House Bill 1937, now Act 821, modifies how certain assets are valued for assessment purposes in Arkansas. It amends the method used to value mineral rights, as outlined in Article 16, Section 5 of the Arkansas Constitution. The bill also clarifies the valuation process for oil and gas well production equipment. These changes are effective for assessment years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
HB 1941 amends Arkansas law to streamline the process for handling ethics complaints against teachers and restructure certain Department of Education boards. It modifies the Professional Licensure Standards Board's duties, establishing an ethics subcommittee to investigate complaints, recommend sanctions, or dismiss cases. The bill outlines new procedures for hearings, allows educators to appeal decisions to the State Board of Education, and details public disclosure of certain ethical violations. Additionally, it repeals the School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board.
House Bill 1922 amends the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003 to create new income or sales and use tax credits for corporations that relocate their headquarters to Arkansas. The bill aims to encourage businesses to move their main offices to the state by offering these financial incentives. Eligible corporations may receive a tax credit of up to ten percent of their eligible project costs, awarded at the discretion of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. To qualify, businesses must meet specific investment and new annual payroll thresholds for full-time employees, which vary based on the county's economic tier. These credits can offset up to fifty percent of a qualified business's annual tax liability and can be carried forward for up to nine years.
HB 1784 (now Act 864) modifies the informal dispute resolution process for long-term care facilities in Arkansas. The bill adjusts procedures for resolving conflicts between facilities and residents or their representatives without formal legal action. While the exact changes to the process are not detailed in the provided context, the bill passed the Senate with Amendment #1 and was signed into law on April 17, 2025. It directly affects long-term care facilities, residents, and their families by altering how non-legal disputes are handled.
HB 1938 updates state law regarding planning and accountability for Arkansas public schools and districts. It requires public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to submit annual "district strategic plans" covering literacy, mathematics, and funding prioritization. The bill also amends requirements for school-level improvement plans, ensuring they include parental involvement and literacy components based on the science of reading. Additionally, it clarifies the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education's role in developing a comprehensive accountability system and reviewing these plans, which must be publicly posted online.
House Bill 1986 allows public school students who are children of fallen service members or first responders to receive excused absences. These absences are permitted for mental health concerns or to attend events offered by organizations supporting families of fallen service members or first responders, or those providing grief and resiliency support. To qualify, a parent or guardian must provide written documentation, and the student must have good academic standing and a prior record of good attendance, and complete any missed classwork. However, such absences are not allowed during standardized testing days.
This bill, HB 1833, amends the law concerning admissions at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine. The provided text, Amendment No. 1, modifies specific conditions related to the number of qualified applicants. It specifies that certain admission provisions apply only if fewer than twenty-five applicants from a congressional district, or fewer than twenty-five Arkansas residents, meet published admissions standards and accept an offer. This directly affects prospective medical students and the College of Medicine's admissions process by setting thresholds for geographic and residency-based considerations.
House Bill 1893, now Act 819, authorizes private property owners and business owners in Arkansas to ban emotional support animals from their property or premises, provided it doesn't conflict with federal law like the Fair Housing Act. Business owners can implement this ban by either verbally informing individuals or by posting a clear sign at the entrance. The act also limits the liability of private property or business owners for injuries caused by an emotional support animal, holding them responsible only in cases of gross negligence.
House Bill 1793 updates the law concerning positive behavioral supports in Arkansas public school districts, impacting students, school personnel, and district policies. It requires school districts to implement a multi-tiered system of supports to prevent challenging behaviors and teach social, emotional, and behavioral skills. The bill emphasizes training school personnel in de-escalation and physical restraint prevention, limiting restraint use to situations of imminent danger. It also refines definitions for "punishment" and "positive behavioral support," mandating districts to adopt evidence-based discipline strategies.
House Bill 1928 amends the Arkansas Soil Nutrient Application and Poultry Litter Utilization Act, affecting farmers and agricultural operators who manage soil nutrients and poultry litter. The bill clarifies that applying nutrients consistent with an approved nutrient or poultry litter management plan protects the plan holder and their agents from civil or criminal liability. It also specifies that administrative violations of these plan requirements will not lead to criminal or civil actions, limiting enforcement to administrative fines collected by the relevant commission and preventing private lawsuits.
House Bill 1855 transfers the authority for recommending adjustments to fire protection district boundaries from the State Forestry Commission to the Department of Agriculture. This bill allows the Department of Agriculture to recommend boundary changes to county courts for districts that overlap, abut areas without fire service, or are contiguous. Various fire protection organizations, including volunteer departments, can request these recommendations under specific conditions. The process involves the Department making a recommendation, the requesting district filing a petition with the county court, public notice, and a final decision by the county court to accept, reject, or modify the proposed boundary adjustment.
House Bill 1894, now Act 842, establishes a method for valuing real property used for affordable housing in Arkansas. The bill directs the Assessment Coordination Division to create rules and guidelines to ensure the fair and equitable assessment of all real property used for housing, specifically including affordable housing and properties under certain U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. This process aims to provide a consistent valuation approach for these types of properties. The division is required to file these initial rules by January 1, 2026, or as soon as practicable after legislative approval.
