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

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
*CJW020* 03/30/2026 1:34:17 PM CJW020
State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 8 3
4
By: Joint Budget Committee 5
6
7
For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES 9
AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 10
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027; AND FOR 11
OTHER PURPOSES. 12
13
14
Subtitle 15
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 16
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL 17
YEAR. 18
19
20
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 21
22
SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES - SHARED SERVICES. There is hereby 23
established for the Department of Commerce for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the 24
following maximum number of regular employees. 25
26
Maximum Annual 27
Maximum Salary Rate 28
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 29
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 30
(1) ESE02A SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 1 GRADE EXE04 31
(2) EEX10A CHIEF OF STAFF II 1 GRADE EXE02 32
(3) EEX12A CHIEF WORKFORCE OFFICER 1 GRADE EXE02 33
(4) FAC09C CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER II 1 GRADE SPC10 34
(5) HDH03C HR ADMINISTRATOR II 1 GRADE SPC08 35
(6) CPR02C CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS II 1 GRADE SPC07 36
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(7) FAC10C CONTROLLER 2 GRADE SPC06 1
(8) LAT04P ATTORNEY II 1 GRADE SPC05 2
(9) FAC03P ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR 3 GRADE SPC03 3
(10) FAC02P ACCOUNTANT II 2 GRADE SPC02 4
(11) PED03P ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SPC02 5
(12) FAC01P ACCOUNTANT I 2 GRADE SPC01 6
(13) PPR03C PROCUREMENT MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS10 7
(14) HDH08P HR SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE SGS08 8
(15) CPR08P PUBLIC INFORMATION SUPERVISOR/EXP 2 GRADE SGS08 9
(16) PAS08I EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 2 GRADE SGS07 10
(17) FFS05P FISCAL SUPPORT SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS07 11
(18) HDH05P HR COORDINATOR 6 GRADE SGS07 12
(19) PPR02P PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS07 13
(20) FFS02P FISCAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR 2 GRADE SGS06 14
(21) CPR07P PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS06 15
(22) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS04 16
(23) HBE01P BENEFITS ANALYST 1 GRADE SGS04 17
(24) HDH07P HR SPECIALIST 12 GRADE SGS04 18
(25) SRL01P ENFORCEMENT AGENT I 1 GRADE LES03 19
(26) IIA03C CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER III 1 GRADE IST14 20
(27) IIS11P IT SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE IST09 21
(28) IAS08I WEBSITE SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IST05 22
(29) IUS04P USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IST02 23
(30) LAT05P ATTORNEY III 1 GRADE SPC08 24
(31) HDH04P HR ANALYST 1 GRADE SGS06 25
(32) IAS07C STATE APPLICATIONS ADMIN 1 GRADE IST11 26
(33) IUS02P USER SUPPORT COORDINATOR 1 GRADE IST05 27
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 59 28
29
SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - SHARED SERVICES PAYING ACCOUNT. There is 30
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the 31
paying account as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 32
personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Commerce - 33
Shared Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 34
35
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 36
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NO. 2026-2027 1
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $4,400,000 2
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 1,502,564 3
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 4
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 500,000 5
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 200,000 6
(C) PROF. FEES 100,000 7
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 100,000 8
(E) DATA PROC. 0 9
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $6,802,564 10
11
SECTION 3. REGULAR SALARIES. There is hereby established for the 12
Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the 13
2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 14
15
Maximum Annual 16
Maximum Salary Rate 17
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 18
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 19
(1) EEX01A AEDC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1 GRADE EXE02 20
(2) PPE04C ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR 3 GRADE SPC08 21
(3) PED04P ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPV/EXP 6 GRADE SPC07 22
(4) FAC04C ACCOUNTING MANAGER 1 GRADE SPC06 23
(5) PED02P ECONOMIC DEVELOP PROJECT CONSULT 11 GRADE SPC06 24
(6) LAT04P ATTORNEY II 1 GRADE SPC05 25
(7) PED03P ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 20 GRADE SPC02 26
(8) CPR08P PUBLIC INFORMATION SUPERVISOR/EXP 2 GRADE SGS08 27
(9) PCO01P COMMERCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR 2 GRADE SGS07 28
(10) CME03P GRAPHIC ARTIST 1 GRADE SGS07 29
(11) CPR05P PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR 2 GRADE SGS07 30
(12) HBE02P BENEFITS COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS06 31
(13) FFS02P FISCAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR 4 GRADE SGS06 32
(14) PAS01P ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 4 GRADE SGS05 33
(15) FGM02P GRANTS COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS05 34
(16) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 6 GRADE SGS04 35
(17) PPE11C RURAL SERVICES DIRECTOR 1 GRADE SPC05 36
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(18) PCO03P COMMERCE PROGRAM SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS06 1
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 68 2
3
SECTION 4. EXTRA HELP. There is hereby authorized, for the Department 4
of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the 2026-2027 5
fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary 6
employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated 7
herein for such purposes: seven (7) temporary or part-time employees, when 8
needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform 9
Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the 10
appropriate classification. 11
12
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - STATE OPERATIONS. There is hereby 13
appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the Arkansas 14
Economic Development Commission Fund Account, for personal services, 15
operating expenses, grants and aid, and state matching funds of the 16
Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - State 17
Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 18
19
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 20
NO. 2026-2027 21
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $3,967,320 22
(02) EXTRA HELP 50,000 23
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 1,283,186 24
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 25
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 1,450,650 26
