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ArkansasHB10772026 Fiscal SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF COUNTY OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Staff and funding for county benefit offices

Arkansas provides about $194.4 million for DHS county operations from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It pays for staff, operating costs, professional services, and data processing rather than direct household checks. The law caps regular positions at 2,010 and authorizes up to 43 temporary or part-time extra-help positions. Extra-help pay must follow state pay limits or this act. A separate $2.63 million from the Medicaid Expansion Program Account funds Medicaid Tobacco Settlement county staff and operations. Spending must stay within available funds and appropriations, follow state financial and purchasing rules, and match authorized budget purposes.

Federal approval required for family cash limits

These rules apply July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance. When the Governor or General Assembly requests it, DHS must seek federal approval to limit spending and cash withdrawals. Allowed needs include food, clothing, housing, utilities, child care, transportation, and medical supplies not covered by Medicaid or a health plan. The spending and withdrawal limits require federal approval; they do not start if the waiver is denied. If DHS does not request the waiver, it cannot use this law's appropriations for participation in the program.

Grants for older and disabled residents

Arkansas provides $4,000 from the DHS Grants Fund Account for Aid to Aged, Blind, Disabled grants. The funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The law does not set an individual grant amount or change who qualifies.

Emergency rent assistance funding for households

Arkansas sets aside about $2.13 million in designated federal funds for emergency rental assistance grants. The funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The law does not set each household's grant amount or establish eligibility rules.

Funding for children's summer food benefits

Arkansas provides about $50.6 million for Summer EBT food benefits from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The program supports summer groceries for children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. This funding provision does not set each child's benefit amount or establish new eligibility rules.

Funding for low-income families and groceries

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides about $76.5 million for three assistance programs. This includes about $57.2 million for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and $5.4 million for SNAP food assistance. Another $13.9 million funds Community Service Block Grants for anti-poverty services. These funding provisions do not set household benefit amounts or change who qualifies.

Family assistance funds support early education

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, DHS must transfer $7.5 million from federal family assistance funds. The money goes to the Public School Fund Account solely for the Arkansas Better Chance early childhood program. This redirects money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant rather than adding new funding. The transfer may fall proportionately if the TANF grant or state match falls, or federal rule changes add state costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 125 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/27/2026

Senate Vote - Monday, April 27, 2026 3:30:00 PM

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

House Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 11:25:31 AM

Yes: 92 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that HB1077 is now Act 127

    4/29/2026House

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

    4/28/2026House

  3. TO BE ENROLLED

    4/27/2026House

  4. Returned from the Senate as passed.

    4/27/2026House

  5. Returned to the House as Passed.

    4/27/2026Senate

  6. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/27/2026Senate

  7. Read the third time and passed.

    4/27/2026Senate

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

    4/23/2026Senate

  9. Received from the House.

    4/23/2026Senate

  10. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026House

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

    4/23/2026House

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

    4/23/2026House

  13. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/23/2026House

  14. Returned by the Committee Do Pass

    4/22/2026House

  15. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/21/2026House

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

    4/21/2026House

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

    4/21/2026House

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

    4/8/2026House

  19. Filed

    4/1/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB1077 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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