Arkansas Bills

This bill appropriates $6,353,103 for the Arkansas Department of Inspector General's 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding covers regular salaries, maintenance and general operations, and an additional temporary or part-time employee for the Office of the Juvenile Ombudsman. The legislation also adjusts specific budget line items and renumbers sections to reflect these financial allocations.

Senate Bill 74, now Act 94, authorizes the State of Arkansas to pay a total of approximately $2.5 million in approved claims to various individuals and organizations across multiple state departments. The bill directs specific funds from different state accounts to cover these payments, which range from small amounts to over $1 million for a single recipient. This legislation is a routine financial measure that ensures the state fulfills its financial obligations to entities that have already been approved for reimbursement.

This bill reappropriates approximately $101,000 from the Development and Enhancement Fund to the Arkansas Department of Commerce's State Insurance Department for fiscal year 2026. The funds are designated to cover maintenance and operations for insolvent, licensed perpetual care cemeteries that have been in receivership for five years or more, as well as acquisition costs and grants for historic cemetery improvements. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls requiring strict adherence to state purchasing laws and prohibits using general maintenance funds for these specific purposes. It also declares an emergency to ensure the money becomes available on July 1, 2026, preventing potential harm to essential governmental programs.

This bill provides additional funding for the Assessment Coordination Division within Arkansas's Department of Finance and Administration for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directly affects the state agency responsible for coordinating property assessments by increasing its budget from $872,240 to $972,240 and raising the total appropriation for the department by $100,000. The legislation is a procedural measure that allocates specific financial resources to support the division's operations without changing its underlying duties or authority. Once enacted, the bill becomes Act 74, authorizing the transfer of these funds to the designated government entity.

This bill reappropriates specific funds to the Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services' Building Authority Division for ongoing state building projects. The legislation allocates money from previous fiscal years to cover the completion of hydronic piping abatement at a state-owned facility and various maintenance and repair tasks across other state properties. It includes standard financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and that these capital funds are not mixed with general operating budgets. The act is designated as an emergency measure to allow the spending to begin on July 1, 2026, complying with state constitutional limits on how long appropriations can remain unspent.

Senate Bill 42, now Act 80, allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The legislation establishes specific salary rates and maximum employee counts for various administrative, medical, and technical positions within the institution. By defining these staffing levels and compensation caps, the bill directly impacts the university's budget and human resources management for the upcoming year.

This bill provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, covering both state operations and veterans' homes. It authorizes the hiring of up to 305 regular employees and allows for an additional 30 temporary or part-time staff members to assist with daily operations. The legislation appropriates approximately $2.6 million for state-level activities and over $11 million for veterans' homes, including salaries, operating expenses, and support for county veterans' service offices.

Senate Bill 45 authorizes state funding for the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover employee salaries and operating expenses. The law establishes specific maximum numbers and salary rates for various administrative and educational positions, including leadership roles like the Chancellor and numerous IT and support staff. Once signed into law, the bill becomes Act 19 and provides the financial resources necessary for the university to maintain its operations and personnel for the upcoming year.

This act authorizes funding for the Office of the Prosecutor Coordinator in Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates approximately $1.52 million for salaries, benefits, and operational expenses to support the office's core staff, which includes prosecutors, attorneys, and administrative personnel. The legislation also provides $606,461 specifically for the "Paws for Justice" state program to employ certified dog handlers and a coordinator. Additionally, the bill funds $70,660 for law enforcement and prosecutor drug enforcement training and $88,881 for student loan repayment assistance for eligible public defenders and deputy prosecuting attorneys.

This bill authorizes funding for the Arkansas Department of Corrections' Post-Prison Transfer Board for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates approximately $2.47 million to cover salaries for 21 staff members, including a board chair, hearing officers, and administrative support, as well as general operating expenses like travel and maintenance. The legislation ensures the board can continue its work in managing post-release transfers and related services without interruption. It also declares an emergency to guarantee the funds are available starting July 1, 2026, to prevent harm to essential government operations.

This bill appropriates $22.5 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research and the Legislative Council. The legislation authorizes the hiring of up to 134 regular employees and 31 temporary or part-time staff to support legislative operations, research, and committee services. Funds are allocated for salaries, operating expenses, committee room costs, and reimbursement for state representatives attending committee meetings.

This bill provides funding for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, affecting the agency's ability to pay salaries and operate. It authorizes the hiring of up to 87 regular employees and 20 temporary staff while appropriating approximately $218 million for internal operations and $1.7 billion for paying retirement benefits to non-employee beneficiaries. The legislation also allocates specific funds for investment consultants, discount buyout plans, and general operating expenses like travel and professional fees.