Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1340: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

HB 1340 was a bill intended to amend the laws governing the administration of the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System. The bill's stated purpose was solely to modify these administrative laws, directly affecting the system's operations and its members. However, the provided text does not specify the particular changes or mechanisms it proposed to implement within the retirement system's administration.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1029: TO SET THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SERVICES RELATED TO ADDICTION.

House Bill 1029 aimed to establish specific reimbursement rates within the Arkansas Medicaid program for services related to mental health and addiction. This bill would have directly affected healthcare providers offering these services and individuals receiving them through Medicaid.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1519: TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIRING AND CONTRACTING OF EMPLOYEES FOR THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, STATE BANK DEPARTMENT, AND STATE SECURITIES DEPARTMENT.

House Bill 1519 aimed to allow the Secretary of the Department of Commerce to participate in the hiring and contracting of employees. This authority would extend to the State Insurance Department, State Bank Department, and State Securities Department. The bill's intent was to establish "shared services" to streamline administrative functions like human resources and procurement across these entities. The goal was to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and foster collaboration by pooling resources.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1908: TO CREATE THE PROOF OF RESIDENCY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; AND TO REQUIRE PROOF OF RESIDENCY FOR ADULT APPLICANTS.

House Bill 1908, titled the "Proof of Residency for Public Assistance Act," aimed to amend Arkansas law regarding public assistance. The bill proposed requiring adult applicants for public assistance to provide proof that they reside in the state. State agencies or political subdivisions administering public assistance would be tasked with verifying an applicant's residency. Acceptable forms of proof could include a utility bill, bank statement, Arkansas driver's license, or state-issued identification card, generally dated within six months of the application.

Topics ✗ Immigration

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1750: TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAX ACT OF 1979; AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

House Bill 1750 proposes to eliminate the Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979. This bill directly affects corporations operating in Arkansas by repealing the state's corporate franchise tax. If enacted, this would remove the requirement for these businesses to pay this specific tax. The bill also includes provisions for making conforming changes to other state laws to align with this repeal.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1770: TO ESTABLISH THE PREGNANCY PARKING ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PARKING FOR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF A TEMPORARY SPECIAL CERTIFICATE TO PREGNANT WOMEN.

HB 1770, known as the "Pregnancy Parking Act," would have allowed pregnant women in Arkansas to obtain a temporary special parking certificate. This certificate would grant access to parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. To qualify, a woman would need a licensed physician's confirmation of pregnancy and would apply through the Office of Motor Vehicle. The certificate would be valid for one year following the date the woman gives birth, and the special parking privilege would only apply when the permit holder is present in the vehicle.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HJR 1017: A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT A PROPOSED STATE-WIDE INITIATED ACT OR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME A LAW WHEN APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN THE ELECTION AND A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE.

HJR 1017 proposes a constitutional amendment in Arkansas to change the requirements for state-wide initiated acts and constitutional amendments to become law. Currently, these measures pass with a state-wide majority vote. Under this proposed amendment, they would also need to receive a majority of votes in a majority of the state's counties to be approved. However, an act or measure subject to a state-wide referendum would still be repealed if rejected by a state-wide majority of voters, regardless of county-level results. This amendment, if approved by voters, would take effect on January 1, 2027.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1687: TO PROVIDE THAT A WATER AUTHORITY IS EXEMPT FROM ALL EXCISE TAXES.

House Bill 1687 (HB 1687) proposes to amend Arkansas law concerning tax exemptions for water authorities. The bill would explicitly exempt water authorities formed under the relevant chapter from all excise taxes of any kind or nature. This expands their existing tax-exempt status, which already includes exemptions from ad valorem property taxes. The change aims to reduce the tax obligations for these public entities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1884: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE MARKING AND COUNTING OF PAPER BALLOTS.

House Bill 1884 aimed to update the laws concerning the marking and counting of paper ballots in Arkansas elections. It proposed that all hand-counted paper ballots include a unique watermark or ultraviolet ink seal for enhanced security in each election cycle. The bill also mandated that hand counts be completed within 24 hours of polls closing and at least 24 hours before the certification deadline; otherwise, machine tabulated results would be certified. It further outlined security protocols for any breaks during the hand-counting process, requiring ballots to be sealed and guarded, and specified minimum poll worker staffing.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1030: TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID; AND TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO RECEIVE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING.

HB 1030 aims to enhance mental health support for students by requiring specific training for school personnel. The bill mandates that School Resource Officers (SROs) and other law enforcement working in schools obtain certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid. It also requires school counselors to receive Youth Mental Health First Aid training. An adopted amendment specifies that the requirement for SROs will be integrated into their existing continuing education hours.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1443: TO CREATE THE SECOND AMENDMENT FINANCIAL PRIVACY ACT; TO PROHIBIT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PAYMENT NETWORKS FROM USING CERTAIN DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS.

House Bill 1443, known as the "Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act," aims to protect the financial privacy of customers purchasing firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories. The bill prohibits financial institutions and payment networks from implementing practices that assign specific "firearms codes" to payment card transactions. These codes could identify a merchant as a firearms retailer or indicate that a transaction involves firearms or related items. The legislation also restricts the disclosure of such protected financial information for purposes other than processing the payment transaction, directly affecting financial institutions, payment networks, and their customers in the state.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1906: TO REQUIRE WRITTEN CONSENT OF A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WHEN PRESCRIBING LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION TO A PERSON WHO IS YOUNGER THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

House Bill 1906 aimed to amend Arkansas law to require written consent from a parent or legal guardian before a healthcare provider could prescribe long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to individuals younger than eighteen years of age. This bill would have directly impacted minors seeking LARC by adding a new consent requirement to existing family planning provisions. An exception was included for emancipated minors, meaning they would not have needed parental consent under the bill's provisions.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results