We’ve said it before, and we need to say it again: there is a lot happening at both the federal and the state government levels. There is much to worry about with the proposed federal spending cuts that could dramatically affect Arkansans (see our blog for several posts about that). But we must also keep our eye on Arkansas’s General Assembly as it gets closer to the end of the legislative session. Bills are moving quickly!
Below you will find an overview of bills on AACF’s legislative agenda and that AACF generally either supports or opposes. We are monitoring more bills, listed and frequently updated on our website.
Bills on AACF’s Legislative Agenda
Through conversations with partners, advocates and young Arkansans, and through our own policy research, AACF has identified a series of policies that will improve the well-being of Arkansans. The following bills are in support of our 2025 legislative agenda.
Child Welfare
New and Scheduled: HB1731 | Rep. DeAnn Vaught | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would require employers who hire children under the age of 16 to acquire from the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing an employment certificate form. The employment certificate would have to include proof of the minor’s age, a description of the work and work schedule, and written consent of the parent or guardian. It would reinstate a child labor protection that the Legislature revoked in 2023. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Democracy and Voting Rights
Scheduled: SB398 | Sen. Clarke Tucker and Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would clarify a current constitutional requirement that the Secretary of State’s Office, after reviewing submitted petition materials, including signatures, must allow ballot measure campaigns a 30-day period to fix any issues that make their proposed ballot measure insufficient to appear on the ballot. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed and Scheduled: SB403 | Sen. Clarke Tucker and Rep. Howard M. Beaty, Jr. | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would establish a Complete Count Committee, made up of government officials and local leaders, to help plan for outreach, communications, and data gathering for the 2030 Census. It passed the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday. It is on the agenda of the full Senate at 1:30pm on Monday, March 17.
Health
Scheduled: HB1004 | Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Breanne Davis | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would extend pregnancy Medicaid coverage to a full year postpartum. Right now, such coverage ends just 60 days after delivery. Despite our state having the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, Arkansas is the only state that has not extended postpartum coverage for women beyond 60 days. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed and Scheduled: HB1252 | Rep. Lee Johnson | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would create a certification process for community-based doulas in Arkansas and describes their scope of practice. It outlines requirements for certification, including training, privacy, and application procedures. It would require that the Department of Health maintain a public registry of certified community-based doulas. It would authorize certified community-based doulas to be reimbursed for certain services under Medicaid. It passed the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor on Thursday and is on the agenda of the full House at 1:30pm on Monday, March 17.
Juvenile Justice
Progressed: SB340 | Sen. Alan Clark | Senate Judiciary Committee
This bill would eliminate fees and fines in the juvenile court system, while still requiring young people to make restitution to victims in delinquency cases. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday and the full Senate on Wednesday.
Bills AACF Also Supports
The following bills are not formally on AACF’s legislative agenda, but AACF recognizes they could have a positive impact on Arkansas’s children and families.
Child Welfare
Scheduled: SB320 | Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Carol Dalby | Senate Committee on Judiciary
This bill would create a new chapter in statute for the Arkansas Juvenile Code and largely reorganizes the existing statute in that chapter for clean-up purposes. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Judiciary at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed: HB1434 | Rep. Ashley Hudson and Sen. Missy Irvin | House Committee on Judiciary
This bill proposes amendments to child custody law, specifically addressing cases involving domestic abuse or coercive control. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption against awarding custody or unsupervised visitation to a parent or guardian found to have committed abuse or coercive control, requiring them to prove that their involvement will not endanger the child. It passed the House Committee on Judiciary on Thursday.
Democracy and Voting Rights
Scheduled: SB12 | Sen. Bryan King | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this bill passes, the communications of the Board of Apportionment (the committee that draws legislative districts) will be included specifically as subject to Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act. It is on the agenda of the full Senate at 1:30pm on Monday, March 17.
