ArkansasHB15122025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; AND TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE AS THEY RELATE TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

Sponsored By: Jonathan Dismang (Republican), Matthew J. Shepherd (Republican)

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

59 provisions identified: 23 benefits, 16 costs, 20 mixed.

More scholarship help for workforce students

The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship's maximum award rises from $800 to $3,000 per academic year. Awards cannot exceed the eligible certificate or study program's cost. Scholarship money can cover expenses included in that cost. Awards depend on available scholarship funds.

New college scholarships for students with disabilities

The law creates the Governor’s Higher Education Transition Scholarship for Arkansas students with disabilities admitted to qualifying programs at state-supported colleges. Programs must be accredited by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. Each semester’s award is capped at the lower of attendance costs or $2,500, depending on available funds. Support lasts up to eight continuous semesters or until the student earns a credential, whichever comes first. Covered costs include tuition, fees, room and board, supplies, and extended support services.

New scholarships for high school college courses

The law creates ACCESS scholarships for eligible Arkansas public high school students in grades 10–12 taking concurrent-credit courses. Awards provide $65 per credit hour, counting up to 15 hours per semester, with a $2,000 yearly cap including summer. Funds go in equal amounts to approved institutions enrolling eligible students; courses reimbursable through vocational centers or fundable under the specified alternative program are excluded. No awards are made when available funding is below $250,000 or the division received the specified prior-year scholarship-reserve loan. Funding comes from specified prior-year excess funds and remaining lottery proceeds, and unused money carries over.

Campus advocacy faces absence and damage penalties

State-supported colleges cannot excuse absences or authorize walkouts for political protest, social or public-policy advocacy, or efforts to influence government. Students owe for college property damage they negligently or intentionally cause during political protest or public-policy advocacy. Once a damage judgment is entered, the student cannot receive a degree or credential until it is fully paid. The college also cannot transfer or endorse those credits toward a degree at another state-supported college during that period. The law sets no dollar limit on the damage judgment.

False scholarship residency claims risk college dismissal

Students who knowingly give false information to establish residency for state-funded scholarships are subject to dismissal from their state-supported college. The penalty applies to knowingly false claims, not simply an unsuccessful residency application.

Former public employee family scholarship repealed

The law repeals the former scholarship subchapter for qualifying children and spouses of specified public employees. It covered employees killed or permanently and totally disabled during covered hazardous duty, including travel to or from hazardous situations. The former benefit lasted up to eight semesters or the equivalent. Its rules for natural, adopted, and stepchildren are also repealed; eligibility under the separate Heroes Scholarship follows that program’s rules.

Residency checks can remove student scholarships

Students who claim Arkansas residency for state scholarships face a required reduction or loss of aid after conflicting residency verification. This applies when verification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid finds the student is not an in-state resident.

Self-inflicted injuries bar dependent Heroes scholarships

Heroes scholarship benefits are barred when the hero’s wound, injury, or death was self-inflicted. Dependents cannot receive benefits based on that event, even if they otherwise qualify.

Broader Heroes scholarships with family eligibility rules

Heroes Scholarship coverage expands to additional appointed law officers and dependents of disabled veterans, prisoners of war, and listed missing or deceased military members. Students must meet at least one route: one year of Arkansas residency, birth before the hero’s death or disability, or pregnancy at that time. Adopted children need adoption or its process started before that event; stepchildren must meet age, tax-dependency, and financial-support tests. A qualifying dependent keeps benefits when a parent returns or is reported dead. Unless the late-claim exception applies, the Claims Commission awards the scholarship alongside the related death or disability benefit.

Dependents get college help with limits

Eligible dependents pursuing a first bachelor's degree receive help with tuition, fees, and covered charges at qualifying Arkansas institutions. For those eligible for federal Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, state help covers only charges above federal monetary benefits. Private nonprofit awards cannot exceed the state-supported institution maximum. The public-institution and technical-institute scholarship provides eight semesters or the equivalent, with no more than four at a technical institute. Books, food, supplies, materials, and extracurricular dues or fees are excluded from that assistance.

New standards for Governor’s scholarship applicants

Governor’s Scholars and Distinguished Scholars applicants must be legal Arkansas residents under state higher education rules and graduate from an Arkansas high school. Extraordinary academic ability requires an ACT superscore of at least 32 or SAT score of at least 1410. Applicants using that route also need at least a 3.5 high school GPA. The required test score must be earned by February 28 before the application deadline. Exemplary achievement can be shown through listed measures, including SAT, CLT, ACT, GPA, class rank, an associate degree at graduation, or a diploma of distinction.

