All Roll Calls
Yes: 90 • No: 29
ArkansasSB5202025 Regular SessionSenate
TO PROHIBIT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICES, OFFICERS, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Sponsored By: Alyssa Brown (Republican), Dan Sullivan (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Arkansas limits unequal local government treatment
Arkansas local government officials, employees, and contractors cannot favor or disadvantage people because of race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. Federal law can require an exception. Different treatment based on sex must be necessary for an important local government goal and substantially related to achieving it. The law gives using female guards in a female facility as an example.
Local government workers gain belief protections
Arkansas local government officials, employees, and contractors cannot force one another to affirm or follow beliefs listed in the law. These include beliefs that people deserve better or worse treatment because of race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. They also include shared guilt or inherent responsibility for others' actions based on those traits. During official duties, covered personnel cannot organize, join, or carry out acts or messages that violate this ban. Employees can still discuss these ideas and their history for legitimate educational purposes and use other lawful communications.
Arkansas bans local government diversity initiatives
Arkansas counties, first- and second-class cities, and incorporated towns cannot create or carry out covered diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The ban covers specified offices, programs, policies, practices, and applicant statements involving race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. Covered activities include preferences, different treatment, activism promoting those traits in decisions, and programs that conflict with antidiscrimination laws. Local governments also cannot require current or prospective personnel or contractors to state their views on those traits for hiring, evaluation, admission, or promotion. The law preserves compliance with civil rights laws and agreements tied to state or federal funding.
Arkansas citizens can challenge local violations
An Arkansas citizen can notify a local government about a violation or potential violation of these rules. The government must resolve the violation within 30 days after receiving notice. If it does not stop the conduct within that period, a citizen can sue in circuit court. If the court finds a violation, it must order the conduct stopped and award reasonable court costs and attorney's fees.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Alyssa Brown
Republican • House
Dan Sullivan
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2025
House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 3:44:04 PM
Yes: 68 • No: 22 • Other: 3
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 6:11:17 PM
Yes: 22 • No: 7 • Other: 2
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB520 is now Act 747
4/18/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/15/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/15/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/14/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/14/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/14/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/14/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/9/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE- HOUSE
4/8/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/8/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/8/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/8/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/8/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/8/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/8/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/8/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/8/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
4/8/2025SenateRe-referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
4/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/2/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/19/2025SenateFiled
3/19/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB520 - Introduced
3/19/2025
Act Version
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