Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders signed bills

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Governor signed into law: 

SB254, an act to eliminate write-in candidates in elections; to amend election procedures; and to amend the law concerning election.

SB280, to amend the law concerning the creation and duties of the Arkansas ethics commission; and to amend portions of initiated act 1 of 1990 and initiated act 1 of 1996. 

SB293, to amend the law concerning the correction of errors on ballots; to amend the law concerning election procedures; and to create a procedure for candidate review of ballots.
 

SB307, to create a monument to the unborn; to create a monument on state capitol grounds; and to amend the law concerning the duties of the secretary of state.
 

SB343, to repeal the law concerning a written report on costs savings by cabinet-level departments.
 

HB1405, to amend the definition of election media; and to amend the definition under election law.
 

HB1461, to require legislative review of new federal election guidance; and to amend the duties of the secretary of state.
 

HB1464, to amend the law concerning complaints of election law violations; and to amend the law concerning the state board of election commissioners.
 

HB1510, to amend the law concerning special elections on measures and questions.
 

SB251, concerning the administrative office of the keep Arkansas beautiful commission; and to amend the duties of the state parks division.
 

HB1394, to update the law on spendthrift trusts; and to allow for the creation of a domestic asset protection. trust.
 

HB1431, to amend the Arkansas trust code to allow for the decanting of trusts.
 

SB91, to establish the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact in Arkansas.
 

SB112, to authorize physician assistants to be identified as a treating provider for insurance billing and claims and to bill and receive payment for provided healthcare services.
 

SB323, to permit the secretary of the department of labor and licensing to designate a person to serve on his or her behalf on the elevator safety board.
 

SB344, to require posting of a written notice that attacking a healthcare professional is a felony; and to allow a healthcare professional to use a work address when reporting certain offenses.
 

SB267, to transfer the criminal detention facility review committees, and the office of criminal detention facilities review coordinator to the department of public safety; and to declare an emergency.
 

HB1328, to repeal the annual reporting requirement by the arkansas geographic information systems board concerning the arkansas spatial data infrastructure.
 

HB1338, to amend the Arkansas video service act; and to provide clarity concerning the use of a public right of way.
 

HB1389, to require a service industry license for certain persons or entities related to casino gaming; and to require background checks for service industry licensees employed by a franchise holder or casino licensee. 
 

HB1483, to amend the law concerning retention of criminal background checks.

SB94, to modify the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act.

SB297, to amend the Arkansas underground facilities damage prevention act; and to declare an emergency.

HB1482, to amend Arkansas law concerning the membership of the delta cultural center policy advisory board. 

HB1484, to amend the law concerning the operation of bank facilities. 

HB1497, to amend the formula rate review act; and to modify the term of a formula rate review approved by the arkansas public service commission.
 

HB1065, an act for the department of transformation and shared services – division of information systems appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1075, an act for the department of finance and administration – child support enforcement appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 
 

HB1079, an act for the department of commerce – state securities department appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1080, an act for the department of health – tobacco prevention and cessation programs appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1081, an act for the department of commerce – arkansas rehabilitation services appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 
 

HB1106, an act for the department of the military appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1134, an act for the department of corrections – division of community correction appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HCR1008, to recognize the Fouke High School panther marching band for winning class 3a state championships and to recognize the Fouke High School and Paulette Smith Middle School concert bands for being named 2022 class 3a state honor bands.
 

HCR1010, to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Harold Chaffin for his dedication and sacrifices made on behalf of the United States.
 

HB1315, to create the seizure safe schools act. 
 

HB1393, to create mental health awareness week in public schools. 

SB250, to amend the law concerning paper ballots; to amend the law concerning marking and counting paper ballots; to amend the law concerning the declaration of election results; and to declare an emergency.

Governor Sarah Sanders signs bills into law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Governor signed into law: 

SB276, to amend the candidate filing period for a position on a school district board of directors; and to declare an emergency.

HB1325, to standardize the hours early voting is available; and to amend the law concerning early voting.

SB200, to amend various provisions of law related to tuition benefits for soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas national guard.

HB1246, to amend the law concerning the effective date of benefits paid to survivors of deceased members, former members, and retirants under the Arkansas judicial retirement system.

SB199, concerning medical malpractice and gender transition in minors; and to create the protecting minors from medical malpractice act of 2023.

HB1455, to make technical corrections to title 17 of the Arkansas code concerning professions, occupations, and businesses.

HB1472, to amend the law concerning delinquency cases for which records must be kept for a period of time.

HB1494, to amend the law concerning fees related to marriage licenses.

SB295, to amend the Arkansas renewable energy development act of 2001; to prevent cost-shifting and ensure fairness to all ratepayers; to create the customer protections for net-metering customers act; and to declare an emergency.

SB287, to amend the law relating to recording subdivision plats, deeds, and instruments of transfer; and to amend the law relating to recording certain documents prepared by a land surveyor.

HB1244, to amend the law concerning the issuance of and application for a digitized driver’s license.

HB1365, to amend the law concerning records maintained by scrap metal recyclers; and to create offenses for theft of a catalytic converter and unauthorized possession of a catalytic converter.

HB1384, to amend the law concerning the payment of a tool allowance to certain employees of the Arkansas department of transportation.

HB1406, concerning the regulation of certain battery-charged fences by municipalities and counties.

HB1437, to amend the law concerning the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on a public street or highway by an employee of a utility, telecommunications, or cable company.

HB1082, to establish the occupational therapy licensure compact in Arkansas.

HB1128, to allow emergency medical responders to be licensed; and to authorize emergency medical responders to be reimbursed by insurance companies and the Arkansas Medicaid program.

HB1142, to create the Arkansas nuclear recycling program.

HB1181, to establish the counseling compact in Arkansas. 

HB1401, regarding public assistance; and to amend the duration of cash assistance.

HB1420, regarding emotional support animals.

Arkansas Bills Signed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Monday, February 13, 2023, the Governor signed into law:

HB1108, to modify the number of members of the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board that constitutes a quorum and that may call a special meeting; and to authorize use of email for renewal notices. 

HB1155, concerning the compliance of childcare facilities with local regulations when seeking licensure under the Childcare Facility Licensing Act. 

HB1178, to reduce the hours of training required for licensure of a community paramedic.

HB1042, to enhance coverage of prostate cancer screenings by health benefit plans.

SB6, to create a lifetime certificate of license as a contractor.

HB1200, concerning an inactive member’s eligibility for free military service credit and ability to purchase military, contributory, and federal service credit in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

HB1251, to clarify that criminal background checks apply to all emergency medical services personnel; and to amend the criminal background check law to include offenses prosecuted in other states or by federal courts.

HB1098, to clarify that a volunteer fire department may operate a newborn safety device under certain conditions under the Safe Haven Act.

HB1144, to create a specialty court program for families involved in a dependency-neglect proceeding that are affected by substance use disorders or mental health disorders.

HB1127, to create the Rural Emergency Hospital Act; to authorize the licensure of rural emergency hospitals by the department of health; and to declare an emergency.

HB1250, to amend the prescription drug monitoring program advisory committee; and to amend the confidentiality of and the providing of information by the prescription drug monitoring program.

HB1267, to require a specific number of hours of dementia training for home caregivers.

HB1164, to amend the law concerning the correction of errors arising from the erroneous sale of lands of the state of Arkansas; and to amend the law concerning the duties of the commissioner of state lands.

HB1202, to amend the law concerning the multiplier used to calculate a life annuity under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

HB1199, to permit a refund of unused purchased service credit under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

HB1184, to amend the law concerning the membership status of certain members of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

HB1183, to amend and update provisions for outsourcing under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

SB115, to amend and update the law concerning survivor annuity benefits under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System; and to declare an emergency.

SB84, an act for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism – Capitol Zoning District Commission appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

SB27, an act for the auditor of state – continuing education of local officials’ appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

HB1060, an act for the office of the treasurer of state – general obligation bonds appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 

HB1061, an act to make an appropriation for state turnback for counties and municipalities by the office of the treasurer of state for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

HB1066, an act for the office of the treasurer of state – amendment 74 property tax appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 

HB1068, an act for the office of the treasurer of state – city-county tourist meeting and entertainment facilities assistance appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 

HB1069, an act for the office of the treasurer of state – refund of local taxes appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

HB1070, an act for the office of the treasurer of state – assistance to local law enforcement and emergency medical appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

SB25, an act for the Department of Transformation and Shared Services – Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

HCR1001, to urge Congress to permanently extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

SCR3, designating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy awareness day to educate people about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.