SB 83 requires health insurance plans to cover breast reconstruction surgeries following mastectomy, directly affecting patients needing this care and insurers providing coverage. The bill mandates prior authorization (meaning insurers must approve coverage before surgery) and sets a minimum reimbursement rate for providers, aligning it with an existing rate under Arkansas law. It applies to all health insurance plans sold in Arkansas, ensuring consistent coverage standards for this specific medical procedure. The law became effective after Governor approval as Act 424 on April 7, 2025.
SB 99 allows physician assistants (PAs) in Arkansas to delegate specific non-complex medical tasks, such as administering certain drugs, to non-licensed staff members. This affects PAs and their office-based support staff who perform routine tasks under the PA's direct supervision. The bill requires that delegated tasks must not require specialized medical judgment, be performed only within the provider's office, and not misrepresent the staff as licensed healthcare professionals. It also maintains that the PA remains fully responsible for all delegated work and prohibits delegation of anesthesia or transfer of supervisory duties. The law was enacted as Act 437 on April 7, 2025.
SB 381 repeals a requirement that the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration submit an annual report detailing the state's participation in the Multistate Tax Commission's activities. The bill removes the obligation for the department to prepare and file this report with legislative leaders by September 30 each year. This change directly affects the Department of Finance and Administration by eliminating a specific reporting duty related to the Multistate Tax Commission. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on removing an existing administrative requirement without altering tax policy or creating new obligations.
SB 271 amends Arkansas election law to change the timing for certifying school board candidates. It modifies the process so that county clerks must certify school board candidates for elections held in even-numbered years concurrently with general elections (replacing the previous reference to "preferential primary elections"). This directly affects county clerks who handle election certifications and school board candidates in Arkansas. The bill makes a technical adjustment to align school board election timing with general elections, without creating new policies or altering voting procedures.
SB 387 repeals a requirement for occupational licensing entities (like boards for cosmetologists, plumbers, or electricians) to submit an annual report tracking how many individuals received automatic or expedited occupational licenses. This bill removes the specific provision in Arkansas law that mandated these entities to report the number of people granted such licenses each year. The change affects all occupational licensing boards covered under Arkansas Code § 17-4-110, eliminating their obligation to provide this data to the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs. The bill does not alter licensure standards or processes, only the reporting requirement.
SB 366 creates the "Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program" and a dedicated fund to provide financial grants for retrofitting or constructing single-family homes to meet wind-resistant FORTIFIED Home standards. The program directly assists homeowners and nonprofit organizations owning eligible "insurable dwellings" (owner-occupied primary residences with homestead exemptions) to reduce damage from wind and hail events. Grants cover costs to upgrade homes to FORTIFIED Roof or FORTIFIED Silver standards, requiring certified evaluators, local permits, and contractor bids. The fund collects donations, grants, and state/federal funds but does not create automatic entitlements for property owners.
SB 388 repeals a requirement that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission annually report on the progress of its foreign offices. This bill removes the obligation for the commission to submit these reports to the Legislative Council, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, and the Governor each year. The change takes effect upon the bill becoming law (Act 447), eliminating a specific administrative reporting duty without altering the commission's core functions.
SB 382 repeals a requirement that the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) submit annual reports on the Capital Access Fund. The bill removes the mandate for ADFA to prepare and submit reports detailing the fund's financial condition and the economic impact of two specific programs: the Arkansas Capital Access Program for Small Business and the Arkansas Credit Reserve Program. This change eliminates a reporting obligation previously required by Arkansas Code § 15-5-1110, which the ADFA was required to fulfill annually. The bill became law as Act 466 on April 7, 2025.
SB 218 amends Arkansas' Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant Program to clarify how state funding matches federal SBIR grants. It directly affects Arkansas small businesses that receive federal Phase I or Phase II SBIR grants, requiring them to stay in-state during the project, use an Arkansas-based project manager, and focus on targeted sectors like biotechnology or advanced manufacturing. The bill limits state matching grants to 50% of federal awards - $50,000 for Phase I or $100,000 for Phase II - and mandates at least 51% of grant funds be spent within Arkansas. Applications must follow specific processes defined by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Science and Technology.
SB 327 updates annual payments to the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show Association from $710,328 to $887,908 for fiscal years 2025 through 2035. It directly affects the State Fair Association as the recipient of these state funds, which are allocated to support cities and counties. The bill amends existing law to standardize these payments at the new $887,908 amount for each specified fiscal year, replacing older amounts. This is a procedural adjustment to funding levels without altering eligibility or program structure.
SB 401 amends Arkansas' Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act by creating exceptions to the standard "one call" notification requirement before excavation. It directly affects excavators, including farmers, cemetery operators, and maintenance crews, by exempting specific activities from calling the One Call Center. Key provisions allow agricultural work (like postholes or farm ponds), use of specialized equipment (e.g., water/air vacuums), cemetery grave openings, and shallow hand-tool work (under 12 inches deep) without prior notification. The bill focuses on streamlining routine operations while maintaining safety for underground utilities.
SB 454 creates a new "Unclaimed Property Interest Trust Fund" to manage interest earned from investments of unclaimed property funds. The fund must first reimburse the State Central Services Fund for operating costs of the unclaimed property program, then cover prior shortfalls to the Unclaimed Property Proceeds Trust Fund. It also requires an annual $18 million transfer from unclaimed property funds (after reimbursements) to the state's general revenues. The bill declares an emergency to take effect July 1, 2025, to address a growing liability in the current system.
