# Arkansas SB481: TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND STATE-OWNED PROPERTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Arkansas SB481, TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND STATE-OWNED PROPERTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ben Gilmore (Republican), Jeff Wardlaw (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-18 (Notification that SB481 is now Act 779) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB481-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Arkansas SB481
- State: Arkansas
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND STATE-OWNED PROPERTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-17
- Last action: 2025-04-18, Notification that SB481 is now Act 779
- Sponsors: Ben Gilmore (Republican), Jeff Wardlaw (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 46
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (118 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 11

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Public money supports the state insurer: benefit, low. The law creates a trust fund for money from the state insurer and other legally approved sources. Its money can pay only program claims, expenses, and supporting staff costs. The fund is exempt from deductions, taxes, levies, and other assessments. Arkansas and local governments can also use public…
- State insurer gets insurance tax exemptions: benefit, low. The state-owned insurer is exempt from the specified premium tax and surplus lines broker tax provisions. These exemptions apply to the insurer, not household tax returns. The law states no tax savings amount and does not require savings to lower schools' or agencies' premiums.
- Schools face insurance and upkeep requirements: cost, low. Districts must insure their buildings and business property through the State Captive to receive Partnership or Catastrophic facilities funding. Districts without that coverage cannot receive this state aid. The Department of Transformation and Shared Services now helps approve facility plans and r…
- Schools lose prior insurance safeguards: cost, low. The law removes the three-appraiser process for school property-loss disputes and related department duties and real estate broker contracting authority. Loss payments remain payable from the Public School Insurance Trust Fund as the applicable contract provides. It removes the department's duty to…
- Public entities face coverage and claim limits: cost, low. After Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee review, the secretary may cancel or not renew coverage for uninsurable property. The secretary may also refuse coverage for property that fails program guidelines after that review. Insured entities must provide requested information about these c…
- State agency insurance trust rules change: cost, low. The Multi-Agency Insurance Trust Fund's premium-spending authority is narrowed to motor vehicle insurance and reinsurance. Agencies participating in the State Master Property Policy on June 30, 2003 leave the required participant list. Agencies participating in the trust's Cyber Liability Insurance…
- School insurance fund provisions are narrowed: cost, low. The law removes transfers from the former school property insurance fund from the Public School Insurance Trust Fund's listed sources. Transfers from the former school vehicle insurance reserve fund remain listed. It also removes the statutory cancellation of an initial $1.5 million loan between th…
- School and agency premiums track reserves: mixed, medium. The program's optimal reserve target is $50 million–$75 million beginning December 1, 2025. Beginning December 1, 2026, annual reserve requirements follow actuarial estimates of insured risks. If lawmakers do not provide needed funds by March 1 after review, next-year premiums must rise, benefits f…
- Public property insurance moves between programs: mixed, low. Transfers to the Department of Transformation and Shared Services begin July 1, 2025; property programs must transfer by December 1, 2025. Related authority and resources must fully transfer by December 1, 2026. Existing officials continue until completion or November 30, 2025, whichever comes firs…
- State insurer covers schools and agencies: mixed, low. The law creates a State Captive Insurance Program, using a state-owned insurer for public property. The Treasurer may form the insurer with State Board of Finance approval. Schools and agencies owning state-supported property and receiving state facility appropriations must participate. Covered sch…
- Schools get optional cyber insurance with limits: mixed, low. The State Insurance Department's multischool program now covers cybersecurity risks instead of property risks. Districts, education cooperatives, and public charter schools must choose to join to obtain coverage. The department sets premiums, buys insurance, and adopts program rules. It may deny co…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ben Gilmore (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jeff Wardlaw (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brandon Achor (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Breanne Davis (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Blake Johnson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Howard M. Beaty, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mary Bentley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Frances Cavenaugh (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bruce Cozart (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Cindy Crawford (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David Whitaker (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Carol Dalby (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Les D. Eaves (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jon S. Eubanks (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brian S. Evans (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Fred Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Zack Gramlich (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: RJ Hawk (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bart Hester (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ricky Hill (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Holcomb (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Missy Irvin (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Justin Boyd (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joshua Bryant (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jonathan Dismang (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jeremiah Moore (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jim Petty (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jay Richardson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lane Jean (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joey L. Carr (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Matt Brown (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Matthew J. Shepherd (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John Maddox (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ron McNair (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jon Milligan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Stetson Painter (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Shad Pearce (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Chad Puryear (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Terry Rice (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Marcus E. Richmond (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Trey Steimel (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Matt Stone (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: DeAnn Vaught (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steven Walker (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Les Warren (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Carlton Wing (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jeremy Wooldridge (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jim Wooten (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-14 | House | House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 4:47:34 PM | pass | 90 | 3 | 5 |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:01:49 PM | pass | 28 | 0 | 5 |

## Actions (17)

- 2025-04-18: Notification that SB481 is now Act 779 (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: ORDERED ENROLLED (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Returned from the House as passed. (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Returned to the Senate as passed. (House)
- 2025-04-14: EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED (House)
- 2025-04-14: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-09: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House)
- 2025-04-02: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE (House)
- 2025-04-02: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE (House)
- 2025-04-02: Ordered immediately transmitted to the House. (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Read the third time and passed. (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB481 - Introduced, 2025-03-17: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB481.pdf)
- Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=779.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related bills

- HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. (enacted)
- HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIV… (failed)
- HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (failed)
- SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES. (failed)
- 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 P… (failed)
- 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 A… (failed)

## Sources
- [SB481 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB481.pdf)
- [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=779.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R)

## Related
- [HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1265-2025)
- [HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1237-2025)
- [HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1686-2025)
- [SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE US…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB440-2025)
- [HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1695-2025)
- [HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HR1012-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB481-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).