During the legislative session, many bills have the potential to impact Arkansans with disabilities, their families, and their communities. You can follow the progress of these bills here in this policy digest.
Navigate directly to a category:
Accessibility
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1138 | To Authorize Certain Medical Professionals To Certify To The Office Of Motor Vehicle Eligibility For A Special License Plate, Certificate, Or Parking Decal For A Person With A Disability. | Torres | Passed | Support |
| HB1428 | To Amend The Law Regarding Public Lodging; And To Provide A Bed Height Requirement For Mobility Accessible Rooms. | Steimel | Committee Referral | Support |
Budget
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Children & Youth / Juvenile Justice
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB340 | To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Certain Fees, Expenses, And Costs Imposed On A Juvenile Or The Parent, Guardian, Or Custodian Of A Juvenile. | Clark | Committee Referral | Support |
| SB459 | To Amend The Minimum Age Necessary To Adjudicate A Juvenile Delinquent. | Leding | Committee Referral | Support |
Community Living & Supports
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB110 | To Authorize Certified Nurse Aides Or Certified Nursing Assistants Who Provide In-home Services To Beneficiaries In The Arkansas Medicaid Program To Perform Additional Care And Duties. | Penzo | Committee Referral | Neutral |
| SB120 | To Require Licensure For All Private Care Agencies In This State; And To Ensure Consumer Protection For Vulnerable Aging Adults. | Penzo | Committee Report Pass | Support |
| SB178 | To Amend The Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act; And To Clarify The Ability Of A Surrogate To Obtain Records On A Principal’s Income, Assets, And Banking And Financial Records. | Boyd | Passed | Neutral |
| SB180 | To Exempt Providers In The Program Of All-inclusive Care For The Elderly From The Licensing Requirements For Home Healthcare Services. | Sullivan | Passed | Watching |
| HB1063 | To Amend The Achieving A Better Life Experience Program Act; And To Amend The Definitions Of “disability Certification” And “eligible Individual” To Change Disability Onset Age From Twenty-six To Forty-six. | Mayberry | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1076 | To Create The Caring For Caregivers Act; And To Provide An Income Tax Credit For Expenses Incurred In Caring For Certain Family Members. | Hudson | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1915 | To Direct The Department Of Human Services To Request A Broad-based Categorical Eligibility Waiver For The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; And To Amend The Asset Limits Under The Program. | Eubanks | Committee Referral | Watching |
Education
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB142 | To Create The Bell To Bell, No Cell Act; And To Amend The Requirements For Public School Discipline Policies With Regard To Student Use Of Personal Electronic Devices. | Dees | Passed | Neutral |
| SB246 | To Create The Arkansas Access Act; And To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code As They Relate To Education In The State Of Arkansas. | Dismang | Passed | Watching |
| SB451 | To Require The Department Of Health And The Department Of Education To Establish Regional Behavioral Health Crisis Response Teams; To Amend The Law Concerning The Education Of Certain Students; And To Declare An Emergency. | Hester | Committee Referral | Oppose |
| HB1030 | To Require A School Resource Officer Or Law Enforcement Personnel To Obtain Certification In Youth Mental Health First Aid; And To Require A School Counselor To Receive Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1062 | To Create The Teacher And Student Protection Act Of 2025. | Richardson | Committee Report Pass | Oppose |
| HB1144 | To Require A Participating School Under The Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program To Comply With The Same Statutory And Department Of Education Reporting Requirements To Which Public Schools Are Subject. | Wooten | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1239 | To Amend The Public School Funding Act Of 2003; And To Add An Additional Category Of Funding For Special Education Funding. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1457 | To Require Public Schools To Submit Data And Other Information Related To A Public School Student’s Individualized Education Program Using A Uniform Statewide Data Collection System. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1539 | To Amend The Public School Funding Act Of 2003; And To Add An Additional Education Category Of Funding For Special Education. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1541 | To Require A Private School That Accepts State Funding Of Any Type To Provide Transportation To Certain Students Enrolled In The School. | Wooten | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1542 | To Require Private Schools To Administer An Annual Statewide Student Assessment; And To Require Private Schools To Admit Each Student Who Applies For Admission And Intends To Cover Private School Costs With State Funding. | Wooten | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1728 | To Require Reporting On The Number Of Students Receiving Accommodations For A Disability At Institutions Of Higher Education. | Ennett | Committee Report Pass | Support |
| HB1766 | To Create The Arkansas Respond, Innovate, Succeed, And Empower (rise) Act. | Ennett | Committee Report Pass | Support |
| HB1793 | To Amend The Law Concerning The Use Of Positive Behavioral Supports In Public School Districts. | Duke | Committee Report Pass | Oppose |
Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1046 | To Establish A Blue Envelope Program. | Pilkington | Passed | Support |
| HB1382 | To Require Certain Reporting By The Designated Protection And Advocacy Agency For The State And The Designated Client Assistance Program For The State. | Ladyman | Enrolled | Oppose |
| HB1523 | Concerning Missing Persons Alerts; To Codify The Arkansas Amber Alert System; To Codify The Arkansas Silver Alert System; And To Create The Arkansas Purple Alert System. | Vaught | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1540 | To Amend The Income Tax Credit And The Income Tax Deduction Related To Maintaining, Supporting, And Caring For An Individual With A Disability. | Mayberry | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1583 | To Mandate Coverage For Acquired Brain Injury. | Bentley | Passed | Support |
