AR State Chamber Daily Legislative Update
04-04-25
**CALL TO ACTION**
ASK STATE SENATORS TO OPPOSE HB 1150
HB 1150 – This bill seeks to restrict pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from obtaining specific pharmacy permits.
HB 1150 is a dangerous experiment, untested by any other state in the nation. The immediate, known impact of the bill includes the closure of dozens of retail pharmacies, suspension of home delivery prescription drug programs, and restricted access to specialty pharmacies.
This government mandate would interfere with employer healthcare decisions, increase prescription costs, and eliminate essential pharmacy services. By banning pharmacies affiliated with PBMs, this bill would:
Arkansas employers and employees will bear the burden of these disruptions through higher costs, fewer choices, and reduced healthcare benefits. HB 1150 passed the House yesterday 89-4.
Contact state senators today and urge them to vote NO on HB 1150. Call 501-682-6211 to leave a message |
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AT THE CAPITOL: A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWYesterday at the Capitol SB 560 – Seeks to decrease the unemployment insurance base contribution rate, increase the administrative assessment rate to increase funding for the state’s skilled workforce and amend the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Training Trust Fund. This bill passed the Senate yesterday 33-0 and has been assigned to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We support this bill, which will provide much needed additional funds to the DWS Training Trust Fund at no cost to employers. HB 1800 – (Rep. Mindy McAlindon and Sen. Matt McKee) Seeks to amend disclosure laws requiring reporting of foreign spending in political activities. Passed in the House 82-5 yesterday and has been assigned to the Senate State Agencies Committee. We would like to see the bill amended to help foreign based companies with operations in Arkansas. |
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NEWLY TRACKED BILLS We added five bills to our tracking list from those filed yesterday. So far, the House has filed 990 bills and the Senate 627. The total number of bills and resolutions filed stands at 1,865.
HB 1982 – Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge and Sen. Breanne Davis Amends the Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act. Creates the Tire Management and Recycling Act. Repeals the Used Tire Recycling Fund and establishes the Waste Tire Abatement Fund. House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. HB 1985 – Rep. Denise Garner Establishes the Arkansas Renter Refund Act. Provides an income tax credit for certain residential tenants. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. SB 621 – Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Lee Johnson Clarifies enforcement provisions against healthcare insurers. Retroactively applies to healthcare contracts for temporary hospital facilities. Senate Insurance and Commerce. SB 622 – Sen. Breanne Davis and Rep. Aaron Pilkington Removes the prohibition on tire retailers from charging additional fees for tire removal services. Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. SB 624 – Sen. Breanne Davis and Rep. Austin McCollum Amends the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act and the Public School Choice Act of 2015. Allows students to transfer to another public school within their resident district. Senate Education Committee. |
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Pending Bills We Support Our tax package includes these four bills because the Tax Foundation has identified these measures as critical to improving Arkansas’ tax competitiveness ranking. All await consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Other bills we support: HB 1435 – Provides income tax credits for childcare. We support this bill. HB 1446 – Seeks to amend the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program. House Education Committee. We support this bill. HB 1469 – Establishes the Broadband Expansion and Efficiency Act. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill. HB 1571 – Amends the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program Act. This bill is on the Senate calendar. We support this bill. HB 1706 – Prohibits ranked choice voting. Senate State Agencies Committee. We support this bill. HB 1807 – Amends the sales tax exemption for aircraft held for resale and used for rental or charter and clarifies eligibility for the exemption. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill. SB 322 – Allows third parties to review plans and perform site inspections. It is on the House calendar. We support this bill. SB 390 – Creates an apprenticeship program. House Education Committee. We support this bill. SB 462 – Provides for re-entering convicted persons to obtain a certificate of employability which will then provide some protection to employers for alleged “negligent hiring.” It is on the Senate calendar. We join the Arkansas Society of Human Resource Managers (ARSHRM} in support of this bill. SB 537 – Establishes the Earning Safe Reentry Through Work Act, allowing individuals on probation, parole, or post-release supervision to earn time credits through employment. Passed 33-0 in the Senate yesterday and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. We join ARSHRM in support of this bill. Arkansas Economic Development Commission Bills That We Support HB 1435 – Rep. Brandon Achor and Sen. Jane English To amend the law concerning income tax credits for childcare; amend the income tax credit for employer-provided childcare; provide an income tax credit for licensed child care providers; and declare an emergency. Bill History: 03/04/25 – Moved to the deferred list in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1444 – Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Jonathan Dismang To amend the sales and use tax exemption for data centers. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Reported from committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1797 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore To amend the law concerning the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and a portion of the Arkansas Code resulting from Initiated Act 1 of 2000; and to declare an emergency. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Scheduled for a meeting at 10:00 AM in the Old Supreme Court Room, Senate State Agencies Committee. We support this bill.
HB 1922 – Rep. John Maddox and Sen. Jonathan Dismang To amend the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003; create an income tax credit for relocating corporate headquarters to Arkansas; and encourage corporate relocations to the state. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Scheduled for a meeting at 10:00 AM in Room 151, House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
HJR 1014 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Jonathan Dismang A constitutional amendment concerning economic development in Arkansas; authorizing the General Assembly to create economic development districts to promote economic growth. Bill History: 04/02/25 – Scheduled for a meeting at 10:00 AM in Room 151, House State Agencies Committee. We support this bill.
SB 218 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Trey Steimel To amend the Arkansas Small Business Innovation Research Matching Grant Program. Bill History: 04/02/25 – Enrolled in the Senate and sent to the Governor. We support this bill.
SB 361 – Sen. Tyler Dees and Sen. Howard Beaty To create the Industrial Development Authorities Expansion Act, providing for the creation of industrial development authorities to secure and develop industry and foster economic development. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Placed on the House calendar. We support this bill.
SB 465 – Sen. Breanne Davis and Rep. Carol Dalby To provide a sales and use tax refund for speculative development projects; require concurrent financial incentive agreements under the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003. Bill History: 03/27/25 – Moved to the deferred list in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
SB 560 – Sen. Jane English and Rep. Dwight Tosh To decrease the base contribution rate; increase the administrative assessment rate; increase funding for the skilled workforce in the state; and amend the Division of Workforce Services Training Trust Fund. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Passed the Senate 33-0. We support this bill.
SB 568 – Rep. Steve Crowell and Rep. Lane Jean To amend the law concerning taxes applicable to lithium extraction and development; provide a sales and use tax exemption for lithium resource development; and amend the severance tax on lithium. Bill History: 04/01/25 – Moved to the deferred list in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.
SJR 15 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Howard Beaty A constitutional amendment concerning economic development in Arkansas; authorizing the General Assembly to create economic development districts to promote economic growth. Bill History: 04/03/25 – Scheduled for a meeting at 10:00 AM in the Old Supreme Court Room, Senate State Agencies Committee. We support this bill. To view the status of each of the bills we support, click HERE. |
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Pending bills we oppose: HB 1442 – Seeks to place additional restrictions on pharmacy contracting, potentially increasing costs for businesses and consumers. Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We oppose this bill. HB 1656 – Seeks to make changes to existing royalty contracts. Senate Agriculture and Economic Development Committee. We oppose this bill. SB 5 – Establishes a criminal offense for prescription drug harm or homicide Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose this bill.
SB 6 – Introduces a criminal offense for vaccine harm. Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose this bill.
SB 7 – Seeks to grant legislators the ability to request sales and use tax reports. This bill failed in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee before spring break but is back on the committee agenda. We have concerns about confidentiality and business privacy. We oppose this bill. SB 258 – Known as the Arkansas Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Trust Act, seeks to address technology privacy and artificial intelligence (AI). Received a "Do Pass" recommendation on April 2 from the Senate Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs Committee. We oppose this bill. SB 456 and HB 1754 – Seek to limit/eliminate local zoning authorities. We oppose these bills.
To view the status of each of the bills we oppose, click HERE. |
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Bills of Interest
HB 1852 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore and Sen. Matt Stone Establishes a right to repair for certain agricultural equipment. This bill was amended for a second time and received a "Do Pass" recommendation from the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. HB 1930 – Rep. Jeff Wardlaw and Sen. Justin Boyd Mandates minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare services. HB 1970 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore Amends the law on prepayment of sales tax by increasing the threshold for retailers required to prepay. House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
HB 1971 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore Modifies requirements for information provided by the Department of Finance and Administration to cities and counties. House Revenue and Taxation Committee. SB 527 – Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Lee Johnson Seeks to amend the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and increase the medical-loss ratio of the ARHOME program. Received a "Do Pass" recommendation from the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee. SB 546 – Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Mark Perry Amends the law concerning the trust fund contribution fee for water permits related to nonmunicipal domestic sewage treatment works.
SB 556 – Sen. Mark Johnson Seeks to prohibit surface discharge of wastewater into a watershed.
SB 557 – Sen. Mark Johnson Seeks to amend law concerning water permits and discharge of wastewater, to authorize denials of applicants that have a history of noncompliance and to prohibit certain discharge of wastewater. SB 567 - Sen. Steve Crowell and Rep. Rebecca Burks Seeks to amend and modernize the law concerning the apportionment of income derived from multistate operations and to change the method for sourcing of receipts for services and intangibles. Received a "Do Pass" recommendation from the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. SB 596 – Sen. Matt McKee and Rep. Mindy McAlindon Seeks to amend the law regarding energy; to establish a state energy policy; to regulate retirement of dispatchable electric generation facilities. SB 607 – Sen. Steve Crowell and Rep. Steven Walker Establishes requirements for public school districts implementing and maintaining a four-day school week. SB 610 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Les Eaves Amends the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025. Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee. SB 613 – Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Matt Duffield Creates an election procedure to determine fluoridation policies for public water systems. Senate State Agencies Committee. SB 615 – Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Aaron Pilkington Amends energy regulations to address non-export facilities and prohibit discrimination against them. Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee. |
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Constitutional Amendment Proposals The Senate State Agencies Committee has 13 joint resolutions to consider, including SJR 15, which would create economic development districts. We support this resolution. The House State Agencies Committee has five joint resolutions to consider:
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