All Roll Calls
Yes: 123 • No: 1
ArkansasHB16612025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING STATE DISTRICT COURTS; TO ELIMINATE THE OBLIGATION OF CITIES AND COUNTIES TO PAY THE SALARIES OF STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES; AND TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING DISTRICT COURT CLERKS.
Sponsored By: Alan Clark (Republican), Carol Dalby (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
District court installment fees expire in 2031
Authority to collect the specified district court installment fees expires on December 31, 2031, unless extended or repealed beforehand. This covers the base district court installment fee and the additional fee for cases filed on or after January 1, 2026. Ending this authority removes these charges for affected defendants after it expires.
Court funds can support security officer training
District court automation funds can cover indirect costs of hiring and training court security officers. Travel for that training is allowed. These funds cannot pay the officers' salaries, benefits, or overtime.
State pays judges and revises court rules
The state pays state district court judges' salaries and benefits; cities and counties no longer owe salary contributions. Judges receive uniform salaries from the Constitutional Officers Fund, as funded by the legislature. Where a dedicated district court cost fund exists, local officials can approve raises for clerks and other employees within legal limits. This authority excludes judges, and approval factors no longer include a judge's time away from private practice. The law also repeals county-specific rules for court locations, departments, judges, elections, and jurisdiction; the supplied text identifies no replacements.
Higher fees for district court payment plans
For district court cases filed on or after January 1, 2026, installment payments carry a $5 monthly fee plus $2.50. Fees stop when $90 in installment fees or the total assessment owed is paid, whichever comes first. A new fine can trigger new fees, and each district court department collecting installment payments charges its own fees. The law also removes a rule preserving local payment-allocation laws adopted before July 1, 2012. The supplied text does not explain how that repeal changes any particular local payment plan.
Local courts share fees with the state
Towns, cities, and counties operating district courts may keep up to 50% of covered court costs and filing fees. The other 50% goes monthly to the state's justice fund. Towns and cities also send an agreed portion of their local share to counties for county programs and agencies. County governing bodies set annual justice-fund spending, and the law removes former minimum funding amounts. County justice funds can pay district court operating costs, cost-sharing agreements, and other authorized justice expenses.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Alan Clark
Republican • Senate
Carol Dalby
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, March 18, 2025 3:37:04 PM
Yes: 23 • No: 1 • Other: 9
House vote • 3/10/2025
House Vote - Monday, March 10, 2025 2:29:58 PM
Yes: 100 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1661 is now Act 371
3/20/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
3/19/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
3/18/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
3/18/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
3/18/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/18/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
3/12/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/10/2025SenateReceived from the House.
3/10/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/10/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/6/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
3/4/2025HouseFiled
3/4/2025House
Bill Text
HB1661 - Introduced
3/4/2025
Act Version
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