All Roll Calls
Yes: 127 • No: 3
ArkansasSB932025 Regular SessionSenate
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal Funding for Students’ School Meals
The law authorizes about $425.1 million in federal funds for school meals and nutrition education. This Child Nutrition Program funding covers fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. The provision does not set a per-student benefit or household payment.
Funding for Families’ Educational Freedom Accounts
The law provides about $277.49 million for Educational Freedom Accounts for fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. The money comes from the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Fund. This funding provision does not set eligibility rules or each family’s account amount.
Asthma Care Grants for Public Schools
The law provides $1 million for asthma treatment, equipment, staff training, and case monitoring in local public school districts. The money comes from a state Treasury cash fund designated by the state’s Chief Fiscal Officer. Funding covers fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. The provision supports school services rather than direct payments to families.
Medicaid Reimbursements Support Schools’ Health Services
The law authorizes $45 million to reimburse school districts for administrative work supporting Arkansas Medicaid. It also authorizes about $13.66 million from a cash fund for the Medicaid Reimbursement Program. Both amounts cover fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. These provisions fund reimbursements, not new household payments or Medicaid eligibility rules.
Grants Support Teacher Certification and Assessment
The law authorizes $827,925 in grants and aid through the Alternative Certification Program. It also authorizes $100,000 in edTPA teacher assessment grants through the Professional Licensure Standards Board. Both amounts cover fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. These provisions do not state individual eligibility rules or award amounts.
Literacy and Nutrition Help for At-Risk Children
The law authorizes a $500,000 grant to Save the Children for statewide programs serving low-income, at-risk children. Save the Children administers literacy, nutrition, home-visiting, and early-childhood services, including in-school, summer, and after-school programs. The grant covers fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. It does not specify payments to families.
School Loans and Charter Closure Payments
The law authorizes $13 million in revolving loans to school districts and $10 million to open-enrollment public charter schools. It also authorizes $300,000 to pay outstanding obligations incurred by closed open-enrollment public charter schools. The funding covers fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. These provisions do not set loan terms or direct household payments.
State Funding for Education Grant Awards
The law authorizes $1.9 million in awards through the Multiple Grant Award Program. Funding covers fiscal year 2025–2026, ending June 30, 2026. This provision does not identify eligible applicants, award sizes, or direct household payments.
Unspent Education Funds Remain Available
Beginning July 1, 2025, unspent state education account balances remain available for legally authorized spending in the next fiscal year. The education agency must explain the need to the state budget office before June 30, 2026. That office must report amounts and related information by the September Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting. The agency must provide required information and a written status statement at least 30 days before presenting its budget request. State budget manuals must include that information or a statement that the agency did not comply.
School Safety Funding Requires Legislative Approval
The law provides $50 million for School Safety Grants from the state education fund account for fiscal year 2025–2026. From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, special approval rules govern two set-asides: School Safety and Contingency Vote 3/5. The Legislative Council must authorize rulemaking and approve the rules before the department distributes money from these set-asides. Transfers for safety grants or unanticipated state needs also require prior approval; the Joint Budget Committee approves during legislative sessions. The required vote is the greater of three-fifths of the quorum present or a majority of the approving body’s membership.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/15/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 2:25:03 PM
Yes: 94 • No: 3 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 4/3/2025
Senate Vote - Thursday, April 3, 2025 2:38:10 PM
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB93 is now Act 1010
4/23/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/16/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/16/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/15/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/15/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/15/2025HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/15/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/15/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.
4/3/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/3/2025HouseOrdered Immediately transmitted to the House.
4/3/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/3/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/2/2025SenateRe-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
3/31/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/31/2025SenateAmendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
3/31/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 2
3/31/2025SenateRe-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
3/10/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/10/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
3/10/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
3/10/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
1/23/2025SenateFiled
1/23/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB93 - Introduced
1/23/2025
Act Version
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