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SB 36 Arkansas Senate · 2026 Fiscal Session

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

This bill appropriates state and federal funds to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically targeting food and nutrition programs. It authorizes spending for salaries, operating expenses, and grants related to child nutrition initiatives, including school food services and aid to local school districts. The legislation also adds new budget line items for various administrative and support roles within the department. Once enacted, these funds will be used to maintain and expand services for programs like the Child Nutrition Program and commodity distribution.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state and federal funds to the Department of Agriculture for food and nutrition programs, directly increasing government spending on essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for school food services and provides aid to local school districts, directly supporting educational access and student nutrition programs.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Apr 1, 2026 Signed Apr 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 135 → SB 36 · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from Act 135 to SB 36 and updated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The primary changes involve adjusting the maximum number of regular employees and their salary grades, adding new specific positions for the Agriculture Division Director and Data Analyst, and increasing the total budget appropriation to over $10 million to cover regular salaries, temporary help, and operational expenses.
Scope change
The scope of the bill now specifically targets the Department of Agriculture for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including new shared services provisions.
FISCAL

Added new budget line items for 'Extra Help' (temporary staff) and 'Personal Services Matching' to the total appropriation.

Increased the total appropriated amount from a previous figure to $10,122,008 to cover expanded operational needs.

REQUIREMENT

Added two new permanent positions: Agriculture Division Director and Data Analyst, increasing the total maximum number of regular employees.

TECHNICAL

Reformatted the table layout for employee classifications and corrected line spacing.

TIMELINE

Updated the legislative session reference from the previous Act 135 to the current Fiscal Session 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
9
Committee
3
Apr 29, 2026
Signed into law
Notification that SB36 is now Act 135
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned from the House as passed.
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned To Senate as Passed.
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
upper
Apr 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read the third time and passed.
upper
Apr 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
Filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.