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 141,486 27
(C) PROF. FEES 1,765,000 28
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 29
(E) DATA PROC. 0 30
(05) ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE/REGIONALISM 31
GRANTS 877,588 32
(06) GLOBAL BUSINESS INITIATIVES 900,000 33
(07) MILITARY AFFAIRS GRANT PROGRAM 750,000 34
(08) INDUSTRY TRAINING PROGRAM 1,714,800 35
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $12,900,030 36
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1
SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE (CDBG) - FEDERAL. 2
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable 3
from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the 4
State, for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of 5
Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Community Assistance 6
(CDBG) - Federal for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 7
8
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 9
NO. 2026-2027 10
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $382,165 11
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 136,675 12
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 13
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 60,600 14
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 25,000 15
(C) PROF. FEES 70,000 16
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 17
(E) DATA PROC. 0 18
(04) GRANTS/AIDS - CDBG 48,261,988 19
(05) STORM RECOVERY GRANTS 7,579,614 20
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $56,516,042 21
22
SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - CDBG DISASTER RECOVERY. There is hereby 23
appropriated, to the Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development 24
Commission, to be payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief 25
Fiscal Officer of the State, for addressing long term recovery and 26
restoration of infrastructure, housing and economic revitalization in the 27
most impacted and distressed areas of the State for the fiscal year ending 28
June 30, 2027, the following: 29
30
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 31
NO. 2026-2027 32
(01) CDBG DISASTER RECOVERY $8,933,441 33
34
SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS ACCELERATION FUND. There is hereby 35
appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the Arkansas 36
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Acceleration Fund, for grants and incentives to accelerate the economy of the 1
State through technology and knowledge-based development of the Department of 2
Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Arkansas Acceleration 3
Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 4
5
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 6
NO. 2026-2027 7
(01) ACCELERATION GRANTS & INCENTIVES $5,000,000 8
9
SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION - SUPER PROJECTS. There is hereby 10
appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the Economic 11
Development Superprojects Project Fund, for Super Projects as defined by 12
Amendment 82 to the Arkansas Constitution of the Department of Commerce - 13
Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Super Projects for the fiscal year 14
ending June 30, 2027, the following: 15
16
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 17
NO. 2026-2027 18
(01) SUPER PROJECTS $6,000,000 19
20
SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION - NEW MARKETS PERFORMANCE PROGRAM. There is 21
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the 22
New Markets Performance Guarantee Fund, for refunds and reimbursements of 23
performance program application fees of the Department of Commerce - Arkansas 24
Economic Development Commission - New Markets Performance Program for the 25
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 26
27
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 28
NO. 2026-2027 29
(01) REFUNDS/REIMBURSEMENTS $142,266 30
31
SECTION 11. APPROPRIATION - QUICK ACTION CLOSING FUND. There is hereby 32
appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the Economic 33
Development Incentive Quick Action Closing Fund, for incentives to attract 34
new business and economic development to the State by the Department of 35
Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Quick Action Closing 36
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Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 1
2
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 3
NO. 2026-2027 4
(01) QUICK ACTION CLOSING GRANTS $75,000,000 5
6
SECTION 12. APPROPRIATION - DIVISION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - STATE 7
OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to 8
be payable from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Fund Account, 9
for personal services, operating expenses and grants and aid by the Division 10
of Science and Technology of the Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic 11
Development Commission - State Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 12
2027, the following: 13
14
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 15
NO. 2026-2027 16
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $394,495 17
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 147,361 18
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 19
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 0 20
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 21
(C) PROF. FEES 0 22
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 23
(E) DATA PROC. 0 24
(04) GRANTS & AID - ARKANSAS RESEARCH MATCH 1,092,653 25
(05) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 156,975 26
(06) SEED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS 292,653 27
(07) ARKANSAS ACCELERATION FUND PROGRAM 11,600,000 28
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $13,684,137 29
30
SECTION 13. APPROPRIATION - DIVISION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SEED 31
CAPITAL INVESTMENT - CASH. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department 32
of Commerce, to be payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury 33
as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for investments in 34
technology based businesses by the Division of Science and Technology of the 35
Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Seed 36
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Capital Investment - Cash for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 1
following: 2
3
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 4
NO. 2026-2027 5
(01) INVESTMENTS $1,040,000 6
7
SECTION 14. APPROPRIATION - RURAL SERVICES DIVISION - STATE OPERATIONS. 8
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable 9
from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Fund Account, for personal 10
services, operating expenses and grants and aid by the Department of Commerce 11
- Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Rural Services Division - State 12
Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 13
14
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 15
NO. 2026-2027 16
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $154,934 17
(02) EXTRA HELP 2,000 18
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 63,022 19
