WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 4

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - LICENSING AND REGULATION BOARDS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

2026 Fiscal Session

Arkansas SB 4 funds and expands the Department of Health’s licensing/regulation boards for 2026-27, adding staff and an Administrative Coordinator to improve processing and oversig

DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 4

Summary of SB 4 (2026 Fiscal Session, Arkansas)

What this bill is

  • Title: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - LICENSING AND REGULATION BOARDS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.
  • Jurisdiction: Arkansas Senate, 95th General Assembly, Fiscal Session (2026).
  • Purpose: Provide appropriations for the Department of Health related to licensing and regulation boards for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill establishes or modifies the state’s funding authorization for the Department of Health’s licensing and regulation boards for the upcoming fiscal year. It is an operating/appropriations bill intended to finance regulatory activities, administrative oversight, and related duties carried out by the licensing and regulation boards under the Department of Health.

Key provisions and changes (as amended)

  • Amendment No. 1 (drafted for SB 4) includes several numerical changes to staffing and funding from the original version. Notable adjustments include:
    • Creation/adjustment of a new administrative position:
    • Adds an item: “PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS04” (a new administrative coordinator role).
    • Salary and staffing revisions:
    • Increases several salary line items, reflecting higher personnel costs.
    • Example changes include larger base pay figures (e.g., “$124,020” vs. “$71,035” in a referenced line), and higher counts of staff across certain lines.
    • Program and budget line adjustments:
    • Increases in total appropriations for various program components within the department:
      • An increase from “$1,983,688” to “$2,228,273”
      • An increase from “$689,959” to “$746,142”
      • An increase from “$3,766,009” to “$4,066,777”
    • Board/agency staffing and headcounts:
    • Increases in unspecified line-item counts (e.g., lines showing “1” becoming “2” and “3” becoming “5” for certain categories), indicating expanded staffing or program units.
    • A higher total for certain program units (e.g., from 30 to 33 in a line, suggesting more positions or slots).
  • The amendment was filed and read under the usual legislative process, with rules suspended for a second reading prior to final consideration.

Who is affected

  • Primary: The Arkansas Department of Health and its licensing and regulation boards, including:
    • Department leadership and staff who perform regulatory duties, licensing, compliance, and related administrative tasks.
    • Administrative units that support licensing boards (including the newly added Administrative Coordinator position).
  • Secondary: Licensees, applicants, and regulated entities overseen by the licensing and regulation boards, who may experience changes in processing capacity, service levels, or regulatory oversight timeliness due to expanded staffing and funding.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Bill status: Draft amendment filed for SB 4 during the 2026 Fiscal Session; amendment No. 1 was introduced on 04-16-2026.
  • Process: The amendment underwent the standard legislative procedure (read, rules suspended, second reading). It reflects adjustments requested by the Joint Budget Committee.
  • Fiscal year coverage: The appropriation applies to the 2026-2027 fiscal year, aligning funding with the upcoming annual operating period.

Potential impact

  • Increased funding and staffing capacity for the licensing and regulation boards within the Department of Health.
  • Enhanced administrative capability, potentially improving licensing processing times, compliance activities, and regulatory oversight.
  • The creation of an Administrative Coordinator role suggests a shift toward stronger administrative support and coordination within the boards’ operations.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with the original SB 4 text or map the exact line-item changes to a budget table.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.