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SB 57 Arkansas Senate · 2026 Fiscal Session

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Senate Bill 57, now Act 26, provides funding for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of up to 235 regular employees and 72 temporary or part-time staff to support school operations. It allocates a total of approximately $21.7 million from state funds and federal sources to cover salaries, maintenance, utilities, and other operational expenses.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $21.7M to fund essential public education services for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides $21.7M funding and authorizes hiring staff for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, directly advancing educational access and resources.95% 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 6, 2026 Signed Apr 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 26 → SB 57 · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill converts a temporary legislative act into a formal Senate Bill, establishing the official budget and staffing limits for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The primary change involves authorizing specific funding allocations for salaries, extra help, and operations, along with setting a maximum limit of 235 employees.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, but it transitions from a provisional act to a formal statutory bill.
FISCAL

Added specific funding appropriations totaling approximately $18.6 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, covering regular salaries, extra help, personal services matching, overtime, and various operational expenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement limiting the maximum number of employees to 235 and authorized up to 72 temporary or part-time 'Extra Help' employees for the fiscal year.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from 'Act 26 of the Fiscal Session' to 'Senate Bill 57', formalizing the legislation for the 95th General Assembly.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Apr 23, 2026
Signed into law
Notification that SB57 is now Act 26
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned from the House as passed.
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned To Senate as Passed.
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read the third time and passed.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Introduced
Filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.