Gov. Sanders signs series of laws ranging from lottery to education and healthcare

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a series of bills into law today, addressing a wide range of issues from lottery regulations to education and healthcare.

Among the newly enacted laws is SB231, which amends the law regarding the office of the Arkansas lottery, conferring law enforcement authority on select employees.

In the realm of insurance, SB276 clarifies that surplus lines insurance is acceptable coverage for motor vehicle insurance, while HB1583 mandates coverage for acquired brain injury.

Education reforms include HB1398, requiring schools to implement a cardiac emergency response plan, and HB1451, which amends the Arkansas concurrent challenge scholarship program.

Healthcare and social services see changes with HB1586, which amends the Medicaid waiver for autism spectrum disorder, and HB1169, clarifying admission criteria for involuntary commitment due to a medical condition.

The Governor also signed HB1609, creating an enhanced penalty for recruiting trafficked persons, and HB1643, allowing employers to disclose substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment with written consent.

These legislative actions reflect a broad effort to address diverse issues affecting Arkansas residents, from public safety and education to healthcare and employment practices.

A full list of bills signed can be found below:

SB240 – An act to amend the credit reporting disclosure act of 1989; to clarify the content required for a notice of adverse action; and for other purposes.

SB242 – An act to amend the law concerning loans involving the stock of a state bank; and for other purposes.

SB276 – An act to amend the law concerning surplus lines insurance; to clarify that surplus lines insurance is acceptable coverage for financial responsibility of motor vehicle insurance coverage; and for other purposes.

HB1367 – An act to amend the Arkansas title insurance act; to regulate access to public records by a title agent and a title company; and for other purposes.

HB1517 – An act to establish the earned wage access services act; and for other purposes.

HB1583 – An act to mandate coverage for acquired brain injury; and for other purposes.

HB1595 – An act to enact the state insurance department’s general omnibus amendment of Arkansas insurance code; to amend the Arkansas worker’s compensation insurance plan; to amend the law concerning reciprocal insurers; to clarify an attorney’s bond requirement; to amend the law concerning examinations of hospital and medical service corporations; to amend the law concerning service of process in suits involving insurers; to repeal the comprehensive health insurance pool act; and for other purposes.

HB1620 – An act to amend the law concerning pharmacy benefits managers; to regulate processing and payment of pharmacy claims; to create the pharmacy and pharmacist timely reconciliation and payment of pharmacist services act; to amend the Arkansas pharmacy audit bill of rights; to amend the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act; and for other purposes.

SB317 – An act to amend the law regarding higher education; to prohibit an institution of higher education from participating in certain activities with a prohibited foreign party; and for other purposes.

HB1398 – An act to require schools to support, establish, and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that integrates nationally recognized elements; and for other purposes.

HB1451 – An act concerning the Arkansas concurrent challenge scholarship program; to amend the definition of a student under the Arkansas concurrent challenge scholarship program; and for other purposes.

HB1601- An act regarding higher education; to require state-supported institutions of higher education to provide career counseling and other resources to certain students; and for other purposes.

HB1689 – An act to require a public high school to grant access to its facilities to official recruiting representatives of the military; to require certain state-supported postsecondary institutions to grant access to its facilities to official recruiting representatives of the military; and for other purposes.

HB1563 – An act to add a felony offense that falls under the definition of restricted release felony with respect to release eligibility and procedures for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2025; and for other purposes.

HB1579 – An act to amend the law concerning sex offender reassessment; to prohibit an incarcerated person from being eligible for risk level assessment; and for other purposes.

HB1593 – An act concerning the reports made to the Governor and the general assembly by the board of corrections, division of correction, and division of community correction; to combine reporting requirements; and for other purposes.

HB1169 – An act 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; and for other purposes.

HB1253 – An act to adopt the emergency medical services personnel licensure interstate compact in Arkansas; and for other purposes.