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 20
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 72,038 21
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 4,100 22
(C) PROF. FEES 0 23
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 24
(E) DATA PROC. 0 25
(05) GRANTS & AID - RURAL COMMUNITY GRANTS 500,000 26
(06) RURAL FIRE PROTECTION GRANTS 900,000 27
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,696,094 28
29
SECTION 15. APPROPRIATION - RURAL SERVICES DIVISION - CONFERENCE CASH. 30
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable 31
from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief 32
Fiscal Officer of the State, for conference expenses of the Rural Services 33
Division of the Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development 34
Commission - Conference Cash for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 35
following: 36
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1
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 2
NO. 2026-2027 3
(01) CONFERENCE EXPENSES $150,000 4
5
SECTION 16. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION - 6
RURAL SERVICES - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM. There is 7
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the 8
cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief Fiscal 9
Officer of the State, for grants and operating expenses for the Fish and 10
Wildlife Conservation Education Program by the Department of Commerce - 11
Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 12
2027, the following: 13
14
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 15
NO. 2026-2027 16
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 17
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $0 18
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 19
(C) PROF. FEES 0 20
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 50,000 21
(E) DATA PROC. 0 22
(02) FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 23
EDUCATION GRANTS AND AID 800,000 24
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $850,000 25
26
SECTION 17. APPROPRIATION - MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS 27
ENTERPRISE LOAN MOBILIZATION. There is hereby appropriated, to the 28
Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission, to be 29
payable from the Minority and Women-Owned Business Loan Mobilization 30
Revolving Fund, for promotion and development of minority and women-owned 31
business enterprises in the state, increasing the ability of minority and 32
women-owned business enterprises to compete for state contracts, and 33
sustaining the economic growth of minority and women-owned businesses for the 34
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 35
36
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 1
NO. 2026-2027 2
(01) MINORITY & WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS 3
ENTERPRISE MOBILIZATION LOAN $500,000 4
5
SECTION 18. APPROPRIATION - RURAL SERVICES DIVISION - LAW ENFORCEMENT 6
GRANTS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce - 7
Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Rural Services Division, to be 8
payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by 9
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for grants to law enforcement agencies 10
and associations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 11
12
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 13
NO. 2026-2027 14
(01) GRANTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES $5,000,000 15
16
SECTION 19. APPROPRIATION - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE - PAYROLL 17
REBATE. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be 18
payable from the Economic Development Incentive Fund for financial incentives 19
to companies locating a new facility or expanding an existing facility with 20
the State of Arkansas for companies that hire and maintain specified levels 21
of employment for the Department of Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development 22
Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 23
24
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 25
NO. 2026-2027 26
(01) GRANTS AND AID - PAYROLL REBATE $37,500,000 27
28
SECTION 20. APPROPRIATION - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE - RECYCLE 29
TAX CREDIT. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce - 30
Arkansas Economic Development Commission, to be payable from the Economic 31
Development Incentive Fund to provide recycling tax credits in accordance 32
with Arkansas Code 26-51-506 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 33
following: 34
35
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 36
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NO. 2026-2027 1
(01) GRANTS AND AID - RECYCLING TAX CREDITS $42,000,000 2
3
SECTION 21. APPROPRIATION - RURAL SERVICES DIVISION - ANIMAL RESCUE AND 4
SHELTER GRANTS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce 5
- Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Rural Services Division, to be 6
payable from the Animal Rescue and Shelter Trust Fund, for grants to a county 7
or municipality based only on the infrastructure needs for animal rescues or 8
animal shelters for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 9
10
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 11
NO. 2026-2027 12
(01) ANIMAL RESCUE AND SHELTER GRANTS $50,000 13
14
SECTION 22. APPROPRIATION - RURAL SERVICES DIVISION - COMMUNITY 15
ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of 16
Commerce - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Rural Services Division 17
- Community Assistance Grant Program, to be payable from the paying account 18
as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for community 19
assistance grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 20
21
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 22
NO. 2026-2027 23
(01) COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $10,000,000 24
25
SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. Upon determination by the 28
Secretary of the Department of Commerce that a reallocation of resources for 29
purposes of reorganization or consolidation of administrative functions 30
within or between divisions is necessary for efficient and effective 31
operations of the department, the Secretary, with approval of the Governor 32
and prior approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, 33
shall have the authority to request from the Chief Fiscal Officer of the 34
State, a transfer of positions, appropriations, programs, and funds between 35
divisions or other budgetary units of the department. The transfers of 36
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positions, programs, or activities shall be used for those purposes for which 1
the appropriations were approved by the General Assembly. Upon approval by 2
the Governor, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce shall request to 3
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, a transfer of positions, programs, 4
funds, appropriations, and/or line-item appropriations within or between 5
existing and newly created divisions, offices, sections and/or units. The 6
Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall then initiate the necessary transfer 7
