All Roll Calls
Yes: 124 • No: 2
ArkansasHB11782025 Regular SessionHouse
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CONTRACTING OF A MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SUMS COLLECTED BY DISTRICT COURTS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COST SHARING FOR DISTRICT COURT EXPENSES.
Sponsored By: Dave Wallace (Republican), R. Scott Richardson (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Small municipalities can contract for legal help
Arkansas second-class cities and incorporated towns can contract with an attorney if they choose not to maintain a city attorney’s office. This gives these local governments another way to get legal representation. The law does not set a direct household payment or charge.
Cities and counties divide court collections
Arkansas district courts sort collections into three groups, based on the case, officer, and location. Class 1 covers qualifying nontraffic misdemeanors and city or town ordinance cases handled by local law or code officers. It also covers qualifying misdemeanors and state traffic offenses within city limits handled by city, state, or campus officers. These collections go to the city or town that supplied enforcement resources, after applicable police, marshal, or sheriff fees. Class 2 covers qualifying county ordinance and state-law cases involving sheriffs or other non-city officers, plus offenses outside the court city. It also covers criminal and traffic proceedings not assigned elsewhere; these collections go to the county treasury. Class 3 covers civil and small-claims collections. Uniform filing fees and court costs go to the applicable city or county administration of justice fund. Other Class 3 fees and interest go to contributing local governments as their written agreement directs. For courts funded only by a county, Class 1 and 2 collections go to that county. Their uniform filing fees and court costs also go to the county administration of justice fund. All payments must follow Arkansas district court accounting law; direct settlements with state agencies remain allowed where legally permitted. The law changes where existing collections go, not the amounts households pay.
Towns sharing court costs need written agreements
An Arkansas town or city without a district court can help fund the nearest district court in its county. Participation requires a written agreement between the court-hosting municipality’s governing body and the governing bodies of contributing local governments. A town or city can participate even without a police department. Contributing towns and cities are entitled to prorated shares of collections under the law’s distribution rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Dave Wallace
Republican • Senate
R. Scott Richardson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/15/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 2:37:11 PM
Yes: 35 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 4:13:22 PM
Yes: 89 • No: 2 • Other: 6
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1178 is now Act 993
4/22/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
4/16/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
4/15/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
4/15/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
4/15/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/15/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/14/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
4/9/2025SenateReceived from the House.
4/9/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/9/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/8/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/1/2025HouseAmendment No. 3 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
4/1/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
4/1/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/5/2025HouseAmendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/5/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/5/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/18/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
2/18/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
2/18/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
1/21/2025HouseFiled
1/21/2025House
Bill Text
HB1178 - Introduced
1/21/2025
Act Version
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