SB 182 requires Arkansas counties and municipalities to automatically continue operating under their previous year’s budget if they fail to adopt a new annual appropriation ordinance by January 1. This ensures essential services like payroll, public safety, and basic government operations continue without interruption. The bill specifies that only necessary operational expenses - such as employee salaries (as of December 31), contracts, and debt payments - may be funded under the previous budget, while excluding new capital purchases, county judge salaries, and justices of the peace per diem until a new budget is approved. It declares an emergency, stating that without this provision, local governments would risk disrupting critical services and endangering public health and safety. The law applies immediately upon enactment to prevent service gaps during budget adoption delays.
HB 1204 (now Act 28) amends Arkansas law to clarify that plaintiffs in medical negligence cases can only recover the actual costs they paid for necessary medical care, treatment, or services - or costs legally owed by them or a third party. It directly affects individuals filing medical malpractice claims and healthcare providers by limiting recoverable damages to amounts actually paid or legally responsible. The key provision changes the standard for medical cost recovery from billed rates to verified payments, preventing recovery of unpaid or inflated charges. This law, enacted on February 11, 2025, provides a clearer financial framework for medical negligence claims in Arkansas.
HB 1231 appropriates funds for Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, setting maximum salary rates for 25+ staff positions. The bill specifies exact pay scales for roles like IT professionals, administrators, and support staff, including a chancellor at $208,138 and various technical positions. It directly affects college employees by establishing their compensation limits for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill was enacted as Act 38 on February 11, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.
HB 1225 appropriates funds for Black River Technical College's personnel and operating expenses for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes specific salary rates for over 100 staff positions across the college, including leadership roles, IT personnel, student services, and administrative support. The bill directly affects the college's budget and its employees by setting maximum annual compensation levels for the upcoming fiscal year. As a funding measure (not a policy change), it does not alter student programs or state regulations. The bill was enacted as Act 30 on February 11, 2025.
HB 1260 authorizes funding for Southern Arkansas University's (SAU) 2025-2026 fiscal year, specifically setting maximum salary rates for 35 designated administrative and academic staff positions. It establishes salary caps for roles like the university president ($322,307), vice presidents, department directors, and IT specialists, covering both leadership and support functions. This appropriation directly affects SAU employees in these authorized positions by defining their maximum allowable compensation for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill was enacted as Act 44 on February 11, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.
HB 1248 appropriates $208,138 for the Chancellor and sets maximum salaries for 41 specific staff positions at Arkansas State University - Mid-South for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects university employees in roles like IT specialists, academic administrators, and student services staff by establishing their funded salary levels. The bill’s key mechanism is a detailed salary schedule authorizing state funding for these positions, covering both leadership roles and operational support staff. This is a routine budget appropriation, not a policy change, and it affects only the university’s personnel budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill passed both chambers and became Act 41 on February 11, 2025.
HB 1247 allocates state funds for personnel and operations at Cossatot Community College (a branch of the University of Arkansas) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects the college’s staff by setting maximum salaries for 120+ positions, including leadership roles (e.g., chancellor, vice chancellors), IT staff, academic advisors, and public safety personnel. The bill provides specific budget authority for salaries and operational expenses without creating new programs or changing student eligibility.
HB 1229 allocates state funds for Ozarka College's 2025-2026 fiscal year, specifically covering salaries and operating expenses for its existing staff. The bill sets maximum salary rates and employee counts for 24 designated positions, including leadership roles (like President and Chief Academic Officer), IT staff, administrative personnel, and public safety officers. It directly affects Ozarka College's budget planning and staffing structure by establishing fixed compensation limits for these roles during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill passed both legislative chambers and became Act 35 on February 11, 2025, formalizing the funding appropriation.
HB 1249 is a funding bill that authorizes $208,138 for the President and sets maximum salary rates for 123 specific staff positions at National Park College (NPC) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects NPC employees by establishing pay scales for roles including IT specialists, academic administrators, financial staff, and student services personnel. The bill provides concrete budget allocations for existing operational positions without creating new programs or policies. This legislation was enacted as Act 42 after passing both legislative chambers in February 2025.
HB 1273 clarifies that a property claim held by Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration (for unpaid taxes or fees) cannot take priority over a mortgage used to purchase the property itself. Specifically, it amends state law to remove the previous rule that allowed this state claim to override all other liens except purchase money mortgages, instead making the mortgage explicitly superior. This directly affects homeowners who have both an active mortgage for their property purchase and a state claim for unpaid debts. The bill ensures that homebuyers' mortgages retain priority in property disputes, rather than state claims being enforced ahead of them.
HB 1261 allocates state funding for Arkansas Tech University's 2025-2026 fiscal year, establishing maximum salary limits for specific leadership and operational staff positions. The bill directly affects university employees by setting annual compensation caps for roles such as the president, vice presidents, IT professionals, and academic administrators. Key provisions include defining salary ranges for 125+ positions across departments like administration, information technology, and student services, ensuring funds cover personnel costs and operations. This is a routine budget appropriation, not a policy change, and does not affect students or external stakeholders.
HB 1056 creates a new joint committee in the Arkansas legislature, composed of members from both the House and Senate, to specifically address military and veterans affairs. The bill declares an emergency, allowing the committee to be established and operate under expedited procedures without standard legislative delays. This committee will oversee state policies, review veterans' programs, and make recommendations on legislation related to military personnel and veterans' benefits. The bill became law (Act 34) on February 11, 2025, after passing through the legislature with an amendment to its referral process.
