Arkansas Bills

This bill authorizes the Arkansas Office of the Treasurer of State to distribute an additional $90 million in property tax relief funds to counties during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The money comes from the Property Tax Relief Trust Fund and is intended to supplement existing funds already allocated by Act 541 of 2025. The legislation includes standard provisions requiring compliance with state budget laws and declares an emergency to ensure the funds are available immediately for essential services. Once signed into law, this act directly affects county governments by providing them with extra resources to help offset property tax burdens for residents.

HB 1054 provides additional funding for the Division of Career and Technical Education within the Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill increases the appropriation by adjusting specific line items, raising one amount from $617,825 to $2,117,825 and another from $2,995,071 to $4,495,071. These changes directly affect the budget available to the Division of Career and Technical Education to support its programs and operations. Once enacted, the bill becomes Act 101 and is transmitted to the Governor's office for signature.

This bill appropriates state funds for the Auditor of State's office to cover the salaries of deputy prosecuting attorneys for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It specifically increases the budget allocation from $32,942,383 to $32,963,653, adjusting the number of deputy attorneys funded from 4,800 to 5,170. The legislation directly impacts the state's financial management by authorizing this specific expenditure within the Auditor's office. Once enacted, the funds become available for the designated fiscal year to support the legal staff assisting the Auditor.

HB 1083, now enacted as Act 106, reappropriates funds to the Arkansas Department of the Military for various capital projects at Camp Joseph T. Robinson and Fort Chaffee. The bill allocates money from federal sources and the Armory Construction Fund to support specific initiatives, including repairs and renovations at the Professional Education Center, construction of readiness centers, and improvements to training ranges and water storage facilities. Effective July 1, 2026, these funds are subject to strict financial controls that prevent contracts from exceeding available treasury amounts and prohibit using maintenance budgets for these capital projects. The legislation also declares an emergency to ensure the funds become available on time, as state law limits appropriations to a single fiscal year.

Senate Bill 69, now Act 90, allocates an additional $30 million in state funds to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture for capital improvements during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This money is intended to supplement existing funding and will be used for physical upgrades to the university's facilities while adhering to standard state procurement and budget laws. The legislation includes an emergency clause, asserting that these funds are necessary to prevent harm to essential services and must take effect immediately upon passage.

This bill reappropriates over $144 million in leftover funds to the Arkansas Department of Health for replacing its main facility. The money, originally authorized in 2025, becomes available on July 1, 2026, and can be used to supplement state funds with grants or donations, provided that regular operating budgets are not diverted for this construction project. The legislation also mandates strict adherence to state laws regarding purchasing, accounting, and financial controls when spending the money. By declaring an emergency, the bill ensures these funds can be used immediately starting July 1, 2026, to prevent harm to essential health services.

This bill reappropriates approximately $671,398 from the Community Correction Revolving Fund to the Arkansas Department of Corrections for capital projects at its Division of Community Correction facilities. The funds are designated for maintenance, repairs, construction, and upgrades of real property and facilities, with spending limited to the amount of state treasury money actually available. The legislation includes standard financial controls, such as prohibiting the use of these funds for general operations and requiring compliance with state purchasing and budget laws. An emergency clause ensures the funding takes effect on July 1, 2026, to prevent disruption to essential correctional services.

This bill reauthorizes funding for construction and repair projects within the Arkansas Department of Human Services, specifically targeting the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services. The legislation allocates up to $448,902 to build a warehouse distribution facility for the Arkansas Health Center and up to $1,175,065 to repair or replace roofs at the Arkansas State Hospital. Funds must be used strictly for these designated projects, cannot be combined with general operating budgets, and must adhere to state purchasing and financial laws. An emergency clause is included to ensure the money becomes available on July 1, 2026, preventing delays that could disrupt essential services.

This bill reappropriates state funds to the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services for capital projects at Human Development Centers across Arkansas. The legislation allocates up to $5.38 million for a specific housing plan at the Booneville center and an additional $7.23 million for similar facility improvements at other locations. These funds are strictly designated for construction, renovation, and demolition activities and cannot be used for the agency's regular daily operations. The act also includes standard financial controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available money and must follow state purchasing laws.

This bill reappropriates approximately $167,641 to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to cover expenses related to resentencing juvenile offenders who were previously sentenced to mandatory life without parole. The funds, drawn from the Development and Enhancement Fund, are specifically designated for this purpose and must be used in compliance with state purchasing and budgetary laws. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that these specific funds cannot be combined with the agency's general operating budget for maintenance and other unrelated expenses. By declaring an emergency, the bill ensures the money becomes available on July 1, 2026, to prevent any disruption to the commission's essential services.

HB 1016 authorizes funding for Arkansas Tech University for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by establishing specific salary limits and employee counts for various administrative and operational roles. The bill sets maximum annual salaries for positions ranging from the university president to numerous support staff, including IT specialists, deans, and program directors. Once signed into law as Act 97, this legislation provides the legal framework for the university to hire and pay employees within these defined financial constraints.

This bill, now enacted as Act 117, reappropriates previously allocated funds to the Arkansas Division of Heritage within the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. It directs up to $750,000 for special maintenance and up to $10 million for the acquisition, management, and preservation of state-owned historic sites and structures, effective July 1, 2026. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available funds and prohibits using these specific amounts for general agency operations. An emergency clause was added to allow the funds to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, even if the legislative session extends beyond that date.