During legislative session, many bills have the potential to impact Arkansas with disabilities, their families, and communities. You can follow the progress of these bills here in these policy digest.
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Accessibility
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1046 | An Act to Amend the Law Governing State Sales and Use Taxes; To Exempt From Sales and Use Taxes Certain Purchases of a Wheelchair-Accessible Motor Vehicle; To Exempt From Sales and Use Taxes the Purchase of Services to Render a Motor Vehicle Wheelchair-Accessible; and for Other Purposes | Exempts a new or used wheelchair-accessible motor vehicle, and aftermarket wheelchair accommodation services, from sales tax. | Rep. Ray | Withdrawn from consideration, sent to interim study | For |
Budget
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1210 | An Act to Amend the Tax Credit for the Support of a Child with a Developmental Disability; To Remove the Requirement for Recertification of a Developmental Disability that is Expected to Continue Indefinitely; And for Other Purposes | Removes the requirement that a person receiving the tax credit for the support of a child with a developmental disability must have a medical recertification of the child’s disability after 5 years if the disability is expected to continue indefinitely. | Rep. Haak | Signed by the Governor (Act 191) | For |
| SB495 | An Act to Create the Protect Arkansas Act; To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Sentencing and Parole; To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Certain Criminal Offenses; To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning the Parole Board; To Create the Legislative Recidivism Reduction Task Force; And for Other Purposes | Makes various changes to sentencing, parole, and post-release supervision policies. | Sen. Gilmore | Signed by the Governor (Act 659) | Against |
| SB549 | An Act to Amend the Income Tax Laws; to Reduce the Income Tax Rates Applicable to Individuals, Trusts, Estates, and Corporations, and for Other Purposes | Decreases income tax rates for individuals, trusts, and estates, decreases income tax rate for domestic and foreign corporations from 5.3% to 5.1% on net income exceeding $25,000. | Sen. Dismang | Signed by the Governor (Act 532) | Against |
Children & Youth / Juvenile Justice
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1754 | An Act to Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Certain Fees, Expenses, and Costs Imposed on a Juvenile or the Parent, Guardian, or Custodian of a Juvenile; And for Other Purposes | Makes changes regarding various costs and fees imposed on a juvenile or the parent/guardian/custodian of a juvenile. | Rep. Hodges | Referred to House Aging, Children, Legislative and Military | For |
Community Living & Supports
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1196 | An Act to Modify the Requirements for Public Housing; To Create the Housing Welfare Reform Act of 2023; And for Other Purposes | Requires a public housing authority to implement a work requirement for able-bodied adults in households that receive housing assistance and to prioritize admitting households where all able-bodied adults are compliant with the work requirement. Work requirements have never been shown to be effective in improving work outcomes and this bill only adds an extra layer of bureaucracy to public housing assistance. | Rep. Underwood | Signed by the Governor (Act 160) | Against |
| HB1267 | An Act to Require a Specific Number of Hours of Dementia Training for Home Caregivers; And for Other Purposes | Requires a home caregiver to have at least four hours of training covering Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. | Rep. Mayberry | Signed by the Governor (Act 70) | For |
| HB1804 | An Act to Amend the Law Concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; To Require Recertification Every Six Months for Able-Bodied Adults; And for Other Purposes | Requires a recipient of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to recertify with the Department of Human Services once every six months if the recipient is an able-bodied adult. | Rep. Bentley | Referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor | Against |
| SB186 | An Act to Protect Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; To Require Criminal Background Checks, Adult and Child Maltreatment Registry Checks, Sex Offender Registry Checks, and Drug Screenings for any Employee or Other Agent of Community Services Provider Who Provides State or Federally Funded Services to an Individual with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability; And for Other Purposes | Requires background checks, registry checks, and drug screenings prior to hiring and every 5 years after for individuals working in community settings with people with IDD. | Sen. Irvin | Signed by the Governor (Act 164) | For |
