Senate Bill 58, now Act 138, provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Higher Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes specific job positions and sets salary limits for staff within the division, including roles for program management, grants administration, and IT support. Additionally, it allocates money to support various student financial aid programs, such as the Arkansas Future Grants and the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship. The legislation also includes operating expenses for the State Board of Private Career Education to cover its administrative costs.
HB 1101 proposes to allocate $9.5 million from the Public School Fund to the Arkansas Department of Education for math curriculum grants under the R.I.S.E. Arkansas program. These funds are intended for local school districts and special programs to support mathematics education during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill includes standard provisions requiring compliance with state procurement and budget laws, as well as an emergency clause to ensure funding is available starting July 1, 2026. Although the legislation was introduced to address immediate educational funding needs, it ultimately did not pass before the legislative session ended.
Senate Bill 47, now enacted as Act 21, provides funding for the Arkansas State University System Technology Center (SAU-Tech) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation establishes specific maximum salary rates and employee counts for various administrative, technical, and operational positions within the organization. By setting these limits, the bill determines the total budget allocation for regular salaries and operating expenses during the specified fiscal period.
HB 1075 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the University of Arkansas and the Division of Agriculture - Arkansas Biosciences Institutes. The bill provides approximately $4.8 million in total appropriations, covering salaries, operating expenses, and capital outlays, with funds drawn from the Tobacco Settlement Program Fund. It includes specific rules on how the money can be transferred between budget categories and clarifies that state funds cannot replace Tobacco Settlement funds if those funds expire.
Senate Bill 40, now enacted as Act 17, provides funding for the University of Arkansas System and various state divisions for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation establishes specific maximum numbers of regular employees and sets salary rates for administrative, academic, and support positions across the system. Directly affected entities include the University of Arkansas System administration, the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, and the Criminal Justice Institute, which will use these funds to cover personnel costs for the upcoming year.
SB 77 was a proposed amendment to provide funding for the Educational Television Division within the Arkansas Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill sought to delete an existing section and renumber subsequent sections to adjust the appropriation details. However, the measure failed to pass during its final reading on April 29, 2026, and did not become law.
This bill appropriates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain. The legislation specifically increases the allocated budget from $1,750,000 to $13,750,000 and adjusts the total appropriation to $30,875,000. These financial resources are intended to cover the college's operational expenses and programs for the upcoming year. Once enacted, the funds become available for the institution to use in managing its daily activities and educational services.
This bill amends the Arkansas Procurement Law to clarify rules for cooperative purchasing agreements involving public school construction projects. It defines "public school local government construction services" as repairs or improvements to public buildings that cost up to one million dollars per fiscal year. The changes require specific reporting details for these contracts and allow units to request waivers if they need to exceed the one million dollar limit. Ultimately, the legislation updates state code to streamline how municipalities and school districts share resources for smaller construction projects.
HB 1056 provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Education's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of four full-time staff members and allows for additional temporary or part-time workers when needed. It allocates approximately $475,000 in total for salaries, operating expenses, travel, and other costs to support the commission's activities.
This bill provides funding for the Educational Television Division within the Arkansas Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It specifically allocates money to support the PBS Deputy Director position and covers various operational expenses for the division. The legislation adjusts specific dollar amounts and personnel grades in the budget to reflect updated financial figures. Once enacted, these funds will be used to sustain educational television services provided to Arkansas schools.
