SB 147 renames Arkansas' "Department of Transformation and Shared Services" to "Department of Transformation and Shared Administrative Services" throughout state law. It updates references to this department in multiple Arkansas Code sections governing state employee leave programs, geographic information systems, and land surveying responsibilities. The bill affects state agencies, higher education institutions, and the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board that interact with this department. It makes no policy changes but corrects the department's name in existing statutes and adds "to declare an emergency" to the title, though this does not alter the bill's administrative focus.
HB 1156 changes Arkansas teacher retirement rules to allow surviving spouses to qualify for annuity benefits if married to the teacher for at least one year before the teacher's death, instead of the previous two-year requirement. This directly affects teachers enrolled in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and their surviving spouses. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, to align with the state's fiscal year and streamline retirement system administration. It was enacted as Act 224 on February 27, 2025.
HB 1286 is a procedural amendment to the Arkansas Triage, Treat, and Transport to Alternative Destination Act, adding Senator J. Boyd as a sponsor. The amendment was approved by the Senate on February 24, 2025, and the bill was enacted as Act 199 on February 27, 2025. This change does not alter the policy provisions of the original act but formally includes Senator Boyd in the bill's sponsorship. The amendment relates solely to legislative procedure, not to substantive policy changes affecting residents or healthcare systems.
HB 1399 repeals Arkansas' "Commissioner of State Lands Urban Homestead Act" (Subchapter 4 of Title 20), which previously allowed cities, nonprofits, and community organizations to apply for tax-forfeited urban land donations to create low-income housing. The bill also shortens the timeframe for landowners to challenge property claims from five years to two years under tax title or donation deed laws. These changes directly affect cities, community organizations, and landowners involved in tax-forfeited property disputes. The repeal ends a specific program for donating urban land for homesteads, while the amended statutes clarify fee structures and recovery timelines for state land transactions.
HB 1450 repeals multiple existing annual reporting requirements for Arkansas' Department of Agriculture. It eliminates mandated reports from the State Plant Board, farm-to-school program coordinator, Buffalo River Conservation Committee, and State Meat Inspection Program. The bill also removes a requirement for the Department to submit separate annual reports on agricultural promotion boards (like catfish, soybean, and rice boards). The only change is amending one section to require the Department to include information from all its administered entities in its annual report to the Governor. This bill streamlines reporting by removing redundant obligations.
HB 1183 creates a registration system for dialysis patient care technicians in Arkansas, requiring them to register with a state board. It directly affects technicians who provide patient care during dialysis treatments, establishing standards for maintaining registration. The law allows the board to suspend or revoke registration for fraud, unprofessional conduct, using false names, violating the law, or failing to meet requirements. This replaces previous terminology (like "certificate") with "registration" to clarify the process.
This bill, known as Lux's Law, prohibits the sale of human remains intended for cremation or burial in Arkansas. It amends existing law to make it illegal to sell a corpse (or part of one) after it has been authorized for final disposition through these methods. The law establishes penalties, including fines or imprisonment, for violating this prohibition. It directly affects funeral homes, mortuaries, and anyone handling human remains before they are cremated or buried.
SB 234 creates one additional circuit judgeship in Arkansas' Nineteenth Judicial District-West to address high caseloads. The new judge will be elected by district voters in the 2026 nonpartisan election, serve a six-year term, and handle all circuit court matters including law, equity, probate, and juvenile cases. The county must provide court facilities, staff (including a court reporter and trial court administrator), and funding for this position starting April 2025, paid from county resources. This bill directly affects the Nineteenth Judicial District-West and its residents by expanding judicial capacity.
HB 1441 amends the legal reference to the "Arkansas Coordinate System of 1983" used by state agencies for mapping and surveying. It updates the statutory citation to reflect this coordinate system without changing its technical standards or affecting citizens. The bill was enacted as Act 214 on February 27, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving the Governor's approval. This is a procedural administrative update, not a substantive policy change.
SB 178 clarifies that surrogates (people making healthcare decisions for incapacitated individuals) can access a principal's financial records - including income, assets, and bank accounts - to apply for public benefits like Medicaid. It requires a written designation signed by the principal or a healthcare provider, with specific details and witness requirements, to authorize this access. Financial institutions must follow strict procedures when processing requests, including notifying joint account holders, and cannot be held liable for complying in good faith. The law explicitly states surrogates cannot control or direct the principal's assets, and all accessed records must be securely handled and destroyed after the surrogate's authority ends.
HB 1155 creates a new rule for Arkansas teachers in the Teacher Retirement System who are veterans. It establishes that a 100% permanent and total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) creates a "rebuttable presumption" they qualify for disability retirement benefits. This means the system will assume eligibility unless proven otherwise, alongside the existing requirement of a Social Security Administration determination. The bill directly affects veteran teachers with VA disability ratings who seek disability retirement benefits under the system. It became law as Act 223 on February 27, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 169 corrects grammatical and punctuation errors in Arkansas Constitution Amendment 51, which governs voter registration rules. It specifically revises sections about voter registration forms (requiring clearer statements on eligibility, penalties for false applications, and confidentiality), voter eligibility requirements (clarifying felony conviction rules), and registration cancellation procedures (updating the list of reasons like address changes or death). The bill makes no policy changes - it only fixes wording in existing constitutional language to improve clarity and consistency. This technical update directly affects voters, election officials, and third-party registration organizations by ensuring registration forms and rules are accurately reflected in the constitution.
