All Roll Calls
Yes: 127 • No: 0
ArkansasHB12012025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Funding keeps Arkansas transportation running
For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the law provides $2.7205 billion for Arkansas transportation operations. This includes $1.8 billion for construction and equipment, $270 million for operating costs, and $120 million for professional services. Payroll gets $270 million for salaries, $130 million for employer benefits and contributions, and $10 million for overtime. Funding also includes $70 million for transportation grants, $50 million for debt payments, and $500,000 for conferences and travel. With legislative budget review and notice to finance officials, the department can move savings into other operating budget items. With legislative budget review, it can also move operating funds to cover shortages in required employer contributions. Spending remains limited to approved amounts and subject to state purchasing and financial control laws.
Funding supports highway workers' retirement benefits
The Highway Employees' Retirement System Fund provides $250 million from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. It supports retirement payments, benefits, investments, refunds, and system expenses for members and beneficiaries. The budget includes $230 million for benefits and system expenses and $4 million for refunds and reimbursements. It also includes $15 million for professional services and $1 million for maintenance and operations. The law does not specify a change in any person's retirement payment.
Funding for four-lane highways and bonds
The law provides $435 million for four-lane highway projects and related bond purposes from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The budget includes $400 million for capital projects, $30 million for professional services, and $5 million for maintenance. Authorized uses include highway construction and improvements, bond repayment, debt-service transfers, and related investments. The money must serve purposes allowed by Amendment 91 of the Arkansas Constitution.
Funding keeps weather warning radios operating
The law provides $4,000 for weather warning radio operating costs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The transportation department uses the money to operate the NOAA Weather Warning Radio System. The system delivers weather alerts.
Funding supports safer commercial truck travel
The Commercial Truck Safety and Education Fund provides $7 million from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This includes $6.9 million for grants and aid and $100,000 for operating costs. The money supports joint public-private programs for enforcement, rule compliance, industry training, and education. Programs must promote the safe movement of goods on state highways.
Funding supports rural and urban transit
For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the Public Transit Trust Fund provides $7 million. It supports federal matching funds for transit vehicles, equipment, and facilities, plus operation of federal transit assistance programs. Another $350,000 supports rural and urban transit agencies serving people who depend on public transportation. Those grants cover applications, program development, federal matching funds, capital improvements, and operating help. The law does not set a payment amount for any rider or provider.
Grants support regional transportation connections
The law provides $525,000 for regional transportation facility grants from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The money comes from the State Highway and Transportation Department Fund. Grants support regional intermodal facilities, which connect or coordinate different forms of transportation.
Funding helps repair local roads and streets
For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the State Aid Road Fund provides $34 million. That includes $30 million for grants and aid and $4 million for operating costs. The State Aid Street Fund provides another $34 million: $32 million for grants and aid and $2 million for operating costs. Both programs support legally authorized construction and improvements, engineering and expense transfers, and refunds to counties or municipalities. A separate repair fund provides $5 million, including local government grants, for road and bridge damage from natural-gas extraction trucks and machinery.
Public colleges get transportation research grants
The law provides $1 million for transportation research and workforce grants from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The money comes from the Future Transportation Research and Workforce Development Fund. Only publicly funded colleges and universities can receive these grants. Grants must support transportation research or workforce development; the law does not create a direct student award.
Highway workers face yearly pay limits
From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, listed transportation jobs have employee-count and annual salary limits. Maximum pay includes $276,967 for the director and $242,365 for chief engineers and the chief administration position. The Highway Commission sets actual pay within each job's limit and available funding; these caps are not guaranteed salaries. Listed jobs are exempt from the state's uniform pay classification law but remain subject to regular salary procedures and restrictions. The department can use this year's salary and overtime funds for the pay period spanning June and July 2025, without changing pay rates.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/11/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, February 11, 2025 2:28:34 PM
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 1
House vote • 2/10/2025
House Vote - Monday, February 10, 2025 3:12:02 PM
Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 2
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1201 is now Act 87
2/13/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
2/11/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
2/11/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
2/11/2025HouseReturned to the House as Passed.
2/11/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
2/11/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/11/2025SenateRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
2/10/2025SenateReceived from the House.
2/10/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
2/10/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/10/2025HouseConsidered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
2/10/2025HouseRULES SUSPENDED
2/10/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/6/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
1/22/2025HouseFiled
1/22/2025House
Bill Text
HB1201 - Introduced
1/22/2025
Act Version
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