HB 1355 makes technical corrections to Arkansas' criminal code (Title 5) without creating new laws or penalties. It removes outdated references (like a non-existent offense in child crime fines), clarifies reporting requirements for seized property (e.g., tracking firearms sales), and refines definitions for offenses like "death by delivery" and "personal use" of controlled substances. These changes primarily affect law enforcement agencies, courts, and legal proceedings by ensuring existing statutes accurately reflect current law. The bill was enacted as Act 171 on February 25, 2025, with the General Assembly confirming it only makes technical, not substantive, updates.
This bill allocates $11.9 million for the Department of Labor and Licensing - Workers' Compensation Commission's (WCC) staff and operations, and $21.55 million for death/disability claims and refunds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifies funding for 105 full-time staff positions (including attorneys, investigators, and administrative roles), $100,000 for temporary staff, and covers operating expenses like software, travel, and claims processing. The funding comes from the Workers' Compensation Fund, Death and Disability Trust Fund, and Second Injury Trust Fund. This is a routine budget appropriation for existing WCC functions, not a new policy change.
SB 176 makes minor technical updates to Arkansas Code sections related to natural resources and economic development. It clarifies rules for state employees providing golf lessons (requiring outside work hours and PGA/LPGA certification), refines definitions for "eligible companies" investing in tourism projects (specifying minimum dollar amounts by county type), and updates selection criteria for the Arkansas Great Places Program (removing outdated references and adjusting timelines). These changes are strictly procedural and do not create new programs or funding. The bill was enacted as Act 169 on February 25, 2025.
SB 97 allows existing retail liquor permit holders in Arkansas to obtain up to two additional permits, increasing their total to three permits. It directly affects current liquor business owners who want to expand to new locations. Key provisions require that additional permits must be in counties with 200,000+ residents (based on the latest census), and businesses cannot hold multiple permits within the same county. This changes prior restrictions that prohibited any interest in more than one permit.
SB 50 mandates the Arkansas legislature to conduct a study examining workforce and social services systems. It requires the legislature to consider drafting new laws to address issues identified in that study. The bill does not change current services or create new programs - it only establishes a process for future legislative action based on findings. This procedural bill affects the legislature itself, requiring it to complete the study and evaluate potential follow-up legislation. It became Act 145 on February 25, 2025, after passing both chambers.
SB 170 repeals an expired section (Arkansas Code § 1-2-125) from Title 1 of the Arkansas Code that previously governed electronic document submissions by state agencies, courts, and local governments. This is a purely procedural bill making technical corrections to the code, not a substantive policy change. It directly affects the Arkansas Code by removing outdated language that had already expired (as noted in the section's expiration date of August 1, 2021). The bill does not create new requirements or impact any specific groups, as it simply removes a section that was no longer in effect.
HB 1292 amends residency requirements for adopting minors by changing the rule for infants under six months old. Specifically, it removes the prior requirement that adoptive parents must have resided in the state for a certain period before filing an adoption petition, replacing it with a new provision stating the child must be "less than six (6) months of age at the time the petition was filed." This change directly affects adoptive parents seeking to adopt infants under six months, streamlining the process for this age group. The bill became law as Act 139 on February 25, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.
HB 1087 is an appropriations bill that allocates $4.7 million for the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Oil and Gas Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It funds 33 regular staff positions (including roles like Oil & Gas Director and inspectors) and up to six temporary employees, covering salaries, operations, travel, and pollution control. The bill also includes a separate $12.5 million allocation from the Abandoned and Orphaned Well Plugging Fund for well plugging program expenses. As a funding measure, it does not create new policy but authorizes spending for existing agency operations and programs.
SB 142, now Act 122, bans students from possessing or using personal electronic devices (like phones) during the entire school day, directly affecting public school students. The law requires schools to update discipline policies to include specific exemptions: devices issued by the school for educational use, special events (defined by future rules), and devices needed for students with special education plans or concurrent enrollment college courses. It replaces prior rules with these clear exemptions while maintaining the overall "bell to bell" device ban. The bill passed in February 2025 and became law without additional committee action.
SB 59 requires all public schools to provide one free breakfast daily to every student upon request, without checking if they qualify for federally funded free or reduced-price meals. This policy directly affects all public school students in the state, eliminating eligibility barriers for breakfast access. The bill includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take effect immediately upon enactment. It changes school meal procedures by mandating universal breakfast availability as a standard practice, not tied to existing federal program eligibility. The bill became law as Act 123 on February 24, 2025.
HB 1223 allows judicial appointees running for election to the Arkansas Supreme Court or Court of Appeals to use their current title (e.g., "Justice" or "Judge") as a prefix on the ballot. It applies only to candidates currently serving in those positions as appointees who have held the role for at least 12 months. The bill amends ballot rules to permit this title prefix in nonpartisan judicial elections, clarifying that it does not apply to other judicial offices like circuit or district judges. This change affects how appointees seeking election to these specific courts appear on ballots.
HB 1211 clarifies which payments count toward retirement benefits for Arkansas public employees, specifically defining "recurring remuneration" to include certain bonuses, lump-sum payments, and career recognition payments. It sets a 5% cap on the bonus or lump-sum amount considered for the final year's salary calculation and repeals outdated sections about termination requirements (sections 24-4-110 and 24-4-111). The bill directly affects current and former state/local government employees enrolled in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System by standardizing how compensation is calculated for benefit purposes. These changes ensure consistent administration of retirement benefits without altering eligibility or benefit amounts.
