HB 1864 would require Arkansas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to meet minimum instructional days based on their annual school rating (from "A" to "F" under the state's accountability system), ranging from 160 days for top-rated schools to 178 days for lowest-rated schools. This policy directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Arkansas by tying their required in-person instruction time to performance ratings. The bill establishes a standardized, flexible calendar system where schools must meet these day minimums unless closed for emergencies. It also clarifies that districts operating on a 12-month calendar cannot receive additional state foundation funding beyond what they would get for a standard 9-month schedule. The bill was amended and withdrawn in April 2025, with recommendations for further study.
HB 1950 would prevent homeowners insurance companies in Arkansas from canceling or refusing to renew policies for licensed family childcare homes solely because they operate as childcare facilities. It requires operators to maintain a separate $100,000 personal liability insurance policy (in addition to standard homeowners insurance) and mandates insurers to provide written notice and a chance to fix issues before cancellation - without forcing operators to stop childcare services. The Arkansas Department of Education would enforce these rules, handling complaints about insurance discrimination. This bill directly affects childcare home operators and insurers, ensuring insurance access tied to compliance with state childcare regulations.
HB 1569, the "Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025," would have required commercial drivers operating in Arkansas to hold a valid license from a U.S. state, territory, or specified foreign jurisdictions (Canada/Mexico), while banning employers from hiring B-1/B-2 visa holders as truck drivers. The bill aimed to align Arkansas licensing rules with existing federal standards for commercial transportation workers, referencing requirements for pilots and international aviation. It specifically prohibited Arkansas-based trucking companies from employing nonimmigrant visitor visa holders (B-1/B-2) as commercial drivers within the state. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 7, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 1861 would criminalize operating illegal online casinos or sports betting by classifying it as a felony. It proposes creating the "Interactive Gaming Act" to establish a regulatory framework for legal internet gaming, specifically including name, image, and likeness (NILL) games like fantasy sports and casino-style games. The bill also aims to regulate these activities under the new act while explicitly covering games already authorized under Arkansas' Scholarship Lottery Act. The bill declared an emergency to expedite its passage but was withdrawn by the author on April 7, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee for interim study.
HB 1711 allows municipal port authorities to create their own police forces. The bill specifies that these officers would share jurisdiction with local city and county law enforcement within the port authority's facilities and adjacent areas. Key provisions define patrol zones to include the port's industrial facilities, nearby roads, shoreline areas, and up to five miles along navigable waterways adjacent to the port. This directly affects port authorities seeking dedicated security for their operations, without expanding police powers beyond these defined boundaries. The bill focuses on enabling port-specific enforcement authority through clear jurisdictional boundaries.
HR 1096 is a symbolic House Resolution recognizing Arkansas' advanced energy sector (including nuclear, renewables, and grid modernization) for contributing to energy independence, economic growth, and energy resilience. It does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it merely expresses legislative support through a formal statement. The resolution was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, before advancing further.
HB 1856 would have increased civil penalties for violations by licensed funeral and cemetery service providers in Arkansas. The bill specifically amended the law to double the maximum penalty for license violations, raising it from $500 to $1,000 per violation. This change directly affected embalmers, funeral directors, cemetery operators, and burial service professionals who fail to comply with state regulations or board orders. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, before becoming law.
HJR 1006 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not enacted legislation) that would prohibit Arkansas governmental bodies (including state agencies, counties, cities, and school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay for lobbying services on their behalf. It specifically bans using state or local funds to contract with lobbyists, cover membership dues for lobbying organizations, or pay for lobbying activities through third parties. The amendment defines "lobbying" broadly as efforts to influence legislative or administrative actions and clarifies that governments may still hire staff directly for lobbying (without using public funds for external lobbyist contracts). The measure was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, and never advanced to a vote.
HB 1867, a withdrawn bill (filed March 20, 2025; withdrawn April 3, 2025), proposed to establish the "No Government Trespassing Act" in Arkansas. It would have prohibited game wardens from entering private land without a warrant or the landowner's permission, except in emergencies like injured wildlife or public safety threats. The bill included penalties for violations, such as making illegally obtained evidence inadmissible and allowing landowners to sue for damages. It directly affected private landowners and game wardens by changing entry rules and legal accountability. As the bill was withdrawn, it did not become law.
HB 1550, which was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, would have established rules for expedited security screening services at Arkansas public airports. It defined key terms like "expedited security screening" (allowing passengers to use standard or TSA PreCheck lanes instead of regular screening) and required vendors to have dedicated TSA lanes exclusively for this service. The bill also prohibited airlines from charging passengers extra fees for expedited screening lanes they exclusively provide to their passengers. This legislation would have directly affected public airport operators, vendors offering expedited screenings, and airlines partnering with airports. As it was withdrawn, it did not become law.
HB 1457 would have required Arkansas public school districts and charter schools to submit data about students' individualized education programs (IEPs) using a new uniform statewide system managed by the state education division. This bill aimed to standardize how schools report IEP-related information, directly affecting schools serving students with special education needs. The bill was filed in February 2025 but withdrawn by its author on April 1, 2025, and never became law.
HB 1506 prohibits Arkansas public employers (including state agencies, schools, courts, and local governments) from deducting labor union or professional association dues from public employees' paychecks. It defines "public employees" broadly to cover both full- and part-time government workers, excluding only public safety employees (like police, firefighters, and emergency responders) from this protection. The bill would have required employers to stop automatic payroll deductions for union dues effective upon enactment. However, the bill was withdrawn by its author on April 1, 2025, and did not become law.
