AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM DIVISIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
*WFP030* 04-27-2026 15:21:13 WFP030

State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/27/26 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 15 3
4
By: Joint Budget Committee 5
6
For An Act To Be Entitled 7
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES 8
AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, 9
HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM 10
DIVISIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027; 11
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
13
14
Subtitle 15
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, 16
HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND 17
TOURISM DIVISIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 18
2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. 19
20
21
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
23
SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES. There is hereby established for the 24
Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism 25
Divisions for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of 26
regular employees. 27
28
Maximum Annual 29
Maximum Salary Rate 30
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 31
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 32
(1) EEX27A PARKS, HERITAGE, & TOURISM DIV. DIR 2 GRADE EXE01 33
(2) EEX26A PARKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR 1 GRADE SPC10 34
(3) SEN02P ENGINEER SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SPC06 35
(4) SAS01I ARCHITECT 1 GRADE SPC03 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(5) SEN01P ENGINEER 1 GRADE SPC03 1
(6) RMA03I CURATOR 4 GRADE SPC01 2
(7) RPA08C PARK ADMINISTRATOR 2 GRADE SGS12 3
(8) RPA09C PARK AREA MANAGER 5 GRADE SGS11 4
(9) RPA13C PARK MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS11 5
(10) RPA20C PARK SUPERINTENDENT IV 6 GRADE SGS10 6
(11) EEP06P EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS10 7
(12) FFS03C FISCAL SUPPORT MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS09 8
(13) RPA04C LODGE MANAGER 3 GRADE SGS09 9
(14) RPA19C PARK SUPERINTENDENT III 22 GRADE SGS09 10
(15) RPA18C PARK SUPERINTENDENT II 38 GRADE SGS08 11
(16) RPA25P ADPHT PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 3 GRADE SGS08 12
(17) TCO04P CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE SGS08 13
(18) RPA01C ASSISTANT LODGE MANAGER 3 GRADE SGS07 14
(19) TFM02C FACILITY MANAGER 2 GRADE SGS07 15
(20) FFS05P FISCAL SUPPORT SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS07 16
(21) CME03P GRAPHIC ARTIST 4 GRADE SGS07 17
(22) TST02P LICENSED TRADESMAN 3 GRADE SGS07 18
(23) RPA15P PARK PLANNER SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS07 19
(24) CME06P PRODUCER 1 GRADE SGS07 20
(25) PAS04C ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR 1 GRADE SGS06 21
(26) RRE01C FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER 2 GRADE SGS06 22
(27) RPA17C PARK SUPERINTENDENT I 13 GRADE SGS06 23
(28) RTO02C WELCOME CENTER MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS06 24
(29) ILP04I REAL ESTATE ANALYST 1 GRADE SGS06 25
(30) RMA02P ARCHIVIST 1 GRADE SGS06 26
(31) FGM04P GRANTS SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS06 27
(32) TMA04P MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 13 GRADE SGS06 28
(33) TAT06P MECHANIC 1 GRADE SGS06 29
(34) RPA14P PARK PLANNER 6 GRADE SGS06 30
(35) RPA24P ADPHT PROGRAM COORDINATOR 6 GRADE SGS06 31
(36) TST04P SKILLED TRADESMAN 18 GRADE SGS06 32
(37) TFS04C FOOD SERVICES SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 5 GRADE SGS05 33
(38) TAT03I ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS05 34
(39) PAS01P ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 13 GRADE SGS05 35
(40) TFM03P FACILITY SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 15 GRADE SGS05 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(41) RPA05P LODGE SALES COORDINATOR 8 GRADE SGS05 1
(42) TMA01P MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR 11 GRADE SGS05 2
(43) CMA01P MARKETING COORDINATOR 2 GRADE SGS05 3
(44) RPA10P PARK COORDINATOR 6 GRADE SGS05 4
(45) RPA21P PARK SUPERINTENDENT TRAINEE 3 GRADE SGS05 5
(46) RPA23P ADPHT INTERPRETER II 42 GRADE SGS05 6
(47) TAT05I HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR 3 GRADE SGS04 7
(48) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 52 GRADE SGS04 8
(49) TFM01P FACILITY COORDINATOR 28 GRADE SGS04 9
(50) FFS04P FISCAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST 9 GRADE SGS04 10
(51) HDH07P HR SPECIALIST 3 GRADE SGS04 11
(52) IIN01P INSPECTOR I 3 GRADE SGS04 12
(53) TMA03P MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST 42 GRADE SGS04 13
(54) TAT08P PRINTER 1 GRADE SGS04 14
(55) RRE02P RESTAURANT SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 6 GRADE SGS04 15
(56) TST07P TRADES SPECIALIST 2 GRADE SGS04 16
(57) RTO03P WELCOME CENTER SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 14 GRADE SGS04 17
(58) TFS05P KITCHEN SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS03 18
(59) RPA06P LODGE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE SGS03 19
(60) TMA05P MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN 88 GRADE SGS03 20
(61) RPA12P PARK HOUSEKEEPER SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 13 GRADE SGS03 21
(62) SSE01P SECURITY GUARD 1 GRADE SGS03 22
(63) PAS03P ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST 10 GRADE SGS02 23
(64) TGR01P LANDSCAPE COORDINATOR 12 GRADE SGS02 24
(65) RMA11P MUSEUM SPECIALIST 6 GRADE SGS02 25
(66) RPA11P PARK HOUSEKEEPER 18 GRADE SGS02 26
(67) RPA16P PARK SPECIALIST 33 GRADE SGS02 27
(68) RTO01P TRAVEL CONSULTANT 32 GRADE SGS02 28
(69) TFS01P COOK 22 GRADE SGS01 29
(70) RRE03P SERVER 12 GRADE SGS01 30
(71) SPL01C PARK LIEUTENANT COLONEL 1 GRADE LES07 31
(72) SPL02C PARK MAJOR 1 GRADE LES06 32
(73) SPL04C PARK SERGEANT 5 GRADE LES04 33
(74) SPL03P PARK RANGER 30 GRADE LES03 34
(75) TCO01P CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS07 35
(76) TST05P SKILLED TRADESMAN SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS07 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(77) CME04P MEDIA SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS05 1
