HB 1382, now Act 481, requires Arkansas' designated Protection and Advocacy Agency and Client Assistance Program to submit specific reports to the state. The bill mandates these agencies provide regular updates on their activities and services to the Arkansas General Assembly. This procedural requirement directly affects those two state agencies, ensuring transparency in their operations. The law does not change existing services but establishes a new reporting obligation for the agencies.
HB 1549, now Act 489, requires Arkansas state agencies to organize cybersecurity personnel under a "functional report" structure, meaning cybersecurity staff must directly report to the State Cybersecurity Office. This affects all state agency employees with cybersecurity or information security duties, including those handling threat monitoring, incident response, and compliance. The law sets statewide minimum cybersecurity standards that agencies can exceed but not lower, while mandating that federal standards override state rules when stricter. It clarifies that agencies must follow these reporting and standards requirements without accessing data protected by other laws.
HB 1125 is a budget amendment that increases funding for the Department of Finance & Administration's Regulatory Division and Racing Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It raises total appropriations from $3,272,051 to $4,378,056, adding $7,000 for "EXTRA HELP" support and increasing salaries for veterinary staff and attorney specialists. The bill establishes new employee positions and salary limits for the Racing Commission's Casino Gaming Section, including 40 regular staff roles with specific grade levels. This funding directly affects regulatory staff and casino gaming oversight personnel within the Department of Finance & Administration. The bill passed and became law as Act 495 on April 8, 2025.
HB 1094 allocates $14.6 million in state funding for Arkansas' Department of Health tobacco prevention and cessation programs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill authorizes 31 full-time staff positions (including nurses, public health specialists, and program coordinators) and up to four temporary workers, with $1.7 million designated for regular salaries. It also funds operational expenses like outreach, nutrition programs, and health services totaling $9.2 million. This funding directly supports the state’s efforts to reduce tobacco use through prevention initiatives and cessation support services. The bill is a budget appropriation, not a policy change, and was signed into law as Act 494 on April 8, 2025.
HB 1697 increases temporary staffing limits and vehicle quotas for specific Arkansas public colleges and universities. It raises provisional staff positions at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro (375 to 425), Northwest Arkansas Community College (80 to 100), and other institutions like the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (750 to 1,000). The bill also adjusts motor vehicle authorizations, such as increasing Black River Technical College’s limit from 14 to 20 vehicles. These changes are declared an emergency to align with federal grant disbursements and fiscal year requirements, effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects state-supported higher education institutions by modifying their operational resource allocations.
SB 414 modifies Arkansas election procedures by requiring county clerks to send election commissioners a written oath notice via registered mail within 30 days of their selection. It also mandates that county clerks notify political party committee chairs about candidate ballot filing deadlines at least 100 days before general elections, using registered mail or certified mail. The bill allows email notification (with read receipt) as an alternative method if both political parties agree in writing. These changes directly affect county clerks, election commissioners, and political party committees involved in election administration.
SB 432 amends Arkansas accounting laws to streamline practice rights for out-of-state certified public accountants (CPAs). It revises the definition of "substantial equivalency" to allow CPAs licensed in states verified by NASBA as meeting Arkansas standards to practice without additional licensing, while requiring others to obtain NASBA verification. The bill eliminates fee requirements for applicants eligible under board programs and clarifies that verified out-of-state CPAs may offer services (including audits) without notifying the state board. This directly affects licensed accountants seeking to practice across state lines, reducing barriers for those from states with aligned licensing standards.
SB 232 amends the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act to require the Arkansas Lottery to meet Multi-State Lottery Association reserve requirements and clarify accounting procedures for the lottery's unrestricted net position account. The bill directly affects the Arkansas Lottery's financial management, ensuring proper handling of reserves and accounting adjustments. It also declares an emergency to expedite the bill's passage. The legislation became law as Act 429 on April 7, 2025.
SB 389 repeals a requirement for Arkansas' Department of Finance to submit biennial reports on alcohol production, consumption, and tax collections. The bill removes the specific duty to track and report statistics about wine, spirits, malt liquor sales, tax revenue, and annual consumption trends. This change only affects the Department of Finance, ending a reporting obligation under Arkansas law.
SB 380 repeals a requirement that the Office of Child Support Enforcement submit semiannual reports to the Legislative Council about the child support program's performance and progress. This bill directly affects the Office of Child Support Enforcement within Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration, removing its obligation to file these reports. The key change is eliminating the specific reporting mandate outlined in Arkansas Code § 25-10-118, which previously required the office to document program administration under federal law. The bill does not alter child support enforcement policies or funding, only the reporting process. It became law as Act 439 on April 7, 2025.
SB 370 transfers the Arkansas Wine Producers Council from the Department of Commerce to the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. This administrative change affects the council itself, its staff, records, and funding (including the Arkansas Wine Producers Council Fund), moving all operations to the new department. The bill also updates state codes to reflect the council’s new location and ensures continued funding for wine tourism promotion. An emergency clause makes the transfer effective July 1, 2025, to avoid funding disruptions during the transition.
SB 280 transfers administrative responsibilities from the Office of the State Geologist to the Oil and Gas Commission. Specifically, it designates the Oil and Gas Commission as the custodian of all property and the disbursing agent for all funds previously managed by the State Geologist's office. This is an organizational change affecting state agency operations, not a policy impacting citizens or new programs. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 15-55-204 to reflect this transfer of duties.
