HB 1145 (now Act 107) increases the maximum amount counties and municipalities can spend on additional after-market equipment (like GPS mounts, emergency lights, or specialized storage) when purchasing new motor vehicles. The bill directly affects local government agencies that buy new vehicles, allowing them to authorize higher spending on these optional add-ons. It amends existing procurement rules to raise the spending cap without changing the vehicle purchase itself. The bill was passed by the Arkansas Senate on February 17, 2025, and became law after being transmitted to the Governor.
SB 77 requires the Arkansas Medicaid program to cover and reimburse physical therapy services provided in clinic settings. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking physical therapy and healthcare providers operating clinics. The bill mandates that Medicaid pay for these services, which were previously not covered under the program for clinic-based care. It creates a concrete policy change by expanding Medicaid reimbursement to include physical therapy delivered outside of hospital or home settings.
HB 1278 requires surveyors to notify the owner and follow all visitor protocols - including biosecurity measures - before entering a commercial poultry farm for surveying purposes. It specifically applies to farms with poultry houses exceeding 5,000 square feet, directly affecting surveyors working near such facilities and poultry farm owners. The bill mandates these steps to protect farm biosecurity without creating new protocols, only requiring surveyors to comply with existing farm rules. This law, now Act 99, aims to prevent potential contamination risks during survey activities.
HB 1310 abolishes Arkansas' Commission for the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative and transfers all its authority, records, funds, and responsibilities to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). This affects how the state's cord blood banking program is administered, shifting oversight from a commission to UAMS while keeping the voluntary donation program for parents unchanged. The bill updates statutes to remove references to the abolished commission and ensures existing rules and standards for the blood bank remain in effect. It does not alter donation procedures, costs, or medical uses of stored cord blood.
HB 1214 amends Arkansas' Long-Term Care Aide Training Act to define who qualifies as a "primary instructor" for training programs. It requires primary instructors to be licensed registered nurses (RNs) with no disciplinary actions, at least two years of general nursing experience (including one year in long-term care within the last 10 years), and annual training on care updates. This directly affects nursing training programs and the RNs who teach them, ensuring instructors meet specific experience and ongoing education standards. The bill focuses on setting clear, measurable qualifications for instructors without creating new programs or altering care delivery.
HB 1311 requires Arkansas's Legislative Auditor to create a standardized "uniform chart of accounts" for cities of the second class and incorporated towns. This system will standardize how these local governments track and report their public funds, including revenue, spending, and balances. Key features include uniform account coding, detailed budgeting tools, and clear breakdowns of expenditures by department and purpose. The bill mandates that cities implement this system within 36 months of the law taking effect. The change directly affects city administrators and finance departments in these municipalities, aiming to improve financial transparency and reporting consistency.
HB 1205 amends requirements for independent inspections of modular buildings to ensure compliance with safety standards, directly affecting modular building developers, inspectors, and local building officials. The bill updates inspection standards to require compliance with ISO/IEC 17011 certification (replacing a previous reference), which is an internationally recognized standard for inspection bodies. It declares an emergency to expedite implementation of this updated standard. The bill focuses on clarifying and modernizing inspection protocols for modular structures without creating new programs or funding. (Note: The bill became Act 101 on February 18, 2025, but this summary describes its policy content, not its legislative status.)
HB 1318 amends Arkansas law to expand existing "excursion train" permit rules to include "excursion boats." It directly affects operators of public boats offering scheduled, ticketed trips on waterways (like river tours) by requiring them to obtain a separate permit for selling alcohol. The bill defines "excursion boat" as a vessel with fixed routes and schedules, sets a $200 annual permit fee, and specifies that alcohol sales must comply with local laws where the boat operates. This change aligns boat operations with the current train permit framework for alcohol service.
HB 1215 allows coaches or athletic staff of the opposite sex to address, supervise, or treat student athletes in shared restroom or changing areas at schools, under specific conditions. The bill directly affects school athletic staff and student athletes in Arkansas public schools. Key provisions authorize these staff members to be present in multi-occupancy facilities during athletic activities when necessary for supervision or care. The bill was enacted as Act 119 on February 18, 2025, following passage by the Arkansas Senate.
HB 1317 amends Arkansas law to expand fraud penalties to cover state retirement systems. It makes it a Class D felony to knowingly make false statements or falsify records to defraud the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, State Police Retirement System, or Arkansas Judicial Retirement System. The bill upgrades penalties from misdemeanors to felonies for these specific frauds against retirement programs. This directly affects individuals who attempt to defraud these state-run retirement systems through false documentation or statements.
HB 1138 (now Act 98) expands eligibility for disability-related license plates, certificates, and parking decals by allowing more medical professionals (not just physicians) to certify a person's disability. The bill removes a restriction that previously limited certification to disabilities "temporary in nature," meaning certification now applies to both permanent and temporary disabilities. This change directly affects individuals with disabilities seeking mobility accommodations through vehicle licensing or parking permits. The law streamlines the certification process by broadening who can verify eligibility for these accommodations.
HB 1324 changes Arkansas' legal fireworks sales schedule by moving the start date of the summer sales window from June 20 to June 13 each year. The bill directly affects Arkansas residents who purchase or use fireworks, allowing retail sales from June 13-July 10 annually (instead of June 20-July 10) alongside the existing December 10-January 5 holiday window. This amendment modifies Arkansas Code § 20-22-711(a)(1) to adjust the permissible sales period without altering other provisions. The change applies to all retail sales of fireworks defined under state law.
