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ArkansasSB82026 Fiscal SessionSenateWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

17 provisions identified: 17 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Funding Helps Businesses Open And Expand

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $75 million in Quick Action Closing Fund business incentives. It also provides $37.5 million in payroll rebates for companies opening or expanding Arkansas facilities. Those companies must hire and maintain specified employment levels; this provision does not list those levels. Another $6 million funds large economic development projects that qualify under Amendment 82 of the Arkansas Constitution.

Funding Covers Business Application Fee Refunds

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas sets aside $142,266 for New Markets Performance Program application-fee refunds and reimbursements. Payments must repay an application fee for that program. The appropriation does not set an applicant’s refund amount or establish an automatic refund for every applicant.

Loans Support Minority And Women-Owned Businesses

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $500,000 through the Minority and Women-Owned Business Loan Mobilization Revolving Fund. The funding supports these Arkansas businesses, including their ability to compete for state contracts. Unspent loan mobilization funds carry into the next fiscal year for the same purposes. These provisions do not state individual loan amounts, interest rates, or repayment terms.

Grants Support Fish And Wildlife Education

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $800,000 for Fish and Wildlife Conservation Education grants and aid. The money comes from a treasury cash fund. This provision does not specify recipients, individual awards, or eligibility details.

Law Enforcement Agencies Get Grant Funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $5 million in cash-fund grants to law enforcement agencies and associations. The funding goes to agencies and associations, not directly to households. This provision does not set individual grant awards.

Local Governments Get Animal Shelter Grants

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $50,000 from the Animal Rescue and Shelter Trust Fund. Counties and cities can receive grants for animal rescue or shelter infrastructure. Grant decisions must be based only on those infrastructure needs. The provision does not specify individual grant amounts.

Rural Fire Protection Gets Grant Funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $900,000 for rural fire protection grants. The funding supports rural fire protection, not direct household payments. This provision does not specify grant eligibility details or individual awards.

Grants Support Storm And Housing Recovery

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides about $7.58 million in federal storm recovery grants. It separately provides about $8.93 million for long-term disaster recovery in the state’s most impacted and distressed areas. That funding supports housing, infrastructure repairs, and economic recovery. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission manages the funding; these provisions do not set individual household awards.

Funding Supports Arkansas Businesses Abroad

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $900,000 for global business initiatives. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission can contract with public or private groups to operate foreign offices. Those offices can help Arkansas businesses export goods or bring Arkansas manufacturing businesses home from overseas. They can also attract investment from foreign companies that are not state-owned or state-controlled.

Grants Support Communities And Regional Infrastructure

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides about $48.262 million in federal Community Development Block Grants. Another $877,588 supports economic infrastructure and regional development grants. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission manages these funds. These provisions do not set household payment amounts or individual grant awards.

Military Affairs Grants Get Funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $750,000 for Military Affairs grants; unspent funds carry forward for the same purposes. Before June 30, 2027, the agency must explain its carryover need in writing to the state budget office. That office reports amounts to the Arkansas Legislative Council by its September meeting or to the Joint Budget Committee. The agency must report project, contract, or purpose status at least 30 days before presenting its budget request. These provisions do not specify grant recipients or individual awards.

Research Grants Get Funding And Carryover

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides about $1.093 million for Arkansas Research Match grants. It also provides $156,975 for technology development. Up to $150,000 in technology development funds already committed but unspent at year-end can carry forward for the same research-grant purpose. Before June 30, 2027, the agency must explain its carryover need in writing to the state budget office. Carryover amounts and project status must also be reported to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.

Rural Communities Receive Dedicated Grant Funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $500,000 for rural community grants and $10 million for community assistance grants. It also reserves at least $500,000 in federal community development grants exclusively for rural communities defined in the commission’s Consolidated Plan. Applications for that set-aside must meet state and federal guidelines, with grant criteria established by rule. The Rural Services Division recommends awards and gives final approval for payments. Distribution also requires approval from the Governor and the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.

Technology Development Gets Funding And Carryover

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $5 million in technology and knowledge-based development grants and incentives. It separately provides $11.6 million for the Arkansas Acceleration Fund Program; unspent program-line funds carry forward for the same purposes. Before June 30, 2027, the agency must explain its carryover need in writing to the state budget office. That office reports amounts to the Arkansas Legislative Council by its September meeting or to the Joint Budget Committee. The agency must also report project, contract, or purpose status at least 30 days before presenting its budget request.

Industry Training Gets Funding And Carryover

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Arkansas provides $1.7148 million for its Industry Training Program. Unspent program money can carry into the next fiscal year for the same purposes. Before June 30, 2027, the agency must explain its carryover need in writing to the state budget office. Carryover amounts and status must also be reported to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. These provisions do not specify participant eligibility or household payments.

Investment Funding Supports Technology Businesses

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $292,653 for seed investments through the Division of Science and Technology. A separate treasury cash fund provides $1.04 million for investments in technology-based businesses. These provisions do not set individual investment amounts or business investment terms.

Funding Supports Recycling Tax Credits

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law sets aside $42 million for recycling tax credits. Credits follow the existing rules in Arkansas Code 26-51-506. This funding does not set a new credit amount for each taxpayer or change the stated eligibility rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 120 • No: 5

House vote • 4/27/2026

House Vote - Monday, April 27, 2026 3:42:21 PM

Yes: 87 • No: 5 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Senate Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 12:21:05 PM

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB8 is now Act 129

    4/29/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/28/2026Senate

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

    4/28/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/27/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/27/2026Senate

  6. Returned to the Senate as passed.

    4/27/2026Senate

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/27/2026Senate

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

    4/27/2026Senate

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

    4/23/2026Senate

  10. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/23/2026Senate

  11. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/23/2026Senate

  12. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026Senate

  13. Read the third time and passed.

    4/23/2026Senate

  14. Rules suspended.

    4/23/2026Senate

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

    4/23/2026Senate

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  17. Filed

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB8 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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