AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.

2026 Fiscal Session

Provides $10 million to AEDC Rural Services for Community Assistance Grants, funded via transfer from General Revenue Allotment Reserve, emergency effective.

Notification that SB73 is now Act 141

Purpose

SB 73 is an appropriation bill that provides a supplemental grant to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) within the Department of Commerce, specifically via the Rural Services Division’s Community Assistance Grant Program. The funds are intended to supplement, not replace, existing appropriations from Act 608 of 2025. The bill includes an emergency clause to ensure immediate availability of the funds.

Key Provisions

** appropriation target:**

Department of Commerce – Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) – Rural Services Division – Community Assistance Grant Program

Funding amount:

$10,000,000 (ten million dollars) for Fiscal Year 2025-2026

Source and budgeting mechanics:

Funds are to be paid from the paying account as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State.
This appropriation is supplemental to those funds already provided in Act 608 of 2025, Section 25.

Special language on fund transfer:

The Chief Fiscal Officer is authorized to transfer $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund to the paying account to provide funds for community assistance grants.

Compliance and administration:

Disbursement must comply with existing state fiscal laws and regulations (State Procurement Law, General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, Revenue Stabilization Law, Regular Salary Procedures and Restrictions Act, etc.) and applicable regulations by the Department of Finance and Administration.

Legislative intent and oversight:

The act emphasizes compliance with the stated budgetary justification and the related budget manuals and legislative recommendations.

Emergency clause and effective date:

The act declares an emergency to allow immediate funding, making the act effective upon passage and approval (or upon override of a veto, if applicable).

Who It Affects

Primary recipients:

AEDC, specifically its Rural Services Division, for the Community Assistance Grant Program

Beneficiaries likely to be served by the grants:

Rural communities or entities that receive community assistance grants under AEDC programs (the bill does not specify grant recipients; it authorizes the program’s funding to be available for such grants)

State fiscal system:

General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund and the paying account used for state disbursements

Timeline and Process

Fiscal year impacted: 2025-2026

Immediate funding mechanism:

Upon enactment, $10,000,000 is transferred from the General Revenue Allotment Reserve Fund to the paying account to fund the Community Assistance Grant Program.

Effective date:

If the Governor does not veto, effective on the expiration of the gubernatorial veto period; if vetoed and overridden, effective on the override date.

Emergency status:

The bill contains an emergency clause to allow immediate use of funds to prevent disruption of essential governmental services.

Notes

The bill explicitly states it is supplemental to Act 608 of 2025, ensuring it does not replace existing appropriations.

It relies on standard internal controls and procurement laws to govern disbursement and use of funds.

Specific eligibility criteria, grant amounts per recipient, or application processes for the Community Assistance Grant Program are not detailed in SB 73 itself and would presumably be governed by existing AEDC program policies or future implementing regulations.

Bill