Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1946: TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

House Bill 1946 proposed requiring human growth and development instruction in Arkansas public schools for students in grades 6-12, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. This instruction would have included a high-definition ultrasound video of at least three minutes showing early fetal organ development. It also mandated a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation illustrating the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus until birth. This content would have been integrated into classes discussing human biology, contraception, or sexually transmitted diseases.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 410: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR FORMER STATE EMPLOYEES AND FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

Senate Bill 410 aimed to amend laws concerning public officers and employees. It sought to require former state employees and former elected officials to disclose their subsequent employment, applying to both full-time and part-time positions. The bill specified that this disclosure was necessary when individuals *knowingly* engaged in certain activities, such as taking a new job or selling services. The proposed legislation included a sunset clause, meaning it would have expired on June 30, 2029, unless extended.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 418: TO AMEND THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 4 OF 1948; AND TO ESTABLISH A REQUIREMENT FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURERS TO SPEND AT LEAST EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF PREMIUMS ON HEALTHCARE CLAIMS AND WAGE CLAIMS.

Senate Bill 418 proposes to amend Arkansas's Workers' Compensation Law. It directly affects workers' compensation insurers operating within the state. The bill would require these insurers to spend at least 85% of their collected premiums on healthcare and wage claims for injured workers. This percentage, defined as the "medical loss ratio," measures the portion of premiums allocated to claims versus administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 75: TO HONOR SYLVIA ANN HINDSMAN CORNWELL FOR HER EXEMPLARY, DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE SENATE AND TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

Senate Resolution 75 formally honors Sylvia Ann Hindsman Cornwell for her 45 years of exemplary and dedicated service to the Arkansas Senate and the State of Arkansas. It recognizes her significant contributions, such as modernizing Senate records and serving as the first female Secretary of the Senate.

Bart Hester (R) · 34 co-sponsors

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1483: TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH WHICH IT CONTRACTS.

HB 1483 would allow public school districts to use state funds to pay for adult education programs with which they contract. This bill directly affects public school districts and the adult education programs they choose to partner with. The primary mechanism is to provide explicit authorization for districts to allocate state funds for these contracted adult education services.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1987: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE STATE BOARD OF EMBALMERS, FUNERAL DIRECTORS, CEMETERIES, AND BURIAL SERVICES; AND TO INCREASE THE CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS BY A LICENSEE.

House Bill 1987 proposes to amend the laws governing the State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services in Arkansas. This bill directly affects individuals and businesses licensed by this board, including embalmers, funeral directors, and cemetery operators. Its primary provision is to increase the maximum civil penalty the board can impose on a licensee for failing to comply with laws, rules, or orders. The bill would raise the maximum penalty from five hundred dollars ($500) to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 37: TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 2025 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH AND SUPPORT THE HUMANITARIAN MISSION OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

Senate Resolution 37 recognizes March 2025 as American Red Cross Month in Arkansas. This resolution expresses the Senate's support for the humanitarian mission carried out by the American Red Cross and its volunteers.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1806: TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW A PARENT TO REVIEW AND OPT OUT OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD.

House Bill 1806 aimed to increase curriculum transparency for parents of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. It would have required schools to make curriculum information available to parents. Additionally, the bill sought to allow parents to review library media materials and opt their child out of accessing selected items. An amendment added a provision stating that some aspects of the bill's implementation would be contingent on funding availability.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 68: TO RECOGNIZE THE DIVISION OF ARKANSAS STATE POLICE'S INTERSTATE CRIMINAL PATROL FOR WINNING TOP HONORS AT THE GULF COAST HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA AWARDS.

Senate Resolution 68 recognizes the Division of Arkansas State Police's Interstate Criminal Patrol team for receiving top honors at the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Awards. This resolution specifically acknowledges the team as the 2024 Agency of the Year, and individual officers for their achievements in drug and currency seizures.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 647: TO CREATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ACT OF 2025.

Senate Bill 647, the "Economic Development District Act of 2025," creates a framework for municipalities, counties, or cooperative areas in Arkansas to establish Economic Development Districts. These districts are designated areas intended to promote economic growth and revitalization. They can fund projects like infrastructure and various forms of economic development construction by utilizing "property charge increments" and "sales charge increments," which are the increases in property and sales taxes generated within the district above a set baseline. The Department of Commerce is tasked with providing support, technical assistance, and resources for the establishment and management of these districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 286: TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL WAGE LOSS BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO SCHEDULED INJURY PAYMENTS UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED MEASURE 1948, NO. 4.

Senate Bill 286 (SB 286) amends Arkansas's Workers' Compensation Law regarding benefits for employees who suffer a scheduled injury. The bill allows the Workers' Compensation Commission to consider additional factors beyond an employee's permanent physical impairment when determining permanent partial disability benefits. These factors can include the employee's age, education, work experience, and other matters reasonably expected to affect their future earning capacity. This change means that employees with scheduled injuries may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits that exceed the percentage of their physical impairment if their ability to earn wages is significantly impacted.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SJR 22: A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION.

SJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to change voter qualifications in Arkansas. This bill would allow individuals who are seventeen years of age to vote in preferential primary and general primary elections. To be eligible, these 17-year-olds must otherwise be qualified to vote and will be eighteen years of age on or before the date of the general election. If approved by voters, this amendment to the Arkansas Constitution would become effective on January 1, 2027.

Bill results