documents to reflect transfers upon the fiscal records of the State 8
Treasurer, the State Auditor, the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, and 9
Divisions of the Commerce Department. Provided, however, that the Secretary 10
shall be limited to submitting no more than two (2) individual transaction 11
transfer requests during any fiscal year. 12
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 13
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 14
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 15
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 16
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 17
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 18
has determined that the Department of Commerce may operate more efficiently 19
if some flexibility is provided to the Department of Commerce under the 20
Reallocation of Resources provisions herein. Therefore, it is both necessary 21
and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring 22
prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee as 23
provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 24
Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 25
If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 26
Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court jurisdiction, this entire 27
section is void. 28
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 29
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 30
31
SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 32
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. FUND 33
TRANSFER PROVISION. As requested from time to time by the Director of the 34
Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Chief Fiscal Officer may 35
transfer on his books and those of the State Treasurer and the Auditor of the 36
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State, the sum not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) from 1
the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Fund Account to the Minority and 2
Women-Owned Business Loan Mobilization Revolving Fund, to provide funds for 3
the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Loan Mobilization 4
appropriation herein. 5
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 6
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 7
8
SECTION 25. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 9
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CARRY 10
FORWARD – MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS LOAN MOBILIZATION REVOLVING FUND. 11
Any unexpended balance of funds for the Minority and Women-Owned Business 12
Enterprise Loan Mobilization appropriation which remain at the close of each 13
state fiscal year shall be carried forward to the next state fiscal year to 14
be used for the same intent and purposes as set forth in law. 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. TRANSFER 20
PROVISION – STATE OPERATIONS. After receiving approval from the Chief Fiscal 21
Officer of the State and prior review by the Legislative Council or Joint 22
Budget Committee, the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development 23
Commission is authorized to transfer appropriation from any line item 24
appropriation authorized in the State Operations Section of this Act to any 25
other line item authorized in the State Operations Section of this Act. 26
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 27
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 28
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 29
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 30
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 31
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization Law. Further, the General Assembly has 32
determined that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission may operate more 33
efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Arkansas Economic 34
Development Commission authorizing broad powers under this Section. 35
Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly 36
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maintain oversight by requiring prior review of the Legislative Council or 1
Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of review 2
by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part 3
of this section. If the requirement of review by the Legislative Council or 4
Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent 5
jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 6
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 7
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 8
9
SECTION 27. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 10
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. FOREIGN 11
OFFICE OPERATIONS. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission is hereby 12
authorized to enter into contractual arrangements with private and/or public 13
companies, corporations, individuals or organizations for the purpose of 14
operating foreign offices which shall only (i) provide export trade 15
assistance to Arkansas-based businesses, (ii) facilitate the repatriation to 16
Arkansas manufacturing businesses operating overseas, and (iii) encourage 17
direct investment in Arkansas of foreign companies that are not state-owned 18
or controlled. Arkansas Code 15-4-210 shall not be deemed restrictive in its 19
language so as to preclude the use of standard Professional Services 20
Contracts for the operation of the foreign offices and/or payment of such 21
contracts from the special line items as established by legislative 22
appropriation for the operation of said foreign offices. 23
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 24
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 25
26
SECTION 28. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 27
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. RURAL 28
DEVELOPMENT. From the funds appropriated for Community Development Grants 29
within the Community Development Program in this Act for Community Assistance 30
(CDBG) - Federal, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) shall 31
allocate at least $500,000 per fiscal year to the Rural Development Set-Aside 32
from the annual Community Development Block Grant, as defined in AEDC's 33
Consolidated Plan filed with the federal Department of Housing and Urban 34
Development. Funds allocated to the Rural Development Set-Aside are to be 35
used exclusively for grants to rural communities as defined in the 36
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Consolidated Plan. 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 29. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 5
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. GRANT 6
REVIEW. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) shall review all 7
applications for grant funds and shall certify those applications eligible 8
for grant funds under AEDC and federal guidelines. The Rural Services 9
Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission alone shall 10
recommend which grant applications will be funded, and AEDC shall disburse 11
grant funds from the Rural Development Set-Aside to those applicants 12