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 732 2
3
4
SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP. There is hereby authorized, for the Department 5
of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions for the 6
2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary 7
employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated 8
herein for such purposes: eight hundred seven (807) temporary or part-time 9
employees, when needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the 10
Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act 11
for the appropriate classification. 12
13
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - STATE OPERATIONS. There is hereby 14
appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 15
payable from the Parks and Tourism Fund Account, for personal services and 16
operating expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State 17
Parks and Tourism Divisions - State Operations for the fiscal year ending 18
June 30, 2027, the following: 19
20
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 21
NO. 2026-2027 22
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $12,569,422 23
(02) EXTRA HELP 2,500 24
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 5,483,877 25
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 26
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 0 27
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 28
(C) PROF. FEES 0 29
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 30
(E) DATA PROC. 0 31
(05) TOURISM/MUSEUM GRANTS 30,000 32
(06) CONFERENCE-DAC 100 33
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $18,085,899 34
35
SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - RETIREMENT AND RELOCATION PROMOTION PROGRAM. 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and 1
Tourism, to be payable from the Tourism Development Trust Fund, for operating 2
and advertising expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - 3
State Parks and Tourism Divisions - Retirement and Relocation Promotion 4
Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 5
6
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 7
NO. 2026-2027 8
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 9
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $60,000 10
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 11
(C) PROF. FEES 10,000 12
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 13
(E) DATA PROC. 0 14
(02) ADVERTISING EXPENSE 898,619 15
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $968,619 16
17
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - CONSERVATION TAX OPERATIONS. There is 18
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 19
payable from the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Fund Account, 20
from proceeds derived from the Conservation Tax levied by Amendment 75 of the 21
Constitution of the State of Arkansas, for personal services and operating 22
expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and 23
Tourism Divisions - Conservation Tax Operations for the fiscal year ending 24
June 30, 2027, the following: 25
26
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 27
NO. 2026-2027 28
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $7,707,277 29
(02) EXTRA HELP 2,134,077 30
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 3,359,215 31
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 32
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 16,394,284 33
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 34
(C) PROF. FEES 613,894 35
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 3,500,000 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(E) DATA PROC. 0 1
(05) CONSTRUCTION 45,874,272 2
(06) SPECIAL MAINTENANCE 4,000,000 3
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $83,583,019 4
5
SECTION 6. REGULAR SALARIES - KEEP ARKANSAS BEAUTIFUL - CONSERVATION 6
TAX OPERATIONS. There is hereby established for the Department of Parks, 7
Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - Keep Arkansas 8
Beautiful - Conservation Tax Operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the 9
following maximum number of regular employees. 10
11
Maximum Annual 12
Maximum Salary Rate 13
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 14
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 15
(1) RPA25P ADPHT PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS08 16
(2) RPA24P ADPHT PROGRAM COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS06 17
(3) TMA05P MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN 1 GRADE SGS03 18
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 3 19
20
SECTION 7. EXTRA HELP - KEEP ARKANSAS BEAUTIFUL - CONSERVATION TAX 21
OPERATIONS. There is hereby authorized, for the Department of Parks, 22
Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - Keep Arkansas 23
Beautiful - Conservation Tax Operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the 24
following maximum number of part-time or temporary employees, to be known as 25
"Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated herein for such purposes: one 26
(1) temporary or part-time employee, when needed, at rates of pay not to 27
exceed those provided in the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, or 28
its successor, or this act for the appropriate classification. 29
30
SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION - KEEP ARKANSAS BEAUTIFUL - CONSERVATION TAX 31
OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, 32
Heritage, and Tourism, to be payable from the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Fund 33
Account, from proceeds derived from the Conservation Tax levied by Amendment 34
75 of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, for personal services and 35
operating expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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Parks and Tourism Divisions - Keep Arkansas Beautiful - Conservation Tax 1
Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 2
3
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 4
NO. 2026-2027 5
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $138,924 6
(02) EXTRA HELP 6,000 7
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 55,401 8
