PRIA Logo™
ArkansasSB1162025 Regular SessionSenate

AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - SYSTEM AND VARIOUS DIVISIONS 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.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Funding for Arkansas illicit drug training

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the law provides $150,000 for Criminal Justice Institute training. The education and training help Arkansas criminal justice workers address illicit drug activities. A one-time transfer moves $150,000 from the Special State Assets Forfeiture Fund to the University of Arkansas Fund. That transfer funds the same $150,000 allocation; it is not another $150,000 for training.

Funding for Arkansas research network improvements

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network receives two funding sources. The law provides $2.1 million from the University of Arkansas Fund for network operations. A separate $32 million cash-fund budget includes $23 million for capital improvements and $2 million for equipment and other capital purchases. The cash budget also supports staff pay, daily operations, professional services, and debt payments. This money supports the research and education network, not direct household payments.

Funding for Arkansas science school facilities

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts receives two budgets. The law provides about $12.69 million from the school's state fund and $22.22 million from cash funds. Building and other capital improvements receive $2.5 million in the first budget and $14 million in the second. The cash budget also includes $4 million for equipment and other capital purchases. The budgets support pay and operations, with $150,000 and $300,000 respectively set aside for loans or reimbursement.

Funding for Arkansas university system operations

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the law provides about $15.66 million from the University of Arkansas Fund. This includes about $4.68 million for System Administration and $4.93 million for the Archaeological Survey. The Clinton School receives about $2.50 million, and the Criminal Justice Institute receives about $3.54 million from that same total. A separate $75.79 million cash-fund budget includes $14.59 million for salaries, $20.33 million for operating costs, and $24.15 million for professional fees. These institutional funds must follow state purchasing, accounting, reporting, and spending controls.

Funding for Grantham staff and operations

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the law provides $31.5 million in cash-fund spending authority for University of Arkansas Grantham. This includes $10.2 million for regular salaries and $3.4 million for temporary or part-time workers. Another $3.8 million covers employer benefit and payroll contributions. The budget includes $5.8 million for operating costs, $5.5 million for professional services, and $2 million for debt payments. The money supports university operations rather than direct payments to households.

Arkansas university hiring and pay limits

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the law allows up to 595 regular positions across the university system and listed divisions. Annual pay caps include $290,076 for the arts and sciences school chancellor, $234,194 for professors, and $134,719 for instructors. Separate temporary or part-time hiring limits are 50 for system divisions, 10 for the arts and sciences school, and 250 for Grantham. Temporary workers' pay cannot exceed applicable job rates under state pay law or this act. These are hiring and pay limits, not guaranteed jobs or raises.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 113 • No: 6

House vote • 2/18/2025

House Vote - Tuesday, February 18, 2025 2:27:28 PM

Yes: 79 • No: 6 • Other: 7

Senate vote • 2/17/2025

Senate Vote - Monday, February 17, 2025 3:23:48 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB116 is now Act 193

    2/25/2025Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    2/20/2025Senate

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

    2/20/2025Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    2/18/2025Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    2/18/2025Senate

  6. Returned To Senate as Passed.

    2/18/2025House

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    2/18/2025House

  8. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    2/18/2025House

  9. Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.

    2/18/2025House

  10. RULES SUSPENDED

    2/18/2025House

  11. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.

    2/17/2025House

  12. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    2/17/2025House

  13. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    2/17/2025Senate

  14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    2/17/2025Senate

  15. Read the third time and passed.

    2/17/2025Senate

  16. Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

    2/13/2025Senate

  17. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    1/27/2025Senate

  18. Filed

    1/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB116 - Introduced

    1/27/2025

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation