All Roll Calls
Yes: 127 • No: 0
ArkansasSB4272025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
TO AMEND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OFFENSES; TO ENHANCE THE PENALTIES FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION IN THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD DEGREE; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF PROMOTING PROSTITUTION AT A BUSINESS.
Sponsored By: Joshua Bryant (Republican), Mindy McAlindon (Republican)
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Businesses face fines and license loss
The law adds civil penalties for Arkansas-formed businesses involved in prostitution violations, on top of other penalties. An owner, manager, or person with an ownership interest must have actual knowledge of the covered business activity. Covered activity includes allowing prostitution on-site or through operations, employing people for prostitution, or benefiting from that activity. It also includes advertising, promoting, providing a prostitution platform, or failing to take reasonable preventive steps after notice. First involvement brings a $5,000 penalty and a 30-day suspension of any state-issued business license. Second involvement brings a $10,000 penalty and a 60-day suspension. Third or later involvement brings a $100,000 penalty and license revocation. Collected penalties go to the Human Trafficking Victim Support Fund or its successor fund or account.
Criminal fines fund trafficking victim support
Collected fines for all three degrees of promoting prostitution go to the Human Trafficking Victim Support Fund or its successor. The law ends the prior split with the Safe Harbor Fund for Sexually Exploited Children. It sets no total funding amount and creates no direct household payment.
Tougher penalties for promoting prostitution
First-degree offenses cover knowingly advancing prostitution through force, intimidation, or coercion, and advancing or profiting from prostitution involving someone under 18. They also cover knowingly profiting from another person's conduct banned by the first-degree rules. A first offense is a Class C felony; later offenses are Class B felonies. Second-degree offenses cover knowingly owning, managing, supervising, or controlling a prostitution house or enterprise involving two or more people. They also cover knowingly managing or facilitating online platforms, digital spaces, or other media used to solicit or advance prostitution. A first second-degree offense is a Class D felony; later offenses are Class C felonies. Third-degree offenses include knowingly failing to make reasonable efforts to stop prostitution on premises the person owns or possesses. A first third-degree offense is a Class A misdemeanor; later offenses are Class D felonies. Fines are $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for a third or later offense. For first-degree convictions, these added fines apply when the violation involves offering to pay or paying for sex.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Joshua Bryant
Republican • Senate
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/9/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 8:38:18 PM
Yes: 94 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/2/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 2:26:40 PM
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB427 is now Act 663
4/18/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/10/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/10/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/9/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/9/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/9/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/9/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/8/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
4/2/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/2/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/2/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/2/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/1/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/1/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/1/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
3/31/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/11/2025SenateFiled
3/11/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB427 - Introduced
3/11/2025
Act Version
Related Bills
HB1265, AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1686, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
HB1237, TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.
SB440, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
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 PERSONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF UNRECORDED MUNICIPAL LIENS.
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 AS A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.