Scheduled: SJR22 | Sen. Greg Leding and Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this resolution passes, a constitutional amendment would be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration. If voters approve the measure, then 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the general election can vote in the primaries for that election year. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Scheduled: HJR1001 | Rep. Andrew Collins | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this resolution passes, a constitutional amendment would be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration. If voters approved the measure, it would create a nine-member, citizens’ redistricting commission that would redraw congressional and legislative districts following the census. After a public application process, commission members would be selected by a panel of three retired judges, appointed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Scheduled: HJR1003 | Rep. Andrew Collins | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this resolution passes, a constitutional amendment would be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration. If voters approved the measure, a constitutional amendment would be created that would require that any proposed changes to government transparency laws be approved by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. Legislature-approved transparency changes would then be placed on the ballot during the next general election for voters’ consideration. An exception would be made for changes that were necessary for public safety. Under those circumstances, the changes could be passed by the General Assembly with a nine-tenths vote. The changes would go into effect immediately but would still require voters’ approval to remain in effect. The resolution would also prevent the state Legislature from referring amendments that would amend this change. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Family Economic Security
Scheduled: SB241 | Sen. Jamie Scott and Rep. Aaron Pilkington | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would grant 80 hours of leave in a calendar year to a public employee in the event of the death of an immediate family member; it would grant 640 hours in a calendar year in the event of the death of a child. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
New: SB418 | Sen. John Payton | Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would require workers’ compensation insurers to spend at least 85% of premiums on healthcare and wage claims, leaving no more than 15% for administrative costs. This is similar to the Affordable Care Act’s requirement for health insurers.
New: HB1719 | Rep. DeAnn Vaught | House Committee on Education
This bill would exclude any holiday or other day on which academic classes are not held from counting towards the total number of days the school approves as maternity leave for an individual eligible for paid maternity leave.
Health
Scheduled: SB123 | Sen. Greg Leding and Rep. DeAnn Vaught | Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce
This bill would amend the law concerning coverage for mammograms and breast ultrasounds under health benefit plans. If this bill became law, health insurance plans could not impose cost-sharing (co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance) for diagnostic testing. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce at 10am on Monday, March 17.
Progressed: HB1079 | Rep. Fred Allen and Sen. Dave Wallace | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would require health benefit plans to cover genetic testing for inherited gene mutations and evidence-based cancer imaging. The coverage would apply to individuals with a personal or family history of cancer or those with a prior cancer diagnosis. It passed the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor on Thursday.
Scheduled: HB1164 | Rep. Julie Mayberry and Sen. Clint Penzo | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
The bill would require providers to offer annual cognitive assessments to patients over 60 or those at higher risk for Alzheimer’s or dementia. It would mandate that health insurers cover these assessments for eligible patients without deductibles or copayments starting in 2026. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed and Scheduled: HB1275 | Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Blake Johnson | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would prohibit health care insurers from requiring prior authorization for treatment of a mental health crisis. It passed the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor on Tuesday and the full House on Wednesday. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce for 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed and Scheduled: HB1300 | Rep. Lee Johnson and Sen. Missy Irvin | House Committee on Insurance and Commerce
This bill seeks to amend the Prior Authorization Transparency Act by expanding disclosure requirements for health care services that need prior authorization. It would exempt certain health care services from prior authorization, establish a process for reviewing approvals when guidelines are not followed, and create a trust fund for educating stakeholders and improving compliance. It passed the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce on Wednesday and is on the agenda of the full House at 1:30pm on Monday, March 17.
Now Law: HB1309 is now Act 268 | Rep. Ryan A. Rose and Sen. Missy Irvin | House Committee on Insurance and Commerce
This new law clarifies that no copayment or deductible is required for mammograms, breast ultrasounds, or diagnostic procedures like breast MRIs for breast cancer examinations. It passed the full Senate on Monday and was signed into law on Wednesday.
Scheduled: HB1677 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. John Payton | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would authorize substance use treatment programs to maintain emergency medication kits needed for emergency care, overseen by a licensed pharmacy. These kits would be required to be securely stored and only accessible to authorized medical staff, and the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy would adopt rules regarding kits. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Tax and Budget
Watching for: SB377 | Sen. Bart Hester and Rep. Kendon Underwood | Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation
This bill would exempt food and food ingredients from state sales tax (currently 1/8th of a cent on the dollar or 0.125%). It is currently assigned to the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation, which meets on Wednesday and does not yet have a published agenda.
Scheduled: HB1685 | Rep. Kendon Underwood and Sen. Bart Hester | House Committee on Revenue and Taxation
This is the companion bill to SB377. The content in HB1685 and SB377 is identical. This bill would exempt food and food ingredients from state sales tax (currently 1/8th of a cent on the dollar or 0.125%). It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Scheduled: HB1699 | Rep. Tippi M083cCullough and Sen. Clarke Tucker | House Committee on Revenue and Taxation
This bill would add firearm safety and storage devices to the list of items exempt from sales tax during the annual sales tax holiday, which occurs the first weekend in August. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Bills AACF Opposes
The following are bills we believe would be harmful to our state, our state’s children and their families, and our state’s most vulnerable individuals.
