SB 177 makes technical corrections to existing licensing laws for professionals in Arkansas, primarily fixing grammatical errors and updating obsolete language in statutes covering body art, dentistry, dietetics, and nursing. It clarifies requirements for dental licensing exemptions, corrects wording in body art training rules, and repeals outdated dietetics licensing provisions. The bill does not create new rules or change who must be licensed - it only ensures existing statutes are accurately worded and current. This affects licensed professionals and applicants in these fields by removing confusion from the code. (2 sentences, as it is a procedural technical correction bill.)
HB 1437 prohibits Level 3 or Level 4 sex offenders from entering water parks, swimming areas, or children's playgrounds within 100 feet of Arkansas State Parks or public parks. It directly affects individuals required to register under Arkansas' Sex Offender Registration Act who have been assessed as Level 3 or 4 offenders. The bill expands prior restrictions by adding swimming areas and playgrounds to the prohibited zones, with violations classified as Class D felonies. This law amends Arkansas Code § 5-14-134 to cover all public parks and state parks, not just local government-owned facilities.
SB 134 reduces the frequency of meetings for two Arkansas advisory commissions (public school employee and state employee health benefit commissions) from monthly to quarterly, requiring a minimum of four meetings annually instead of twelve. It also cuts stipends for non-employee appointed members from $500 to $100 per month. The bill directly affects commission members who serve in these advisory roles. This procedural change modifies operational details without altering health benefit policies or coverage.
HB 1104 is a budget bill that allocates funding for Arkansas' Department of Labor and Licensing (DLL) Division of Labor for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It authorizes $3.85 million total, including $1.97 million for 26 regular staff salaries (like labor inspectors and IT specialists) and $2.68 million for the Division of Labor’s operations (covering 69 regular staff positions and $354,954 for operating expenses). This bill directly affects DLL employees and its operational capacity, setting specific staffing levels and financial limits for the department’s work in labor enforcement, inspections, and program administration.
This bill makes minor technical corrections to Arkansas Code Title 23 (public utilities and regulated industries) without creating new policies or affecting any groups. It fixes grammatical errors (e.g., changing "Specify" to "Shall specify" in utility contracts), clarifies refund procedures under the Uniform Money Services Act, and removes outdated references (such as expired health insurance pool provisions). The corrections address typographical, reference, and designation errors in existing law to improve clarity and accuracy. It does not change how utilities operate or alter consumer protections.
SB 74 is a funding bill that allocates $2.59 million for Arkansas' Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes maximum staffing levels (305 employees) for DVA offices and veterans' homes, including roles like nurses, administrators, and support staff, with specific salary grades. The funding covers regular salaries ($1.33 million), operating expenses, county veterans' office support ($516,000), and other operational costs. This bill directly affects DVA operations and the delivery of services to veterans through its authorized staffing and budget structure.
This bill appropriates $257,040 for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - Capitol Zoning District Commission (CZDC) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It funds three full-time staff positions (including an ADPHT Program Manager and two Administrative Analysts), one temporary employee, and operational expenses like maintenance and travel. The funding supports the CZDC's day-to-day operations in managing Capitol area zoning, preservation, and tourism activities. This is a routine budget appropriation, not a policy change, and became law as Act 191 on February 25, 2025.
HB 1235 appropriates funding for the University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College (UA-EACC) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, establishing specific salary limits and maximum staffing levels for administrative and operational roles. The bill details exact annual salary rates and employee counts for positions including the Chancellor ($208,138), IT staff (e.g., Network Engineer at $200,973), academic officers, and support personnel like counselors and accountants. This funding directly affects UA-EACC’s budget, enabling it to hire and pay staff within the specified limits for the upcoming fiscal year. As enacted (Act 187), it is a routine budget measure supporting the college’s existing operations, not a new policy or program.
HB 1407 amends Arkansas law to stop funding the Arkansas District Judges Council, Inc. from the State Administration of Justice Fund, removing it from the list of recipients that receive monthly allocations. This change follows the state's transition to a unified system of 70 full-time district judges and a Supreme Court directive, making the Council's funding unnecessary. The bill updates the fund's distribution rules to redirect these resources to other state programs, including the Administrative Office of the Courts, Court Reporters, and public safety initiatives. The law does not alter funding for other recipients but ensures the fund now supports only the specified state agencies and programs.
HB 1360 makes technical corrections to Arkansas Code Title 20 regarding public health and welfare. It clarifies two specific provisions: (1) school building egress requirements under fire safety law to align with existing ADA standards as of January 1, 2023; and (2) permit rules for hemp businesses when leadership or ownership changes, specifying that permits become void upon such changes but allow temporary operation for up to 30 days while new permits are processed. The bill explicitly states these are non-substantive corrections to existing code, not policy changes. It directly affects schools complying with fire safety regulations and hemp businesses managing permit transitions.
SB 173 makes minor technical corrections to Arkansas election laws without changing policy. It updates ballot duplication procedures for damaged ballots (specifying how officials must handle duplicates at polling sites and central facilities), reduces a reporting threshold for independent expenditures from $500 to $200, and corrects grammatical wording in petition interference language. These changes directly affect election officials, county election boards, and entities filing campaign finance reports. The bill, now Act 166, clarifies existing code without altering substantive election rules or voter rights.
SB 28 appropriates $1,157,234 for the Arkansas Ethics Commission's operations and staff during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It funds 11 maximum positions, including a director, attorneys, compliance specialists, and administrative staff, with $777,591 allocated for salaries and $381,643 covering operational costs like travel and office expenses. The bill directly affects the Ethics Commission's ability to function, providing necessary funding for its existing responsibilities under Arkansas law. As a procedural budget measure, it does not change ethics laws or create new policies.