Students get defined scholarship residency paths

Unless another statute sets different rules, state scholarship residency has an Arkansas school-graduation path and a legal-residency path. The first covers Arkansas public, private, or home school graduation or expected graduation within nine months of enrollment. The second requires legal residency, six continuous months physically in Arkansas, and intent to remain; presence alone is insufficient. Service members stationed in Arkansas under military orders and their dependents receive in-state classification. Students initially classified out of state can later establish legal residence and seek reclassification.

Workforce scholarships gain funding and application rules

Workforce Challenge applicants apply to an approved institution by the state deadline and must enter a qualifying high-demand certificate or associate-degree program. Applicants must meet high school completion and Arkansas residency rules; students under 21 can qualify through a parent’s residency. The law removes the occupation-list requirement, but recipients cannot also receive an Academic Challenge Scholarship. Awards are capped at the lesser of program cost or $3,000 yearly, with up to $5 million reserved for the specified certificate-eligible group. Higher education and skills-development officials set and apply eligibility criteria for the specified group, share eligible-student information, and send awards directly to institutions.

Another scholarship path for public school graduates

Arkansas public high school graduates gain another route to the traditional Academic Challenge Scholarship, instead of the ACT superscore requirement. They must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA and complete at least one college-readiness assessment. They must also earn a diploma of merit under State Board of Education rules. Proof of that diploma must accompany the scholarship application.

Bigger starting scholarships for college students

Qualifying full-time Arkansas Academic Challenge recipients at approved four-year colleges receive $2,000 annually with fewer than 27 earned semester credits. That award rises from $1,000. At approved two-year colleges, four-year branch campuses, and nursing schools, the first-year award also rises from $1,000 to $2,000. Those qualifying full-time students still receive $3,000 in the second year. All these awards depend on available net lottery revenue.

Families pay nothing for concurrent courses

Students taking concurrent credit courses earn high school and college credit. Students, parents, and guardians are not responsible for tuition, fees, or materials for participation.

Governor's Scholars get revised selection paths

Governor's Scholar selection recognizes a diploma of distinction or an associate degree earned by the summer after high school graduation. The diploma must meet state-board criteria. Selection uses highest exemplary academic achievement if no Distinguished Scholarship recipients exist or no qualifying student is selected in a county.

Heroes' children can file missed claims

Eligible children can file individual Arkansas Heroes scholarship claims before turning 21. This route applies when the employee or heirs missed the deadline for an available death or disability benefit. The child must be a covered Armed Forces dependent or a dependent of an Arkansas hero injured or killed during qualifying hazardous duty.

Lower college course costs for high schoolers

Students can enter concurrent-credit courses when a college admits them and they meet prerequisites, without special nondegree or noncertificate status. Beginning in 2025–2026, public district and charter partnerships must set per-credit tuition between 0.5% and 2.5% of annual per-pupil funding. The rate cannot exceed the college’s standard tuition and fee structure; ACCESS funds, district funds, agreed consideration, or other approved sources can cover it. Students and parents are not responsible for tuition, fees, or materials for concurrent-credit participation. State-supported two- and four-year colleges can also offer ACCESS-eligible students tuition discounts, which do not count as institutional scholarships.

More training options for workforce scholarship students

Public and private vocational schools can participate with state higher education approval and at least one qualifying listing or status. Those include the federal workforce training-provider list, eligibility for VA education-benefit approval, or the private-career-education board’s list. State higher education officials decide which certificate programs qualify, including training in manufacturing, health care, technology, construction, and logistics. Programs must be offered or made available by an approved school and lead to a certification or license. Training hours do not have to count toward a college degree.

Scholarship recipients can renew three times

The scholarship renewal provision awards eligible recipients one academic year of support. Recipients can renew for up to three additional academic years. Renewal requires meeting continuing eligibility standards set by the Division of Higher Education.

Students gain more accelerated course options

Beginning in 2025–2026, every public district and open-enrollment charter must offer at least four accelerated courses covering math, English, science, and social studies. State grants support advanced placement, international programs, concurrent credit, and approved similar programs, without former affiliation and prior-success requirements. Counselor support duties also cover accelerated learning programs. Concurrent courses must be offered by Arkansas colleges, receive normal approval, appear in catalogs, and match campus-course standards and learning goals. Instructor and institutional support requirements also apply.

Academic Support students get leftover funding

Academic Support Scholarships receive only money left after sufficient funding for Academic Challenge, Workforce Challenge, and ACCESS to Acceleration Scholarships. ACCESS replaces Concurrent Challenge in that funding priority. Academic Support funding therefore depends on what remains after those allocations.

