Arkansas Bills

This bill appropriates funds for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the hiring of one additional IT Security Analyst and establishes a specific fund to manage revenues collected at Camp Robinson. The law requires that money generated at this facility be tracked separately and used exclusively for maintaining the department's buildings there. The measure also includes a provision stating that these rules will not become permanent state code but will apply only for the duration of the fiscal year.

Senate Bill 73 provides an additional $10 million in funding to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's Community Assistance Grant Program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These funds are drawn from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve and are intended to supplement existing money already allocated for community assistance grants. The bill includes standard provisions ensuring that the money is spent in accordance with state laws and budget procedures. It was signed into law as Act 141 to ensure the department can continue providing essential services without delay.

HB 1018 provides funding for the University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill also updates the title of the college's chief executive from President to Chancellor. Once enacted as Act 122, these changes will take effect for the specified fiscal year.

This bill authorizes funding and staffing for the Arkansas Department of Commerce and its Economic Development Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It establishes specific maximum numbers of regular employees for various roles, including executive leadership, economic development specialists, and administrative staff, while also permitting the hiring of temporary workers as needed. The legislation appropriates approximately $6.8 million for the main department to cover salaries, benefits, and operating expenses, with additional funds allocated for the economic development commission. Once signed into law, these provisions will determine the budget and workforce size for the state agencies responsible for promoting commerce and economic growth.

This bill amends the 2026-2027 budget for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture by increasing its allocated funding. Specifically, it raises the total appropriation from $83,285,395 to $87,285,395, with corresponding adjustments to specific line items within the budget. The change directly affects the financial resources available to the Division of Agriculture for the upcoming fiscal year. Once enacted, the bill becomes Act 136 and is delivered to the Governor for signature.

This bill, now enacted as Act 144, establishes a new method for distributing state general revenues in Arkansas starting in fiscal year 2026-2027. It requires the State Treasurer to transfer all available funds to various government accounts, including those for public schools, human services, and state agencies, based on specific maximum dollar amounts set for each. The legislation creates a total allocation of approximately $6.6 billion to be distributed monthly according to these fixed proportions. By declaring an emergency, the bill ensures these new distribution rules take immediate effect without further legislative delay.

Senate Bill 58, now Act 138, provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Higher Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes specific job positions and sets salary limits for staff within the division, including roles for program management, grants administration, and IT support. Additionally, it allocates money to support various student financial aid programs, such as the Arkansas Future Grants and the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship. The legislation also includes operating expenses for the State Board of Private Career Education to cover its administrative costs.

HB 1010 authorizes funding for the Arkansas Department of Corrections' Division of Community Correction for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes a maximum staff count of 912 employees, including community supervision officers and program specialists, and allocates approximately $78.2 million for salaries and state operations. Additional funds totaling about $14.9 million are provided for special revenue operations, such as asset forfeiture, while the legislation also grants the department director flexibility to transfer money between budget categories.

This bill provides an additional $5 million in funding to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for its High-Risk Pregnancy Program and the IDHI Stroke Program. The money is taken from the state's General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund and added to the university's existing budget to ensure these specific health services can continue operating. The legislation declares an emergency to allow the funds to take effect immediately, ensuring that essential medical care for high-risk pregnancies and stroke patients is not disrupted. Once signed into law, the university must follow all standard state financial rules when spending these new dollars.

This bill, now enacted as Act 107, reappropriates unused state funds for the Northwest Technical Institute, a higher education facility in Arkansas. The legislation allows the institute to use up to approximately $1.5 million for capital projects, including construction, renovations, major maintenance, and the purchase of equipment. These funds must be spent on specific facility improvements and cannot be used for general operations or combined with other state maintenance budgets. The act includes standard financial controls to ensure spending follows state purchasing laws and aligns with the original reasons for the appropriation.

This bill reappropriates specific funds to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to support various economic initiatives starting July 1, 2026. The legislation allocates money for loans to minority and women-owned businesses, grants for public works and job training, and funding for infrastructure projects like industrial parks and water systems. It also provides resources for grant matching programs and strategic planning activities while maintaining strict financial controls on how the funds are spent. Ultimately, the bill ensures the continuity of state economic development programs by authorizing the use of previously approved budget balances.

This bill appropriates additional funding for the Arkansas Public Defender Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It specifically increases the budget allocation by $19,000, raising the total amount available to the commission from $35,613,416 to $35,632,416. The funds are intended to support the public defender system, which provides legal representation to individuals who cannot afford attorneys in criminal cases. Once enacted, this legislation becomes Act 81 and directs the state treasurer to disburse the updated sum to the commission.