This bill appropriates state and federal funds to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically targeting food and nutrition programs. It authorizes spending for salaries, operating expenses, and grants related to child nutrition initiatives, including school food services and aid to local school districts. The legislation also adds new budget line items for various administrative and support roles within the department. Once enacted, these funds will be used to maintain and expand services for programs like the Child Nutrition Program and commodity distribution.
This bill authorizes the introduction of legislation to modify the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program, which provides state funds to students enrolled in private schools or homeschooled. The proposed changes would adjust the annual funding amount for participating students, set a minimum performance threshold for receiving disbursements, and establish stricter eligibility rules based on academic achievement. Specifically, students who fail to meet a minimum test score would lose their account eligibility, and those currently enrolled in or previously attending private schools would be barred from receiving new accounts. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for determining eligibility and requires that assessments be administered at educational service cooperatives, with exemptions available for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SB 46 authorizes state funding for the Arkansas State University Three Rivers campus for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes the maximum number of regular employees and their corresponding salary rates across various administrative, IT, and operational roles. Once enacted as Act 20, it sets the budgetary limits for personal services and operating expenses for the university during that specific fiscal period.
HB 1067 provides funding for the Arkansas State University - Arkansas Biosciences Institute for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of up to 43 employees and allocates $5,643,838 for salaries, operating expenses, and capital outlays. Funds are drawn from the Tobacco Settlement Program Fund, with restrictions on using state money to replace those funds if they expire. The legislation also allows the institute to transfer money between budget categories with oversight from state officials.
HB 1025 allocates state funds for the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes specific salary rates and maximum employee counts for various administrative, academic, and support positions, including roles in IT, student affairs, and public safety. This legislation directly affects the college's budget and staffing levels by setting the financial parameters for hiring and paying employees during the upcoming year.
HB 1054 provides additional funding for the Division of Career and Technical Education within the Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill increases the appropriation by adjusting specific line items, raising one amount from $617,825 to $2,117,825 and another from $2,995,071 to $4,495,071. These changes directly affect the budget available to the Division of Career and Technical Education to support its programs and operations. Once enacted, the bill becomes Act 101 and is transmitted to the Governor's office for signature.
HB 1015 provides funding and sets staffing limits for Black River Technical College in Arkansas for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes maximum numbers and salary rates for various administrative, academic, and support positions, including roles in IT, student services, and public safety. Once enacted, the college will use these funds to pay for employee salaries and cover operating expenses during the specified fiscal year.
HB 1096 authorizes the transfer of previously approved funds to four Arkansas State University campuses and one community college for use starting July 1, 2026. The bill allocates money for specific projects such as building renovations, technology upgrades, critical maintenance, and equipment repairs. These funds come from the Development and Enhancement Fund and are intended to support ongoing infrastructure and operational needs at the affected institutions.
SB 28 allocates funding for the South Arkansas College for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by establishing specific salary rates and maximum employee counts for various administrative and operational roles. The bill directly affects the college's workforce by setting caps on positions such as the President, IT staff, counselors, and public safety officers, along with their corresponding annual salaries. Once enacted into law as Act 11, this legislation authorizes the college to hire and pay employees within these defined limits to support its operations.
This bill provides funding for the Department of Education's Office of Early Childhood for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the hiring of specific staff positions, such as program administrators, quality assurance managers, and investigators, while adjusting the number of employees and their pay grades. The legislation also sets aside a total appropriation of $188,667,976, which is lower than the original amount proposed in the bill. Finally, the bill removes a section regarding the establishment of a new position and is now officially known as Act 126.
