All Roll Calls
Yes: 128 • No: 1
ArkansasSB382025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH -LICENSING AND REGULATION BOARDS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Funding for spinal cord care
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission gets about $3.01 million for staff, operations, and services. This includes $261,610 for long-term attendant care and $772,000 for spinal treatment. Separate operating funds include $28,000 in federal money and $50,000 from a state cash fund, designated by the state's chief fiscal officer. Available savings in the commission's state budget can move to spinal treatment with Department of Finance and Administration advice and approval. The law does not set individual benefit amounts or new eligibility rules.
Funding chiropractic oversight and complaint investigations
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, Arkansas provides $202,630 for Chiropractic Board staff and operations. Payments come from a treasury cash fund as determined by the state's chief fiscal officer. Within its professional-fees budget, $10,000 is available for independent investigations and inspections, with contracts required as needed. Investigators must have relevant expertise and address board-selected complaints about public danger or possible law or rule violations. By December 1 each year, the board must report complaints, investigated people, alleged violations, and findings to House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committees.
Funding for health professional licensing boards
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, board operating funds include $11,000 for acupuncture and $20,517 for athletic training. Alcohol and drug abuse counselor oversight gets $31,966; the separate Counseling Board gets $454,415, including temporary staff and overtime. Dietetics licensing gets $71,035, and hearing instrument dispenser oversight gets $50,678. Speech-language pathology and audiology oversight gets $216,978, including temporary staff; dispensing optician oversight gets $93,993. Optician funding comes from its board fund; the remaining amounts come from treasury cash funds with payments determined by the state's chief fiscal officer.
Funding for medical and dental oversight
For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, Arkansas provides about $3.53 million for Medical Board staff and operations. This includes temporary staff and refunds or reimbursements. The Dental Examiners Board gets $372,734 for staff and operations. Both amounts come from state treasury cash funds, with payments determined by the state's chief fiscal officer. These funds support professional oversight, not new household benefits.
Recovery support for licensed healthcare professionals
From July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, three licensing boards can fund foundations helping healthcare professionals with alcohol or drug problems. Annual spending amounts are $15 per licensed dentist, $30 per licensed physician, and $10 per licensed podiatrist. Recipient foundations must be Arkansas 501(c)(3) nonprofits with healthcare professionals on their boards. They must identify, treat, and monitor healthcare professionals with alcohol or drug problems. These provisions authorize board spending; they do not state a new fee practitioners must pay or a total funding amount.
Funding transfers for nursing student loans
Beginning July 30, 2025, the Nursing Board can request transfers of up to $100,000 per fiscal year for student loans. Money moves from the Nursing Fund to the treasury cash fund supporting the Student Loan Program appropriation. The state's chief fiscal officer must approve the transfer. This authority runs through June 30, 2026. It does not set borrower eligibility, loan terms, or individual loan amounts.
Medical Board funds support residency expansion
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Medical Board must transfer $500,000 annually, or the available amount, to support residency expansion. Transfers come only from board cash funds not already committed or allocated. The money goes to the Division of Higher Education's Graduate Medical Education Fund. It can only support the Residency Expansion Board appropriation. The law does not specify how many residency positions this funding supports.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/18/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, March 18, 2025 3:25:30 PM
Yes: 94 • No: 1 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 3/17/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, March 17, 2025 4:18:10 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB38 is now Act 378
3/20/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
3/19/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
3/19/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
3/18/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
3/18/2025SenateReturned To Senate as Passed.
3/18/2025HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
3/18/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/18/2025HouseConsidered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
3/18/2025HouseRULES SUSPENDED
3/18/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.
3/17/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
3/17/2025HouseOrdered Immediately transmitted to the House.
3/17/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
3/17/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/17/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
3/13/2025SenateRe-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
3/10/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/10/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
3/10/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
3/10/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
1/13/2025SenateFiled
1/13/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB38 - Introduced
1/13/2025
Act Version
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