Daily Legislative Update: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Photo by Will Newton/Arkansas House of Representatives
Thursday, April 10, 2025 – Day 88
LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE
The Senate will convene at 1:00 p.m., and the House will convene at 1:30 p.m.
Committees are now following irregular meeting schedules. For the latest updates, visit www.arkleg.state.ar.us, where you can find committee schedules, agendas, and live streams.
**CALL-TO-ACTION**
ASK STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO OPPOSE HB 1930
ASK SENATORS TO OPPOSE SB 626
HB 1930 – Rep. Jeff Wardlaw and Sen. Justin Boyd
SB 626 – Sen. Missy Irvin
HB 1930 is on today’s House calendar. SB 626 is on today’s agenda in the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee.
Yesterday, an amendment was filed to SB 626 that incorporates the full language of HB 1930 into the bill. As a result, two nearly identical bills are now advancing in both chambers, each posing a significant threat of increased healthcare costs for employers and employees.
HB 1930 and SB 626 propose mandating minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare providers in Arkansas. Although the bill intends to address low reimbursement rates, the language in these bills would cause a significant increase in healthcare costs for employers, employees, and self-funded health plans, including those operated by private businesses and nonprofit organizations.
This is a thinly disguised tax increase.
If enacted, HB 1930 and SB 626 would have broad and costly consequences across the state:
- Employers and employees could see a 30% increase in insurance premiums, according to one in-state insurance provider—amounting to approximately $1,200 to $1,500 more per covered individual each year.
- A family of four would see an annual premium increase between $4,800 and $6,000. Employers would face the decision of how much of the increase to absorb.
- These increases could result in benefit cuts, including ending health insurance coverage.
- Private businesses and nonprofits would be forced to absorb higher costs, making it harder to provide affordable coverage to their employees.
State employees and higher education employees are protected from the increases.
Rather than strengthening the healthcare system, HB 1930 and SB 626 risk undermining it by making Arkansas less competitive for business investment, job creation, and talent retention. While the State Chamber/AIA supports improving access to healthcare, a state-level cost shift to private entities and their employees is not the right approach.
Please contact your state representatives and state senators and urge them to oppose HB 1930 and SB 626.
Support Pro-Growth Economic Development Legislation
The following four bills from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) legislative package are currently moving through the legislature. Each one plays a key role in supporting economic growth, business investment, and job creation in Arkansas.
SB 568 – Amends the law concerning taxes applicable to lithium extraction and development; provides a sales and use tax exemption for lithium resource development; and amends the severance tax on lithium. This bill establishes a comprehensive lithium incentive program that encourages in-state extraction, process, refining, manufacturing, and recycling. This bill awaits consideration in the House Revenue & Taxation Committee. We support this bill, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s legislative package.
HB 1935 – Amends the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003 and creates a modernization and automation tax credit to encourage investment by existing businesses within the state. This bill establishes an incentive program that encourages Arkansas businesses to generate large capital investments within the state, particularly those directed at modernizing and automating existing operations. This bill passed the House yesterday 81-13 and awaits consideration in the Senate Revenue & Taxation Committee. We support this bill, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s legislative package.
HB 1797 – Seeks to amend the law concerning the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) and a portion of the Arkansas Code resulting from Initiated Act 1 of 2000. This bill finalizes the privatization of ADFA, allowing it to operate independently of the Department of Commerce. This bill passed the Senate floor yesterday by a vote of 33–1 and now returns to the House for concurrence with the amendment. We support this bill, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s legislative package.
HB 1922 – Seeks to amend the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003; creates an income tax credit for relocating corporate headquarters to Arkansas; and encourages corporate relocations to the state. This bill makes Arkansas a more attractive destination for national and regional headquarters, boosting our local economies and job growth. This bill received a “Do Pass” recommendation from the Senate Revenue & Taxation Committee yesterday and awaits consideration on the Senate floor. We support this bill, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s legislative package.
Please contact your state legislators and encourage them to vote YES on SB 568, HB 1935, HB 1797, and HB 1922.
AT THE CAPITOL: A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Revenue Stabilization Act Bills Filed
HB 2003 and SB 637 were filed yesterday and represent the balanced budget proposals for the 2025–2026 state fiscal year. These bills cannot be considered until they have been on file for at least three days. The balanced budget is typically one of the final bills considered in a legislative session—if not the very last.
