whether to acquire private land designated for future public use or release it from reservation. If the public board fails to act within this timeframe, the land is released, and the property owner must receive reasonable compensation for any diminished value during the delay. Additionally, the bill requires municipal planning commissions to provide direct mail notice to affected property owners and school districts when proposing new plans, ordinances, or regulations.
House Bill 1985, known as the "Arkansas Renter Refund Act," proposes to create an income tax credit for certain residential tenants in Arkansas. The bill establishes a $500 income tax credit that qualifying taxpayers can claim against their state income tax. To be eligible, a taxpayer must rent their primary residence for the entire tax year, have a net income less than $40,000, and not be claimed as a dependent on another tax return. The credit amount cannot exceed the total income tax owed by the taxpayer for that year.
House Bill 1822, known as the "Overtime but not Overtaxed Act," aimed to exempt compensation earned from overtime hours from the state of Arkansas's income tax. The bill defined overtime as hours worked exceeding 40 in a workweek that are required to be compensated under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This measure would have directly affected Arkansas residents who receive overtime pay, reducing the amount of state income tax they would owe on those specific earnings. Had it passed, the exemption would have applied to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
House Bill 1015 proposes amendments to the individual income tax laws. The core purpose of this bill is to create a new income tax credit specifically for taxpayers who have dependent children. This credit aims to provide financial relief to families by reducing their state income tax liability. The specific details regarding the credit's value or eligibility criteria are not included in the provided text.
HJR 1014 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This amendment would authorize the state's General Assembly to create economic development districts. These districts would be established to promote economic development throughout Arkansas. An amendment to the resolution clarified that these districts could also be used for environmental mitigation or reclamation purposes.
This is a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1003) titled "The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment," but the provided context lacks the actual text of the amendment or its specific provisions. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Arkansas legislature, amended to add Representative Springer, referred to a committee, and ultimately died in committee on May 5, 2025. No substantive policy details, key mechanisms, or who it would affect are included in the available information. As a constitutional amendment proposal that did not advance beyond committee, no concrete policy changes were enacted.
House Bill 1989 proposed amendments to Arkansas law regarding used motor vehicle buyer protection and the dealer licensing process. The bill updated and added definitions for various terms, including "auto auction," "used motor vehicle dealer," "wholesale used motor vehicle dealer," "used motor vehicle salesperson," "convicted," and "retail used motor vehicle dealer." It also revised penalties for violations of used motor vehicle buyers' protection laws, making a third or subsequent offense a Class D felony with a three-year license suspension. This legislation aimed to clarify regulations for used motor vehicle sales and enhance consumer protection.
House Bill 1973 (HB 1973) proposes to prohibit governmental bodies in Arkansas from using state or local funds to enter into contracts with external lobbyists. This means that state and local taxpayer money could not be used to pay individuals or firms whose primary purpose is to lobby on behalf of a government entity. The bill also extends this prohibition to using state or local funds to pay membership dues to organizations that lobby on behalf of governmental bodies. However, it clarifies that governmental bodies are still permitted to employ their own staff, including registered lobbyists, to conduct lobbying activities.
HB 1560 proposed changes to public works contracts in Arkansas, specifically regarding lighting components. The bill would have required the state, counties, municipalities, and school districts to obtain at least three bids from separate lighting agencies for lighting specified in public works projects designed by electrical engineering firms. This aimed to ensure competitive pricing for lighting components. However, it included exceptions for specialty fixtures needed for design aesthetics or historical purposes and did not apply to municipal electric utilities.
