Arkansas Bills | MyRepTracker

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 84: TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER.

Senate Bill 84 (SB 84) prohibits state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy and Environment, from instituting a moratorium on the issuance of permits in watersheds and other bodies of water, such as the Buffalo River Watershed. A state agency could only institute such a moratorium if it first obtains approval from the Legislative Council. The bill also states that any existing moratoriums in these areas established before the bill's effective date would become unenforceable.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 602: TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE COMPANIES AND APPRAISERS FROM REQUIRING AN INSURED TO USE CERTAIN FACILITIES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY GLASS; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

SB 602 prohibits insurance companies and appraisers from requiring an insured individual to use a specific facility for the repair or replacement of damaged motor vehicle safety glass. This bill directly affects insured car owners, insurance companies, and appraisers by giving policyholders more choice in where their vehicle glass is repaired. It ensures that consumers are not mandated to use certain repair shops. The bill also includes provisions for penalties for any violations of these requirements.

died · Arkansas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1684: TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT.

House Bill 1684, known as the PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) Act, establishes provisions for parental access to educational materials and clarifies teacher authority. It allows parents to review teaching materials, required textbooks, course syllabi, lesson plans, and scheduled tests for their students, with options for in-person review after 72 hours' notice or receiving copies. The bill also includes language preventing schools from compelling students to adopt concepts defined as prohibited indoctrination. Additionally, it grants teachers specific authority to manage student behavior to ensure an orderly and safe learning environment in the classroom.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 377: TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES LEVIED ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 19 OF 1958; AND TO EXEMPT GROCERIES FROM STATE SALES AND USE TAXES.

Senate Bill 377, also known as the "Grocery Tax Relief Act," proposes to exempt food and food ingredients from state sales and use taxes in Arkansas. This means consumers would no longer pay the state portion of sales tax on their grocery purchases. However, the bill specifies that sales taxes levied by municipalities and counties on food and food ingredients would continue to apply. This legislative change aims to reduce the tax burden on essential food items for all Arkansans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 633: TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES SET-ASIDE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE SECURITIES RESERVE FUND; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Senate Bill 633 aimed to provide significant funding for the state's correctional facilities, directly affecting state financial reserves and the Department of Corrections. It proposed transferring $125 million from the Securities Reserve Fund to the Correctional Facilities Set-Aside in July 2025, with an additional $45 million in July 2026. The bill also mandated an immediate transfer of $250 million from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund to the Correctional Facilities Set-Aside. Furthermore, it required the Department of Corrections to submit quarterly reports to legislative committees on prison construction activity, including costs, design, and timelines.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 629: TO ALLOW AN OFFICER OF A CLOSELY HELD CORPORATION TO REPRESENT THE CORPORATION IN COURT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVICTION PROCEEDINGS AND UNLAWFUL DETAINER PROCEEDINGS.

Senate Bill 629 proposed an amendment to Arkansas law regarding legal representation for corporations. It would have allowed an officer of a closely held corporation to represent that corporation in court. This exception would apply specifically to eviction proceedings and unlawful detainer cases. To qualify, the closely held corporation would need to have fewer than twenty shareholders, thereby creating a specific exemption to the general requirement for licensed attorneys in corporate legal matters.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 542: TO AMEND THE MEDICAID PROVIDER-LED ORGANIZED CARE ACT; TO IMPROVE THE ENROLLMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS IN RISK-BASED PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS; AND TO EMPOWER BENEFICIARIES WITH INFORMATION.

Senate Bill 542 aimed to amend the Medicaid Provider-Led Organized Care Act in Arkansas, focusing on improving the experience for Medicaid beneficiaries. It would have required risk-based provider organizations to establish an online quality rating system, making data on service delivery, care coordinator performance, and member satisfaction publicly accessible. The bill also mandated real-time online provider directories and the creation of a dedicated beneficiary support system within the Department of Human Services. These measures were intended to empower beneficiaries, particularly those with intellectual, developmental, or behavioral health needs, with information to make informed choices about their care providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 184: TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION COMMISSION AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Senate Bill 184 proposes to reorganize state government by abolishing the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and the State Library Board. The bill transfers all authority, duties, functions, personnel, property, and funds from these two entities to the Arkansas Department of Education. This means the Department of Education would assume full responsibility for state educational television and library services. Existing rules and directives from the abolished entities would remain in effect until amended or repealed by the Department of Education.

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 273: TO REQUIRE DIALYSIS CENTERS TO HAVE A BACKUP GENERATOR ON SITE.

SB 273 proposed to require all dialysis centers operating in Arkansas to have at least one backup generator on site. The bill defined a "dialysis center" as a healthcare facility providing outpatient dialysis services to patients with renal disease. This measure aimed to ensure power for critical medical equipment during outages, directly affecting these facilities and their patients. SB 273 was referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee but died in committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 579: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; AND TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC EMPLOYER FROM DEDUCTING LABOR ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP DUES FROM THE COMPENSATION OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.

SB 579 proposes to prohibit public employers in Arkansas from deducting labor organization membership dues, fees, or contributions directly from the compensation of their public employees. This means most public employees would need to pay their union dues directly to their labor organization, rather than having their employer withhold it from their paycheck. However, the bill specifically exempts public safety employees, allowing their employers to continue deducting dues for their respective labor organizations. Public employers include various state agencies, higher education institutions, courts, and local government entities.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 201: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES - GRANTS FOR CONGREGATE AND HOME-DELIVERED MEALS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 201 proposed to allocate $5,000,000 for grants to support meal programs during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. These funds were intended for the Department of Human Services, specifically its Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services. The bill aimed to enable Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging to provide congregate (group) and home-delivered meals to eligible individuals. It also stipulated that these funds would be transferred from the state's General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Arkansas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 358: TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS RELATED TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Senate Bill 358 proposes several changes to Arkansas's higher education laws, directly affecting public colleges and universities. The bill repeals the requirement for affirmative action programs and related reporting at institutions of higher education. It also eliminates the mandate for institutions within a twenty-five-mile radius to enter into agreements addressing duplication of services. Additionally, the bill repeals the requirement for the Arkansas Energy Summary and Report and formally codifies the Arkansas Research Education and Optical Network (AREON) as a state entity.

Topics ✗ Education