Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Photo by Will Newton/Arkansas House of Representatives
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Day 80
LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE
The Senate will convene at 1 p.m. and the House 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.
Workers’ Compensation Bills Withdrawn
Sen. John Payton withdrew all six of his workers’ compensation bills yesterday. SB 418 was withdrawn completely and SB 284, 285, 286, 287, and 288 were all referred to Interim Study. This means these bills will be heard by the committee between the end of this session and the next Regular Session, but no votes can be taken.
We very much appreciate the Senators who helped up oppose these dangerous bills. We also thank any of you who spoke with a Senator about opposing these bills. Please be sure to say thank you to any that responded to your request.
Click HERE to view a ONE-PAGE SUMMARY of these bills.
Bills on Committee Agendas Today
HB 1150 – Restricts healthcare payors and pharmacy benefits managers from obtaining specific pharmacy permits, which could limit market competition. House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We oppose 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). Senate Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs Committee. We oppose this bill.
SB 361 – Creates the Industrial Development Authorities Expansion Act. House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. We support 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. This bill failed to receive a motion yesterday in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, but remains on the committee agenda. We support this bill, which will provide much needed additional funds to the DWS Training Trust Fund at no cost to employers.
The Senate State Agencies Committee has 13 joint resolutions on today’s agenda, including SJR 15. These proposals seek to be referred to the 2026 ballot.
- SJR 15 – Seeks to create economic development districts. We support this resolution.
The House State Agencies Committee will review the five joint resolutions they selected Monday evening during today’s meeting. The five are:
- HJR 1018 – ( David Ray and Sen. John Payton) The Citizens Only Voting Amendment.
- HJR 1014 – ( Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Howard Beaty) A constitutional amendment concerning economic development in the state of Arkansas and authorizing the General Assembly to provide for the creation of economic development districts to promote economic development We support this bill, which was brought by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
- HJR 1017 – ( David Ray and Sen. John Payton) A constitutional amendment providing that a proposed statewide initiated act or constitutional amendment shall become law when approved by a majority of the votes cast in the election and a majority of the counties of the state.
- HJR 1016 – ( David Ray) A constitutional amendment to repeal the provision of Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 1, allowing the sponsor of an initiative or referendum petition to correct or amend a petition.
- HJR 1009 – ( Karilyn Brown and Sen. Ben Gilmore) An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to be known as the Arkansas Victims’ Bill of Rights; and to provide rights for victims of misdemeanor and felony offenses, including victims in the adult and juvenile justice systems.
HB 1442 – Seeks to place additional restrictions on pharmacy contracting, potentially increasing costs for businesses and consumers. Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We oppose this bill.
HB 1571 – Amends the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program Act. Senate Education Committee. We support this bill.
SB 5 – Establishes a criminal offense for prescription drug harm or homicide. Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose this bill.
SB 6 – Introduces a criminal offense for vaccine harm. Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose this bill.
SB 7 – Seeks to grant legislators the ability to request sales and use tax reports. It failed in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee before spring break but is back on the committee agenda. We have concerns about confidentiality and business privacy. We oppose this bill.
Tomorrow at the Capitol
HB 1750 – Repeals the franchise tax. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. This bill is part of our tax package. We support this bill.
SB 390 – Creates an apprenticeship program. House Education Committee. We support this bill.
SB 322 – Allows third parties to review plans and perform site inspections. House City, County and Local Committee. We support this bill.
SB 456 and HB 1754 – Seek to limit/eliminate local zoning authorities. We oppose these bills.
- SB 456 – Pending on Senate floor
- HB 1754 – House Judiciary Committee
HB 1922 – (Rep. John Maddox and Sen. Jonathan Dismang) Seeks to amend the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003; to create an income tax credit for relocating corporate headquarters to this state; and to encourage corporations to relocate to Arkansas. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill, which is part of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s package.
HB 1444 – Seeks to amend the sales and use tax exemption for data centers. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1469 – Establishes the Broadband Expansion and Efficiency Act. House Revenue and Taxation 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. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1656 – Seeks to make changes to existing royalty contracts. Senate Agriculture and Economic Development Committee. We oppose this bill.
Yesterday at the Capitol
HB 1797 – Seeks to amend the law concerning the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. Passed in the House 68-8. We support this bill, which was brought by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
HB 1706 – Seeks to prohibit ranked choice voting. Passed in the House 79-14. We support this bill.
Pending Bills We Support
Our tax package includes these four bills because the Tax Foundation has identified these measures as critical to improving Arkansas’ tax competitiveness ranking.
- HB 1500 – Repeals the throwback rule
- HB 1501 – Aligns Arkansas’ income tax law with federal standards for expensing depreciable business assets
- HB 1538 – Extends the net operating loss carryforward period
- HB 1750 – Repeals the franchise tax
Other tax-related bills we support that are pending in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee:
- HB 1435 – Provides income tax credits for childcare
- SB 465 – Provides for a sales and use tax refund for speculative development projects and requires concurrent financial incentive agreements under the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003.
To view the status of each of the bills we support, click HERE.
Pending bills we oppose:
To view the status of each of the bills we oppose, click HERE.
Bills of Interest
HB 1800 – Rep. Mindy McAlindon and Sen. Matt McKee
Amends campaign finance disclosure laws, requiring agents of a foreign principal to disclose their activities. Awaits consideration in the House State Agencies Committee.
HB 1852 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore and Sen. Matt Stone
Establishes a right to repair for certain agricultural equipment. Awaits consideration in the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.
HB 1900 – Rep. Rick Beck and Sen. Breanne Davis
Seeks to amend the law regarding information provided to royalty owners related to deductions; and to amend the law concerning sanctions for noncompliance related to information provided to royalty owners. Awaits consideration in the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.
SB 527 – Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Lee Johnson
Seeks to amend the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and increase the medical-loss ratio of the ARHOME program. Awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee.
SB 567 – Sen. Steve Crowell and Rep. Rebecca Burks
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.
SB 568 – Sen. Steve Crowell and Rep. Lane Jean
Seeks to amend the law concerning the taxes applicable to lithium extraction and development; to provide a sales and use tax exemption for lithium resource development; and to amend the law concerning the severance tax on lithium.
SB 596 – Sen. Matt McKee and Rep. Mindy McAlindon
Seeks to amend the law regarding energy; to establish a state energy policy; to regulate retirement of dispatchable electric generation facilities.
NEWLY TRACKED BILLS
We added eight bills to our tracking list based on those filed yesterday.
HB 1955 – Rep. Stephen Meeks
Repeals the Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act.
HB 1956 – Rep. Stephen Meeks
Creates the Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection Act.
HB 1958 – Rep. Stephen Meeks
Requires public entities to develop policies governing the authorized use of artificial intelligence.
HB 1960 – Rep. Jeff Wardlaw
Designates the lessee of a leased motor vehicle as the owner for property tax purposes and amends local sales and use tax laws on certain tangible personal property.
HB 1968 – Rep. Mark Perry
Requires sales tax collection at the point of sale for new and used motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers sold by dealers; amends law affirmed by Referred Act 19 of 1958.
SB 598 – Sen. Jane English and Rep. Bruce Cozart
Amends various laws related to the Division of Workforce Services and updates the definition of “employee” under the Workers’ Compensation Law from Initiated Act 4 of 1948.
SB 600 – Sen. Clarke Tucker
Regulates contractual provisions, mandates specific terms in certain contracts, and clarifies jurisdiction for contract disputes.
SB 602 – Sen. Steve Crowell
Prohibits insurance companies and appraisers from requiring insured individuals to use specific facilities for motor vehicle safety glass repairs or replacements; establishes penalties for violations.