Healthcare (Medicaid)

HB 1031 appropriates $26.4 million in state funds to cover the salaries and operating expenses of the Arkansas Office of Attorney General for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill authorizes the hiring of up to 164 regular employees across various roles, including deputy attorneys general, investigators, and administrative staff, with specific salary caps for each position. A separate portion of the funding, totaling $1.07 million, is designated specifically for the Medicaid Fraud Division to support its state and federal operations. Additionally, the legislation permits the office to hire temporary or part-time workers as needed to handle extra workloads. Once enacted, this act provides the necessary financial resources to maintain the office's daily functions and legal enforcement activities.

This bill authorizes funding for the Arkansas Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, directing money from the Medicaid Expansion Program Account to the Department of Human Services. The legislation establishes specific job positions and allocates over $145 million for grants to hospitals and medical services, as well as approximately $1.3 million for operational expenses in aging, adult, and behavioral health divisions. Additionally, the act includes provisions ensuring that state funds are not used to replace tobacco settlement money unless explicitly approved by the General Assembly and Governor.