SB64 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not list the specific names or locations of the four buildings beyond stating they are in the Capitol Complex.

Arkansas SB64: Reappropriating Funds for Education Technology and Building Repairs

This law reassigns leftover money from previous budgets to the Arkansas Department of Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for computer science initiatives and repairs to four state-owned buildings.

What This Bill Does

Sets aside up to $564,871 starting July 1, 2026, for computer science initiatives using leftover funds from Act 80 of 2025.
Allocates up to $5 million starting July 1, 2026, for maintenance and repairs on four Department of Education buildings in the Capitol Complex using leftover funds from Act 331 of 2025.
Requires that spending does not exceed available state treasury funds while allowing agencies to use grants or donations to cover extra costs.
Prohibits using regular operating budgets for these specific projects.
Mandates compliance with all existing state purchasing and accounting laws when spending this money.

Who It Names or Affects

The Arkansas Department of Education, specifically the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
State agencies responsible for maintaining buildings in the Capitol Complex owned by the Department of Education.

Terms To Know

Reappropriation: The act of assigning money that was previously set aside but not fully spent to be used again.
Development and Enhancement Fund: A specific state fund from which the computer science initiative money is paid.
Educational Buildings Maintenance Fund: A dedicated state account used to pay for repairs, renovations, and upkeep of Department of Education buildings in the Capitol Complex.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact final amounts spent may be less than the maximum limits listed if projects cost less or funds are not fully needed.
This law does not specify which four specific buildings will receive repairs, only that they must be owned by the Department of Education and located in the Capitol Complex.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION REAPPROPRIATION.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
*KMW076* 04/14/2026 2:11:00 PM KMW076
State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 64 3
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By: Joint Budget Committee 5
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO REAPPROPRIATE THE BALANCES OF CAPITAL 9
IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 10
EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 11
EDUCATION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 16
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 17
EDUCATION REAPPROPRIATION. 18
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 21
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SECTION 1. REAPPROPRIATION - ADE - DESE - DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT. 23
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable 24
from the Development and Enhancement Fund, for the Department of Education - 25
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education the following: 26
(A) Effective July 1, 2026, the balance of the appropriation provided 27
in Item (A) of Section 1 of Act 80 of 2025, for computer science initiatives, 28
in a sum not to exceed .............................................$564,871. 29
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SECTION 2. REAPPROPRIATION - ADE - DESE - CAPITOL COMPLEX RENOVATION 31
AND REPAIRS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, 32
to be payable from the Educational Buildings Maintenance Fund, for the 33
Department of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education the 34
following: 35
(A) Effective July 1, 2026, the balance of the appropriation provided 36
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in Item (A) of Section 1 of Act 331 of 2025, for financing for building and 1
grounds maintenance, equipment maintenance contracts, insurance and 2
janitorial services, major maintenance costs, renovation, improvements, 3
repairs and operations to maintain four (4) buildings owned by the Department 4
of Education located in the Capitol Complex, in a sum not to exceed 5
..................................................................$5,000,000. 6
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SECTION 3. DISBURSEMENT CONTROLS. (A) No contract may be awarded nor 8
obligations otherwise incurred in relation to the project or projects 9
described herein in excess of the State Treasury funds actually available 10
therefor as provided by law. Provided, however, that institutions and 11
agencies listed herein shall have the authority to accept and use grants and 12
donations including Federal funds, and to use its unobligated cash income or 13
funds, or both available to it, for the purpose of supplementing the State 14
Treasury funds for financing the entire costs of the project or projects 15
enumerated herein. Provided further, that the appropriations and funds 16
otherwise provided by the General Assembly for Maintenance and General 17
Operations of the agency or institutions receiving appropriation herein shall 18
not be used for any of the purposes as appropriated in this act. 19
(B) The restrictions of any applicable provisions of the State 20
Purchasing Law, the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, the 21
Revenue Stabilization Law and any other applicable fiscal control laws of 22
this State and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and 23
Administration, as authorized by law, shall be strictly complied with in 24
disbursement of any funds provided by this act unless specifically provided 25
otherwise by law. 26
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SECTION 4. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 28
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 29
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 30
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 31
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 32
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 33
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 34
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 35
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SECTION 5. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the General 1
Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the 2
appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 3
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 4
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 5
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 6
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 7
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 8
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 9
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 10
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 11
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