College aid faces caps and ordering

Colleges must use the federal cost-of-attendance method for state-aid students, including only federally permitted costs and allowances. State aid cannot exceed reported attendance costs; private colleges face additional limits tied to comparable state colleges. Institutional work-study counts only when based on need. Colleges apply Academic Challenge first, then other state scholarships, then Arkansas Future, Teacher Academy, and National Guard tuition-waiver aid, followed by institutional aid. If a package with state aid exceeds attendance costs, the college must repay the excess using that order.

Heroes' family scholarships have stopping points

Children cannot receive Arkansas hero scholarship benefits for a term if they are 26 by its first day. An enrolled spouse who marries keeps benefits through that semester. The spouse's benefits end after the semester in which the marriage occurs.

Old concurrent student scholarship program ends

The law ends the Arkansas Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program. Students in grades 10–12 can no longer receive concurrent-enrollment or certificate-program awards through that program. This repeal provides no separate transition period for former recipients.

Aid limits change with military exceptions

A student’s combined aid at a state-supported college cannot exceed its recognized cost of attendance under the scholarship-stacking policy. Colleges must apply federal aid before the covered state aid unless federal law provides otherwise. Aid received by active Armed Forces or National Guard members, reserve members, or their spouses is excluded from this section’s aid-package definition. The military exclusion does not guarantee a specific increase in an award.

College faculty face annual job reviews

Covered colleges must develop annual reviews of full-time faculty with faculty input, including peer, student, and administrator assessments. Reviews affect promotions, raises, and tenure, and can lead to training or loss of tenure. Colleges can also order immediate reviews for reasons such as poor performance, policy violations, or falsified credentials. Tenured faculty must have an appeal process and due process. Colleges must report their plans by December 1, 2025, and implement them by January 1, 2026.

Lottery money follows new scholarship priorities

Lottery scholarship funding now includes ACCESS in place of Concurrent Challenge. After Academic Challenge awards are paid, remaining funds are shared proportionally among Workforce Challenge and ACCESS recipients. Remaining lottery proceeds also fund qualifying Governor’s Scholars and Heroes awards that exceed their annual appropriations. Before funding those excess awards, officials must fund Academic Challenge and Workforce Challenge at the previous academic year’s award levels. Support therefore depends on money remaining after these funding priorities.

Scholarship renewal rules allow one second chance

Recipients under these scholarship renewal provisions must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must also meet continuing eligibility criteria set by state higher education officials. A recipient who loses eligibility can apply one additional time after regaining eligibility.

Teacher license grants change and tighten

The separate Dual Licensure Incentive Program and its funding rules end. Teachers can seek Teacher Opportunity Program help for a different subject in which they are not already licensed. These awards require money left after priority-field awards and cover no more than six credits of tuition and fees per academic year. Awards also depend on available funding and the program's requirements. Grant recipients must maintain a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or an approved equivalent.

Career students can seek complaint hearings

Students alleging losses from broken school agreements or misleading admissions claims can send written complaints to the Division of Higher Education. No division-prescribed form is required. If informal resolution fails, a written hearing request must reach the division within one year after completion or withdrawal. The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board hears the case, and its ruling is binding. A party cannot pursue board resolution after filing legal action.

Career students gain apprenticeship priority consideration

Public high school students who finish an approved vocational or technical pathway earn a certificate of attainment. Apprenticeship programs must consider that certificate for acceptance and priority placement, rather than advanced placement. Admission or placement is not guaranteed.

High schoolers gain provisional college admission offers

Starting with the 2026–2027 graduating class, the Arkansas Direct Admissions Program provides provisional college offers using grades, assessments, and completed courses. Arkansas residents at participating accredited public or private high schools can use a shared application portal and college and aid information. Offers are not acceptances; colleges set application and enrollment requirements, and students can still use regular admissions. Participating public districts and charters must share student grades, assessment scores, and course-completion data with state higher education officials. They must tell students about the program and cannot actively discourage or prohibit eligible students from participating.

Military students gain broader course placement

Course placement for students covered by the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act includes accelerated learning courses. It also includes academic, technical, and career pathway courses.

More support for advanced high school learning

Accelerated learning includes pre-AP, AP, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge advanced programs, and concurrent credit. Similar courses qualify only with approval from the state education division. Schools offering these courses can receive one-time grants for equipment and materials, using state-set award criteria. Arkansas can also pay all or a proportional share of accelerated-learning test fees. Grants and test-fee help depend on legislative funding; neither has a guaranteed award amount.

