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ArkansasSB622026 Fiscal SessionSenate

AN ACT FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION REAPPROPRIATION.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Arkansas heritage projects keep preservation funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, earlier natural and cultural resources funding remains available for archaeological, park, garden, and archive projects. Caps are $125,820 for Zebree, $92,207 for Highlighting Horticulture History, and $101,270 for Soto in Seark. The CCC Lake Catherine State Park project has a $157,526 cap. Garvan Woodland Gardens' Whipple Center Phase II and redesign has a $1.2 million cap; Paul Demain Papers has a $66,947 cap. Funds support acquisition, care, management, or preservation of state-owned resources and are limited to remaining earlier appropriation balances.

Campus historic sites keep preservation funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law keeps earlier natural and cultural resources funding available for named museum and campus projects. Caps are $1.272 million for Southern Tenant Farmers Museum bin restoration and interpretation and $1.756906 million for Hughes Hall renovations. Duke Wells renovations have a $1.192409 million cap; Talbot Hall renovations have a $1.189647 million cap. Money comes from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Grant and Trust Fund and is limited to remaining earlier balances. These funds support preservation of state-owned historic resources, not household payments.

Arkansas State keeps campus project funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, Arkansas State University can reuse up to $45.459554 million from the Development and Enhancement Fund. Caps include $4 million for a veterinary medicine facility and $3 million for a materials and steel manufacturing center. Separate caps cover $2 million for campus building deferred maintenance and $1 million for entrance security and card access. Additional caps are $740,000 for critical maintenance, $5.21 million for deferred maintenance, and $4.509554 million for equipment and library items. Up to $25 million supports system construction, repairs, equipment, staff pay, and operations. Another $2.9 million from the Sustainable Building Design Revolving Loan Fund supports construction, renovation, maintenance, and operations. These amounts are limited to remaining balances from earlier appropriations, not direct household payments.

Arkansas Tech keeps repair and upgrade funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, Arkansas Tech can reuse up to $19.963312 million from the Development and Enhancement Fund. Caps include $2.875 million for Witherspoon interior renovations, $3.032 million for utilities, and $4.093 million for technology. Maintenance caps are $3.62 million for critical work and $4.1 million for delayed repairs. Equipment and library items have a $1.321412 million cap; Collegiate Center roof and interior work has a $691,900 cap. Ozark Campus caps are $20,000 for critical maintenance and $210,000 for delayed repairs. Spending is limited to these uses and remaining balances from the earlier appropriations.

Arkansas university system keeps project funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University of Arkansas system can reuse earlier appropriations for buildings, equipment, services, and operations. Uses include campus renovations, Fayetteville maintenance, agriculture facilities, archaeological equipment, shelter power and security, networks, arts, wellness, and science labs. They also include system office expansion and an Extension Center. Separate caps include $25 million and $7.3 million for system construction, repairs, equipment, staff pay, and operations. The Sickle Cell Anemia Task Force has a $60,000 cap for staff and operations; other listed caps range from $39,000 to $9.01 million. Across this law, spending and contracts cannot exceed available project funds, and purchases must follow state purchasing and accounting laws. Institutions can add grants, donations, federal money, or uncommitted cash, but not state maintenance and general operations funds for capital work. Funds must serve the purposes set out in the original appropriation materials.

Fort Smith keeps campus improvement funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith can reuse earlier appropriations for campus improvements. Four projects each have a $2 million cap: hazardous-waste storage, Sebastian Commons columns, workforce center renovations, and hot and cold water loops. Maintenance caps are $940,000 for critical work and $1.02 million for delayed repairs. Equipment and library purchases, replacements, and renewals have a $747,453 cap. Each project is limited to its remaining earlier appropriation balance; this is not direct household aid.

Henderson State keeps building repair funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, Henderson State can reuse up to $15.063642 million from the Development and Enhancement Fund. Renovation caps are $1.2 million for Newberry Hall, $800,000 for Womack Hall, and $1 million for Russell Fine Arts. Other renovation caps are $2.5 million for Smith Hall, $2 million for Wells Gym, and $1.5 million for Huie Library. Maintenance caps are $3.12 million for critical work and $2.44 million for delayed repairs. Equipment and library items have a $503,642 cap. Spending is limited to these uses and remaining balances from the earlier appropriations.

Little Rock keeps campus improvement funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock can reuse earlier appropriations for campus improvements. Technology infrastructure, campus security, Speech Building renovations, Nanotechnology Center construction, and classroom technology each have a $2 million cap. Maintenance caps are $14.19 million for critical work and $8.13 million for delayed repairs. Equipment and library purchases, replacements, and renewals have a $2.041488 million cap. Each project is limited to its remaining earlier appropriation balance; this funding does not provide household payments.

Southern Arkansas keeps campus upgrade funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, Southern Arkansas University can reuse remaining Development and Enhancement Fund appropriations for campus improvements. Caps are $3.783 million for heating and cooling, $3.55925 million for technology, $1.00075 million for storm drains, and $657,000 for sewer lines. Maintenance caps are $540,000 for critical work and $3.41 million for delayed repairs. Equipment and library items have a $1.227623 million cap. Spending is limited to these uses and remaining balances from the earlier appropriations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 128 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

House Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 11:44:07 AM

Yes: 94 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 1:59:05 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB62 is now Act 85

    4/27/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/24/2026Senate

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

    4/24/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/23/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/23/2026Senate

  6. Returned To Senate as Passed.

    4/23/2026House

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026House

  8. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    4/23/2026House

  9. Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.

    4/23/2026House

  10. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/23/2026House

  11. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.

    4/22/2026House

  12. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/22/2026House

  13. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/22/2026Senate

  14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/22/2026Senate

  15. Read the third time and passed.

    4/22/2026Senate

  16. Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

    4/21/2026Senate

  17. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    4/14/2026Senate

  18. Filed

    4/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB62 - Introduced

    4/14/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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