Arkansas Bills

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1195: TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING EMPLOYEES OF A MUNICIPALITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE ELECTION TO INSTEAD PARTICIPATE IN A LOCAL RETIREMENT PLAN.

HB 1195 amends the laws for employees of municipalities participating in the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS). It clarifies the timeframe for these employees to choose to opt out of APERS and instead participate in a local retirement plan. The bill specifies that employees have 90 days after assuming office in their first term and any subsequent term to make this election. Additionally, it includes a temporary provision granting current employees an extra 90 days from the act's effective date to make this retirement plan election.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1892: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ENERGY; TO REGULATE NONEXPORT FACILITIES; AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NONEXPORT FACILITIES.

House Bill 1892 aimed to regulate "nonexport facilities," which are customer-owned systems generating electricity for personal use without intentionally sending power back to the grid. It sought to prohibit public utilities from charging discriminatory electricity rates to customers operating these facilities. The bill would have also required the Arkansas Public Service Commission to create rules for the safe and reliable operation of nonexport facilities, including standards for managing accidental electricity export and an expedited interconnection review process. Additionally, it clarified that these nonexport facilities would not be considered net-metering facilities.

Topics ✓ Energy

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1334: TO AMEND THE LAW UNDER TITLE 24, CHAPTER 4, SUBCHAPTER 2 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE REGARDING DELINQUENT EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER.

HB 1334 proposes to amend Arkansas law regarding contributions to the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS). The bill specifically targets issues with local government employers who participate in APERS and are delinquent in making their required employer and employee contributions. Its purpose is to update existing statutes to better address the collection and handling of these overdue payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1116: TO CREATE THE REMOTE AND MOBILE WORK MODERNIZATION AND COMPETITIVENESS ACT; AND TO PROVIDE INCOME TAX AND WITHHOLDING EXEMPTIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN REMOTE AND MOBILE EMPLOYEES AND NONRESIDENTS.

House Bill 1116, known as the Remote and Mobile Work Modernization and Competitiveness Act, aimed to create new regulations for remote and mobile employment. It sought to provide income tax and withholding exemptions for specific remote and mobile employees and nonresidents. The bill intended to reduce tax burdens for these workers, encouraging a more competitive environment for remote work.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1041: TO PROHIBIT DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS.

HB 1041 bans the creation and distribution of deceptive or fraudulent deepfakes (manipulated audio/video) in election-related communications, such as campaign ads or voter outreach. It directly affects political campaigns, candidates, and advertisers who produce or share election content using AI-generated deepfakes meant to mislead voters. The bill prohibits using deepfakes to falsely represent candidates, distort policies, or spread false information during elections. It does not cover non-election content or deepfakes without deceptive intent. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but died in committee without becoming law.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1069: TO OBSERVE STANDARD TIME YEAR ROUND IN ARKANSAS; AND TO ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IN ARKANSAS.

House Bill 1069 proposes that Arkansas observe standard time year-round, thereby eliminating the practice of daylight saving time. The bill includes a provision requiring the Secretary of State to monitor federal law concerning time observation. If the United States government amends federal law to permanently mandate daylight saving time for states, Arkansas would then observe daylight saving time year-round. The state would revert to year-round standard time if any such federal requirement were later repealed.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1932: TO AMEND LAWS CONCERNING THE CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAX; TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAX ACT OF 1979; AND TO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR CORPORATIONS.

HB 1932 proposed to amend Arkansas laws related to the corporate franchise tax and repeal the Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979. The bill would have required most corporations and limited liability companies, both domestic and foreign, to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. This report would detail the corporation's condition, status, and other information like officers and stock. While some information in the annual report would be confidential, basic corporate details such as the name, address, and principal officers would be publicly available.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1446: TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS WORKFORCE CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB 1446 proposes changes to the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program. Amendment No. 3 to the bill specifically introduces a financial cap for the program. This amendment limits the total amount of scholarship awards to ten million dollars ($10,000,000). The bill directly affects individuals who might apply for these workforce development scholarships by establishing a maximum funding level for the program.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Labor & Employment

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1423: TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM RECEIVING COMPENSATION FOR THE PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, OR PROSECUTION OF A CLAIM WITH REGARD TO A VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL LAW.

HB 1423, also known as the "Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act," prohibits individuals and entities from receiving compensation for helping veterans with their benefits claims. Specifically, it disallows payment for preparing, presenting, or advising on veterans' benefits matters, unless such compensation is explicitly authorized by federal law (Title 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 C.F.R. § 14.629). The bill also prohibits receiving compensation for referring individuals to these services. Any person receiving authorized compensation must adhere to the same ethical standards as attorneys under Arkansas's Rules of Professional Conduct. Violations of this act are deemed a deceptive trade practice and a Class A misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ Veterans

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1216: TO CREATE THE FREE MARKET ZONES ACT; AND TO EXEMPT A BUSINESS LOCATED IN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE FROM THE INCOME TAX, THE CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAX, AND THE ELECTIVE PASS-THROUGH ENTITY TAX.

House Bill 1216, known as the Free Market Zones Act, aimed to provide specific tax exemptions for businesses. The bill proposed to exempt businesses that locate in an opportunity zone on or after the act's effective date from certain state taxes. These businesses would be relieved from paying the state income tax, corporate franchise tax, and the elective pass-through entity tax.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.

House Bill 1237 sought to prohibit medical professionals from directly soliciting individuals who have recently been injured in an accident or other event, for the purpose of offering treatment. This restriction would apply to various forms of direct contact, including in-person, telephonic, and electronic messages. However, it would not apply if the medical professional has a prior relationship with the individual or if the solicitation occurs more than 30 days after the injury-causing event. Violations would be classified as a Class D felony, invalidate any resulting healthcare service agreements, and entitle affected patients to a full refund and attorney's fees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1366: TO CREATE AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED STORM SHELTERS.

HB 1366 sought to create an income tax credit for Arkansas taxpayers who install qualified storm shelters at their primary residence. The bill defined "qualified storm shelters" as those capable of withstanding an EF5 tornado and meeting FEMA criteria, installed on or near the taxpayer's single-family home. Taxpayers could claim a credit equal to the lesser of 50% of the cost or $3,000, which would be capped at a total of $2,000,000 statewide per calendar year and issued on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive the credit, taxpayers would file an informational report with the Division of Emergency Management.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results