Arkansas Bills

This bill adjusts the state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by increasing the property tax appropriation for the Office of the Treasurer of State. Specifically, it raises the allocated amount from $1.75 billion to $1.8 billion to fund the office's operations. The change is a direct financial adjustment within the state's budget process and does not alter the office's duties or responsibilities. Once enacted, this amendment provides slightly more funding to the Treasurer's office for the upcoming fiscal year.

HB 1065 provides funding for the Northwest Arkansas Community College for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill increases the college's budget from approximately $83.7 million to $96.6 million, with a specific line item adjustment raising a particular allocation from $1.14 million to $14 million. This legislation directly affects the Northwest Arkansas Community College by authorizing these financial resources for its operations during the specified period.

This bill provides funding for the Department of the Military for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It includes a specific amendment that removes Section 12 from the original text and renumbers the remaining sections accordingly. The legislation has been passed by both legislative chambers and signed into law as Act 103.

This bill, now enacted as Act 104, provides funding to the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Oil and Gas Commission for repairing the roof of its Education Center and Warehouse. The legislation allocates up to $275,274 from federal funds and an additional $296,552 from state cash reserves, with both amounts becoming effective on July 1, 2026. It includes strict financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and mandates that these specific repair costs be paid separately from the agency's general operating budget. The act also declares an emergency to allow the spending to begin immediately, bypassing potential delays in the legislative session.

HB 1096 authorizes the transfer of previously approved funds to four Arkansas State University campuses and one community college for use starting July 1, 2026. The bill allocates money for specific projects such as building renovations, technology upgrades, critical maintenance, and equipment repairs. These funds come from the Development and Enhancement Fund and are intended to support ongoing infrastructure and operational needs at the affected institutions.

This bill, now enacted as Act 75, provides funding for the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directly affects the commission's staff by establishing the maximum number of employees and their salary rates across various roles, including leadership, enforcement, and support positions. The legislation sets specific limits on the number of workers in each category and defines the annual pay for each job title within the agency. By approving these budgetary details, the bill enables the commission to operate its programs related to wildlife management, fishing, and conservation during the specified period.

This bill amends the state budget to increase funding for the Office of the Treasurer of State by $30 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The change specifically raises the allocated amount for refunding local taxes from $1.1 billion to $1.13 billion. Once signed into law, this adjustment provides additional resources to the Treasurer's office to process tax refunds for local jurisdictions.

This bill appropriates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain. The legislation specifically increases the allocated budget from $1,750,000 to $13,750,000 and adjusts the total appropriation to $30,875,000. These financial resources are intended to cover the college's operational expenses and programs for the upcoming year. Once enacted, the funds become available for the institution to use in managing its daily activities and educational services.

HB 1088, now enacted as Act 111, provides additional funding to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to support municipal fire and police pension and relief funds. The bill allocates $8 million from the Firemen's and Police Officers' Pension and Relief Fund to cover taxes for these municipal funds and an extra $5 million from the Fire Protection Premium Tax Fund to help finance fire department operations. These funds are designated as supplemental to existing appropriations and must be spent in strict compliance with state budget laws and procurement regulations.

HB 1085, now Act 108, provides funding to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for property maintenance, renovations, and construction projects. The bill appropriates approximately $20.75 million from the Development and Enhancement Fund and $35 million for facility improvements, along with $1.118 million for preserving state-owned lands and historic sites at the campus. These funds must be used strictly for the specified projects and cannot be combined with other maintenance budgets, while all spending must follow state purchasing and budget laws.

Senate Bill 26 authorizes funding for the University of Central Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically establishing the maximum number of regular employees and their corresponding salary rates. The legislation details positions across administrative, academic, and IT departments, setting specific caps on headcounts and annual pay for roles ranging from the university president to various support staff. Once enacted into law as Act 78, this bill provides the necessary budgetary framework to hire and compensate university personnel during the upcoming fiscal year.

This bill, now enacted as Act 87, reauthorizes approximately $1.36 million in state funds to the Office of State Technology within the Department of Shared Administrative Services. The money is designated specifically for replacing Uninterruptible Power Supply systems at the Data Center West facility in Little Rock to ensure critical technology infrastructure remains operational. The legislation includes standard financial controls to prevent spending beyond available funds and mandates that these capital project dollars be used exclusively for this repair work rather than general operations. An emergency clause was added to ensure the funding becomes effective on July 1, 2026, preventing any disruption to essential government services during the legislative process.