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ArkansasSB422026 Fiscal SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

13 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Funding keeps medical university services running

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences receives operating spending authority. This includes about $149.4 million from the Medical Center Fund and up to $2.52085 billion in cash funds. The operating budget includes about $6.56 million for regional campuses and $3.43 million for Northwest Arkansas medical education. It also includes about $1.83 million for poison information services and $6.14 million for Children's Hospital indigent care. Cash funds include $1.1 billion for salaries, $275 million for employee-related matching costs, and $705 million for operations. They also include $150 million for capital improvements, $85 million for equipment and other capital purchases, and $50 million for debt payments. The cash budget sets aside $10 million for indigent-care and breast-cancer-research grants or aid, plus $550,000 for pharmacy student loans. The university must also pay the full amount set aside for War Memorial Parking Services from non-general-revenue funds.

Aid and training for healthcare students

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, $2 million supports maternal health workforce financial aid, education, and training. Another $750,000 funds nursing and medical student loans or scholarships authorized by law. Advanced nursing practice community match, rural advanced nursing practice, and community match programs each receive $150,000. The rural medical practice program receives $300,000. The university can transfer needed amounts between the rural medical practice and community match loan and scholarship line items. Law funds can also support student and resident training at satellite campuses or programs outside Little Rock. This does not create another medical school or set new student eligibility rules or individual award amounts.

Selected domestic violence shelters share grants

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the law sets aside $3.05 million for domestic violence shelters. This includes $2 million for shelter programs and $1.05 million for shelter grants. Authorized grants must be split equally among shelters selected by the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission. The funding supports shelters, not direct payments to survivors.

Children's Hospital funding and statewide services

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Arkansas Children's Hospital receives 33-1/3% of available funds in the indigent-care grant line. At the hospital's request, the university can transfer that share to the state's human services grants account. There, it matches federal funds for supplemental Medicaid payments to the hospital. Children's Hospital also administers the Child Health and Family Life Institute through an agreement or contract with university pediatrics. Its statewide work includes prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, training, research, and evaluation. Both institutions must report annually to the Legislative Council on funding, programs, and services. The law does not set new household Medicaid eligibility or payment amounts.

Funding supports sexual assault nurse examiners

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program receives $950,780 in spending authority. The money covers staff and operating costs at the medical university. It comes from a Treasury cash fund chosen by the Chief Fiscal Officer. The law does not set an individual payment amount.

Services funded for abused children

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the law requires at least $700,000 for abused children and adolescents. This requirement applies when general revenue for university pediatrics and the Psychiatric Research Institute reaches its fiscal year 2012–2013 level. It includes $450,000 for screening, monitoring, and care through Child Safety Centers or their university referrals. Another $200,000 supports pediatrics medical exams, consultation, education, and training. Up to $50,000 of the $450,000 can cover administration or be saved for future program needs. Assessment and therapy funds must reach Child Safety Centers through university contracts.

Funding supports adult sickle cell care

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the medical university receives $379,993 for an adult sickle cell disease program. Medical Center Fund money supports establishing and operating clinics and outreach. It covers staff and operating costs. The law does not set patient eligibility, service prices, or direct patient payments.

Funding supports breast milk and midwifery

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the Arkansas Breast Milk Bank receives $1.7 million in spending authority. The money comes from the Breast Milk Bank Special Fund and covers staff and operations. The medical university's certified nurse midwifery program also receives $500,000 for staff and operations. These appropriations do not set family eligibility, service prices, or direct household payments.

Funding supports cancer care and screening

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the Rockefeller Cancer Institute receives $41.35 million in spending authority. This includes $1.35 million for nurse navigation, $6 million for operations, and $10 million for capital improvements and purchases. Another $5 million supports colorectal cancer screening and research from the Medical Center Fund. The Chancellor or designee can request transfers from that fund or eligible university cash funds to the cancer designation trust fund. The Chief Fiscal Officer must find sufficient funds available before making a transfer. Transfers also require prior Legislative Council review, or Joint Budget Committee review during a Regular or Fiscal Session. These funds support programs but do not promise free screening or set individual patient benefits.

Funding supports PANS and PANDAS clinics

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, university cash funds provide $175,000 for PANS/PANDAS clinics and programs. The money covers staff and operating costs. The law does not set patient eligibility, service prices, or payments to patients or families.

Unused university funds can carry forward

Unused general revenue from this law can carry into the next fiscal year for the same purposes. The limit is 10% of funded appropriations. Before June 30, 2027, the agency must explain the carryforward in writing to the state's budget office. The budget office must send details and the request to the Legislative Council by its September meeting. The agency must also report the project's, contract's, or purpose's status at least 30 days before presenting its budget request.

Medical university gets temporary staffing pools

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the medical university can seek staff from two temporary pools. A 600-position pool covers staffing needs beyond its regular allocation; the university must justify each requested position to Higher Education. Each position needs university board or designee approval and Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee approval. Pay cannot exceed the highest annual salary cap in this law. A separate 700-position pool serves unexpected medical or research programs outside the regular operations staffing plan. The Chancellor determines those needs, subject to Board of Trustees review and approval. Quarterly reports to state fiscal, higher education, and legislative officials must list allocations, names, titles, salaries, funding sources, and duration. Positions from either pool must be requested as new positions in the next budget to continue.

Medical university staffing and pay limits

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the medical university has a ceiling of 12,761 regular positions. The law sets maximum salaries by job, not guaranteed pay. Examples include $707,619 for the Medical Center CEO, $498,931 for the Chancellor, and $103,376 for residents. The university can also employ up to 1,565 temporary or part-time extra-help workers when needed. Extra-help pay cannot exceed applicable state classification rates or rates in this law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

House Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 11:39:14 AM

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 1:40:10 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB42 is now Act 80

    4/27/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/24/2026Senate

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

    4/24/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/23/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/23/2026Senate

  6. Returned To Senate as Passed.

    4/23/2026House

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026House

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

    4/23/2026House

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

    4/23/2026House

  10. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/23/2026House

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

    4/22/2026House

  12. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/22/2026House

  13. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/22/2026Senate

  14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/22/2026Senate

  15. Read the third time and passed.

    4/22/2026Senate

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

    4/21/2026Senate

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  18. Filed

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB42 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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