receiving final approval by the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas 13
Economic Development Commission. AEDC and the Rural Services Division of the 14
Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall promulgate rules and 15
regulations governing the application for and disbursement of grant funds 16
from the Rural Development Set-Aside, and an annual report of the disposition 17
of these grant funds shall be made to the Legislative Joint Auditing 18
Committee. 19
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 20
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 21
22
SECTION 30. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 23
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. TRANSFER 24
PROVISION - COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE (CDBG) - FEDERAL. After receiving approval 25
from the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State and prior approval by the 26
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, the Director of the Arkansas 27
Economic Development Commission is authorized to transfer appropriation from 28
any line item appropriation authorized in the Community Assistance (CDBG) - 29
Federal Section of this Act to any other line item authorized in the 30
Community Assistance (CDBG) - Federal Section of this Act. 31
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 32
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 33
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 34
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 35
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 36
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amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 1
has determined that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission may operate 2
more efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Arkansas Economic 3
Development Commission authorizing broad powers under this Section. 4
Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly 5
maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or 6
Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of 7
approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a 8
severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by the 9
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a 10
court of competent jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 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 31. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 15
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 16
FLEXIBILITY RESTRICTIONS. The transfer flexibility provided to the Arkansas 17
Economic Development Commission within this Act relating to the appropriation 18
in the Community Assistance (CDBG) - Federal Section shall be used only when 19
necessary to carry out the Community Development Block Grant Program and 20
shall require approval by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 21
Committee. 22
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 23
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 24
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 25
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 26
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 27
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 28
has determined that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission may operate 29
more efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Arkansas Economic 30
Development Commission authorizing broad powers under this Section. 31
Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly 32
maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or 33
Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of 34
approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a 35
severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by the 36
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Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a 1
court of competent jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 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 32. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 6
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 7
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED. The Arkansas Industrial and Economic 8
Development Foundation is hereby authorized to make additional payments to 9
the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, from private 10
funding sources, and upon prior approval from the Arkansas Economic 11
Development Commission, the Arkansas Industrial and Economic Development 12
Foundation, and the Governor. Such additional payments to the Director of 13
the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall not be considered salary 14
and shall not be deemed or construed to exceed the maximum salaries 15
established for unclassified employees by the General Assembly. Nothing in 16
this section may be construed to reduce or eliminate the authority granted 17
elsewhere in the Arkansas statute for the payment of allowances or bonuses to 18
unclassified employees. 19
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 20
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 21
22
SECTION 33. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 23
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 24
CARRY FORWARD - INDUSTRY TRAINING PROGRAM. Any unexpended balance of funds 25
for the Industry Training Program in the Arkansas Economic Development 26
Commission Fund Account which remain at the close of each state fiscal year 27
shall be carried forward to the next state fiscal year to be used for the 28
same intent and purposes as set forth in law. 29
Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, 30
may be carried forward under the following conditions: 31
(1) Prior to June 30, 2026 2027 the Agency shall by written statement set 32
forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 33
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 34
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 35
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council all amounts carried forward by the 36
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September Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting 1
which report shall include the name of the Agency, Board, Commission or 2
Institution and the amount of the funding carried forward, the program name 3
or line item, the funding source of that appropriation and a copy of the 4
written request set forth in (1) above; 5
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 6
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 7
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 8
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 9
which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 10
days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 11
its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 12
Committee; and 13
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 14
all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 15
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 16
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 17
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 18
19
SECTION 34. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CARRY 21
