This bill reappropriates approximately $167,641 to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to cover expenses related to resentencing juvenile offenders who were previously sentenced to mandatory life without parole. The funds, drawn from the Development and Enhancement Fund, are specifically designated for this purpose and must be used in compliance with state purchasing and budgetary laws. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that these specific funds cannot be combined with the agency's general operating budget for maintenance and other unrelated expenses. By declaring an emergency, the bill ensures the money becomes available on July 1, 2026, to prevent any disruption to the commission's essential services.
HB 1016 authorizes funding for Arkansas Tech University for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by establishing specific salary limits and employee counts for various administrative and operational roles. The bill sets maximum annual salaries for positions ranging from the university president to numerous support staff, including IT specialists, deans, and program directors. Once signed into law as Act 97, this legislation provides the legal framework for the university to hire and pay employees within these defined financial constraints.
This bill, now enacted as Act 117, reappropriates previously allocated funds to the Arkansas Division of Heritage within the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. It directs up to $750,000 for special maintenance and up to $10 million for the acquisition, management, and preservation of state-owned historic sites and structures, effective July 1, 2026. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and prohibits using these specific amounts for general agency operations. An emergency clause was added to allow the funds to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, even if the legislative session extends beyond that date.
Senate Bill 22, now Act 77, provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Human Services' Division of Children and Family Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes the maximum number of regular and temporary employees, setting a cap of 1,420 full-time positions and authorizing up to 65 part-time staff. It appropriates approximately $148 million for salaries, operations, and grants, including specific funds for foster care, child abuse prevention, and services for sexually exploited children.
HB 1006 allocates $699,949 in state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the Department of Labor and Licensing. These funds are specifically designated for the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors to cover staff salaries, operating expenses, and professional fees. The bill provides detailed budget line items for regular salaries, personal services matching, maintenance, conferences, travel, and data processing costs. By enacting this appropriation, the legislation ensures the board has the necessary financial resources to continue its regulatory operations through June 30, 2027.
This bill provides funding for the Administrative Office of the Courts in Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It specifically increases the appropriation for court personnel from $13,008,316 to $13,115,245. The legislation directly affects the state's judicial system by allocating additional financial resources to support court employees. Once enacted, the funds become available for the designated budget period to cover staffing costs.
SB 62, now Act 85, directs the state to reappropriate previously allocated funds for capital improvements at several Arkansas public universities, including Arkansas State, Arkansas Tech, and Henderson State. The bill authorizes specific spending on construction projects, building renovations, utility and technology upgrades, deferred maintenance, and the replacement of equipment and library materials. These financial allocations are set to become effective on July 1, 2026, and are drawn from existing state funds designated for higher education development and enhancement.
This bill provides the budget for the Arkansas Senate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, authorizing funds to pay staff salaries, cover operating expenses, and support facility improvements. It establishes a maximum staff count of 21 regular employees and allows for additional temporary help, while allocating nearly $3 million for personal services and another $1.5 million for renovations and computerization projects. The legislation also includes $15,000 for orientation programs and permits the Senate to exceed standard salary limits by up to 20% for a portion of its positions to attract qualified personnel.
This bill reappropriates up to $68 million from the Skills Development Fund to the Arkansas Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Services for fiscal year 2026. The funds are designated for personal services, operating expenses, equipment, grants, and construction related to statewide workforce development programs. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available state treasury funds and mandates compliance with existing purchasing and budget laws. An emergency clause is included to allow the funding to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring uninterrupted government operations despite potential legislative delays.
HB 1086 provides an additional $25 million in state funding for capital improvements at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College. These funds are intended to supplement existing appropriations from Act 31 of 2025 and must be used strictly for building upgrades and infrastructure projects. The bill includes standard financial rules requiring the college to follow state procurement and budget laws when spending the money. Declared an emergency measure, the act allows the college to receive these funds immediately to support essential services without delay.
This bill, now enacted as Act 99, provides additional funding to the Office of the Treasurer of State for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation specifically allocates an extra $10,000 to assist local law enforcement agencies and covers emergency medical expenses. By increasing the budget from $300,000 to $310,000, the act ensures these funds are available for their intended purposes during the specified fiscal period. This change directly impacts the state's budget management and the resources available to local police and emergency services.
This bill, now enacted as Act 112, authorizes the Arkansas Department of Public Safety to spend up to $191.5 million on its State Crime Laboratory Facility Project starting July 1, 2026. The funds are drawn from the Development and Enhancement Fund and are strictly limited to capital improvements, meaning they cannot be used for the laboratory's regular daily operations or salaries. The law includes financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available money and requires that all spending follows state purchasing and budget rules. Additionally, the legislation declares an emergency to allow the project to begin immediately, ensuring the facility can operate without delay.
