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SB 38

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

2026 Fiscal Session

Provides the Arkansas DVA with a 2026-27 budget to operate veterans’ homes, cemeteries, and related programs, plus $45M+ for NW Arkansas projects and federal funds.

Notification that SB38 is now Act 16
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 38

Summary of SB 38 (2026 Session, Arkansas) — Department of Veterans Affairs Appropriation for 2026-2027

This bill provides the state-level appropriation for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, including various programs, facilities (notably Veterans’ Homes and cemeteries), and specialized offices.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes and authorizes the appropriation of funds for personal services and operating expenses for the DVA for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  • Supports state operations, Veterans’ Homes (including cash-funded operations), cemeteries (state-funded operations and cash-funded maintenance), and related programs (e.g., Military Funeral Honors, Disabled Veterans’ Services Office, Arkansas Veterans’ Child Welfare Service).
  • Includes specific capital and program funding for Northwest Arkansas (NW AR) State Veterans Home development and related federal matching funds.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

A. Regular Salaries — Operations (Section 1)

  • Sets the maximum number of regular employees (Total: 305) and lists job classes with corresponding salary grades for 2026-2027.
  • Includes leadership positions (Secretary, Chief of Staff) and a broad range of roles across nursing homes, social services, accounting, procurement, IT, human resources, cemetery operations, communications, and nursing/medical staff.
  • Establishes a clear staffing ceiling for the department’s regular workforce.

B. State Operations Appropriation (Section 2)

  • Allocates a total of $2,592,590 for State Operations (Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account) covering:
    • Regular salaries: $1,328,091
    • Personal services matching: $476,999
    • Operational expenses (breakdown includes travel, professional fees, etc.): $267,500 (composed as $197,906 operating expense, $69,594 conference & travel, others at zero)
    • Aid to County Veterans' Service Offices: $516,000
    • Promotional items: $4,000

C. Veterans’ Homes — Extra Help (Section 3)

  • Authorizes up to 30 part-time/temporary employees (Extra Help) for Veterans’ Homes as needed, at rates per the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act or this act.

D. Veterans’ Homes — Cash (Section 4)

  • Cash-funded operating and personnel for the Veterans’ Homes:
    • Regular salaries: $11,204,827
    • Extra Help: $45,339
    • Personal services matching: $4,811,875
    • Overtime: $550,000
    • Operating expenses, travel, professional fees, capital outlay, data processing, etc.: detailed allocations totaling $33,136,075
    • Promotional items: $6,000
    • Total: $33,136,075

E. NW Arkansas State Veterans Home — Cash (Section 5)

  • Provides $15,000,000 for land acquisition, improvements, construction, renovation, and equipment for NW Arkansas State Veterans Home (cash fund).

F. NW Arkansas State Veterans Home — Federal (Section 6)

  • Provides $30,000,000 in federal funds for NW Arkansas State Veterans Home construction/renovation/expansion and equipment.

G. Veterans’ Cemeteries — State (Section 7)

  • Appropriates $1,185,032 for the Department’s Veterans’ Cemeteries (State) covering:
    • Regular salaries: $689,586
    • Personal services matching: $287,096
    • Operating expenses (including a cemetery realignment/maintenance line item): $258,350
    • Total: $1,185,032

H. Extra Help — Veterans’ Cemeteries (Section 8)

  • Allows up to 5 part-time/temporary Extra Help for Veterans’ Cemeteries (cash funds).

I. Veterans’ Cemeteries — Cash (Section 9)

  • Cash-funded operating and personnel for Veterans’ Cemeteries:
    • Regular salaries: $28,020
    • Extra Help: $24,000
    • Personal services matching: $14,213
    • Operating expenses: $636,,? (sum shows specific line items including $453,475 for operating expenses and $125,000 for capital outlay)
    • Promotional items: $6,500
    • Total: $668,808

J. Military Funeral Honors Program (Section 10)

  • Allocates $45,900 from the Military Funeral Honors Fund for program operating expenses.

K. NLR Cemetery Expansion 2 — Federal (Section 11)

  • Provides $2,000,000 in federal funds for construction/expansion expenses at the North Little Rock Veterans’ Cemetery (Expansion 2).

L. Disabled Veterans’ Services Office (Section 12)

  • Cash-funded operations for Disabled Veterans’ Services Office:
    • Regular salaries: $33,205
    • Personal services matching: $15,547
    • Operating expenses: $3,000
    • Total: $51,752

M. Arkansas Veterans’ Child Welfare Service (Section 13)

  • Cash-funded operations for Arkansas Veterans’ Child Welfare Service:
    • Regular salaries: $48,400
    • Personal services matching: $19,037
    • Operating expenses: $4,182
    • Grants/Aid to Minor Children: $107,762
    • Total: $179,381

N. Special Language (Section 14)

  • Allows up to $50,000 carried forward from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account (as of 2025-2026) to support cemetery realignment/maintenance; imposes reporting and accountability requirements for carry-forwards with a sunset alignment to 2026-2027.
  • Set to take effect July 1, 2025–2026; conditional on carry-forward authorization procedures.

O. Compliance, Legislative Intent, and Emergency Clause (Sections 15-17)

  • Standard provisions: compliance with laws, budget practices, and emergency clause declaring necessity for immediate effect on July 1, 2026 to avoid operational disruption.

3) Who/What Is Affected

  • Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and its internal budgets.
  • Veterans’ Homes (state facilities) and Northwest Arkansas Veterans’ Home project (capital and operating funds; cash and federal).
  • Veterans’ Cemeteries (state and cash-funded operations; maintenance and realignment).
  • NW Arkansas Veterans’ Cemetery and related expansion projects (federal funding).
  • Related programs:
    • Disabled Veterans’ Services Office
    • Arkansas Veterans’ Child Welfare Service
    • Military Funeral Honors Program
    • County Veterans’ Service Offices (state aid)
  • Staffing levels, compensation, and operating capacity for the above entities.

4) Timelines and Fiscal Notes

  • Fiscal Year Covered: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
  • Emergency clause: Bill becomes effective on July 1, 2026.
  • Notable funding timelines:
    • NW AR State Veterans Home: cash ($15M) and federal ($30M) appropriations for 2026-2027.
    • NLR Cemetery Expansion 2: federal funding of $2M.
  • Special carry-forward language (Section 14) applies to carry-forwards from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account for cemetery realignment/maintenance, with reporting requirements and a sunset window.

Overall, SB 38 is a comprehensive annual appropriation bill for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, detailing regular and cash-funded programs, capital projects, and program-specific funding for veterans’ services, cemeteries, and veterans’ homes for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including significant NW Arkansas capital initiatives and federal matching funds.

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

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