HB 1296 (now Act 556) requires health insurers to cover healthcare services provided through mobile units, such as community health vans or temporary clinics. This law directly affects health insurance plans and providers offering mobile services by mandating that these services be included in standard coverage, removing a previous exclusion for mobile care. The bill amends coverage definitions to ensure mobile unit services are treated the same as in-person care under health benefit plans. It passed both chambers in April 2025 and became effective upon enactment.
HB 1788 amends Arkansas' Health Care Consumer Act by increasing the processing time for healthcare provider applications from 60 to 90 days. This change directly affects healthcare providers seeking licensure or renewal in Arkansas, as it extends the timeframe for state agencies to review applications. The bill, now Act 571 after becoming law on April 14, 2025, modifies a procedural requirement under the existing act. The amendment was passed by both legislative chambers in April 2025 and signed into law, with no other substantive policy changes to provider requirements.
HB 1774 amends Arkansas' Fair Housing Commission membership structure, increasing it from seven to thirteen voting members. The bill specifies that seven members must be appointed by the Governor (with Senate confirmation), three by the House Speaker, and three by the Senate President Pro Tempore. It adds detailed professional requirements for some members, such as five years' experience as real estate brokers, homebuilders, mortgage brokers, or bankers, while ensuring consumer representatives (including those with disabilities and elderly advocates) are included. The commission must maintain geographic diversity across Arkansas' congressional districts and elect a chair, meeting quarterly. This change took effect after the bill became Act 562 on April 14, 2025.
SB 167 amends the specific deadlines for school districts or public schools to submit requests to transfer between districts. It directly affects school administrators and district officials who must meet these revised submission dates. The bill changes the calendar for when such transfer requests are due but does not alter the requirements or processes for the transfers themselves. This is a procedural adjustment to administrative timelines only.
HB 1690 moves Arkansas' Nuclear Planning and Response Program from the Department of Health to the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2025. The transfer includes all program assets - staff, records, contracts, funds, and responsibilities - while existing radiation surveillance rules and regulations remain in effect. The bill amends statutes to clarify the Division of Emergency Management’s role in managing nuclear emergency planning, radiation monitoring, and public safety protocols near nuclear facilities. This law, now Act 583, updates administrative oversight but does not change funding mechanisms or public safety requirements.
HB 1703 (now Act 570) establishes a new process for reimbursing healthcare providers for drugs. It directly affects healthcare providers and insurance companies or health plans (referred to as "contracting entities"). The key provision requires providers to notify insurers when a drug’s cost to them is below the agreed reimbursement rate; upon receiving this notice, insurers must adjust rates to at least 110% of the provider’s actual drug cost without requiring an appeal. This change ensures faster reimbursement adjustments for low-cost drugs, streamlining the process for affected providers.
HB 1467, now Act 557, amends the Uniform Money Services Act. The bill's text provided focuses solely on adding Representative McCollum as a cosponsor (via Amendment No. 1), not on substantive policy changes to the act. It does not describe specific provisions, mechanisms, or direct effects on businesses or consumers. The bill was enacted on April 14, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers. (Note: The provided context lacks details on the actual policy amendments to the Uniform Money Services Act.)
SB 123 (now Act 553) removes a restriction preventing insurance coverage for mammograms and breast ultrasounds. The bill amends state law by deleting language that previously stated such screenings "shall not" be covered, requiring insurers to provide coverage for these preventive services. This directly affects Arkansans with health insurance who need routine mammograms or breast ultrasounds for early cancer detection. The change ensures these medically necessary screenings are covered under most insurance plans without prior authorization barriers.
HB 1696 (now Act 566) requires all Arkansas state-supported colleges and universities to implement a standardized minimum general education core curriculum by fall 2027. This core curriculum must be fully transferable between all state institutions and apply toward associate and bachelor’s degree requirements. The law affects all students enrolled in Arkansas public higher education institutions, ensuring consistent foundational coursework regardless of which campus they attend. The bill establishes a unified framework for general education, streamlining course requirements for students transferring between schools. It passed both chambers and became law on April 14, 2025.
HB 1426 amends the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act to clarify rules governing healthcare contracts between insurers and providers. It prohibits enforcing hidden "all-products clauses" (rules requiring providers to accept all insurer products) even if not explicitly stated in contracts. The bill also requires insurers to give providers the right to opt out of network transfers during sales/leases and to disclose specific contact information (name, address, phone, email) for customer service. These changes directly affect healthcare insurers, providers, and third-party administrators managing health benefit plans.
HB 1740 exempts specific agricultural data from public disclosure under Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act. It protects veterinary inspection certificates and personal information linked to animal identification tags held by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. This directly affects farmers and ranchers who provide this information to the Department, as it prevents public access to these records through FOIA requests. The law changes how certain farm-related data is handled, making it non-public without altering broader agricultural regulations.
SB 503 reduces the employee threshold requiring Arkansas employers to file annual income tax withholding statements electronically, from 125 to 75 employees. This change directly affects Arkansas businesses with 75 or more employees, mandating they submit these tax forms electronically instead of on paper. The bill also requires third-party payroll services handling Arkansas wages to file electronically if their client employers meet the new threshold. It includes a hardship waiver option for employers facing undue difficulty with electronic filing. The law takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, for the threshold change.
