This bill appropriates funds for Arkansas Northeastern College's (ANC) 2025-2026 fiscal year, covering salaries and operational expenses. It directly affects ANC staff by establishing maximum salary levels for specific positions, including administrative, IT, and support roles. The bill does not create new policies but allocates existing budget resources for the college's ongoing operations. It was enacted as Act 39 on February 11, 2025.
This bill allocates $208,138 for the North Arkansas College (NAC) President and sets maximum salary rates for 251 specific staff positions (including IT, administration, and student services) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects NAC by funding its operational staffing needs through defined salary caps for roles like Network Engineers, Academic Advisors, and Public Safety Officers. The bill contains no policy changes - only budgetary provisions specifying allowable compensation levels for existing positions. It passed both chambers and became Act 37 on February 11, 2025.
HB 1153 is a funding bill that allocates state resources to six agricultural promotion boards for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific appropriations for the Arkansas Beef Council ($1.07 million), Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board ($120,000), Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board ($2 million), Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board ($6.98 million plus $15 million cash), Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board ($8.6 million), and Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board ($444,494). The funds cover operating expenses, research, development, and promotion activities for these industry-specific boards. This is a procedural appropriation bill, not a policy change, directly affecting the boards and the agricultural sectors they represent (beef, catfish, corn, rice, soybeans, wheat).
HB 1227 is a funding bill that allocates state budget resources for Pulaski Technical College (part of the University of Arkansas system) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes maximum salary rates for specific staff positions, including administrative roles, IT personnel, and academic support staff, such as a Chancellor ($208,138), IT Managers ($100,000+), and 44 Project/Program Administrators. The bill directly affects the college's workforce by setting compensation limits for these positions. It is an enacted appropriation (now Act 31) with no new policy provisions, solely authorizing funding for existing operations.
HB 1226 allocates funding for Arkansas State University - Mountain Home's personnel and operations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It sets maximum salary rates and staffing levels for all university employees, including administrators, IT staff, and support roles. The bill directly affects ASU-Mountain Home's workforce by establishing budget parameters for their salaries and operational expenses during the specified fiscal period. This is a routine funding measure, not a policy change affecting external groups or new programs.
HB 1264 allocates state funding for the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, specifically covering staff salaries and operational expenses. It establishes maximum salary rates for 135 designated positions, including leadership roles (like Chancellor and Provost) and support staff (such as IT specialists and administrative personnel). This funding directly supports UAFS's internal operations and workforce, ensuring budget coverage for the upcoming fiscal year.
HB 1234 appropriates funds for the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana for its 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes maximum salary rates and staffing levels for specific positions, including administrative roles, IT staff, and public safety personnel, directly affecting the college's budget and operations. The bill authorizes funding for existing personnel costs but does not create new programs or policies.
HB 1266 allocates state funding for Henderson State University's personnel and operational expenses during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifies maximum salary rates and staffing levels for approximately 100 university positions, including administrative roles, IT staff, and student services personnel. This appropriation directly affects Henderson State University employees whose positions are funded under this bill. The bill passed both chambers and was enacted as Act 47 on February 11, 2025, without requiring new policy changes.
HB 1228 allocates $208,138 for the President and establishes salary rates for 137 specific staff positions at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directly affects NWACC employees in roles such as IT specialists, academic leaders, and administrative staff by setting their maximum annual salaries. The bill provides a detailed salary schedule for positions including Network Engineers ($200,973), Chief Information Officers ($156,658), and Counselors ($127,508), covering operational funding for the college's regular staff. This routine budget appropriation was enacted as Act 33 on February 11, 2025.
HB 1128 provides $47,220 in supplemental funding for the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It authorizes up to 10 temporary staff members at a cost of $38,400 and $8,820 for personal services matching. The bill directly affects the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee by ensuring its operational funding for audit work. This is a procedural budget authorization with no policy changes, solely addressing funding needs as stated in the bill.
HB 1046 establishes a "Blue Envelope Program" to improve communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. The bill requires Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration to create a special blue envelope (available by January 1, 2026) that holds essential documents like driver's licenses and vehicle registration, plus exterior communication guidelines for officers. Individuals with autism can request the envelope at local department offices starting in 2026. The program directly affects drivers with autism during motor vehicle interactions and aims to provide clear, standardized support for law enforcement. It does not change existing laws but creates a new administrative resource.
SB 56 establishes a structured process for reviewing Arkansas state agency rules. It requires dividing agencies into six rule review groups (determined by the Governor) to ensure balanced workloads across subject areas. The bill sets a maximum 12-year interval between rule evaluations and prevents frequent re-evaluations of the same rules. This procedural change affects how state agencies manage their regulations, not the regulations themselves, and was enacted as Act 21 on February 6, 2025.