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 9
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 88,937 10
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 5,000 11
(C) PROF. FEES 125,000 12
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 13
(E) DATA PROC. 0 14
(05) KAB GRANTS 40,000 15
(06) ADVERTISING EXPENSE 600,000 16
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,059,262 17
18
SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION - MUSEUM OF NATURAL RESOURCES - SPECIAL 19
REVENUE FUND OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of 20
Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be payable from the Arkansas Museum of 21
Natural Resources Fund, for personal services of the Department of Parks, 22
Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - Museum of Natural 23
Resources - Special Revenue Fund Operations for the fiscal year ending June 24
30, 2027, the following: 25
26
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 27
NO. 2026-2027 28
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $76,932 29
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 33,736 30
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $110,668 31
32
SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION - TOURISM PROMOTION - SPECIAL REVENUE FUND 33
OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, 34
Heritage, and Tourism, to be payable from the Tourism Development Trust Fund, 35
for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Parks, 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - Tourism Promotion 1
- Special Revenue Fund Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 2
the following: 3
4
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 5
NO. 2026-2027 6
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $283,677 7
(02) EXTRA HELP 27,502 8
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 123,625 9
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 10
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 3,222,977 11
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 41,570 12
(C) PROF. FEES 2,246,280 13
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 125,000 14
(E) DATA PROC. 0 15
(05) TOURIST PROMOTION 2,922,000 16
(06) ADVERTISING EXPENSE 24,260,050 17
(07) SMALL FESTIVAL EXPENSES, ADVERTISING 18
& GRANTS 150,000 19
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $33,402,681 20
21
SECTION 11. APPROPRIATION - OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS PROGRAM. There 22
is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to 23
be payable from the Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grants Fund, for 24
personal services, operating expenses, and outdoor recreation grants of the 25
Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism 26
Divisions - Outdoor Recreation Grants Program for the fiscal year ending June 27
30, 2027, the following: 28
29
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 30
NO. 2026-2027 31
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $166,707 32
(02) EXTRA HELP 25,210 33
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 72,789 34
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 35
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 37,020 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 5,000 1
(C) PROF. FEES 0 2
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 3
(E) DATA PROC. 0 4
(05) OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS 9,716,374 5
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $10,023,100 6
7
SECTION 12. APPROPRIATION - SCORP PROGRAM - FEDERAL FUND OPERATIONS. 8
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and 9
Tourism, to be payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief 10
Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses and outdoor recreation 11
grants of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and 12
Tourism Divisions - Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for the 13
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 14
15
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 16
NO. 2026-2027 17
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 18
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $34,232 19
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 6,100 20
(C) PROF. FEES 100,000 21
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 22
(E) DATA PROC. 0 23
(02) OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS 8,308,402 24
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $8,448,734 25
26
SECTION 13. APPROPRIATION - PARKS - CASH FUND OPERATIONS. There is 27
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 28
payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by 29
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for personal services and operating 30
expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and 31
Tourism Divisions - Parks - Cash Fund Operations for the fiscal year ending 32
June 30, 2027, the following: 33
34
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 35
NO. 2026-2027 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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(01) REGULAR SALARIES $9,769,812 1
(02) EXTRA HELP 6,565,923 2
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 4,520,499 3
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 4
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 11,566,526 5
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 34,000 6
(C) PROF. FEES 2,000,000 7
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 500,000 8
(E) DATA PROC. 0 9
(05) CONSTRUCTION 500,000 10
(06) RESALE (COGS) 5,564,961 11
(07) DEBT SERVICE 0 12
(08) CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 486,177 13
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $41,507,898 14
15
SECTION 14. APPROPRIATION - WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM. There is hereby 16
appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 17
payable from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for personal services, 18
operating expenses, major maintenance, renovation of facilities and 19
scoreboards, and repairs of War Memorial Stadium of the Department of Parks, 20
Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions for the fiscal year 21