| SB306 | An Act to Amend the Asset Limits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; To Allow for an Adjustment to the Asset Limit Based Upon Inflation; To Include an Automatic Inflation Adjustment; To Direct the Department of Human Services to Request a Broad Based Categorical Eligibility Waiver; And for Other Purposes | Requires the Department of Human Services to request a broad-based categorical eligibility waiver and to set the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program asset limit at $12,500 upon receiving such waiver. | Sen. Dismang | Signed by the Governor (Act 675) | For |
Education
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1204 | An Act Concerning Private Schools; To Require Private Schools to Administer an Annual Statewide Student Assessment; To Require Private Schools to Admit Each Student Who Applies for Admission and Intends to use State Funding to Cover Costs Associated with Admittance and Attendance at the Private School; And for Other Purposes | Requires private schools to administer an annual statewide student assessment and to admit each student that applies and intends to use state funds to cover the costs of attending private school. | Rep. Wooten | Moved to Deferred List in House Education | For |
| HB1205 | At Act to Require a School that Accepts State Funding of any type to Provide Transportation to Certain Students Enrolled in the School; And for Other Purposes | Requires a public school district, open-enrollment public charter school, and nonpublic school that accepts any state funding to provide transportation to enrolled students living within 35 miles of the school. | Rep. Wooten | Referred to House Education | For |
| HB1343 | An Act to Require a Teacher Preparation Program to Include Certain Content that Pertains to Evidence Based Trauma-Informed Classroom Instruction Within Its Curriculum; And for Other Purposes | Requires a teacher preparation program to include information in its curriculum about evidence-based, trauma-informed classroom instruction and recognition of behavioral reactions to trauma that may interfere with academic functioning. | Rep. Scott | Referred to House Education Committee | For |
| HB1428 | An Act to Create the Equal Access to College and Career Readiness Assessments Act; And for Other Purposes | Requires a public school serving as a test site for career readiness assessment tests to ensure access for students regardless of school enrollment status and to make accommodations for students with disabilities. | Rep. Cooper | Referred to House Education | For |
| HB1504 | An Act to Amend the Public Education Reorganization Act; To Amend the Conditions Under Which a Public School District Shall be Administratively Consolidated by the State Board of Education; To Declare an Emergency; And for Other Purposes | Prohibits certain school districts from being administratively consolidated if the school district is currently classified as in need of Level 5 — Intensive support and an enrolled student would have to ride a bus for more than 40 miles to attend. Instead the state board will assume control of these districts. | Rep. McElroy | Signed by the Governor (Act 543) | Against |
| HB1539 | An Act Concerning Educational Courses and Services Provided by Public School Districts and Open-Enrollment Public Charter Schools to an Expelled Student; To Repeal the Requirement that Public School Districts and Open-Enrollment Public Charter Schools Offer Certain Courses to Expelled Students; And for Other Purposes | Repeals the requirement for public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to offer expelled students certain courses. | Rep. Vaught | Signed by the Governor (Act 724) | Against |
| HB1782 | An Act to Amend the Law Concerning Student Restraints in Public Schools or Educational Settings; And for Other Purposes | Creates exceptions to the prohibition against restraint of students in an educational setting weakening protections for students with disabilities. | Rep. Gazaway | Passed out of House | Against |
| SB294 | An Act to Create the LEARNS Act; To Amend Various Provisions of the Arkansas Code as They Relate to Early Childhood Through Grade Twelve (12) Education in the State of Arkansas; To Declare and Emergency; And for Other Purposes | Creates the Arkansas LEARNS Act, creating personal accounts for students to use in attending eligible schools, setting a minimum teacher salary of $50,000 and making various other changes to education law. The LEARNS Act, if passed will take funding from public schools and divert it to private entities which are not subject to the same regulations. | Sen. Davis | Signed by Governor (Act 237) | Against |
| SB308 | An Act Concerning Federally Funded Child Nutrition Programs; To Create a Means by Which Students Who Qualify for Reduced-Price Meals at School Receive Free Meals at School; And for Other Purposes | Requires the Department of Education to use funds appropriated to the Public School Fund Account to provide free school meals to qualifying students not initially covered by federal funds, requires audit of the Education Child Nutrition Unit. | Sen. Dismang | Referred to Senate Education | For |
Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1546 | An Act to Amend the Law Regarding Individuals With Disabilities; To Recognize and Protect Organizations Holding Certificates Issued Under Section 14(C) of the Fair Labor Standards Act; And For Other Purposes | Provides that an organization that holds a Section 14(c) certificate is legally recognized to employ individuals with disabilities. These certificates allow for paying people with disabilities subminimum wage. | Rep. Warren | Signed by the Governor (Act 339) | Against |
| SB443 | An Act Regarding Employment First; To Create the Arkansas Employment First Act; To Establish the Arkansas Office of Employment First; To Establish the Employment First Advisory Committee; To Establish the Employment First Business Partner Program; And for Other Purposes | Creates the Arkansas Office of Employment First, Employment First Advisory Committee, Employment First Business Partner Program | Sen. Leding | Referred to Senate Insurance and Commerce | For |
General
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1245 | An Act to Require a Legislative Study of Financial Matters Related to the Court System; To Require the Consideration of Any Legislative Changes Necessary to Address Issues Identified During the Study of Financial Matters Related to the Court System; And for Other Purposes | Requires the House Committee on Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Judiciary to meet jointly to conduct a study of financial matters related to the court system, specifically the levying of fees and fines. | Rep. Dalby | Signed by the Governor (Act 38) | For |
| HB1252 | An Act to Modify the Arkansas Health Care Consumer Act; To Improve Outcomes for Individuals with Limb Loss; To Require Coverage for Prosthetic Devices for Athletics or Recreation and Prosthetic Devices for Showering or Bathing; And for Other Purposes | Expands the list of items a health benefit plan must cover to include a prosthetic device for athletics or recreation and a prosthetic device for showering or bathing. | Rep. L. Johnson | Signed by the Governor (Act 805) | For |
| SB516 | An Act to Amend the Membership of the Board of Developmental Disabilities Services; And for Other Purposes | Adjusts the distribution of membership of the Board of Developmental Disabilities Services, changing from geographical representation to members who represent the types of developmental disabilities services provided. | Sen. Leding | Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor | For |
Institutional Care
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB213 | An Act to Amend the Law Regarding Screened-Out, Pending, and Unfounded Reports of Adult Maltreatment or Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment; To Expand the Availability of Screened-Out Repots of Adult Maltreatment or Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment; To Amend Ambiguous Language Regarding the Availability of Pending or Unfounded Reports of Adult Maltreatment or Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment; And for Other Purposes | Expands list of eligible recipients for a record of a screened-out report of adult maltreatment or long-term care facility maltreatment to include an alleged offender’s current employer and the entity responsible for licensing/registering the offender. | Sen. Irvin | Signed by Governor (Act 187) | For |
Medicaid
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1009 | An Act to Establish the Nonemergency Transportation Rideshare Expansion Study Workgroup to Study Expanding Rideshare Service Covered by Arkansas Medicaid Program; And for Other Services | Creates a workgroup to study feasibility of requiring the Medicaid program to reimburse for nonemergency ridesharing transportation from a beneficiary’s home to a healthcare facility, subject to a $150 limit per calendar year. | Rep. Pilkington | Signed by the Governor (Act 484) | For |
| HB1010 | An Act to Require Medicaid Coverage for Postpartum Mothers for One Year After Giving Birth; And for Other Purposes | Requires the Department of Human Services to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage for one year | Rep. Pilkington | Referred to Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee | For |
| HB1011 | An Act to Require Medicaid Coverage and Reimbursement for Depression Screening for Pregnant Women; and for Other Purposes | Requires the Medicaid Program to reimburse for depression screening of a pregnant woman. | Rep. Pilkington | Signed by the Governor (Act 562) | For |
| HB1126 | An Act to Expand the List of Medications for Conditions or Treatments that are not Counted Towards the Prescription Benefit Cap Within the Arkansas Medicaid Program; And for Other Purposes | Expands list of medications that don’t count toward the monthly Medicaid prescription benefit cap to include anti-seizure and psychotropic medications. | Rep. L. Johnson | Referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor | For |
| HB1129 | An Act to Require the Arkansas Medicaid Program and Insurance Policies to Reimburse for Behavioral Health Services Provided in Certain Settings; and for Other Purposes | Requires behavioral health services to be reimbursed by Arkansas Medicaid and health benefit plans in certain settings. | Rep. L. Johnson | Signed by the Governor (Act 494) | For |