Bills on Floor Calendars Today
The Senate State Agencies Committee has recommended three joint resolutions for consideration as the Senate’s proposed constitutional amendment to refer to the 2026 General Election ballot. The full Senate will vote on the three resolutions in the order listed below, and the first one to pass will become the Senate’s referral.
A resolution was filed yesterday requesting that SJR 15 be allowed as a third referral.
- SJR 11- An amendment to the Arkansas constitution to provide that the citizens of the state of Arkansas shall have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use, and for any other lawful purpose; providing that the right to keep and bear arms includes without limitation the possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories, and firearm components; and providing that the right to keep and bear arms is a natural, fundamental, and individual right that shall not be infringed.
- SJR 13 – A constitutional amendment to allow a candidate for Supreme Court justice, Court of Appeals judge, circuit judge, or district judge to declare his or her party affiliation or independent status when running for judicial office.
- SJR 15 – A constitutional amendment concerning economic development in Arkansas; authorizing the General Assembly to create economic development districts to promote economic growth. Senate State Agencies Committee. We support this joint resolution, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s legislative package.
HJR 1018 – The Citizens Only Voting Amendment. This is the House’s recommended ballot referral, which needs Senate approval.
HB 1800 – Seeks to amend disclosure laws requiring reporting of foreign spending in political activities. Awaits consideration on the Senate floor. This bill has been amended to our satisfaction, so we support this bill.
SB 258 – Known as the Arkansas Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Trust Act, this bill seeks to address technology privacy and artificial intelligence (AI). This bill awaits reconsideration by the Senate. We oppose this bill.
SB 610 – Amends the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025. It received a “Do Pass” recommendation yesterday from the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. It awaits consideration on the House floor.
Bills on Committee Agendas Today
HB 1706 – Prohibits ranked choice voting. Senate State Agencies Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1807 – Amends the sales tax exemption for aircraft held for resale and used for rental or charter and clarifies eligibility for the exemption. Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1900 – Seeks to amend the law regarding information provided to royalty owners related to deductions and to amend the law concerning sanctions for non-compliance related to information provided to royalty owners. House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. We oppose this bill.
HB 1970 – Amends the law on prepayment of sales tax by increasing the threshold for retailers required to prepay. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. This bill would benefit small retailers.
HB 1971 – Modifies requirements for information provided by the Department of Finance and Administration to cities and counties. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We have proposed an amendment to this bill.
SB 537 – Establishes the Earning Safe Reentry Through Work Act, allowing individuals on probation, parole, or post-release supervision to earn time credits through employment. House Judiciary Committee. We join ARSHRM in support of this bill.
SB 560 – Seeks to decrease the unemployment insurance base contribution rate, increase the administrative assessment rate to increase funding for the state’s skilled workforce and amend the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Training Trust Fund. House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We support this bill that will provide much needed additional funds to the DWS Training Trust Fund at no cost to employers.
Yesterday at the Capitol
HB 1150 – This bill passed yesterday in the Senate 26-9.
The immediate impact of the bill includes the closure of dozens of retail pharmacies, suspension of home delivery prescription drug programs, and restricted access to specialty pharmacies. This government mandate will interfere with employer healthcare decisions, increase prescription costs, and eliminate essential pharmacy services.
HB 1955 – Seeks to repeal the Shielded Outdoor Lighting. Received a “Do Pass” recommendation yesterday from the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.
HB 1956 – Create the Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection Act. Received a “Do Pass” recommendation from the House Insurance and Commerce Committee yesterday.
SB 390 – Creates an apprenticeship program. This bill passed the House 98-0 yesterday. We supported this bill.
SB 567 – Seeks to amend and modernize the law concerning the apportionment of income derived from multistate operations and to change the method for sourcing of receipts for services and intangibles. Passed the House 96-0 yesterday.
HB 1656 – Seeks to make changes to existing royalty contracts. This bill passed in the Senate 27-6 yesterday. We oppose this bill.
SB 615 – Amends energy regulations to address non-export facilities and prohibit discrimination against them. This bill passed in the Senate 20-12 yesterday.
Pending bills we support
SB 462 – provides for re-entering convicted persons to obtain a certificate of employability which will then provide some protection to employers for alleged “negligent hiring.” Senate Judiciary. We join the Arkansas Society of Human Resource Managers (ARSHRM) in support of this bill.
To view the status of each of the bills we support, click HERE.
Pending bills we oppose:
HB 1754 – Seeks to limit/eliminate local zoning authorities. House Judiciary Committee. We oppose this bill.
To view the status of each of the bills we oppose, click HERE.