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ArkansasHB10632026 Fiscal SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Arkansas funds pensions for public employees

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law funds the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS). Its cash budget provides $675 million for benefits and $50 million for refunds or reimbursements, paid by check or wire transfer. A separate $142.740859 million operating budget includes $40 million for nonemployee benefits and $85 million for refunds or reimbursements. It also includes $2 million for professional fees, $7 million for data processing, $2.137473 million for operating costs, and $67,500 for travel and conferences. These budgets support pension payments and administration without changing individual benefit amounts, formulas, or eligibility.

Arkansas funds pensions for retired judges

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law funds Judicial Retirement System payments and operations. Its $21 million cash budget includes $20.75 million for benefits and $250,000 for refunds or reimbursements. These payments are made by check or wire transfer. A separate $8.652879 million operating budget includes $500,000 for nonemployee benefits, $8 million for refunds or reimbursements, and $140,879 for professional fees. The funding does not change individual pension amounts, formulas, or eligibility.

Arkansas funds pensions for state police

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law funds State Police Retirement System payments and operations. Its $32.5 million cash budget includes $31 million for benefits and $1.5 million for refunds or reimbursements. These payments are made by check or wire transfer. A separate $30.28595 million operating budget includes $5 million for nonemployee benefits, $25 million for refunds or reimbursements, and $265,950 for professional fees. The funding does not change individual pension amounts, formulas, or eligibility.

Arkansas sets pension agency staffing limits

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, APERS can employ up to 78 regular workers and six temporary or part-time workers. The law sets job classifications and pay grades for regular staff. Temporary workers can be used when needed, but their pay cannot exceed the rate for their job classification. The operating budget includes $4.773961 million for regular salaries, $75,000 for temporary help, and $1.686925 million for employer matching costs. This staffing authority supports pension administration without changing household benefits.

Pension budgets adjust to payment choices

From July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, APERS can adjust certain budget lines when retirees change their payment method. The authority covers its cash Benefits and Refund lines and its operating budget's Benefits–Non Employee line. These transfers do not need prior review by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. All other state budget-transfer requirements still apply. The change does not alter retirees' benefit amounts or eligibility.

Retirement funds can cover shared administration

From July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, retirement funds can transfer limited amounts to APERS for shared administration. The State Police Retirement Fund can transfer up to $250,000, and the Judges Retirement Fund can transfer up to $150,000. Separate transfers of up to $50,000 from each system can support buying, setting up, maintaining, and operating a new pension administration system. Each transfer requires a request to, and approval by, the state's Chief Fiscal Officer. These authorities end June 30, 2027, and do not change individual pension benefits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/16/2026

Senate Vote - Thursday, April 16, 2026 11:37:26 AM

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

House Vote - Wednesday, April 15, 2026 2:00:29 PM

Yes: 94 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that HB1063 is now Act 55

    4/22/2026House

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

    4/16/2026House

  3. TO BE ENROLLED

    4/16/2026House

  4. Returned from the Senate as passed.

    4/16/2026House

  5. Returned to the House as Passed.

    4/16/2026Senate

  6. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/16/2026Senate

  7. Read the third time and passed.

    4/16/2026Senate

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

    4/15/2026Senate

  9. Received from the House.

    4/15/2026Senate

  10. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/15/2026House

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

    4/15/2026House

  12. Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.

    4/15/2026House

  13. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/15/2026House

  14. Returned by the Committee Do Pass

    4/14/2026House

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

    4/8/2026House

  16. Filed

    4/1/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB1063 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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