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HB 1038 Arkansas House · 2026 Fiscal Session

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

HB 1038 authorizes funding and staffing for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's Child Support Enforcement division for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes a maximum workforce of 775 regular employees, including child support specialists, attorneys, and administrative staff, while also permitting up to 15 temporary or part-time positions. A total of approximately $77.9 million is appropriated from the Child Support Enforcement Fund to cover salaries, operating expenses, data processing, and other necessary costs. The legislation includes an emergency clause to ensure the agency can begin operations on July 1, 2026, without delay, and was signed into law as Act 40.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $77.9M to fund child support enforcement staffing and operations, directly advancing budget allocation for a public service.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Apr 1, 2026 Signed Apr 22, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 40 → HB 1038 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from Act 40 to House Bill 1038 and updated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It appropriates nearly $78 million for the Department of Finance and Administration's Child Support Enforcement division, covering salaries, operations, and equipment. A new section clarifies that temporary or part-time 'Extra Help' positions are exempt from standard hour limits, provided a report is filed if employment exceeds seven months.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from a general session act to a specific House Bill with an updated fiscal year focus (2026-2027).
TECHNICAL

The bill title and session identifier were updated from 'Act 40 of the Fiscal Session' to 'House Bill 1038' for the 95th General Assembly.

FISCAL

New funding allocations totaling approximately $77.95 million were added for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, including $34.9 million for regular salaries and $14.1 million for personal services matching.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added mandating a report to the Legislative Council if any temporary or part-time 'Extra Help' employee works for more than seven months.

ENFORCEMENT

New language was added exempting 'Extra Help' positions from standard limitations on working hours, either by statute or regulation.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Apr 22, 2026
Signed into law
Notification that HB1038 is now Act 40
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned from the Senate as passed.
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned to the House as Passed.
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read the third time and passed.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned by the Committee Do Pass
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
Filed
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.