ending June 30, 2027, the following: 22
23
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 24
NO. 2026-2027 25
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $304,119 26
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 118,893 27
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 28
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 12,198 29
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 30
(C) PROF. FEES 0 31
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 32
(E) DATA PROC. 0 33
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $435,210 34
35
SECTION 15. EXTRA HELP - WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM - CASH FUND OPERATIONS. 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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There is hereby authorized, for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and 1
Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - War Memorial Stadium - Cash 2
Fund Operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number 3
of part-time or temporary employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable 4
from funds appropriated herein for such purposes: one hundred forty-four 5
(144) temporary or part-time employees, when needed, at rates of pay not to 6
exceed those provided in the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, or 7
its successor, or this act for the appropriate classification. 8
9
SECTION 16. APPROPRIATION - WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM - CASH FUND 10
OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, 11
Heritage, and Tourism, to be payable from the cash fund deposited in the 12
State Treasury as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 13
personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Parks, 14
Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - War Memorial 15
Stadium - Cash Fund Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 16
following: 17
18
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 19
NO. 2026-2027 20
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $82,348 21
(02) EXTRA HELP 144,000 22
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 47,715 23
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 24
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 921,088 25
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 26
(C) PROF. FEES 0 27
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 28
(E) DATA PROC. 0 29
(05) RESALE (COGS) 213,000 30
(06) REFUNDS/REIMBURSEMENTS 100,000 31
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,508,151 32
33
SECTION 17. APPROPRIATION - DELTA HERITAGE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. 34
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and 35
Tourism, to be payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

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determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses 1
of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism 2
Divisions - Delta Heritage Trail Construction Program for the fiscal year 3
ending June 30, 2027, the following: 4
5
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 6
NO. 2026-2027 7
(01) CONSTRUCTION $37,880,862 8
9
SECTION 18. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS WINE PRODUCERS COUNCIL. There is 10
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 11
payable from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for miscellaneous 12
grants and expenses of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State 13
Parks and Tourism Divisions - Arkansas Wine Producers Council for the fiscal 14
year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 15
16
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 17
NO. 2026-2027 18
(01) ARKANSAS WINE PRODUCERS COUNCIL $5,000 19
20
SECTION 19. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS WINE TOURISM FACILITY. There is 21
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, to be 22
payable from the Tourism Development Trust Fund, for land acquisition, 23
construction, lease, equipment acquisition, improvements, renovation, major 24
maintenance, personal services, maintenance and operating expenses associated 25
with the wine tourism facility in Franklin County, Arkansas for the fiscal 26
year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 27
28
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 29
NO. 2026-2027 30
(01) ARKANSAS WINE TOURISM FACILITY 31
EXPENSES $1,250,000 32
33
SECTION 20. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. SPECIAL 35
MAINTENANCE. The funds appropriated in the Conservation Tax Operations 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

13 04-27-2026 15:21:13 WFP030

appropriation section of this act for the Division of Arkansas State Parks 1
Special Maintenance shall be expended, after receiving prior approval by the 2
Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, for a special 3
maintenance program for the Park System. The funds provided will be used for 4
repair and upkeep of parks and museum facilities that have been deferred due 5
to lack of funds in the individual budgets of the parks and museums. 6
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 7
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 8
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 9
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 10
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 11
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 12
has determined that the Division of Arkansas State Parks may operate more 13
efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Department of Parks, 14
Heritage, and Tourism authorizing broad powers under this section. Therefore, 15
it is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain 16
oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint 17
Budget Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of approval by 18
the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of 19
this section or the Special Maintenance line item. If the requirement of 20
approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled 21
unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, this entire section 22
and the Special Maintenance line item in the Conservation Tax Operations 23