Institutional Care
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB312 | To Remove The Moratorium On The Construction Or Addition Of Any Additional Beds Within Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities. | Stone | Committee Referral | Oppose |
| HB1058 | To Amend The Law Concerning Ethics And Conflicts Of Interest For Public Officers And Employees; And To Prohibit Public Employees From Giving Advance Notice To Entities Of Required Inspections. | Unger | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1214 | To Amend The Definition Of Primary Instructor Within The Long-term Care Aide Training Act. | Bentley | Passed | Neutral |
| HB1653 | To Set Standards For The Licensing And Regulation Of Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities. | Cavenaugh | Committee Referral | Oppose |
| HB1784 | To Modify The Informal Dispute Resolution Process For Long-term Care Facilities. | Wardlaw | Committee Referral | Watching |
Medicaid
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB77 | To Require The Arkansas Medicaid Program To Reimburse For Physical Therapy Provided In A Clinic-based Setting. | Johnson | Passed | Support |
| SB507 | To Require The Arkansas Medicaid Program To Cover Applied Behavior Analysis Services For Certain Beneficiaries. | Leding | Committee Referral | Support |
| SB542 | To Amend The Medicaid Provider-led Organized Care Act; To Improve The Enrollment And Selection Process In Risk-based Provider Organizations; And To Empower Beneficiaries With Information. | Davis | Committee Referral | Support |
| SB543 | To Require Certain Reimbursement Rates For Home- And Community-based Services Within Risk-based Provider Organizations. | Davis | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1047 | To Authorize The Arkansas Medicaid Program To Make Presumptive Eligibility Determinations For Pregnant Women. | Pilkington | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1171 | To Modify The Medicaid Provider-led Organized Care Act; And To Authorize An Abbreviated Independent Assessment For Certain Beneficiaries Enrolled In A Risk-based Provider Organization. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1172 | To Add Definitions To The Medicaid Fairness Act To Ensure That All Rule Enforcement Actions Are Appealable. | .Johnson | Committee Referral | Neutral |
| HB1401 | To Include Assisted Living Facility Services Within The Medicaid Provider-led Organized Care Act. | Pilkington | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1584 | To Require Independent Assessments Of A Beneficiary In The Arkansas Medicaid Program For Home- And Community-based Services Be Completed Within A Certain Time. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1818 | To Create The Medicaid Provider-led Care Transparency And Accountability Act. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1942 | To Require Certain Reimbursement Rates For Home- And Community-based Services Within Risk-based Provider Organizations. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1943 | To Amend The Medicaid Provider-led Organized Care Act; To Improve The Enrollment And Selection Process In Risk-based Provider Organizations; And To Empower Beneficiaries With Information. | Johnson | Committee Report Pass | Watching |
Mental Health
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB461 | To Collect Data Regarding The Use Of Solitary Confinement In Arkansas Prisons And Jails. | Scott | Committee Referral | Watching |
| HB1169 | To Clarify The Admission Criteria For An Involuntary Commitment To Include A Person Who Is In A Mental Condition As A Result Of A Medical Condition. | Johnson | Passed | Neutral |
| HB1179 | To Create Child And Adolescent Mental Health Screening Programs In Schools And Childcare Facilities For Children From Birth To Nineteen Years Of Age. | Vaught | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1275 | To Prohibit Prior Authorizations For Healthcare Services Provided For Treatment Of A Mental Health Crisis. | Cavenaugh | Passed | Support |
| HB1290 | To Mandate Coverage For Mental Health Wellness Examinations; And To Establish The Arkansas Support Of Mental Health Wellness Examinations Act. | Johnson | Committee Referral | Support |
Voting Rights
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status | DRA Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB210 | To Require The Signer To Read The Ballot Title Of The Petition In The Presence Of A Canvasser; And To Declare An Emergency. | Hammer | Passed | Oppose |
| SB247 | To Create The Arkansas Absentee Voter Integrity Act Of 2025; To Amend The Law Concerning Counting Absentee Ballots; To Amend The Law Concerning Elections; And To Amend The Law Concerning The Duties Of The Secretary Of State. | Tucker | Committee Referral | Support |
| SB299 | To Require A Person Assisting A Voter To Present Photo Identification; And To Require A Staff Member To Witness An Administrator Assisting A Resident Of A Long-term Residential Care Facility With Absentee Voting. | Hammer | Passed | Oppose |
| SB304 | To Allow A Class Of Registered Voters That Have Changed Their County Of Residence To Cast A Valid Ballot; And To Amend Provisions Of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51. | McKee | Passed | Support |
| SB479 | To Amend The Law Concerning Voter Assistance; And To Require A Person Assisting A Voter With A Disability To Present Identification. | Hammer | Committee Report Pass | Watching |
| HB1035 | To Create The Online Voter Registration Act Of 2025; To Allow Online Voter Registration; To Amend Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51; And To Amend The Duties Of The Secretary Of State. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1036 | To Amend The Law Concerning Voter Registration; To Allow Voter Registration During Early Voting And On Election Day; And To Amend Provisions Of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1039 | To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Absentee Ballots; And To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Elections. | Collins | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1064 | To Amend The Law Concerning Absentee Voting; And To Allow Persons Over Sixty-five Years Of Age To Vote By Absentee Ballot. | Whitaker | Committee Referral | Support |
| HB1713 | To Require Ballot Titles For Initiated Measures To Be At Or Under A Certain Reading Level; And To Declare An Emergency. | Rose | Committee Report Pass | Support |