AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

This bill appropriates $218 million for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's (ATRS) operations and $1.7 billion for payments to retirees during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It authorizes 87 full-time staff positions (including roles like Director, IT specialists, and retirement counselors) and up to 20 temporary workers, along with specific funding for salaries, benefits, travel, and administrative costs. The bill directly affects ATRS employees and current retirees by funding existing operations and benefit payments, but does not change retirement eligibility, benefit formulas, or contribution rates. It is a routine funding measure, not a policy change, as confirmed by its procedural title and focus on budget allocation.