SB 213, now Act 140, creates Arkansas' "Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act" to improve maternal health through Medicaid reforms. It requires the Arkansas Medicaid Program to cover specific services separately (not as bundled payments), including prenatal visits, blood pressure monitoring devices with training, remote ultrasounds, and doula/community health worker home visits for prenatal/postpartum care. The law also mandates depression screening for pregnant women and allows immediate enrollment for pregnant applicants while awaiting full processing. These changes directly affect pregnant and postpartum Medicaid enrollees in Arkansas, aiming to expand access to critical health services.
SB 214 adds second-degree murder (as defined under Arkansas law §5-10-103) to the list of crimes that make inmates ineligible for meritorious furloughs - a program allowing eligible prisoners to earn early release for good behavior. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of second-degree murder, barring them from participating in such furlough programs. It expands an existing exclusion list that already covers capital murder, first-degree murder, rape, and other serious offenses under Arkansas correctional rules. The change became law as Act 137 on February 25, 2025.
HB 1411 clarifies the regulation of carbon capture and storage projects in Arkansas by granting the Oil and Gas Commission specific authority over underground CO2 storage operations. It establishes a Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund funded by a $0.10 fee per ton of CO2 injected (with $0.07 directed to the fund), which will cover long-term monitoring, emergency repairs, and plugging of leaking wells after storage ends. The bill directly affects companies storing CO2 underground, requiring them to pay application fees ($50,000), annual well fees ($1,000 per well), and the per-ton fee. The fund ensures safety and environmental protection by financing post-closure activities like well inspections and remediation.
HB 1357 is a technical correction bill that amends minor wording in Arkansas Code Title 16, which covers court procedures and practices. It specifically revises a phrase in the code to clarify language about who may be subject to certain court procedures. This bill does not create new laws or affect any individuals or groups; it only fixes a grammatical or structural error in existing legal text. As a purely procedural amendment, it has no substantive impact on court operations or citizens' rights.
SB 203 amends Arkansas law to establish a formal framework for recreational tramway systems within state parks and other designated locations. The bill defines key terms, clarifies liability for recreation operators (adding "for negligence" to operator responsibilities), and updates procedural language to support these systems. It directly affects state park administrators, tramway operators, and visitors using these facilities. The bill became law as Act 155 on February 25, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.
SB 23 allocates $837,239 in state funds for the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill specifies funding for six staff positions, including an Executive Director and specialized roles like Investigator and Legal/ Admin Secretary, covering salaries and operational costs. It directly supports the JDDC's work handling disciplinary matters for judges and disability-related issues within Arkansas' judicial system. The funding is strictly limited to the commission's authorized operations, as defined by state budget laws. This is a routine budget authorization, not a policy change.
HB 1363 makes technical corrections to Arkansas Code Title 25, primarily updating outdated references and clarifying state entity names. It removes obsolete provisions (like a 2004 website privacy policy deadline and repealed boards such as the "Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters"), clarifies cybersecurity office references (e.g., standardizing "State Cyber Security Office"), and fixes inconsistent language in government relocation and operations rules. The bill directly affects state government code and administrative procedures but does not create new policies or impact citizens. It streamlines existing law by removing outdated language and ensuring consistent terminology for state entities.
HB 1364 makes technical corrections to Arkansas' transportation code (Title 27) by removing outdated language and updating references. It revises sections concerning deaf person license decals, disabled veteran parking definitions, antique vehicle plate requirements, and obsolete traffic law references. The bill specifically repeals obsolete definitions (like "disabled veteran - World War I") and outdated provisions (such as speed limit reporting exceptions for chauffeurs). It does not create new policies or change existing transportation rules, but aligns the code with current law by removing references to repealed statutes.
SB 172 makes technical corrections to Arkansas' education code by removing obsolete provisions and fixing errors. It repeals outdated sections like the 2024 meeting deadline for education cooperatives (§6-13-1006(c)) and the expired Smart Core Incentive Program (§6-15-215), which ended in 2020. The bill also corrects grammatical errors in sections about computer science courses (§6-16-152) and updates references to include open-enrollment charter schools in teacher compensation rules (§6-17-2403). These changes ensure the code accurately reflects current law without altering existing programs or funding.
HB 1362 makes minor technical corrections to Arkansas retirement and pension laws without changing policy. It updates the title of the executive director position in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System (Section 1), removes an obsolete 2004 rule adoption deadline (Section 2), and deletes a duplicated vacation pay provision (Section 3). These changes clarify existing language and eliminate redundancies in Title 24 of the Arkansas Code. The bill affects the administrative structure of retirement systems but does not alter benefits, eligibility, or funding. The General Assembly confirmed these are purely technical updates, not substantive policy changes.
HB 1114 allocates $4.4 million for the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands' operations and $32.3 million for managing tax delinquent land proceeds during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifies maximum salaries for 42 full-time staff positions (including roles like Chief Deputy and Real Estate Director) and authorizes up to five temporary "Extra Help" employees. The bill covers personal services, operating expenses, and distribution of funds from land sales or redemptions, as required by Arkansas law. This appropriation bill, now Act 185, directly funds the Commissioner's office operations but does not change existing laws or policies.
HB 1100 appropriates $762,346 for the Arkansas State Claims Commission's operations and $2,250,000 for payments to surviving spouses and dependent children of state employees (including police, firefighters, and correctional officers) killed in the line of duty, as well as for processing small claims. The bill funds the Commission's staff salaries, administrative costs, and claim payments for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects families of deceased state employees who qualify under existing law and ensures the Commission has resources to process these claims. The funding is allocated through specific budget lines for personnel, operations, and claim payments, with strict compliance required under Arkansas fiscal laws.