FORWARD – TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. The Division of Science and Technology of 22
the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is authorized to carry forward 23
an amount of up to $150,000 of any obligated but unexpended funds in the 24
Technology Development line item in the Division of Science and Technology - 25
State Operations Section of this Act for basic or applied research grants 26
which remains at the end of the fiscal year 2026 2027 to be used for the same 27
purpose. 28
Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, may 29
be carried forward under the following conditions: 30
(1) Prior to June 30, 2026 2027 the Agency shall by written statement set 31
forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 32
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 33
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 34
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council all amounts carried forward by the 35
September Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting 36
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which report shall include the name of the Agency, Board, Commission or 1
Institution and the amount of the funding carried forward, the program name 2
or line item, the funding source of that appropriation and a copy of the 3
written request set forth in (1) above; 4
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 5
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 6
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 7
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 8
which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 9
days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 10
its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 11
Committee; and 12
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 13
all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 14
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 15
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 16
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 17
18
SECTION 35. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 19
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 20
APPROPRIATION AND FUND TRANSFERS. After receiving approval from the Chief 21
Fiscal Officer of the State, the Director of the Arkansas Economic 22
Development Commission is authorized to transfer appropriation and funds from 23
the Division of Science and Technology State Operations - Arkansas 24
Acceleration Fund Programs line item within the Arkansas Economic Development 25
Commission Fund Account to the Arkansas Acceleration Fund. The total of all 26
transfers shall not exceed $3,500,000. 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 36. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 31
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 32
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall establish, 33
upon request from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, a special 34
appropriation line item to be used in the acquisition of promotional items. 35
When the Arkansas Economic Development Commission wishes to transfer from its 36
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operating expenses to promotional items, the request shall be forwarded to 1
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State for processing after prior approval by 2
the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. 3
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 4
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 5
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 6
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 7
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 8
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization Law. Further, the General Assembly 9
has determined that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission may operate 10
more efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Arkansas Economic 11
Development Commission authorizing broad powers under this Section. 12
Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly 13
maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or 14
Joint Budget Committee as provided by this Section. The requirement of 15
approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a 16
severable part of this Section. If the requirement of approval by the 17
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a 18
court of competent jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 19
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 20
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 21
22
SECTION 37. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 23
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. GRANT 24
AWARD CRITERIA. The Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic 25
Development Commission shall promulgate rules establishing the criteria to be 26
utilized in determining to whom grants will be made under this Act. Subject 27
to the approval of the Governor, and approval by the Arkansas Legislative 28
Council or the Joint Budget Committee, the Rural Services Division of the 29
Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall distribute the grants. 30
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 31
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 32
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 33
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 34
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 35
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 36
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has determined that the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic 1
Development Commission may operate more efficiently if some flexibility is 2
provided to the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic Development 3
Commission authorizing broad powers under this Section. Therefore, it is 4
both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight 5
by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 6
Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the 7
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this 8
section. If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint 9
Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent 10
jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 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 38. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 15
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. TRANSFER 16
OF FUNDS. In the event that revenue is available for transfer to and in 17
support of the Arkansas Acceleration Fund Act, the Executive Director of the 18
Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall certify to the Chief Fiscal 19
Officer of the State the amount needed for transfer from the Arkansas 20
Economic Development Commission Fund Account to the Arkansas Acceleration 21
Fund. Upon the approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the amount 22
certified shall be transferred. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall 23
initiate the necessary transfer documents to reflect all such transfers upon 24
the fiscal records of the State Auditor, the State Treasurer and the Chief 25
