All Roll Calls
Yes: 126 • No: 0
ArkansasSB372025 Regular SessionSenate
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
16 provisions identified: 15 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Funding helps attract and expand businesses
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $75 million for Quick Action Closing Fund business incentives. It also provides $37.5 million for company payroll rebates. Companies seeking rebates must open or expand an Arkansas facility and hire and maintain required employment levels. Another $6 million supports large projects that qualify under Amendment 82 of the Arkansas Constitution. Economic infrastructure and regional cooperation grants receive $877,588; these funds do not create direct household payments.
Loans support minority and women business owners
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law appropriates $500,000 for the minority- and women-owned business revolving loan fund. The program supports business growth and competition for state contracts. At the commission director's request, the Chief Fiscal Officer can transfer up to $500,000 from the commission's fund account. That transfer supplies money for the program's appropriation, rather than establishing a second $500,000 loan appropriation. Unspent program money carries into the next fiscal year for the same purposes; individual loan amounts and terms are not specified.
Cities and counties get shelter grants
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $50,000 for city and county grants. Awards are based only on infrastructure needs for animal rescues or shelters. Any community benefit depends on local awards and projects.
Grants support Arkansas law enforcement agencies
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $5 million in law enforcement grants. Recipients must be law enforcement agencies or associations. This funding does not create direct household payments or new personal legal duties.
Grants support fish and wildlife education
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, fish and wildlife conservation education receives $800,000 in grants and aid. The money supports conservation education grant recipients. It does not establish a direct household payment.
Arkansas businesses get global trade support
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $900,000 for global business initiatives. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission can contract with companies, groups, or individuals to run foreign offices. These offices can help Arkansas businesses export goods and bring Arkansas manufacturing operations back from overseas. They can also attract investment from foreign companies that are not government-owned or controlled.
Funding covers New Markets application refunds
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $142,266 for New Markets Performance Program application-fee refunds. Payments are limited to refunds or reimbursements of those application fees. The appropriation does not specify each applicant's eligibility or refund amount.
Funding supports Franklin County wine tourism
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Franklin County wine tourism facility receives $1.25 million. Money can cover land, construction, equipment, improvements, renovations, major maintenance, staff, and operations. The Arkansas Wine Producers Council also receives $5,000 for grants and expenses. Neither appropriation establishes direct household payments.
Grants fund Arkansas military affairs projects
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Military Affairs Grant Program receives $750,000. The appropriation does not name recipients or set grant eligibility rules. It does not establish a personal benefit for service members or veterans.
Grants support rural communities and firefighters
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Rural Services Division Community Assistance Grant Program receives $10 million. Separate appropriations provide $500,000 for rural community grants and $900,000 for rural fire protection grants. The commission must also reserve at least $500,000 from federal Community Development Block Grant funding for rural communities. These federal grants are limited to communities defined as rural in the commission's Consolidated Plan. Applications must meet commission and federal guidelines, with Rural Services review, certification, award recommendations, and final approval.
Grants fund community and disaster recovery
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, federal Community Development Block Grants receive about $48.26 million. Storm recovery grants receive about $7.58 million. A separate federal appropriation provides about $8.93 million for long-term recovery in Arkansas's most impacted and distressed areas. That recovery money supports housing, infrastructure, and economic activity. These appropriations do not specify household eligibility or individual grant amounts.
Funding supports training for industry workers
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Industry Training Program receives about $1.715 million. The appropriation supports workforce training. It does not state who qualifies for training help or how much any person receives.
Grants support Arkansas science and research
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, Arkansas Research Match grants receive about $1.093 million. The law also provides $5 million in federal EPSCoR grants for science and engineering research and education. The money supports research and education grant recipients, not direct household payments.
Funding supports Arkansas technology businesses
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law funds technology businesses and development programs. It provides $11.6 million for the Division of Science and Technology's Arkansas Acceleration Fund Program. A separate $5 million appropriation supports grants and incentives for technology- and knowledge-based development. Technology development receives $156,975, and seed capital investments receive $292,653. A separate $1.04 million cash appropriation funds investments in technology-based businesses; no individual investment amounts are specified.
Funding backs existing recycling tax credits
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides $42 million for recycling tax credits. Credits must follow Arkansas Code 26-51-506. This appropriation funds the existing credit without setting new eligibility rules or individual credit amounts.
Commerce gains limited budget transfer powers
From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Commerce can request internal transfers for efficient reorganization or consolidation. Transfers can cover positions, spending authority, programs, and funds, but require Governor and prior legislative budget approval. Only two transaction requests are allowed, and transferred resources must keep their legislatively approved purposes. Separately, the economic development commission director can move spending authority between State Operations budget lines. Those transfers require Chief Fiscal Officer approval and prior Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee review.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/8/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 4:13:55 PM
Yes: 92 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, April 7, 2025 4:10:09 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB37 is now Act 608
4/14/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/9/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/9/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/8/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/8/2025SenateReturned To Senate as Passed.
4/8/2025HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/8/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/8/2025HouseConsidered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
4/8/2025HouseRULES SUSPENDED
4/8/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.
4/7/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/7/2025HouseOrdered Immediately transmitted to the House.
4/7/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/7/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/7/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/3/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/3/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
4/2/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
1/13/2025SenateFiled
1/13/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB37 - Introduced
1/13/2025
Act Version
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