House Bill 1482 proposes to create an exception to existing school attendance requirements. This exception would apply to students who successfully take a General Education Development (GED) test and receive a GED credential. The bill directly affects students who pursue and achieve their GED, releasing them from further school attendance obligations.
House Bill 1490 proposes to eliminate a current requirement for public school students transitioning to home school. Specifically, it repeals the rule that mandates students return or pay for temporarily issued items, resources, materials, or property belonging to the public school before they are eligible to enroll in a home school. This change would allow students to enroll in home school without first fulfilling these specific conditions regarding school property.
House Bill 1930 aimed to mandate minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare services provided by healthcare insurers. The bill proposed a phased increase in these minimums, starting at 45% in 2026 and reaching 100% by 2030. It would have also required the Insurance Commissioner to consider specific factors, such as an insurer's Risk-Based Capital level and Medical Loss Ratio, when reviewing proposed increases to premium rates or cost sharing for policyholders.
HB 1436 proposes to establish location restrictions for certain food processing plants operating a slaughterhouse on the same property. The bill stipulates that such plants, if located within a city of the first class, cannot operate within two miles of a church, a public school, or a densely populated residential area. This measure would apply to new or relocating food processing plants that include a slaughterhouse in these specific urban areas. However, it would not affect plants already operating on the effective date of the act.
This concurrent resolution honors the Arkansas Minority Health Commission during American Heart Month in February. It recognizes the Commission's efforts to address heart disease specifically among minority populations in Arkansas.
HB 1346 proposed to amend the laws regarding credited service for members of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System. The bill aimed to modify how service time is calculated or recognized within the retirement system, directly affecting public employees in Arkansas. However, the provided text only states this general purpose and does not detail the specific changes or mechanisms the bill intended to implement.
House Bill 1880 proposes amendments to Arkansas's Human Life Protection Act and Unborn Child Protection Act. The bill seeks to add new exceptions to the state's abortion prohibitions, allowing the procedure in cases of pregnancies resulting from incest or rape, provided a report has been filed with law enforcement. It also includes an exception for fetal abnormalities incompatible with life. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "medical emergency" to include circumstances where an abortion is necessary to preserve the health of a pregnant woman, not just her life.
HB 1224 proposes to amend the Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act in Arkansas. The bill's main purpose is to explicitly include massage therapists under this act, meaning it would apply to them. Currently, massage therapists are exempt from this act, but this bill seeks to remove that exemption. If passed, out-of-state licensed massage therapists would be eligible for automatic occupational licensure in Arkansas under the act's provisions.
House Bill 1044 aims to establish the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act. An amendment to the bill introduces a specific rule regarding payment methods for these raffles. It mandates that if a qualifying organization permits credit card payments, each transaction using a credit card will have a maximum limit of $250. This provision directly affects organizations that choose to operate sports raffles and individuals participating in them via credit card. The provided text only includes an amendment, so the full details of the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act are not available.
HJR 1008 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how personal and real property are taxed in Arkansas. It would authorize the General Assembly to reduce or eliminate personal property taxes and create exemptions. The amendment would also repeal the current requirement that personal and real property be taxed at an equal rate. Additionally, it modifies existing constitutional provisions for local library taxes (Amendments 30 and 38) to allow these taxes to be levied on real property, personal property, or both.
House Bill 1715 proposes to limit the increase in the assessed value of real property following its sale or transfer in Arkansas. For a taxpayer's homestead used as their principal residence, the first assessment after a sale would be limited to a maximum increase of 5% above the previous owner's taxable value. For all other types of real property, this limit would be 10% above the seller's taxable value. This change would directly affect new property owners by capping the initial increase in their property's assessed value for tax purposes. The bill, if enacted, would take effect for assessment years starting on or after January 1, 2026.
HB 1972 proposed creating a sales and use tax exemption for the Helena West Helena Future Leaders Youth Sports Association. If enacted, this bill would have amended Arkansas law to prevent the association from paying sales tax on its purchases of tangible goods, digital products, and services. This measure would have directly benefited the Helena West Helena Future Leaders Youth Sports Association by reducing its operational expenses.