appropriation section is void. 24
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 25
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 26
27
SECTION 21. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CASH 29
PRIZES - STATE PARKS. The Division of Arkansas State Parks is hereby 30
authorized to award merchandise, gift certificates, and cash prizes to 31
contestants in various special events authorized by the Division Director of 32
the Division of Arkansas State Parks. Such prizes may be awarded to the 1st, 33
2nd, and 3rd prize winners and shall be payable from the maintenance and 34
operation line item of the Parks - Cash Fund Operations appropriation 35
section. The cash prizes, in aggregate, for all contests, shall not exceed 36
As Engrossed: S4/27/26 SB15

14 04-27-2026 15:21:13 WFP030

$10,000 per fiscal year. 1
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 2
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 3
4
SECTION 22. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 5
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 6
MISSISSIPPI RIVER DOMESTIC - INTERNATIONAL MARKETING PLAN. Of the funds 7
appropriated to the Division of Arkansas Tourism - Great River Road for 8
operating expenses in the State Operations appropriation section of this act, 9
up to $15,000 each year is authorized to be utilized for the implementation 10
of the Mississippi River Domestic - International Marketing Plan. 11
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 12
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 13
14
SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 15
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. SMALL 16
FESTIVAL FUNDING. The General Assembly acknowledges the economic benefits of 17
festivals which attract visitors and stimulate the growth of tourism and 18
businesses statewide. 19
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rules and regulations 20
promulgated by the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to the 21
contrary, the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism shall dedicate, 22
commit, and budget annually one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) 23
from the 2% tourism tax credited to the Tourism Development Trust Fund for 24
expense, advertising, marketing, or grants for small festivals in Arkansas 25
communities of less than 10,500 people. Any funds not granted out in a 26
fiscal year shall be available for other tourism promotion efforts. 27
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 28
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 29
30
SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 31
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. EXTRA 32
HELP. The Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism may utilize their 33
authorized extra-help positions and contract labor event staff up to a 34
maximum of one thousand eight hundred (1,800) hours during seasonal events at 35
War Memorial Stadium. The rates of pay may not exceed those provided in the 36
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Uniform Classification Act, or its successor, for the appropriate 1
classification. 2
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 3
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 4
5
SECTION 25. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 6
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 7
PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. The Division of Arkansas State Parks 8
and Tourism is hereby authorized to purchase from Maintenance and General 9
Operations appropriations provided by this Act, up to an amount not to exceed 10
$75,000 each fiscal year, promotional and educational merchandise, authorized 11
by the Secretary of the Department of Arkansas Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, 12
to inform the public of the Division's programs, to promote the functions of 13
the Division, and to inform the public regarding services provided by the 14
Division. 15
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 16
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 17
18
SECTION 26. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 19
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL, AND TEMPORARY LAW. 20
Abolition of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission. 21
(a) The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission is abolished, and its 22
authority, duties, function, records, contracts, personnel, property, and 23
unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds, 24
including the functions of budgeting or purchasing are transferred to the 25
Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful. 26
(b)(1) The administrative functions of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful 27
Commission are transferred to the Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful. 28
(2) As used in subdivision (b)(1) of this section, 29
"administrative functions" includes without limitation the day-to-day 30
business operations of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, including 31
without limitation employment, payroll, property management, benefit 32
management, human resource operations, and accounting operations of the 33
commission. 34
(c)(1) The abolition of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission does 35
not affect the orders, rules, directives, registration, licensing, or 36
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standards made or promulgated by the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission 1
before the effective date of this act. 2
(2) The orders, rules, directives, registration, licensing, or 3
standards under subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall continue to be in 4
effect until amended or repealed under authority given by law. 5
(d)(1) An employee of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission who is 6
now a member of a retirement system shall not lose retirement benefits 7
accrued in the retirement system by the abolition of the Keep Arkansas 8
Beautiful Commission. 9
(2)(A) An employee affected by the abolition of the Keep 10
Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall have the option of continuing as a member 11
