HB 1581 Arkansas House · 2025 Regular Session

TO ADD TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF SEX OFFENSE FOR RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF A CRIME.

HB 1581 amends Arkansas law to include "trafficking of persons" (under § 5-18-103) and "grooming a minor for future sex trafficking" (under § 5-18-106) in the legal definition of "sex offense" for victim rights purposes. This change directly affects victims of human trafficking and minor grooming, granting them the same legal protections and rights as victims of other defined sex offenses. The bill adds these specific crimes to the existing list in Arkansas Code § 16-90-1101(6), ensuring they qualify for victim services and support under the state's rights framework. It does not create new penalties but expands eligibility for victim protections. The bill was enacted as Act 316 on March 18, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed Mar 18, 2025

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What changed between versions

Act 316 → HB 1581 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from Act 316 to HB 1581 for the 95th General Assembly, and the approval date was removed from the text. These are primarily technical and formatting changes rather than substantive policy modifications.

TECHNICAL

Bill title changed from Act 316 to HB 1581 to reflect current legislative session numbering

Approval date (3/18/25) removed from the document text

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

Mar 18, 2025

Signed into law

Notification that HB1581 is now Act 316

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned from the Senate as passed.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned to the House as passed.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read the third time and passed.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee Do Pass

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

2 primary · 16 co-sponsors