Schools can excuse approved student advocacy

Public districts and open-enrollment public charter schools can excuse absences for social or public policy advocacy. They can also excuse efforts to influence legislation or government policy at the local, state, or federal level. A parent, legal guardian, or person acting as a parent must provide written consent. Schools are allowed, but not required, to grant these excused absences.

Students gain another accepted college entrance test

State-supported colleges must accept the Classic Learning Test to the same extent as the ACT and SAT. This applies to admissions and eligibility for state-funded financial aid. The requirement does not cover college-funded assistance programs.

Students gain new weighted credit paths

Accelerated and approved weighted-credit courses use state-board grading rules rather than the standard A–F and 4-to-0 scale. The state must approve weighted credit for courses exceeding standard-course requirements, matching accelerated-course standards, or identified as honors classes. Approved career and technical pathway courses can qualify when they exceed standard requirements and lead to approved certification or concurrent credit. Students receive that career and technical weighted credit after finishing the pathway and earning its aligned high-value industry credential.

Schools can count more accelerated courses

Districts can count qualifying accelerated courses toward school approval, expanding the former advanced-placement-only option. They must have a qualified teacher, no enrollment in the matching required course, and teach all other required courses. Later-enrolling students must receive the required course through a classroom, qualified distance learning, or an individually modified accelerated course. Districts must report enrollment changes, and courses must meet approved program standards or risk denial by the state board. Students cannot be pressured into accelerated courses for school approval.

Schools earn recognition for supporting military families

Arkansas public districts and open-enrollment charter schools can earn a Purple Star School or School District designation. They must show a significant commitment to serving Armed Forces-connected students and families. The state education division can set rules for the designation. The law provides no funding amount for this recognition.

State aligns school and college numbering

Beginning in 2026–2027, the state higher education and K–12 divisions must review Arkansas's common course numbering system. They must recommend changes and begin aligning elementary and secondary courses. They must also establish regular review schedules and procedures.

Military dependents must apply for federal aid

Armed Forces dependents seeking benefits under the scholarship subchapter must apply for VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance. They must give Arkansas higher education officials proof of federal acceptance or ineligibility after applying. These documents are required for access to the covered state benefit.

Schools cannot excuse political protest absences

Public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools cannot grant excused absences for political protests. Students cannot receive an excused absence for that purpose.

Career school recruiters lose licensing requirement

Admissions representatives at licensed private career schools no longer need the license described in this law. The law removes the division's duty to set approval standards and license these representatives. It names no replacement credential.

Schools lose course and incentive support

The law ends the Traveling Teacher Program, including its course-sharing arrangements, teacher bonuses, and travel reimbursements. It also ends district incentive funding tied to graduates completing the Smart Core curriculum. The Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Diploma Incentive Program ends as well. That program offered school equipment and materials grants, teacher-training subsidies, and test-fee payments when funding was available.

Schools lose teacher assignment hardship waivers

Districts can no longer seek a hardship waiver for teacher assignments beyond the legal limit. The removed waiver covered assigning classes to teachers without the required grade-level or subject license.

Schools must pay accelerated service fees

Grant-funded accelerated learning providers must publish their program fee lists by June 1 each year. Participating public high schools must pay the provider's service fee. Schools lose the option to buy only selected services through limited participation. This payment duty falls on schools, not directly on families.

Students face broader history course requirements

Grades 7–12 history and social studies courses eligible for graduation credit must cover U.S. history from colonial to modern times. Advanced placement courses no longer have an exception.

Accelerated teachers gain flexibility and requirements

Accelerated and concurrent-course instructors must meet the offering college's or authorized accreditor's requirements. The college must approve their credentials and relevant experience for its syllabus. Qualifying college-employed instructors can teach credit-bearing courses without the usual grade-level or subject teaching license. They must meet the college's or state career education division's qualifications. Licensed staff can count accelerated-course teaching training toward professional development, up to 30 hours.

New credit rules for scholarship amounts

Academic Challenge applicants can no longer choose to count only credits earned after high school graduation or an equivalency diploma. Earned credits must be counted under the remaining award rules. For part-time students in the specified final award tier, awards can be adjusted based on enrolled credit hours. That adjustment is no longer mandatory.

School safety coverage and representation change

The state education commissioner chooses the people and stakeholders needed for the Arkansas Safe Schools Committee, replacing specified membership slots. The Arkansas Center for School Safety serves as the state's school safety clearinghouse. It must work with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Safe Schools Committee, and Division of Emergency Management. Other previously listed groups are no longer required partners. The covered school rules include traditional public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools.

