All Roll Calls
Yes: 160 • No: 1
ArkansasSB5962025 Regular SessionSenate
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ENERGY; TO ESTABLISH A STATE ENERGY POLICY; TO REGULATE RETIREMENT OF DISPATCHABLE ELECTRIC GENERATION FACILITIES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Sponsored By: Matt McKee (Republican), Mindy McAlindon (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Customer safeguards before Arkansas power plants close
Public utilities need state commission approval to permanently close covered Arkansas power plants of at least 100 megawatts. Covered plants supply power on demand, rather than only when conditions allow. Utilities must give the commission 30 days’ notice; it must decide within 180 days after a complete application. Before approving closure or related customer charges, the commission must find that evidence overcomes the presumption against closure. Utilities must disclose all known direct and indirect closure costs and show customer savings, with no avoidable net added costs. Replacement power must protect reliability, resilience, and minimum reserves, with equal or greater usable capacity unless the utility proves otherwise. Replacement plants must be built, permitted, and operating before closure work starts, unless extraordinary circumstances require earlier action. Utilities must also show that closure is not driven by federal financial incentives. Reports due December 1 in years with commission orders disclose covered decisions, capacity, fuel-mix and reserve impacts, replacement and purchased-power needs, and customer charges for stranded costs. The law took effect upon gubernatorial approval; it excludes closures or repowering under settlements, consent decrees, or other legal resolutions executed or ordered earlier.
Arkansas sets goals for affordable electricity
The law sets Arkansas goals for affordable, reliable electricity and a secure power grid. It promotes diverse power sources, in-state plants, and power available on demand. Goals include keeping customer prices as low as possible while allowing producers a reasonable return. It also supports stronger supply chains, simpler state regulation, workforce training, and energy education. State agencies are encouraged to follow these goals, but the policy creates no household payment.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Matt McKee
Republican • Senate
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/16/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:36:54 PM
Yes: 92 • No: 1
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 7:42:49 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, April 7, 2025 5:06:46 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB596 is now Act 940
4/22/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/16/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/16/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/16/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/16/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/16/2025HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/16/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/16/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/15/2025HouseRe-referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE
4/14/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/14/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/14/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/14/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/14/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/14/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/14/2025SenateAmendment # 3 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/14/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/14/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/14/2025SenateAmendment #2 was withdrawn.
4/14/2025SenateMotion to Expunge the Vote by which SB596 passed. Motion carried.
4/14/2025SenateReturned from the House as requested.
4/14/2025SenateRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/14/2025HouseReturned to the Senate as requested.
4/14/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE
4/7/2025House
Bill Text
SB596 - Introduced
3/31/2025
Act Version
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