HB 1271 Arkansas House · 2025 Regular Session

TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MECHANICS' AND MATERIALMEN'S LIENS; AND TO CLARIFY THE PRIORITY OF LIENS IN MORTGAGE CONSTRUCTION LOANS.

HB 1271 (now Act 479) clarifies lien priority for construction projects in Arkansas. It specifies that mechanics' liens (claims by contractors/suppliers for unpaid work or materials) take precedence over mortgages only if the mortgage was created *after* construction began, not before. The bill also expands who can file lien affidavits to include lender employees or licensed title agents, and updates terminology to include architects alongside appraisers and surveyors. This directly affects contractors, suppliers, lenders, and property owners involved in residential construction projects (single-family to four-family units). The law ensures clearer payment rights during construction financing.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 479 → HB 1271 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text shows primarily formatting and layout changes rather than substantive policy modifications. The version number changed from 'Act 479' to 'HB 1271', and some spacing and signature line formatting was adjusted. No new requirements, funding amounts, eligibility criteria, or enforcement mechanisms were added or removed.

TECHNICAL

Bill title changed from 'Act 479' to 'HB 1271' to reflect current legislative session numbering

Formatting adjustments to signature lines and date stamps for consistency with current bill formatting standards

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Signed into law

Notification that HB1271 is now Act 479

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass, concur in Senate Amendment No. 1

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 .

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read the third time and passed.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee Do Pass

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors