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ArkansasHB10362026 Fiscal SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Parents gain emergency provider surrender protections

Licensed emergency medical providers staffed 24 hours daily must accept children 30 days old or younger without a court order. This applies when a child is left without an expressed intent to return. Providers must protect the child, arrange 72-hour protective custody, and immediately notify the Division of Children and Family Services. Parent identities stay confidential except in specified abuse or neglect investigations and prosecutions; providers gain good-faith liability protections. Parents who voluntarily deliver or arrange delivery gain a defense against prosecution for first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. The defense covers only delivery, not earlier abuse or neglect.

Food benefit funding for WIC families

The law provides $60 million in cash funds for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food benefits. The funding covers fiscal year 2026–2027, ending June 30, 2027. It supports participating families but does not change who qualifies or set each household’s benefit amount.

Funding for breast and kidney care

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the Breast Care Program receives about $8.04 million. The Health Department must budget, allocate, and spend at least $4.755 million on breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and outreach. The Kidney Disease Program receives $850,441 for the same fiscal year. These funds support existing services without changing eligibility or setting individual benefit amounts.

Funding keeps trauma and emergency services running

For fiscal year 2026–2027, the Public Health Fund provides about $26.22 million for the Trauma System. This includes about $24.24 million for Trauma System expenses. The Emergency Medical Services Revolving Fund provides $60,000 for operations and grants to licensed providers as provided by law. Unspent Trauma System funds held on June 30, 2026, can carry into the next fiscal year for the same purposes. Before June 30, 2027, the department must explain the need in writing to the state finance department’s Office of Budget. Carryforward amounts and related information are subject to reporting to the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.

Funding supports local health facilities

The law provides $8.95 million from the State Health Building and Local Grant Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026–2027. Of this, $1.95 million supports State Health Building acquisition, construction, and improvements, plus local health unit grants. Those grants support construction, expansion, and renovation. Another $7 million is for construction. The funding year ends June 30, 2027; the law does not create a household payment.

State funding supports infectious disease control

The Health Department receives $30 million for infectious disease control in fiscal year 2026–2027, ending June 30, 2027. The appropriation supports the state program. It does not specify individual services, eligibility rules, or household benefit amounts.

Unspent funds can support health services

The Health Department director can transfer up to $3.7 million in unspent funds for use in the next fiscal year. The money can support an emergency management system covering trauma, stroke, and heart attacks. It can also fund long-acting reversible birth control through local health units. The transfer is optional and does not guarantee an individual service or payment.

Funding supports health provider credentialing work

The law provides $350,000 in cash funds for the Health Department’s Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee. The money covers staff costs, operations, and members’ mileage and daily allowances for fiscal year 2026–2027. The funding year ends June 30, 2027. It does not change who qualifies for credentials or create a household benefit.

War Memorial receives required state payment

The Health Department must pay War Memorial $50,000 on July 1, 2026. The payment must come from the department’s Operations appropriation and use non-general revenue. It does not create a household payment or benefit.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 29, 2026 11:26:46 AM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 4/28/2026

House Vote - Tuesday, April 28, 2026 2:15:19 PM

Yes: 95 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that HB1036 is now Act 163

    5/1/2026House

  2. Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.

    4/29/2026House

  3. TO BE ENROLLED

    4/29/2026House

  4. Returned from the Senate as passed.

    4/29/2026House

  5. Returned to the House as Passed.

    4/29/2026House

  6. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/29/2026House

  7. Read the third time and passed.

    4/29/2026House

  8. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.

    4/28/2026House

  9. Received from the House.

    4/28/2026House

  10. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/28/2026House

  11. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    4/28/2026House

  12. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/27/2026House

  13. Amendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.

    4/27/2026House

  14. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.

    4/27/2026House

  15. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 2

    4/23/2026House

  16. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/21/2026House

  17. Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.

    4/21/2026House

  18. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.

    4/21/2026House

  19. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    4/8/2026House

  20. Filed

    4/1/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB1036 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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