All Roll Calls
Yes: 129 • No: 1
ArkansasHB15162025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Sponsored By: Steve Crowell (Republican), Marcus E. Richmond (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Agriculture officers can receive service pistols
The Arkansas Agriculture Secretary can award retiring department law-enforcement officers the pistols they carried. When an officer dies while employed by the department, the Secretary can award the pistol to the officer’s spouse. The spouse must be legally allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law. The award is optional, not guaranteed.
Animal owners face disease-rule penalties
A person notified of Arkansas Agriculture Department animal-disease rules who fails to comply commits a violation. The fine can be up to $300. The person also remains liable for damages to others caused by infection from their stock.
Agriculture enforcement fines fund department work
Arkansas names the Agriculture Department as the agency enforcing wildland-fire, timber-theft, and unlawful-dumping laws. Related fines now go to a new Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Fund instead of local school districts. All fines and penalties from department officers’ arrests or citations also go into this fund. The fund holds these special revenues and can receive other money authorized by law. Deposited fines and penalties must support only department law enforcement; the law sets no total funding amount.
Agriculture inspectors oversee animal disease checks
The Arkansas Agriculture Department takes over animal-disease inspection authority from the Livestock and Poultry Commission. Authorized staff can enter property when they reasonably suspect a contagious or infectious disease threatens community livestock or poultry. Owners or caretakers must gather animals when ordered for exams, testing, treatment, examination after death, or disinfection. Peace officers can help with enforcement. The department also provides owners with rules after a reportable disease is found.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Steve Crowell
Republican • Senate
Marcus E. Richmond
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/12/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, March 12, 2025 4:08:21 PM
Yes: 35 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2025
House Vote - Thursday, March 6, 2025 2:13:20 PM
Yes: 94 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1516 is now Act 326
3/18/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
3/13/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
3/12/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
3/12/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
3/12/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/12/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
3/11/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SENATE
3/6/2025SenateReceived from the House.
3/6/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/6/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/5/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/25/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
2/25/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
2/25/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- HOUSE
2/18/2025HouseFiled
2/18/2025House
Bill Text
HB1516 - Introduced
2/18/2025
Act Version
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