Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed 60 bills into law Tuesday, enacting a wide range of legislative measures that impact emergency medical services, tax policy, elections, public safety, and healthcare.
Among the new laws is HB1841, which creates the Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Act and fund to support emergency medical agencies. Several bills target healthcare reform, including HB1942, mandating reimbursement rates for home and community-based services, SB347, which boosts Medicaid dental service rates, and SB554, establishing a behavioral health loan forgiveness program.
SB591 prohibits race-selection abortions, while HB1916 amends malpractice laws to include gender-affirming interventions as a right of action for medical malpractice. Additional public safety measures include HB1865, enhancing penalties for offenses against children, and SB431, which strengthens anti-human trafficking laws and eliminates the statute of limitations for certain offenses.
Voting access is also addressed in HB1878, requiring early voting in urban areas. Transparency and election integrity are targeted in bills such as HB1243, expanding campaign finance disclosures, and HB1800, mandating disclosure for agents of foreign principals.
The package also includes fiscal measures like HB1685, known as the Grocery Tax Relief Act, which exempts food items from state sales tax, and several appropriation bills for state departments, including SB93 for the Department of Education and HB1105 for the Department of Human Services.
Criminal justice reforms featured prominently among the bills signed. HB1865 creates enhanced penalties for certain offenses committed against children, while HB1877 expands criminal liability for possession of computer-generated child sexual abuse material. SB431 strengthens the Human Trafficking Act of 2013 by eliminating the statute of limitations for certain offenses and establishing protections for victims. Meanwhile, SB457 and SB458 require courts to consider the impact of trauma or child welfare system involvement during sentencing and parole decisions for minors who committed crimes.
In terms of judicial procedures, HB1832 amends rules governing the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, updating processes under authority granted by the Arkansas Constitution. Additionally, HB1959 streamlines the revival of judgments by replacing the use of a writ of scire facias with a simpler notice-based system. SB575 modifies installment and reinstatement fees collected in courts and establishes the Justice System Task Force to evaluate further reforms.
Municipal governance also saw changes with SB571, which prohibits municipalities from enforcing building and zoning regulations on county-owned properties, potentially reshaping development oversight in unincorporated areas. The law aims to clarify jurisdictional boundaries and reduce conflicts between city and county authorities.
On the economic front, Arkansas is positioning itself as a hub for new energy sectors with SB568, which adjusts the tax code to favor lithium extraction and development. The bill includes a severance tax amendment and a sales and use tax exemption for lithium-related activities, aligning with the state’s efforts to attract investment in battery technology and green energy resources.
For a full list of bills signed into law, click here.
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