Arkansas Bills

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 498: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF DRIVER AND VEHICLE RECORDS AND TO PROTECT DRIVER AND VEHICLE RECORDS FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

SB 498 amends Arkansas law to limit public access to driver and vehicle records, primarily protecting individuals' personal information. It restricts who can obtain these records (e.g., only the driver, authorized parties, courts, law enforcement, or employers with written consent) and requires written agreements for electronic copies, with fees of $1 for certified copies and $20.50-$30 per 1,000 electronic records. The bill repeals older provisions that allowed broader public inspection of driver records and explicitly prohibits using records for solicitation or unauthorized disclosure. These changes directly affect drivers (by limiting how their data is shared), courts/law enforcement (who retain access for official purposes), and businesses/employers (who must now secure written consent).

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 127: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

SB 127 is an appropriation bill that allocates $1.2 billion in state funding for the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (UAF) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly sets maximum salary caps for approximately 120 key leadership and administrative positions, including deans, vice chancellors, and IT staff, as specified in the bill's detailed salary schedules. This funding covers personal services and operating expenses, ensuring UAF's budget for leadership roles and essential operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill was enacted as Act 612 on April 14, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 252: TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY VAPOR PRODUCTS AND E-LIQUID PRODUCTS; AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ARKANSAS YOUTH.

SB 252 requires retailers to include clear health risk warnings about vapor and e-liquid products on product packaging and in advertising, directly affecting businesses selling these items in Arkansas. The bill defines "vapor product" and "e-liquid" while excluding certain refillable nicotine solutions and devices, ensuring the requirements apply only to specific products. It increases penalties for noncompliance from $250 to $500 per violation and sets a November 1, 2025 effective date. The law aims to inform consumers, particularly youth, about health risks without restricting product access or sales.

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 412: TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO SET THE PER-MILE AMOUNT FOR THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES BY PROCLAMATION.

SB 412 authorizes Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration to set the per-mile deduction rate for business travel expenses on state income tax returns via proclamation, rather than through fixed legislation. It requires the Department to set the rate close to the IRS's current mileage rate (capped at $1.00 per mile) and update it within 30 days when the IRS changes its rate. This directly affects Arkansas taxpayers who deduct business travel costs on their state tax returns. The bill streamlines the process for adjusting the deduction amount to align with federal standards without needing new legislative action each year.

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 529: TO AMEND THE INDEPENDENT TAX APPEALS COMMISSION ACT.

SB 529 updates Arkansas' Independent Tax Appeals Commission Act to clarify procedures for taxpayers challenging state tax decisions. It defines "small claims" as disputes under $10,000 (excluding penalties/interest) and requires commissioners to have either legal/accounting credentials or five years of tax experience. The bill mandates the Commission to hire a staff attorney and a tax accountant with manufacturing/business expertise, while also setting commissioner salaries comparable to state district court judges. These changes directly affect taxpayers filing appeals and the Commission's operational structure, clarifying its jurisdiction limits (e.g., excluding constitutional challenges or pending lawsuits).

signed · Arkansas · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 1641: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HARASSMENT; AND TO INCLUDE THE USE OF A TRACKING DEVICE IN THE OFFENSE OF HARASSMENT.

HB 1641 (now Act 600) makes it a crime to use a tracking device to follow or monitor someone without their consent for the purpose of harassment. It specifically adds using such devices to the list of harassment offenses under Arkansas law, defining a "tracking device" as one that reveals location via electronic signals. The law includes an exception allowing parents or legal guardians to track minors with a tracking device. This directly affects individuals who use location-tracking technology without consent to harass others, while permitting parental monitoring of children. The change clarifies that unauthorized tracking for harassment is now explicitly punishable under existing harassment statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 39: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

SB 39 allocates funding for Arkansas' Division of Workforce Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes a maximum of 137 employees with specific salary grades for roles including IT specialists, legal staff, program managers, and administrative positions. This budget measure directly affects the division's staffing structure but does not create new programs or change service eligibility.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 125: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

SB 125 allocates state funds for the University of Central Arkansas' 2025-2026 budget, setting maximum salary rates for 125 specific university positions including executive roles (e.g., president, vice-presidents) and IT staff. It directly affects UCA's hiring and compensation structure for these positions during the fiscal year. The bill establishes fixed salary caps for each role, such as $354,537 for the university president and $207,294 for executive project directors. As a funding measure, it does not create new policies but authorizes budgetary allocations for existing positions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Arkansas · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 1148: TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS PRIVACY ACT; AND TO ADDRESS CERTAIN IMAGES CAPTURED BY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

HB 1148, now Act 597, creates the Arkansas Privacy Act with specific provisions for drone imagery. It directly affects law enforcement, emergency medical services, and search/rescue teams by allowing them to capture images using unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for incident command, training, crime scene investigation, and search/rescue operations without triggering privacy restrictions. The bill clarifies that drone use by these agencies for these purposes is exempt from privacy requirements, removing prior ambiguities about "documenting" versus "investigating" crime scenes and adding search/rescue as a permitted use. This focuses on defining when drone surveillance does not require privacy safeguards.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 433: REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL MOTTO AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

SB 433 (now Act 573) requires all Arkansas state government buildings to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a large font, alongside the national motto and accurate representations of both the U.S. and Arkansas state flags. The law mandates specific placement, with the U.S. flag displayed under the national motto and the Arkansas flag(s) included. This procedural bill affects all state government facilities, not specific individuals or policies. The legislation passed in 2025 and became effective after the governor signed it on April 14, 2025.

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 148: TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKERS ACT OF 2025.

SB 148, now Act 587, creates a voluntary option for early childhood workers in Arkansas to join the state teacher retirement system. It defines "early childhood workers" as those employed in licensed childcare facilities providing teaching or supervision under specific state laws, including those receiving state or federal funding. The bill establishes a process where a nonprofit fiscal agent can facilitate participation, but it explicitly states no state funds will be used for contributions or matching for these workers. Participation is entirely optional for both workers and facilities, with no new state financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Arkansas · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 448: TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, AND WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS.

SB 448 authorizes local governments in Arkansas to create financing districts that enable property owners to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, building resilience, and water conservation improvements through special property assessments. These assessments are added to property tax bills or collected privately by third parties, remain tied to the property (not the owner), and do not use public tax revenue or require government repayment. The program applies to commercial, mixed-use, and multifamily residential properties, with financing structured as a non-governmental obligation. This legislation establishes a formal process for local districts to administer such financing under Arkansas law.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results