Child Welfare
Scheduled: HB1653 | Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Missy Irvin | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would allow the number of psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) beds in Arkansas to increase to a total of 1,000 beds. It would also classify PRTFs as a “long-term care facility” and move the oversight of PRTFs from the Child Welfare Agency Review Board to the DHS Office of Long Term Care. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Democracy and Voting Rights
Now Law: SB209 is now Act 273 | Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This new law disqualifies all signatures collected by a canvasser, including legitimate signatures, if a canvasser is found to have violated Arkansas law or the Arkansas Constitution while collecting signatures for a petition. It passed the full House on Monday and was signed into law on Wednesday.
Now Law: SB210 is now Act 274 | Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood | Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This new law requires require canvassers to read the ballot title of a measure out loud to a voter or observe a voter read the ballot title before allowing them to sign a ballot measure petition. It passed the full House on Monday and was signed into law on Wednesday.
Scheduled: HB1667 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Alan Clark | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would change the Freedom of Information Act to define a public meeting as one that includes more than two public officials of the same publicly funded board or group. Currently, a public meeting is defined as two or more members, so this raises the bar for what constitutes a public meeting, weakening the state FOIA. (In last week’s newsletter, this bill was incorrectly listed as one that AACF supports.) It is on the agenda for the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes after the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
New and Scheduled: HB1773 | Rep. Wayne Long | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would lead to the partisan funding of ballot measure campaigns by placing current rules on political campaigns onto ballot measure campaigns and blocking all but individuals, political action committees, and political parties from donating to campaigns. It would also create a maximum cap that donors could make for all ballot measures combined. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Scheduled: HJR1016 | Rep. David Ray | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this proposed ballot measure is approved by the General Assembly, it would be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration. The measure would end what is commonly known as the “cure period” for ballot measure campaigns, which allows campaigns to collect signatures for an additional 30 days if the Secretary of State’s office finds that they submitted at least 75% of the signatures required in at least 75% of 15 counties. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Scheduled: HJR1017 | Rep. David Ray and Sen. John Payton | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this proposed ballot measure were approved by the General Assembly, it would be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration. The measure would add that for a ballot measure to pass and become law, in addition to receiving a majority of votes overall, it would also need to receive a majority of votes in a majority of counties. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
New, Progressed and Scheduled: HB1714 | Rep. Ryan A. Rose and Sen. Kim Hammer | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this bill passes, canvassing volunteers on ballot measure campaigns would be considered a paid canvasser if they are reimbursed for meals, mileage, or certain other expenses. If considered a paid canvasser, additional restrictions would apply to them. It passed the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday and is on the agenda of the full House at 1:30pm on Monday, March 17.
New and Scheduled: HB1753 | Rep. Wayne Long | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
If this bill passes, Arkansas would “opt-out” of enforcement of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Under that law, many state agencies that people interact with when applying for their driver’s license, SNAP, disability services, etc. are required to provide voter registration applications. This bill would require that agencies share them only upon request. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Education, K-12
Scheduled: HB1705 | Rep. Hope Duke and Sen. Joshua Bryant | House Committee on Education
This bill would create new requirements for 6th-12th grade social studies standards and courses in public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools. It would require information about the founding fathers’ religious and political beliefs and how their religious beliefs influenced the United States’ founding documents, like the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Education at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Equity
Scheduled: HB1615 | Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Gary Stubblefield | House Committee on Judiciary
This bill would prohibit higher education institutions from requiring that a student participate in a program that would violate their “sincerely held” religious beliefs about marriage and “biological sex.” This bill also would prevent the state from taking discriminatory action against any religious organization or person that refuses services to LGBTQ+ couples attempting to get married or hires, fires, or disciplines a person whose conduct or religious beliefs are inconsistent with those of the religious organization. In addition, government employees could not be sanctioned for speaking out against LGBTQ+ individuals, and county clerks could refuse to issue marriage licenses. This bill would also prohibit individuals from suing for discrimination against any person or entity providing services in compliance with this law. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Judiciary at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Scheduled: HB1668 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Alan Clark | House Committee on Judiciary
This bill would define “castration, sterilization, and mutilation” of a minor to include using legally prescribed medications that temporarily stop puberty. It would also define the term “social transitioning” to mean any act by which a minor adopts or espouses a gender identity that differs from the minor’s biological sex, such as changes to clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name. The bill would allow the minor or their parent to sue for damages related to “social transitioning” or “castration, sterilization, and mutilation” for 15 years after the alleged harm. A person could recover statutory damages of at least $10,000 per defendant and punitive damages of $10 million for certain medical interventions. Additionally, the bill would apply “extraterritorially,” meaning it could target out-of-state individuals and providers who assist Arkansas residents in accessing gender-affirming care, which could be as little as providing a haircut for a trans teen to help support their transition, teachers who use a student’s chosen name, and therapists who offer counseling. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Judiciary at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Progressed: HB1669 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Alan Clark | House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, and Legislative Affairs
This bill would prohibit state government from taking any discriminatory action, such as taking away funding or licenses, against faith-based foster care or adoption agencies that refuse to serve LGBTQ+ individuals and families based on religious beliefs. This bill would also mandate that the state would not take action against a foster or adoptive family who “guides, instructs, or raises a child, or intends to guide, instruct, or raise a child, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief.” It passed the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, and Legislative Affairs on Wednesday and the full House on Thursday.
