# Arkansas SB37: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Arkansas SB37, AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Joint Budget Committee; status enacted, last action 2025-04-14 (Notification that SB37 is now Act 608) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB37-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Arkansas SB37
- State: Arkansas
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-04-14, Notification that SB37 is now Act 608
- Sponsor: Joint Budget Committee
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (126 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 16

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Funding helps attract and expand businesses: benefit, medium. 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…
- Loans support minority and women business owners: benefit, low. 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…
- Cities and counties get shelter grants: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 manufacturin…
- Funding covers New Markets application refunds: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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. Nei…
- Grants fund Arkansas military affairs projects: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 Com…
- Grants fund community and disaster recovery: benefit, low. 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 rec…
- Funding supports training for industry workers: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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-b…
- Funding backs existing recycling tax credits: benefit, low. 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: mixed, low. 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 allo…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joint Budget Committee

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-08 | House | House Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 4:13:55 PM | pass | 92 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-04-07 | Senate | Senate Vote - Monday, April 7, 2025 4:10:09 PM | pass | 34 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2025-04-14: Notification that SB37 is now Act 608 (Senate)
- 2025-04-09: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. (Senate)
- 2025-04-09: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: ORDERED ENROLLED (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Returned from the House as passed. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Returned To Senate as Passed. (House)
- 2025-04-08: EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED (House)
- 2025-04-08: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass. (House)
- 2025-04-08: RULES SUSPENDED (House)
- 2025-04-07: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR. (House)
- 2025-04-07: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE (House)
- 2025-04-07: Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House. (Senate)
- 2025-04-07: EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED (Senate)
- 2025-04-07: Read the third time and passed. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment. (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB37 - Introduced, 2025-01-13: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB37.pdf)
- Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=608.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related bills

- HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. (enacted)
- HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIV… (failed)
- HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (failed)
- SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES. (failed)
- HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN P… (failed)
- HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED A… (failed)

## Sources
- [SB37 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB37.pdf)
- [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=608.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related
- [HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1265-2025)
- [HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1237-2025)
- [HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1686-2025)
- [SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE US…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB440-2025)
- [HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1695-2025)
- [HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HR1012-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB37-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).