Career school licensing coverage changes for students

Private career-school licensing covers listed occupational and correspondence training, aircraft-mechanic instruction, exam preparation, and driver education. Court-ordered driver education for motor vehicle violators is excluded. State-supported colleges are excluded, as are Arkansas-headquartered private nonprofit two- or four-year institutions eligible for federal Title IV aid. Out-of-state schools are exempt only when training occurs outside Arkansas and they do not offer distance education. These boundaries determine which providers face career-school licensing oversight.

Career schools face revised licensing rules

The Arkansas Division of Higher Education has sole approval authority for covered career schools and licenses schools meeting its standards. Covered schools need licenses before operating or seeking Arkansas students; reviews cover programs, facilities, finances, staff, and legitimate operations. Applications must be signed and contain required information, but no longer need prescribed forms or verification. Licensing hearings go before the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and licensing rules no longer require private-career-board consultation. The division sets annual school fees and fees for schools and admissions representatives with coordinating-board consultation; no amounts are specified.

Colleges face new ideology and diversity limits

State-supported colleges cannot compel covered students, staff, or contractors to affirm specified political, religious, or other ideological views. They cannot require diversity statements for covered decisions or condition class participation on protected traits or ideological views. The law limits differential treatment and diversity, equity, and inclusion accreditation practices, while preserving educational discussion and specified civil-rights compliance. After Attorney General notice, colleges that fail to show compliance within a reasonable time lose state formula-funding eligibility. Regaining eligibility requires at least one later fiscal year of compliance; colleges also cannot use state money or accept federal money requiring violations.

Families see different school rating measures

School ratings must include academic achievement, statewide-test student growth, and school-level graduation rates. English-learner progress is no longer a specified measure. The law removes required consideration of achievement gaps, subgroup growth, credit attainment, resource equity, and advanced-course credits. It also removes listed measures covering learning options, preschool access, educator qualifications, and partnerships.

School boards face stricter audit training

School board audit-report training must use Arkansas-licensed accounting expertise with school district audit experience. Training must meet supervision rules and come through an Arkansas college or education-department-sponsored or approved instruction. State audit employees may train multiple districts. A district's own auditor may provide training only in a qualifying large-group setting attended by multiple districts.

School districts gain state letter grades

The state education division must create a formula assigning letter grades to public school districts and education service cooperatives. The provision does not specify the formula’s measures. It creates no direct household payment or scholarship eligibility change.

Colleges face limits on duplicate funding

A college receiving vocational center aid cannot also receive concurrent-credit tuition funding for courses at a covered secondary vocational center. The law limits duplicate public funding. It specifies no funding amount or direct change to student charges.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Brandon Achor
Republican • House
Wade Andrews
Republican • House
Sonia Eubanks Barker
Republican • House
Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Republican • House
Rick Beck
Republican • House
Keith Brooks
Republican • House
Frances Cavenaugh
Republican • House
Cindy Crawford
Republican • House
Les D. Eaves
Republican • House
Jon S. Eubanks
Republican • House
Brian S. Evans
Republican • House
Zack Gramlich
Republican • House
RJ Hawk
Republican • House
John P. Carr
Republican • House
Karilyn Brown
Republican • House
Matt Brown
Republican • House
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Rick McClure
Republican • House
Jason Nazarenko
Republican • House
Ryan A. Rose
Republican • House
Stephen Meeks
Republican • House
Randy Torres
Republican • House
Steve Unger
Republican • House
Jeff Wardlaw
Republican • House
Carlton Wing
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 108 • No: 23

Senate vote • 3/17/2025

Senate Vote - Monday, March 17, 2025 4:12:59 PM

Yes: 27 • No: 6

House vote • 3/13/2025

House Vote - Thursday, March 13, 2025 2:13:58 PM

Yes: 81 • No: 17

Actions Timeline

Notification that HB1512 is now Act 341
3/18/2025House
Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
3/18/2025House
TO BE ENROLLED
3/17/2025House
Returned from the Senate as passed.
3/17/2025House
Returned to the House as passed.
3/17/2025Senate
Read the third time and passed.
3/17/2025Senate
Rules suspended.
3/17/2025Senate
Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
3/13/2025Senate
Received from the House.
3/13/2025Senate
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/13/2025House
REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/12/2025House
Amendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/12/2025House
Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/12/2025House
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 2
3/10/2025House
REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/6/2025House
Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/6/2025House
Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/6/2025House
Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE
2/17/2025House
Filed
2/17/2025House

Bill Text

HB1512 - Introduced
2/17/2025
PDF
Act Version
PDF

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