of the retirement system of which the employee is a member at the time of the 12
abolition or to join the retirement system for which the abolition makes the 13
employee eligible. 14
(B) An employee under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this 15
section shall make his or her election of a retirement system within six (6) 16
months from the date of abolition. 17
18
SECTION 27. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 8-6-19
404(2), concerning fines collected under the Litter Control Act, is amended 20
to read as follows: 21
(2) If the municipality or county where the offense occurs is not 22
a certified affiliate of Keep Arkansas Beautiful or Keep America Beautiful, 23
Inc., or does not participate in litter-control programs conducted by these 24
organizations, then the moneys from fines collected for offenses in those 25
jurisdictions shall be remitted by the tenth day of each month to the 26
Administration of Justice Funds Section, on a form provided by the Office of 27
Administrative Services of the Department of Finance and Administration, for 28
deposit into the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Fund Account to be used by the 29
Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, as appropriated by the General 30
Assembly, for the purposes of encouraging litter prevention and anti-litter 31
education and increasing awareness of litter law enforcement statewide. 32
33
SECTION 28. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 8-6-34
606(e), concerning landfill disposal fees, is amended to read as follows: 35
(e) Solid waste collected during the annual Keep Arkansas Beautiful 36
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and Keep America Beautiful campaigns that are sponsored by the Office of Keep 1
Arkansas Beautiful Commission is exempt from the landfill disposal fee under 2
this section. 3
4
SECTION 29. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 8-6-5
1003(c), concerning landfill disposal fees, is amended to read as follows: 6
(c) Solid waste collected during the annual Keep Arkansas Beautiful 7
and Keep America Beautiful campaigns that are sponsored by the Office of Keep 8
Arkansas Beautiful Commission is exempt from the landfill disposal fee under 9
this section. 10
11
SECTION 30. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 15-11-12
601 is amended to read as follows: 13
15-11-601. Keep Arkansas Beautiful Advisory Board — Creation — 14
Membership. 15
(a)(1) There is created the “Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission 16
Advisory Board”, which shall advise the Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful, to 17
be composed of nine (9) five (5) members appointed by the Governor subject to 18
confirmation by the Senate Director of State Highways and Transportation. 19
(2) Two (2) members One (1) member shall be appointed from each 20
Arkansas congressional district and the remaining member shall be appointed 21
from the state at large. 22
(b)(1) The term of office of the initial members of the commission 23
board shall be determined by lot as follows: 24
(A) The term of office of two (2) one (1) of the initial 25
members shall expire on January 14, 2003 June 30, 2027; 26
(B) The term of office of two (2) one (1) of the initial 27
members shall expire on January 14, 2002 June 30, 2028; 28
(C) The term of office of two (2) one (1) of the initial 29
members of the commission board shall expire on January 14, 2001 June 30, 30
2029; 31
(D) The term of office of one (1) of the initial members 32
of the commission board shall expire on January 14, 2000 June 30, 2030; and 33
(E) The term of office of one (1) of the initial members 34
of the commission board shall expire on January 14, 1999 June 30, 2031.; and 35
(F) The term of office of one (1) of the initial members 36
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of the commission shall expire on January 14, 1998. 1
(2) All successor members, other than those appointed to fill 2
unexpired terms, shall serve six-year five-year terms to expire on January 14 3
June 30 of the sixth fifth year. 4
(c) All vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Governor and 5
each appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate director. 6
(d)(1) The Governor director shall designate the member to chair the 7
organizational meeting of the commission board, at which meeting the 8
commission board shall select from its membership a chair, a vice chair, and 9
such other officers as it determines appropriate. 10
(2) The officers shall serve as such for such period of time as 11
determined by the commission board. 12
(e) Before entering upon his or her duties as a member of the 13
commission, each member shall take and subscribe and file in the office of 14
the Secretary of State an oath to support the United States Constitution and 15
the Arkansas Constitution and to perform faithfully the duties of the office 16
upon which he or she is about to enter. 17
(f) Members of the commission board shall serve without compensation 18
for their service but may receive expense reimbursement and a stipend of 19
eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per day in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq. 20
(g)(f) The Director Administrator of the Administrative Office of the 21
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall serve as ex officio Secretary 22
secretary of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission board and shall have no 23
vote on matters coming before the commission board. 24
25
SECTION 31. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL, AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
Transition provisions — Commission members. 28
Upon the effective date of this section: 29
(1) The members of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall 30
serve as members of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Advisory Board; 31
(2) A member under subdivision (1) of this section shall serve 32
until his or her term expires; and 33
(3) Upon the expiration of the term of a member under 34
subdivision (1) of this section, the Director of State Highways and 35
Transportation shall appoint a new member as provided under § 15-11-601. 36
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1
