All Roll Calls
Yes: 126 • No: 0
ArkansasSB392025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Funding for disability and blind services
Through June 30, 2026, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services receives $30 million for grants, aid, and purchased services. Blind Services receives $6 million for the same types of support; neither appropriation sets an individual benefit amount. Both agencies can carry unspent funds remaining on June 30, 2026, into the next fiscal year for the same purpose. Before that date, each must explain the need in writing to the state finance department’s Office of Budget. Each must also submit carryforward information and project, contract, or purpose status reports at least 30 days before presenting its budget request.
Funding for unemployed workers’ benefit payments
For July 2025 through June 2026, the law sets aside $702.000001 million for unemployment payments and related services. This includes $200 million for federally paid benefits, $500 million for taxable employers’ workers, and $1 million for reimbursable employers’ workers. It also includes $350,000 for disaster relief, $500,000 for training allowances, contractor payments, and repayment of an unemployment advance. Separate funding provides $10 million when other funds fall short, $3.000001 million for interest and payment corrections, and $1 million for federally approved program uses. These appropriations do not change workers’ benefit amounts or eligibility.
Equipment grants and loans for disabilities
Through June 30, 2026, the disability telecommunications equipment program receives $310,000 for assistive equipment purchase grants. Another $750,000 funds loans for people with disabilities to obtain essential assistive technology or adaptive equipment. That loan funding also covers administration and servicing. The law does not set individual grant amounts, loan limits, interest rates, or other borrower costs.
Help paying for adult learners’ tests
The law sets aside $400,000 for GED tests and official practice tests through June 30, 2026. The money covers test costs for people taking either test. The law does not state a per-person amount or further eligibility rules.
Funding for manufacturing and supply networks
Through June 30, 2026, the Arkansas Manufacturing Extension Network receives $1.162614 million for staff, operations, grants, and aid. Federal funding provides $400,000 for staff and operations supporting creation of a national supply chain network. The state’s Chief Fiscal Officer selects the paying cash fund and designates the federal funds. These funds support business assistance and network operations, not direct household payments.
Funding for adult education and literacy
Through June 30, 2026, adult basic and general education grants receive $22.770569 million. Federal adult basic education grants receive $10.369442 million. Another $2.661788 million pays for adult education staff and operations, and literacy councils receive $1 million in grants. These funds support education programs and councils; they do not set individual payments or eligibility rules.
Funding for apprenticeships and construction training
Through June 30, 2026, construction craft training receives $916,399, including $800,000 in training grants. Federal funding provides $1.13015 million to expand apprenticeships registered under the National Apprenticeship Act. That money supports grants, agreements, contracts, and related arrangements. The law does not set individual payments or household eligibility rules.
Funding for workers’ skills and training
Through June 30, 2026, the law provides $30 million in federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants. The Skills Development Fund receives $26.210963 million, including $8 million for workforce grants and $15 million for industry training. That total also includes $1.611456 million for apprenticeships and funding for staff and operations. The Training Trust Fund provides $2.5 million for worker training staff, operations, and grants; the Chief Fiscal Officer must also transfer up to $2.5 million from that fund to the Skills Development Fund. These are program funds, not guaranteed payments to individual workers.
Funding keeps workforce agency services running
Through June 30, 2026, workforce agency staff and operations receive $16.258332 million plus $63.578577 million from the agency’s Trust Fund. Federal funding provides another $21.346317 million for reemployment program staff and operations. The New Hire Registry receives $250,000, and the agency receives $26,000 to keep its national workforce association voting rights. The state’s Chief Fiscal Officer selects the paying accounts or federal funds where required. These funds support agency services, not new household payments or eligibility rules.
Adult education funding gains performance rules
For July 2025 through June 2026, state adult education funds can match available federal money for the same approved purposes. Funding must go to administrative units judged to run efficient programs under Division of Workforce Services criteria. Those criteria include efficiency across counties served and results on federal performance measures; the Board must consider state measures too. The Division must redistribute any unallocated money based on the need it identifies.
Limited flexibility for workforce budget transfers
For July 2025 through June 2026, the workforce director can transfer budget authority between eligible items. Spending forecasts must show a shortfall in one item and a matching excess in another. Transfers need prior Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee approval, plus approval from the Chief Fiscal Officer. Reed Act funds, regular salary appropriations, and maintenance and general operations appropriations cannot be transferred. Transfers cannot raise total salary or operations budgets unless another law allows it.
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 SB39 is now Act 609
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 # 2 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 # 2
4/2/2025SenateRe-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
SB39 - Introduced
1/13/2025
Act Version
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