Family Economic Security
Progressed and Scheduled: SB307 | Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Les D. Eaves | Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce
This bill would retool the ability of public utilities in Arkansas to finance strategic investments by allowing the utilities to recover costs during the period of construction instead of after, as the current law mandates. It would reduce the oversight of the Public Service Commission in the process and would change the energy rate increase rules without protections for lower-income residents. It passed the full Senate on Wednesday. It is the only bill on the agenda of the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce for 15 minutes upon adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17. Find news on this bill here: Arkansas Advocate, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Times
New and Scheduled: HB1751 | Rep. Kendon Underwood | House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor
This bill would require a job-ready applicant for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, known in the state as the Arkansas Work Pays Program, to be engaged in job search activities while their application is being processed. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Immigrant Families
New and Scheduled: SB426 | Sen. Bart Hester and Rep. Frances Cavenaugh | Senate Committee on Judiciary
This bill would create enhanced penalties for certain “serious felony involving violence” convictions if the person committed those crimes while they were present in the U.S. without authorization. The enhanced penalty would run consecutive to (after) the penalty imposed by the court for the crime, and the individual is not eligible for early release on parole, transfer to post-release supervision, or community correction transfer. This bill would also require the Department of Corrections and county jails to apply for and participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant Officer Program, which allows them to serve administrative warrants (signed by an immigration officer, not a judge). Further, the bill would allow the state to withhold funds from any locality that the Attorney General finds as having policies in violation of this law. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on Judiciary 15 minutes upon adjournment of the Senate on Monday, March 17.
Scheduled: HB1422 | Rep. Wayne Long and Sen. Mark Johnson | House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs
This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration to prepare a monthly report with the names and identifying information of anyone who has a driver’s license in addition to a valid nonimmigrant visa or entry into the United States and deliver it to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State would then verify if any person were listed in the voter rolls of the state, and that person would be removed from the voter rolls and their license would also be suspended. This bill would also require DFA to modify the driver’s license of a person with nonimmigrant status to be printed vertically and to clearly state on its face “Limited Term.” This would remove the ability of non-citizens to have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license which will be required as of May 7, 2025, to enter federal buildings, and to fly. This bill would also restrict the forms of ID that Arkansans can use to vote, including concealed handgun carry licenses and college/university IDs. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, March 17.
Tax and Budget
Scheduled: HB1500 | Rep. Howard M. Beaty, Jr. and Sen. Ben Gilmore | House Committee on Revenue and Taxation
During the 2023 regular session, the Legislature passed a law to eliminate the “throwback rule” by 2030. This bill would repeal the rule effective immediately (for the 2025 tax year). The throwback rule prevents corporations from paying their fair share by claiming large amounts of out-of-state sales. As these sales go completely untaxed, state revenue from corporate tax is reduced. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Scheduled: HB1636 | Rep. David Ray and Sen. Jim Petty | House Committee on Revenue and Taxation
This bill would phase out the soft drink tax over time (at a rate determined by the amount of tax collected on soft drinks the previous year). The soft drink tax currently produces about $45 million a year in special revenue for the Arkansas Medicaid Program Trust Fund. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, March 18.
Also Worth Noting
New and Scheduled: SB451 | Sen. Bart Hester and Rep. R. Scott Richardson | Senate Committee on Education
This bill would require each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school to conduct a behavioral threat assessment when an enrolled student behaves in a way that is highly likely to cause injury to the student, other students, or staff. It would also require the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, to establish regional behavioral health crisis response teams to assist public schools and charter schools with activities such as reviewing the behavioral threat data collected and locating appropriate services and placement for students who are violent to the point of injuring themselves, other students, or staff. We are currently analyzing this bill before we take a position. It is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on Education at 10am on Monday, March 17.
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