SECTION 32. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 15-11-2
602 is amended to read as follows: 3
15-11-602. Administrative office Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful — 4
Director — Duties Creation. 5
(a) The Administrative There is established the Office of the Keep 6
Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall to be located within the State Parks 7
Division Arkansas Department of Transportation. 8
(b) The Director Administrator of the Administrative Office of the 9
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall be employed by the Director of the 10
State Parks Division with the approval of the Secretary of the Department of 11
Parks, Heritage, and Tourism State Highways and Transportation. 12
(c) The Director of the Administrative Office of the Keep Arkansas 13
Beautiful Commission administrator shall develop and administer all programs 14
and projects of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission office and perform 15
such other duties that the Director of the State Parks Division director 16
deems necessary and appropriate to foster and promote the awareness of all 17
Arkansans as to the need to protect Arkansas's natural environment. 18
19
SECTION 33. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 15-11-20
603 is amended to read as follows: 21
15-11-603. Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful — Powers and duties of 22
commission. 23
The Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission shall: 24
(1) Be an official agency of the State of Arkansas authorized to 25
accept and receive grants, moneys, equipment, material, and services and real 26
and personal property donated, bequeathed, or devised for any purposes 27
relating to the programs of the commission office and not expressly 28
designated for any other agency and to disburse and utilize such moneys and 29
property for the purposes of this subchapter; 30
(2) Implement a statewide litter prevention program through the 31
voluntary action of local communities and state and local governmental 32
agencies; 33
(3) Educate Arkansas's citizens and community leaders as to the 34
problem of litter and the need for recycling the state's resources; 35
(4) Encourage litter prevention; 36
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(5) Encourage beautification projects; 1
(6) Increase awareness of litter law enforcement; 2
(7) Promote consumer awareness of recycling benefits; 3
(8) Assist communities in establishing the Keep Arkansas 4
Beautiful system; 5
(9) Encourage educational programs in schools and elsewhere that 6
support the goals of the commission office; and 7
(10) Serve in an advisory capacity to the Director of the 8
Administrative Office of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission and the State 9
Parks Division; and 10
(11) Cooperate with and support existing recycling, 11
beautification, and litter control programs in the state. 12
13
SECTION 34. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 19-43-14
266(b)(3)(D)(i), concerning the Conservation Tax Fund, is amended to read as 15
follows: 16
(D)(i) One percent (1%) to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Fund 17
Account to be used exclusively by the Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful 18
Commission as appropriated by the General Assembly. 19
20
SECTION 35. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 24-5-21
101(6), concerning the definition of "current service" under the Arkansas 22
State Highway Employees' Retirement System, is amended to read as follows: 23
(6)(A) “Current service” means service as an employee of the 24
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department or the Arkansas 25
Department of Transportation after the date of establishment of the system 26
and may include the period of time during which the employee's service may 27
have been interrupted by service in the United States Armed Forces. The 28
annual earnings for a military service period shall be computed in the manner 29
set forth for prior service in subdivision (12) of this section;. 30
(B) “Current service” includes service as an employee of 31
the Office of Keep Arkansas Beautiful after the effective date of this act; 32
33
SECTION 36. SPECIAL LANGUAGE — CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 25-43-34
1302(a)(17), concerning state entities transferred to the Department of 35
Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, is repealed. 36
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(17) The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, created under § 15-1
11-601; 2
3
SECTION 37. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 4
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 5
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 6
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 7
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 8
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 9
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 10
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 11
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 12
13
SECTION 38. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 14
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 15
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 16
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 17
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 18
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 19
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 20
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 21
22
SECTION 39. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 23
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 24
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 25
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 26
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 27
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 28
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 29
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 30
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 31
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 32
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 33
34
/s/Joint Budget Committee 35
36