# Arkansas HB1496: TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

Arkansas HB1496, TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Wade Andrews (Republican), Jim Dotson (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-03-18 (Notification that HB1496 is now Act 304) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1496-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Arkansas HB1496
- State: Arkansas
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-17
- Last action: 2025-03-18, Notification that HB1496 is now Act 304
- Sponsors: Wade Andrews (Republican), Jim Dotson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (105 yes, 12 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Arkansas teachers face revised renewal rules: cost, low. Arkansas teachers renewing their licenses must complete continuing education and professional development required by state law and State Board rules. The law replaces renewal requirements tied to the earlier teacher evaluation system. It removes specific credit rules for graduate courses and Advan…
- Arkansas teacher assignments face licensing limits: mixed, low. Arkansas teachers must hold a full or provisional license for their assigned grade or subject, unless an approved exception applies. At a public school district’s request, the state education division can approve a licensing plan lasting up to three years. The individual can request one extension o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Wade Andrews (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jim Dotson (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-13 | Senate | Senate Vote - Thursday, March 13, 2025 3:30:33 PM | pass | 28 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025-03-05 | House | House Vote - Wednesday, March 5, 2025 3:02:09 PM | pass | 77 | 8 | 5 |

## Actions (13)

- 2025-03-18: Notification that HB1496 is now Act 304 (House)
- 2025-03-14: Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office. (House)
- 2025-03-13: TO BE ENROLLED (House)
- 2025-03-13: Returned from the Senate as passed. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Returned to the House as passed. (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Read the third time and passed. (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass (Senate)
- 2025-03-05: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE (Senate)
- 2025-03-05: Received from the House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-05: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House)
- 2025-02-17: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE (House)
- 2025-02-17: Filed (House)

## Bill text

- HB1496 - Introduced, 2025-02-17: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1496.pdf)
- Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=304.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related bills

- HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. (enacted)
- HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIV… (failed)
- HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (failed)
- SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES. (failed)
- 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 P… (failed)
- 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 A… (failed)

## Sources
- [HB1496 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1496.pdf)
- [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=304.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related
- [HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1265-2025)
- [HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1237-2025)
- [HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1686-2025)
- [SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE US…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB440-2025)
- [HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1695-2025)
- [HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HR1012-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1496-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).