Fiscal Officer of the State. 26
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 27
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 28
29
SECTION 39. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 30
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. SHARED 31
SERVICES. 32
(a)(1) The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State may create a Shared 33
Services paying account on his or her books and on the books of the Treasurer 34
of State and the Auditor of State for the payment of personal services and 35
operating expenses in the Shared Services Paying Account Appropriation by the 36
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Department of Commerce. 1
(2) The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall direct the 2
transfer of funds and appropriations to the Shared Services Paying Account 3
appropriation section of this act on the books of the Treasurer of State, the 4
Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State. 5
(3) The transfer authority provided to the department in 6
subdivision (a)(2) of this section may be used to make transfers only within 7
the department's appropriation act or between other appropriation acts 8
authorized for the department. 9
(4) The provisions of this section shall be in effect from the 10
date of passage through June 30, 2026 2027. 11
12
SECTION 40. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 13
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CARRY 14
FORWARD - MILITARY AFFAIRS GRANT PROGRAM. Any unexpended balance of funds 15
allocated for the Military Affairs Grant Program in the Arkansas Economic 16
Development Commission Fund Account which remain at the close of each state 17
fiscal year shall be carried forward to the next state fiscal year to be used 18
for the same intent and purposes as set forth in law. Any carry forward of 19
unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, may be carried forward 20
under the following conditions: 21
(1) Prior to June 30, 2026 2027 the Agency shall by written statement set 22
forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 23
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 24
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 25
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council all amounts carried forward by the 26
September Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting 27
which report shall include the name of the Agency, Board, Commission or 28
Institution and the amount of the funding carried forward, the program name 29
or line item, the funding source of that appropriation and a copy of the 30
written request set forth in (1) above; 31
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 32
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 33
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 34
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 35
which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 36
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days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 1
its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 2
Committee; and 3
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 4
all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 5
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 6
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 7
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 8
9
SECTION 41. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 10
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CARRY 11
FORWARD - ARKANSAS ACCELERATION FUND PROGRAM. Any unexpended balance of 12
funds for the Arkansas Acceleration Fund Program line item in the Division of 13
Science and Technology - State Operations Section of this Act which remain at 14
the close of each state fiscal year shall be carried forward to the next 15
state fiscal year to be used for the same intent and purposes as set forth in 16
law. 17
Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, may 18
be carried forward under the following conditions: 19
(1) Prior to June 30, 2026 2027 the Agency shall by written statement set 20
forth its reasons(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 21
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 22
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 23
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council all amounts carried forward by the 24
September Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting, 25
which report shall include the name of the Agency, Board, Commission or 26
Institution and the amount of the funding carried forward, the program name 27
or line item, the funding source of the appropriation and a copy of the 28
written request set forth in (1) above; 29
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 30
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 31
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 32
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose, etc. 33
for which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty 34
(30) days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution 35
presents its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 36
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Committee; and 1
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include all 2
information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 3
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 4
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 5
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 6
7
SECTION 42. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 8
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 9
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 10
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 11
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 12
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 13
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 14
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 15
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 16
17
SECTION 43. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 18
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 19
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 20
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 21
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 22
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 23
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 24
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 25
26
SECTION 44. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 27
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 28
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 29
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 30
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 31
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 32
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 33
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 34
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 35
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 36
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and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 1
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