HB1291 – An act to amend the minimum wage act of the state of Arkansas; to provide exceptions to the minimum wage act of the state of Arkansas impacting the law resulting from initiated act 5 of 2018; to add certain minor league baseball players to the exclusions from the definition of “employee”; and for other purposes.

HB1586 – An act to amend the Medicaid waiver for autism spectrum disorder to clarify the number and type of qualified professionals to diagnose autism spectrum disorder; and for other purposes.

HB1610 – An act to amend the Arkansas human life protection act and the Arkansas unborn child protection act; to modify the definition of “medical emergency”; and for other purposes.

SB254 – An act to amend the law concerning rural community projects; to amend the definition of “property in kind”; and for other purposes.

SB270 – An act to amend the law concerning the filing periods of certain nonpartisan school board and municipal candidates; and for other purposes.

SB328 – An act to amend the law concerning computer crimes against minors; and for other purposes.

SB393 – An act to create Maighen’s law; to amend the sex offender registration act of 1997; and for other purposes.

HB1347 – An act to amend the law concerning annuities and benefits under the Arkansas teacher retirement system; to allow the Arkansas teacher retirement system to pay an annuity or benefit owed to a person to a special needs trust established for the benefit of the person; and for other purposes.

HB1348 – An act to amend the law concerning survivor benefits for the dependent child of a member of the Arkansas public employees’ retirement system or a member of the state police retirement system; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

HB1603 – An act to amend the law concerning installment payments by a criminal defendant in circuit court; and for other purposes.

HB1609 – An act to amend the law concerning human trafficking; to create an enhanced penalty for recruiting trafficked persons from certain places; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

HB1628 – An act to amend the law concerning an extended post-conviction no contact order; to add sexual assault in the second degree to the offenses for which a court may issue an extended post-conviction no contact order; and for other purposes.

HB1629 – An act to permit a retiring prosecuting attorney to be awarded his or her service firearm upon retirement; and for other purposes.

HB1643 – An act to amend the law concerning hiring practices; to allow a current or former employer to disclose substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment by the current or former employee to a prospective employer upon written consent; and for other purposes.

HB1644 – An act to amend the law concerning the compensation of a retired judge appointed as a special judge; to clarify that a retired judge may serve as a special judge immediately upon retirement; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

HB1661 – An act to amend the laws concerning state district courts; to eliminate the obligation of cities and counties to pay the salaries of state district court judges; to amend the laws concerning district court clerks; and for other purposes.

SB304 – An act to allow a class of registered voters that have changed their county of residence to cast a valid ballot; to amend provisions of Arkansas constitution, amendment 51, under the authority of Arkansas constitution, amendment 51, 19; and for other purposes.

SB307 – An act to amend the law concerning public utilities; to create the generating Arkansas jobs act of 2025; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

HB1385 – An act to amend the law concerning the oil and gas commission; to require the oil and gas commission to notify members of the general assembly concerning certain permits; and for other purposes.

HB1548 – An act to amend the law concerning the division of information systems; to abolish the data and transparency panel; and for other purposes.

HB1575 – An act to prohibit a person that is employed or has a direct or indirect financial interest in a firm, business, or organization that owns, operates, represents, or applies for a solid waste license or permit from serving as a member on certain commissions and boards; and for other purposes.

SB22 – An act to make an appropriation for personal services and operating expenses for the Department of Inspector General for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; and for other purposes.

SB38 – An act to make an appropriation for personal services and operating expense for the Department of Health – licensing and regulation boards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; and for other purposes.

SB42 – An act to make an appropriation for personal services and operating expenses for the office of Lieutenant Governor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; and for other purposes.

SB219 – An act to repeal the sunset provision of the Arkansas medical marijuana special privilege tax act of 2017; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

SB333 – An act to make an appropriation for construction expenses of a police station facility at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; and for other purposes.

SB336 – An act to make an appropriation to the Department of Health for capital improvement projects; and for other purposes.