SB 208 requires canvassers collecting signatures for initiative or referendum petitions to request photo identification from signers before obtaining their signatures. This change directly affects petitioners, canvassers, and voters participating in signature-gathering for statewide initiatives or referendums. The bill amends existing law to specify that canvassers may request a "document or identification card permitted under § 7-1-101(40)" as proof of identity. The bill was passed with an emergency clause on March 3, 2025, and became law as Act 240 the following day.
SB 211 requires canvassers gathering signatures for initiative or referendum petitions to submit a sworn affidavit before those signatures can be counted. This change directly affects petition circulators, mandating they verify signature authenticity through an official affidavit. The bill includes a limited exception allowing signatures to count if a canvasser dies or has a medical disability preventing affidavit submission. It was passed as an emergency measure, expediting its approval and making it law as Act 241.
SB 220 (now Act 236) amends Arkansas' securities law to clarify exemptions for intrastate offerings, primarily affecting Arkansas-based businesses seeking to raise capital from local residents. The bill increases the maximum total funding allowed under the exemption from $1 million to $10 million and raises the per-investor limit from $5,000 to $100,000 (unless the investor is accredited). Key provisions require issuers to file proof of exemption with the state commissioner 10 days before sales, deposit funds in Arkansas banks, disclose unregistered status to investors, and avoid certain prohibited activities like blind pool structures. This simplifies compliance for small Arkansas businesses while maintaining investor protections and aligning with specific federal rules in effect as of January 2025.
SB 139 (now Act 232) makes non-compete agreements unenforceable for physicians and osteopaths licensed under Arkansas law. Specifically, it voids any agreement restricting a physician's right to practice within their licensed scope, as defined by Arkansas Medical Practices Act statutes. This applies directly to doctors and osteopaths holding active licenses to practice medicine or osteopathy in Arkansas. The law clarifies that standard non-compete rules do not apply to these licensed medical professionals, protecting their ability to work freely after leaving an employer.
HB 1478 repeals Arkansas' requirement for individuals to register as disease intervention specialists, removing a state-mandated registration system established under Arkansas Code Title 17, Chapter 98. This change eliminates prior standards for education, training, and experience, as well as penalties (including fines up to $200 or 3 months in jail) for practicing without registration. The bill directly affects public health workers specializing in sexually transmitted disease prevention who previously needed state registration, and it ends the State Board of Health's role in administering this program, including collecting fees and overseeing continuing education. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment, shifting responsibility away from state oversight for this specific profession.
This bill requires the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling to issue provisional licenses to Licensed Associate Counselors and Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapists. The provisional license would be valid for one year, allowing up to three attempts to pass the required licensure exam, and cannot be renewed. It directly affects associate-level mental health professionals working toward full licensure in counseling or marriage/family therapy. The policy change standardizes the provisional licensing process for both professions under existing qualification requirements.
HB 1117 requires public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to provide firearm safety instruction that includes "neutral viewpoints" on all topics, specifically mandating coverage of "the prevention of accidental firearm injury." The law directly affects all K-12 public schools in the state by altering how firearm safety education must be delivered. Key provisions include banning one-sided instruction and requiring balanced content on firearm safety, including accidental injury prevention. This bill became law as Act 229 on March 4, 2025, after passing the legislature. It focuses on the content of school curricula, not funding or enforcement mechanisms.
HB 1049 (now Act 238) amends Arkansas criminal law to establish a new offense for "unlawful squattering." The bill makes it a criminal violation for a person to occupy property without the owner's permission, specifically targeting individuals who enter or remain on property after being asked to leave. This directly affects individuals occupying vacant or abandoned properties without legal right, such as vacant homes or land. The key provision creates a specific criminal charge (likely a misdemeanor) for this conduct, distinct from general trespass laws, and specifies that the offense applies after the owner or their agent has issued a verbal or written demand to vacate.
SB 181 amends Arkansas law to change qualifications for the State Librarian and regional library system directors. It allows work experience in library science or operations to substitute for a master's degree from an American Library Association-accredited program, if approved by the governing board. The bill ensures libraries and regional systems meeting these revised requirements remain eligible for state funding. This applies specifically to the State Librarian position and directors of regional library systems.
HB 1387 (now Act 239) requires members of public water authority boards to publish their contact information on both the water authority's website and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission's website. This procedural bill directly affects board members of Arkansas public water authorities by mandating transparency in their contact details. The law modifies the Water Authority Act to specify where this information must be posted, streamlining public access to board member contacts. It does not change water service policies or impose new financial obligations. The bill passed quickly through the legislature in February 2025 and became law on March 4, 2025.
HB 1378 modifies Arkansas' State Board of Finance by changing its membership structure, reducing the required quorum for meetings, and eliminating a specific administrative role. The bill adds two new membership positions requiring expertise in commercial banking and securities (with specific licensure and experience requirements) and adjusts the board's composition to include the Insurance Commissioner as a voting member only for health benefit plan votes. It lowers the quorum needed for meetings from seven to six members and repeals the requirement for the board to employ a Chief Compliance Officer. These changes directly affect how the board operates, its decision-making process, and its administrative structure. The bill focuses on procedural and organizational adjustments to the board's governance framework.
SB 165 amends Arkansas' procurement law to clarify the process for contractors responding to requests for revised proposals after initial discussions. It requires state agencies to give qualified contractors a chance to revise their proposals if clarification of requirements necessitates material changes, allowing them to submit a "best and final offer." Contractors can choose to lower pricing, add benefits, or keep their original proposal unchanged when responding to such requests. This change directly affects businesses bidding on state contracts under competitive sealed proposal rules, ensuring clearer procedures for final proposal submissions.
