Arkansas Bills

Senate Bill 22, now Act 77, provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Human Services' Division of Children and Family Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes the maximum number of regular and temporary employees, setting a cap of 1,420 full-time positions and authorizing up to 65 part-time staff. It appropriates approximately $148 million for salaries, operations, and grants, including specific funds for foster care, child abuse prevention, and services for sexually exploited children.

HB 1006 allocates $699,949 in state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the Department of Labor and Licensing. These funds are specifically designated for the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors to cover staff salaries, operating expenses, and professional fees. The bill provides detailed budget line items for regular salaries, personal services matching, maintenance, conferences, travel, and data processing costs. By enacting this appropriation, the legislation ensures the board has the necessary financial resources to continue its regulatory operations through June 30, 2027.

This bill provides funding for the Administrative Office of the Courts in Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It specifically increases the appropriation for court personnel from $13,008,316 to $13,115,245. The legislation directly affects the state's judicial system by allocating additional financial resources to support court employees. Once enacted, the funds become available for the designated budget period to cover staffing costs.

SB 62, now Act 85, directs the state to reappropriate previously allocated funds for capital improvements at several Arkansas public universities, including Arkansas State, Arkansas Tech, and Henderson State. The bill authorizes specific spending on construction projects, building renovations, utility and technology upgrades, deferred maintenance, and the replacement of equipment and library materials. These financial allocations are set to become effective on July 1, 2026, and are drawn from existing state funds designated for higher education development and enhancement.

This bill reappropriates up to $68 million from the Skills Development Fund to the Arkansas Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Services for fiscal year 2026. The funds are designated for personal services, operating expenses, equipment, grants, and construction related to statewide workforce development programs. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available state treasury funds and mandates compliance with existing purchasing and budget laws. An emergency clause is included to allow the funding to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring uninterrupted government operations despite potential legislative delays.

HB 1086 provides an additional $25 million in state funding for capital improvements at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College. These funds are intended to supplement existing appropriations from Act 31 of 2025 and must be used strictly for building upgrades and infrastructure projects. The bill includes standard financial rules requiring the college to follow state procurement and budget laws when spending the money. Declared an emergency measure, the act allows the college to receive these funds immediately to support essential services without delay.

This bill, now enacted as Act 99, provides additional funding to the Office of the Treasurer of State for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation specifically allocates an extra $10,000 to assist local law enforcement agencies and covers emergency medical expenses. By increasing the budget from $300,000 to $310,000, the act ensures these funds are available for their intended purposes during the specified fiscal period. This change directly impacts the state's budget management and the resources available to local police and emergency services.

This bill, now enacted as Act 112, authorizes the Arkansas Department of Public Safety to spend up to $191.5 million on its State Crime Laboratory Facility Project starting July 1, 2026. The funds are drawn from the Development and Enhancement Fund and are strictly limited to capital improvements, meaning they cannot be used for the laboratory's regular daily operations or salaries. The law includes financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available money and requires that all spending follows state purchasing and budget rules. Additionally, the legislation declares an emergency to allow the project to begin immediately, ensuring the facility can operate without delay.

This bill adjusts the state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by increasing the property tax appropriation for the Office of the Treasurer of State. Specifically, it raises the allocated amount from $1.75 billion to $1.8 billion to fund the office's operations. The change is a direct financial adjustment within the state's budget process and does not alter the office's duties or responsibilities. Once enacted, this amendment provides slightly more funding to the Treasurer's office for the upcoming fiscal year.

HB 1065 provides funding for the Northwest Arkansas Community College for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill increases the college's budget from approximately $83.7 million to $96.6 million, with a specific line item adjustment raising a particular allocation from $1.14 million to $14 million. This legislation directly affects the Northwest Arkansas Community College by authorizing these financial resources for its operations during the specified period.

This bill provides funding for the Department of the Military for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It includes a specific amendment that removes Section 12 from the original text and renumbers the remaining sections accordingly. The legislation has been passed by both legislative chambers and signed into law as Act 103.

This bill, now enacted as Act 104, provides funding to the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Oil and Gas Commission for repairing the roof of its Education Center and Warehouse. The legislation allocates up to $275,274 from federal funds and an additional $296,552 from state cash reserves, with both amounts becoming effective on July 1, 2026. It includes strict financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and mandates that these specific repair costs be paid separately from the agency's general operating budget. The act also declares an emergency to allow the spending to begin immediately, bypassing potential delays in the legislative session.