City, County and Local Affairs

Senate Bill 456, known as the Home Opportunities Made Easier Act, aims to increase housing options by limiting certain local government regulations on residential development. It prohibits local governments from imposing aesthetic design requirements for homes and garages, unless necessary for public health, safety, or structural integrity. The bill mandates that areas zoned for single-family homes must also allow duplexes, and certain cities must allow triplexes and quadplexes. Additionally, it permits attached or detached secondary dwelling units on lots with single-family homes, with local governments only able to impose reasonable restrictions like setbacks. These changes primarily affect property owners and local governments by altering zoning and design control over housing construction.

Senate Bill 588 proposes to establish a new "winery private club permit" in Arkansas. This permit would allow the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division to authorize wineries to operate as private clubs, manufacturing up to 10,000 cases of wine annually. Permit holders could sell wine for both on- and off-premises consumption, serve complimentary samples to members and guests, and conduct wine-tasting events. A key provision allows these permits to be issued even if the winery premises is located in a dry area, and there would be no requirement for the club to serve food.

SB 87 modifies laws related to county planning and land development. The bill creates a penalty for violating local subdivision ordinances, which are rules for dividing land into smaller parcels. It also amends the structure of county planning boards by adjusting requirements for members representing unincorporated areas and the overall proportion of voting members on the board.

Senate Bill 647, the "Economic Development District Act of 2025," creates a framework for municipalities, counties, or cooperative areas in Arkansas to establish Economic Development Districts. These districts are designated areas intended to promote economic growth and revitalization. They can fund projects like infrastructure and various forms of economic development construction by utilizing "property charge increments" and "sales charge increments," which are the increases in property and sales taxes generated within the district above a set baseline. The Department of Commerce is tasked with providing support, technical assistance, and resources for the establishment and management of these districts.

Senate Bill 60 aims to regulate the location of digital asset mining businesses in Arkansas. It prohibits these businesses from operating or constructing within a thirty-mile radius of specific military facilities, including Little Rock Air Force Base, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Chaffee, and Pine Bluff Arsenal. The bill directs the Oil and Gas Commission not to issue new permits for facilities within these restricted zones. Furthermore, it requires the revocation of existing permits for facilities within the radius unless they cease operations or construction, applying to businesses not issued a permit by December 31, 2024.