HB 1503 prohibits local governments from imposing certain restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as secondary housing units on residential property. The bill specifically blocks municipalities from banning ADUs entirely or setting fees exceeding $250 for their approval. It also invalidates local rules conflicting with this provision and requires water/sewer system approvals or health department clearance for ADU construction. This law directly affects homeowners, developers, and city planners by expanding opportunities to build small secondary homes on existing residential lots.
HB 1527 allows guardians managing a ward's estate (such as a minor or incapacitated adult) to invest funds in the Arkansas Brighter Future Fund Plan without needing court approval. This bill amends Arkansas law to explicitly add this state-created retirement savings plan as a permissible investment option for guardians. The change simplifies financial management for guardians by removing the prior requirement for judicial permission when using this specific investment vehicle.
HB 1634 establishes the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act, allowing Arkansas public colleges and universities and their approved nonprofit affiliates to conduct raffles tied to official athletic games. These raffles can be sold digitally or in person, with proceeds limited to supporting student-athletes (e.g., scholarships, publicity rights), athletic programs, and facility improvements - never for staff compensation. The law prohibits sales to minors, caps transactions at $250, and requires public prize announcements. It amends gambling laws to exempt these sports-linked raffles from standard restrictions, effective as Act 305.
HB 1238 allows homeowners (mortgagors) to recover reasonable attorney fees if a court invalidates a foreclosure sale due to a lender's (mortgagee's) failure to follow Arkansas foreclosure procedures. It directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure and lenders who may face fee recovery claims. The bill creates a new provision (Ark. Code § 18-50-118) permitting fee recovery when a foreclosure sale is set aside for procedural errors, but excludes cases where the homeowner and lender resolved the debt, bankruptcy was filed, or the lender relied in good faith on title insurance or other property records. This law changes the financial consequences for lenders who don't strictly follow foreclosure rules.
HB 1307 amends Arkansas' Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act to require institutions managing funds (like retirement or endowment funds) to document and publicly share specific details about service providers they consult. The bill mandates that institutions record fees, historical investment performance, and proof of compliance with existing rules, then publicly post notices seeking new service providers. This directly affects fund managers by increasing transparency in their vendor selection process. The law became effective as Act 308 on March 18, 2025, after passing the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1.
HB 1068 (now Act 311) expands Arkansas' Employees' Retirement System to include employees of metropolitan port authorities. This policy change directly affects port authority workers by granting them access to the state's existing retirement benefits program. The bill amends the retirement system's membership criteria to explicitly cover these employees, requiring port authorities to enroll them in the system without creating new retirement structures. The bill passed both chambers and became law on March 18, 2025.
This bill adds nitrogen gas as an additional method of execution for individuals sentenced to death in Arkansas, alongside the existing lethal injection option. It requires prison officials to notify death row inmates of the chosen execution method (nitrogen gas or lethal injection) at least seven days in advance. The bill also includes confidentiality provisions preventing public disclosure of execution protocols, drug sources, and personnel involved under Arkansas' public records laws. This change applies to all future capital punishment cases in Arkansas, following its passage into law as Act 302.
HB 1581 amends Arkansas law to include "trafficking of persons" (under § 5-18-103) and "grooming a minor for future sex trafficking" (under § 5-18-106) in the legal definition of "sex offense" for victim rights purposes. This change directly affects victims of human trafficking and minor grooming, granting them the same legal protections and rights as victims of other defined sex offenses. The bill adds these specific crimes to the existing list in Arkansas Code § 16-90-1101(6), ensuring they qualify for victim services and support under the state's rights framework. It does not create new penalties but expands eligibility for victim protections. The bill was enacted as Act 316 on March 18, 2025.
HB 1477 allows governing bodies of open-enrollment public charter schools to submit one teacher applicant for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year award, expanding eligibility beyond traditional school districts. If selected, the teacher receives paid administrative leave for the following school year, during which the school must provide a replacement teacher. The state reimburses schools for the teacher’s salary, benefits, and approved incidental expenses incurred during the leave. This bill modifies existing statutes (§6-17-2503 and §6-17-2504) to include charter schools in the program’s application and leave requirements.
HB 1496 modifies Arkansas teacher licensing rules to ensure students are taught by qualified educators. It requires teachers to complete specific continuing education tied to their subject area or critical shortage fields (like earning 5 professional development hours for each graduate credit hour), and limits temporary teaching assignments without full licensure to a maximum of five years (three years initially plus one two-year extension). School districts must approve all professional development credits and licensure plans, while prohibiting assignments outside a teacher’s licensed subject without specific exceptions like emergency permits or designated shortage-area training. The bill directly affects Arkansas public schools, teachers, and school districts by tightening requirements for who can teach in classrooms and how educators maintain qualifications.
HB 1465, now Act 312, clarifies liability for property owners who allow dirtbike use on their private land. It establishes that owners are not automatically liable for injuries or damages occurring during such use, unless they acted negligently. This directly affects landowners who permit off-road recreational vehicles on their property. The law changes previous assumptions about owner responsibility by setting a clear standard for when liability applies.
HB 1405 amends Arkansas law to add new regulations for licensed chiropractic physicians regarding the use of a "procurer" (a third party that procures goods or services). The bill directly affects chiropractors by requiring them to follow specific rules when engaging a procurer to obtain medical supplies or services. Key provisions include adding statutory requirements to ensure proper oversight and prevent misuse in chiropractic procurement practices. The bill became law as Act 309 on March 18, 2025.
