All Roll Calls
Yes: 132 • No: 0
ArkansasHB12062025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Arkansas funds schools and employee pay
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides about $3.481 billion for school grants and special programs. Basic school funding gets about $2.207 billion. Teacher pay receives $190 million for minimum salaries and raises, plus $60 million to help equalize salaries across districts. Employee insurance gets $142 million; teacher merit incentives get $10 million, and National Board support gets $18.738 million. School meals receive $14.7 million for free breakfast, $7.65 million for food services, and about $1.125 million for surplus food. District support includes about $28.455 million for bonded debt, $25 million for contingencies, and $23.963 million for declining enrollment. Transportation receives $8 million in enhanced funding and $5 million for modernization grants. Residential centers and juvenile detention education receive about $16.345 million, while workers’ compensation receives $450,000. Spending depends on available funds and compliance with state budget and purchasing rules. The law also requires quarterly school-fund reports and monthly Educational Adequacy Fund reports during this fiscal year. The Commissioner can request internal budget transfers at most twice per fiscal year, subject to required executive and legislative approvals.
Funding for school technology and innovation
For FY 2025–2026, the school computer network receives about $33.328 million for staff, operations, equipment, and data access. This includes about $29.246 million for maintenance and operations, with up to 45 regular employees across 14 job types. Technology Grants receive about $3.603 million, and Technology Improvements receive $500,000. EAST student technology programs must receive at least $3.005 million or 18% of Technology Grants funding, whichever is greater. At least $1 million of that award must support staff and infrastructure for new programs; the rest supports existing operations. The grant or service contract must go to an entity with personnel or experience implementing EAST.
Matching grants help low-income students learn
For FY 2025–2026, Enhanced Student Achievement Funding receives about $246.723 million, and its matching grant program receives $5.6364 million. The law sets aside $5.3 million for district matching grants serving identified National School Lunch students. Eligible spending covers evidence-based tutoring, before- or after-school academic programs including transportation, and prekindergarten. Grants match district spending dollar for dollar, with proportional distribution until the money runs out. Unspent matching funds carry forward for the same uses; payments go to districts, not families.
Preschool funding with limits on administration
The Better Chance early childhood program receives $114 million for FY 2025–2026. The Department can use up to 2% of available funds for administration, leaving that money unavailable for other program uses. Up to 1.8% covers administration and grantee monitoring; the remaining 0.2% needs a written request and prior legislative approval. Unspent funds remaining June 30, 2026, can stay with the program after a written justification to the state budget office before that date. The budget office must report carryforward amounts by the September legislative meeting. The agency must also submit a written status report at least 30 days before presenting its budget request.
Retirement contributions for eligible school workers
In FY 2025–2026, school districts must pay employer retirement contributions for workers eligible under Teacher Retirement Board rules. About $14.777 million in matching funds supports covered education service areas, vocational centers, Arkansas Easter Seals, and Correction Department school employees. The supplied provision does not state the contribution rate or each worker’s benefit.
Added summer opportunities for gifted students
For FY 2025–2026, the law adds $250,000 for Governor’s School and gifted education. The Department must use it to add AEGIS summer enrichment grants or extend Governor’s School from four to six weeks. The Department must approve the Governor’s School curriculum before each program year begins. It must also oversee the program for consistency and accuracy.
Funding for statewide teacher training systems
Professional Development Funding receives about $37.176 million for FY 2025–2026. The Commissioner can authorize up to $3.5 million of that funding for statewide teacher training support systems. The Department develops and runs these systems to support student achievement. The law does not require the full $3.5 million to be spent.
Funding helps students join academic competitions
For FY 2025–2026, the Department must spend or commit at least $302,000 for named student academic events and grants. Allocations are $100,000 each for Quiz Bowl and State History Day, plus $75,000 for regional and state science fair grants. Creativity in Arkansas and Destination Imagination each receive $13,500. Creativity in Arkansas grants can reach $1,000 each for students and chaperones. Up to $40,000 of Quiz Bowl funds can cover documented costs at the Educational Television Division.
Funding supports Arkansas university education program
For FY 2025–2026, the law transfers $200,000 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fund for Arkansas/STRIVE. The university cannot charge indirect costs against this money. The funding supports the program, not direct payments to households.
Grants support schools needing targeted help
For FY 2025–2026, Education Renewal Zones receive about $1.333 million for staff, operations, and grants. That amount includes $1.10115 million for grants supporting targeted school improvement work. The funds go to the program and grant recipients, not directly to families.
Reading campaign and materials for students
For FY 2025–2026, R.I.S.E. Arkansas funding supports a statewide reading campaign with parents, teachers, and community partners. The campaign promotes reading at home, in schools, and across communities. Up to $9.5 million of the program’s funding can buy and distribute high-quality instructional materials. Purchases and distribution must follow the state law named in the provision. This supports schools and students rather than providing household checks.
School reimbursements for reservoir-separated students
In FY 2025–2026, Arkansas districts can receive reimbursement for contracted schooling in an adjoining state for reservoir-separated pupils. The reservoir must cover at least 12,000 acres at normal water level and completely separate their area from their district. The shortest road trip to their own district’s school must exceed 35 miles round trip and pass through another district. The Arkansas district must request payment and submit records required by the Department of Education. Payments cannot exceed the available Grants to School Districts appropriation.
Special education support for children
For FY 2025–2026, special education receives $17.934 million for high-cost cases and $22.89792 million for early childhood services. The $2.802527 million Special Education Services allocation supports summer programs for students with disabilities who need them. It also funds special education for foster children who are state wards and pays special education supervisors. These funds support services rather than direct payments to families.
Unused funds support isolated school districts
For FY 2025–2026, Isolated Funding receives $7.896 million, and Special Needs Isolated Funding receives $3 million. Unused Isolated Funding must transfer to Special Needs Isolated Funding. Districts qualifying under state law receive proportional shares first. Any balance is divided equally among recipients qualifying under the law’s separate remaining-funds rule until exhausted. The amount transferred depends on how much funding goes unused.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/10/2025
Senate Vote - Thursday, April 10, 2025 1:37:56 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 4:47:31 PM
Yes: 98 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1206 is now Act 792
4/17/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
4/11/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
4/10/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
4/10/2025HouseReturned to the House as Passed.
4/10/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/10/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/10/2025SenateRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
4/9/2025SenateReceived from the House.
4/9/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/9/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/9/2025HouseConsidered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
4/9/2025HouseRULES SUSPENDED
4/9/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/8/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/18/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/18/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/18/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
1/23/2025HouseFiled
1/23/2025House
Bill Text
HB1206 - Introduced
1/23/2025
Act Version
Related Bills
HB1265, AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1686, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
HB1237, TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.
SB440, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
HB1695, TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN PERSONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF UNRECORDED MUNICIPAL LIENS.
HR1012, TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED AS A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.