# Arkansas SB494: TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PERMITS ISSUED BY ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL; AND TO CONSOLIDATE SEVERAL PERMITS INTO A SINGLE PERMIT UNDER THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT OF 1977. Arkansas SB494, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PERMITS ISSUED BY ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL; AND TO CONSOLIDATE SEVERAL PERMITS INTO A SINGLE PERMIT UNDER THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT OF 1977., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by James Eaton (Republican), Joshua Bryant (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-18 (Notification that SB494 is now Act 717) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB494-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Arkansas SB494 - State: Arkansas - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PERMITS ISSUED BY ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL; AND TO CONSOLIDATE SEVERAL PERMITS INTO A SINGLE PERMIT UNDER THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT OF 1977. - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-17 - Last action: 2025-04-18, Notification that SB494 is now Act 717 - Sponsors: James Eaton (Republican), Joshua Bryant (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (118 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Combined manufacturer permits with cigar fee relief: mixed, medium. Arkansas replaces separate cigarette-only and vapor/e-liquid-only manufacturer permits with one $500 annual permit. It covers tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine, or e-liquid products. Manufacturers or importers dealing solely in cigars can get this permit free. They must submit a copy of their cu… - Broader permits for tobacco wholesalers and retailers: mixed, low. Arkansas wholesale and retail permits cover tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine, or e-liquid products. Annual fees are $1,000 for wholesalers and $100 for retailers. A separate retail permit limited to vapor and e-liquid products costs $50 annually. Vendor permits cost $100 annually, and vending m… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: James Eaton (Republican), House - Sponsor: Joshua Bryant (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-09 | House | House Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 7:07:20 PM | pass | 86 | 0 | | | 2025-04-03 | Senate | Senate Vote - Thursday, April 3, 2025 3:18:09 PM | pass | 32 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2025-04-18: Notification that SB494 is now Act 717 (Senate) - 2025-04-10: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor. (Senate) - 2025-04-09: ORDERED ENROLLED (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Returned from the House as passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Returned to the Senate as passed. (House) - 2025-04-09: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House) - 2025-04-07: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House) - 2025-04-03: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE (House) - 2025-04-03: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE (House) - 2025-04-03: Ordered immediately transmitted to the House. (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-02: 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 REVENUE & TAX - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Filed (Senate) ## Bill text - SB494 - Introduced, 2025-03-17: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB494.pdf) - Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=717.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 - [SB494 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB494.pdf) - [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=717.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) - [Arkansas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas/bills) - [Arkansas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB494-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).