| HB1460 | An Act to Authorize Individuals with Violence Offences to Work with Individuals Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment as Peer Support Specialists or Similar Positions Requiring a History of Receiving Behavioral Health Services; And for Other Purposes | Allows a person to be employed within Arkansas Medicaid as a peer support specialist with a violent offense on his or her record upon the review and approval of the Department of Human Services. | Rep. Tosh | Signed by the Governor (Act 200) | For |
| HB1553 | An Act to Modify the Medicaid Provider-Led Organized Care Act; To Authorize an Abbreviated Independent Assessment for Certain Benificiaries Enrolled in a Risk Based Provider Organization; And for Other Purposes | Requires the Department of Human Services to implement an abbreviated independent assessment process for beneficiaries who have chronic conditions and who receive home- and community-based services through a risk-based provider organization. | Rep. Johnson | Referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor | For |
| SB74 | An Act to Amend the Authority of a Surrogate Under the Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act; And for Other Purposes | An amendment to the Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act which allows a surrogate applying for public health benefits to have access to information regarding the principal’s income, assets, and financial records to the extent required to make an application. | Sen. Boyd | Signed by the Governor (Act 49) | For |
| SB278 | An Act to Terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program; To Transfer all Beneficiaries in the Arkansas Home and Opportunity for Me Program to the Traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program; To Repeal the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021; And for Other Purposes | Repeals the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program, transfers all persons enrolled in the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program to coverage under Medicaid. | Sen. King | Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor | Against |
Mental Health
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1035 | An Act to Require Screening for Depression of Birth Mothers at the Time of Birth; To Mandate that Insurance Policies Cover Screening for Depression of Birth Mothers at the Time of Birth; and for Other Purposes | Requires a healthcare insurer providing a health benefit plan to cover depression screening for birth mothers without diminishing or limiting otherwise allowable benefits. | Rep. Pilkington | Signed by the Governor (Act 316) | For |
| HB1144 | An Act to Create the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court Act; To Create a Specialty Court Program for Families Involved in a Dependency-Neglect Preceding That Are Affected by Substance Use Disorders or Mental Health Disorders; And for Other Purposes | Creates the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court, which will use a multidisciplinary approach to serve families affected by substance use disorders and mental health disorders who are involved with the child welfare system. | Rep. Dalby | Signed by the Governor (Act 61) | For |
| HB1266 | An Act to Authorize Certain Minors to Consent to Outpatient Mental Health Services for Suicide Prevention, Chemical Addiction or Dependency, or Sexual, Physical, or Emotional Abuse; And for Other Purposes | Allows a minor 16 years of age or older to consent to outpatient mental health services for suicide prevention, addiction, or abuse and allows a mental health professional to treat such a minor without parental consent. | Rep. Evans | Referred back to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor | For |
| SB199 | An Act Concerning Medical Malpractice and Gender Transition in Minors; To Create the Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2023; and for Other Purposes | Provides that a healthcare professional who performs a gender transition procedure on a minor is liable if the minor is physically or psychologically injured; injured minor may bring a civil action. This is effectively another attempt to ban gender-affirming care with no regard for the adverse effects such a ban will have on the mental health of trans kids. The bill also contains several statements presented as fact which are not supported by data or the expert opinions of the medical community. | Sen. Stubblefield | Signed by the Governor (Act 274) | Against |
| HB1420 | An Act Regarding Emotional Support Animals; To Require Written Notice to the Buyer or Recipient of an Emotional Support Dog; To Replace Requirements on a Healthcare Provider Related to Emotional Support Animals; To Provide Violations for Misrepresentations Related to Emotional Support Animals; And for Other Purposes | Requires a person/business that sells an emotional support dog to provide a written notice to the buyer containing certain information, requires healthcare providers documenting the need for emotional support dogs to meet certain requirements, including a requirement that a patient must have seen a provider for at least 30 days before they can certify a patient’s need for a support animal and an annual recertification requirement. | Rep. Brown | Signed by the Governor (Act 268) | Against |
