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ArkansasSB72026 Fiscal SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Funeral oversight and recovery claims funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the Prepaid Contracts Recovery Program gets $500,000 for expenses and claims. The Prepaid Funeral Benefits Division gets $467,908 for staff and operations; both allocations use the department's Prepaid Trust Fund. The cash-funded Funeral Services Division gets $612,164, including $55,000 for loans. This funding supports funeral oversight and recovery claims for people who prepaid funeral contracts. The law does not set individual claim payments, loan recipients, or loan terms.

Public employee claim payments stay funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, state employee claims receive $15.5 million from the Workers' Compensation Revolving Fund. Separate allocations provide $400,000 for public school employee claims, $200,000 for county employee claims, and $400,000 for city employee claims. The Public Employee Claims Section receives $2.148353 million for staff and operations. These funds support claims paid through the State Insurance Department. The law does not set individual payments or change claim eligibility.

Insurance tax and fee refunds funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $11 million for State Insurance Department tax and fee refunds. The money funds refunds owed to people or entities that overpaid. It does not change refund rules or set each recipient's refund amount.

Cancer relief funded for eligible firefighters

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the Arkansas Firefighter Cancer Relief Network Trust Fund provides $250,000 for relief. Relief is for firefighters diagnosed with cancer who participate in a firefighter cancer relief network. The law does not set each eligible firefighter's payment.

Smaller employers gain health cost reports

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying Arkansas group health policyholders can request insurer reports with more than 25 insured employees. The old cutoff was more than 50 insured employees. Reports cover the latest 12 months, or the full coverage period if shorter. Monthly reports list paid medical claims, paid pharmacy claims, premiums paid, and enrolled members and dependents. For members with claims over $10,000, reports include coverage status and monthly paid medical and pharmacy claims.

State cyber response program receives funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $10 million for Arkansas's self-funded cyber response program. The money comes from the Arkansas Self-Funded Cyber Response Program Trust Fund. It supports program expenses and the Arkansas Cyber Response Board, not direct household payments.

Medicare counseling and fraud protection funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, federal funds support health counseling, Medicare enrollment help, and fraud protection. Health Information Counseling receives $1.319945 million, including $55,000 for promotional items. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act program receives $1.28614 million, including $105,291 for promotional items. Senior Medicare Patrol receives $817,082, including $192,000 for grants and aid. Its outreach, counseling, and education help Medicare beneficiaries prevent, spot, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse.

Government and school insurance claims funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the Arkansas Multi-Agency Insurance Trust Fund provides $10 million for expenses and claims. The Public School Insurance Trust Fund provides $8 million for program expenses and claims. The Governmental Bonding Board receives $1.705 million from the Self-Insured Fidelity Bond Trust Fund, including $1.5 million for claims. Its remaining funding covers operations, refunds, reimbursements, and professional services. These allocations fund public-sector insurance programs, not set payments to households.

Funding keeps consumer insurance information available

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $3.2 million for Arkansas's healthcare transparency database. Money comes from the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative Fund. It pays for database upkeep, data collection and management, and responses to data requests. A separate cash-funded allocation provides $28,005 to run the Consumer Information System.

Insurance oversight staff and investigations funded

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, department operations receive $15.432746 million from the State Insurance Department Trust Fund. This includes $500,000 for AHIM expenses; staffing authority allows up to 188 regular positions and 19 temporary positions. Fraud investigations receive $1.644515 million from the Criminal Investigation Division Trust Fund; continuing education staff receive $31,184 from their program's trust fund. With state fiscal officer approval, the department can shift unused salary, temporary-help, and related benefit funds to professional services. This transfer is allowed only when the department cannot maintain a full examination staff, and pays for contracted examination help. Repaid travel costs return to their source accounts, and spending must stay within approved amounts and state purchasing and accounting rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 131 • No: 1

House vote • 4/29/2026

House Vote - Wednesday, April 29, 2026 10:31:54 AM

Yes: 96 • No: 1 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 28, 2026 2:43:42 PM

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB7 is now Act 147

    5/1/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/29/2026Senate

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

    4/29/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/29/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/29/2026Senate

  6. Returned to the Senate as passed.

    4/29/2026Senate

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/29/2026Senate

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

    4/29/2026Senate

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

    4/28/2026Senate

  10. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/28/2026Senate

  11. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/28/2026Senate

  12. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/28/2026Senate

  13. Read the third time and passed.

    4/28/2026Senate

  14. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/27/2026Senate

  15. Amendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    4/27/2026Senate

  16. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    4/27/2026Senate

  17. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 2

    4/23/2026Senate

  18. Re-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    4/15/2026Senate

  19. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    4/15/2026Senate

  20. Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    4/15/2026Senate

  21. Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1

    4/15/2026Senate

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  23. Filed

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB7 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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