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ArkansasSB432026 Fiscal SessionSenate

AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Funding for Arkansas agriculture staff and facilities

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the law funds the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. It provides about $87.3 million from the University of Arkansas Fund and $149.54 million from university cash sources. This supports staff, research, extension services, and operations—not direct household payments. Cash funding includes $76 million for major building projects and $10 million for equipment and other capital purchases. The law allows up to 1,471 regular positions and 700 temporary or part-time positions. The highest listed annual salary is $290,156; temporary staff pay must follow state pay limits or this law’s rates. Spending must follow state budget, purchasing, and salary rules.

Pine Tree land stays publicly accessible

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Pine Tree Research Station in St. Francis County must remain publicly accessible. Public uses include fishing, hunting, biking, bird watching, and hiking; land used for row crops in 2020 is exempt. The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees cannot sell the station to a private company or person. A sale is allowed to a nonprofit corporation whose main mission is keeping land open for public use. That nonprofit must have been organized and operating for at least five years.

Funding supports soil testing for farmers

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the Soil Testing and Research Program receives $3.113 million in cash funding. The money pays for staff, benefits, and program operations. It includes $495,000 for equipment and other capital purchases and $540,000 for major building projects. This funds the program rather than providing direct payments to households.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 1

House vote • 4/27/2026

House Vote - Monday, April 27, 2026 3:41:26 PM

Yes: 94 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Senate Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 12:21:05 PM

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB43 is now Act 136

    4/29/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/28/2026Senate

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

    4/28/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/27/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/27/2026Senate

  6. Returned To Senate as Passed.

    4/27/2026House

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/27/2026House

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

    4/27/2026House

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

    4/27/2026House

  10. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/27/2026House

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

    4/23/2026House

  12. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/23/2026House

  13. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/23/2026Senate

  14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026Senate

  15. Read the third time and passed.

    4/23/2026Senate

  16. Rules suspended.

    4/23/2026Senate

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

    4/23/2026Senate

  18. Re-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    4/15/2026Senate

  19. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/15/2026Senate

  20. Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    4/15/2026Senate

  21. Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1

    4/15/2026Senate

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  23. Filed

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB43 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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