All Roll Calls
Yes: 177 • No: 7
ArkansasSB4912025 Regular SessionSenate
TO REQUIRE A VENDOR THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DIVISION TO SUBMIT DATA FOR VERIFICATION BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT; TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY ON A VENDOR THAT PROVIDES INACCURATE DATA; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Sponsored By: Brandon Achor (Republican), Kim Hammer (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New contracts and audits for benefits vendors
Arkansas’s State Board of Finance can direct the Employee Benefits Division to hire qualified plan vendors without competitive bidding. Contracts must last at least one year and can renew automatically unless either party gives notice to end them. Qualified vendors must agree to independent checks of their data. When a fiscal impact is required, covered vendors must verify data accuracy; the division cannot contract with vendors that refuse audits. The division director must create the audit process and rules, and can request vendor participation. Inaccurate data found through an audit brings a $500 penalty for the first violation and $1,000 for each later violation. Vendors also face losing their license or permission to operate in Arkansas. The law takes effect immediately under its emergency clause.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Brandon Achor
Republican • House
Kim Hammer
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/16/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:18:36 PM
Yes: 19 • No: 7 • Other: 6
House vote • 4/16/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 10:34:11 AM
Yes: 96 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/16/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:19:42 PM
Yes: 29 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 3/31/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, March 31, 2025 3:47:08 PM
Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB491 is now Act 956
4/22/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/16/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/16/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/16/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/16/2025SenateMotion to Expunge the Vote by which Emergency Clause failed of adoption. Motion carried.
4/16/2025SenateEmergency Clause failed of adoption.
4/16/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/16/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/16/2025SenateHouse Amendment No. 1 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in.
4/16/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/16/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/16/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed as amended # 1 .
4/16/2025SenateReturned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1
4/16/2025HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/16/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/16/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/15/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
4/15/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
4/15/2025HouseReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 1
4/14/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE
3/31/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
3/31/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
3/31/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
3/31/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/31/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB491 - Introduced
3/17/2025
Act Version
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