| HB1446 | An Act to Provide State Oversight of Quality of Care Provided to Children in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities; To License Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities; To Exempt Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities From Licensure by the Child Welfare Agency Review Board and From Permitting by the Health Services Permit Agency; To Create the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Licensing Act; And for Other Purposes | Requires the Department of Human Services to promulgate rules setting minimum standards and quality of care regulations governing licenses for and the operation of a psychiatric residential treatment facility. | Rep. Cavenaugh | Signed by the Governor (Act 806) | For |
| HB1694 | An Act Concerning the Imposition of the Death Penalty on a Defendant with a Serious Mental Illness; And for Other Purposes | Allows a person charged with an offense where the state seeks a death sentence to file a petition alleging that the person has a serious mental illness, prohibits the state from seeking a death sentence if a trial court confirms serious mental illness. | Rep. Flowers | Passed out of House Judiciary | For |
Voting Rights
| Bill | Title | Summary | Sponsor | Status | DRA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1325 | An Act to Standardize the Hours Early Voting is Available; To Amend the Law Concerning Early Voting; And for Other Purposes | Requires a county board of election commissioners that holds early voting at an additional polling site to have the same early voting hours at that site as the designated early voting hours at the office of the county clerk. | Rep. Collins | Signed by the Governor (Act 263) | For |
| HB1537 | To Create the Voter Integrity and Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2023; To Allow Electronic Voter Registration; To Amend Arkansas Constitution 51; And to Amend the Duties of the Secretary of State | Requires the Secretary of State to establish and maintain a secure online voter registration system, including specifications for application forms and security measures. | Rep. Collins | Tabled in House State Agencies | For |
| SB216 | An Act to Amend the Law Concerning the Waiting Time to Vote; To Amend the Law Concerning Election Procedures; To Allow a Citizen Complaint Concerning the Waiting Time to Vote; And for Other Purposes | Requires a county board of election commissioners to establish polling sites and voting equipment in an adequate number to ensure all voters are given the opportunity to vote within 1 hour of arriving at a polling location on election day. | Sen. Tucker | Referred to Senate State Agencies | For |
| SB230 | An Act to Expand the Time for Early Voting; To Require That Employers Provide Paid Time Off to Vote; To Amend Election Laws; And for Other Purposes | Expands the time for early voting and requires employers to provide paid leave for employees to vote. | Sen. King | Moved to Deferred Status in Senate State Agencies | For |
| SB233 | An Act to Clarify the Length of Time for Which an Application for An Absentee Ballot is Effective; Amend the Law Concerning Absentee Ballot Applications; To Amend the Law Concerning Voting by Absentee Ballot; And for Other Purposes | Provides that an application for absentee ballots is valid for one election and the corresponding runoff election, Secretary of State must allow an applicant to select that the application for absentee ballots will remain in effect for one year. | Sen. Tucker | Referred to Senate State Agencies | For |
| SB234 | An Act to Clarify, Create Uniformity in, and Simplify the Absentee Ballot Process; To Amend the Law Concerning the Application Form for Absentee Ballots; To Amend the Law Concerning the Materials Furnished to Qualified Voters with an Absentee Ballot; And for Other Purposes | Makes various changes to the application forms for absentee ballots to make them easier to read for voters. | Sen. Tucker | Referred to Senate State Agencies | For |
| SB258 | An Act to Amend the Method of Voting Absentee; To Prohibit the Use of Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes; And for Other Purposes | Prohibits a county clerk, public employee, or election official from establishing or using a drop box for the purpose of collecting absentee ballots, and from delivering an absentee ballot through a drop box. | Sen. Dees | Signed by the Governor (Act 353) | Against |
| SB431 | To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Absentee Ballots; Repealing Designated Bearers as Persons Permitted to Handle Absentee Ballots; Clarifying Who May Handle Absentee Ballots; Establishing Criminal Penalties for the Handling of Absentee Ballots in Violation of Arkansas Law; And for Other Purposes | Makes various changes regarding the authorization to obtain and deliver absentee ballots. Repeals provisions for designated bearers and provides regulations for authorized agents or administrators in obtaining absentee ballots. | Sen. Clark | Referred to Senate Judiciary | Against |