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HB 1723

Appropriation; Engineers and Land Surveyors, Board of Registration for Professional.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brent Anderson and 7 co-sponsors

HB 1723 would have funded a school-based health center grant program for minority-majority districts in Arkansas with $500,000 annually.

Died In Conference
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Bill Summary · HB 1723

Summary — HB 1723

Note: The provided bill text combines several distinct measures from different jurisdictions (Arkansas, Illinois, and Mississippi) under the single bill number HB 1723. The summary below separates and summarizes each distinct component, then provides procedural status and likely impacts.

Overview

HB 1723, as presented in the supplied materials, contains three separate legislative elements:
1. An Arkansas amendment to the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act directing funds to a school‑based health center grant program.
2. An Illinois amendment to the Criminal Code (theft of use/property) allowing electronic notifications and adding sale-of-rented-property conduct to the offense.
3. A Mississippi appropriation/committee amendment providing special funds to the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for FY2026.

According to the legislative actions provided, the measure ultimately did not become law (listed status: Died in Conference).

Component A — Arkansas: Tobacco Settlement / School‑Based Health Center Grants

  • Purpose: Amend Initiated Act 1 of 2000 (Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act) to (a) allocate part of the Targeted State Needs Program Account to a Minority Health Initiative and a new grant program for school‑based health centers (SBHCs), and (b) assign program administration to the Arkansas Minority Health Commission.
  • Key provisions:
    • Allocation: 23% of the Targeted State Needs Program Account is designated for the “Minority Health Initiative and a grant program for school‑based health centers.”
    • Of that 23%, $500,000 annually is specifically earmarked for the SBHC grant program.
    • The Arkansas Minority Health Commission must establish and administer the SBHC grant program providing funding exclusively to “minority‑majority” school districts (defined as districts where racial or ethnic minorities are the majority).
    • Program distribution and rules must mirror the Arkansas School‑Based Health Center Grant Program (or its successor) administered by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Health.
    • Rulemaking deadline: final rules to be filed on or before January 1, 2026 (or as soon as practicable after required approvals).
  • Affected parties: Arkansas Minority Health Commission, minority‑majority school districts, students in those districts, DESE, Department of Health, and administrators of existing SBHC grant programs.

Component B — Illinois: Criminal Code (Theft of Labor/Services or Use of Property)

  • Purpose: Amend 720 ILCS 5/16‑3 to modernize notice provisions and expand conduct that constitutes theft of temporary use of property.
  • Key provisions:
    • Notification to return rented property may be made by electronic means (including email) in addition to certified mail.
    • Adds the act of placing a rented vehicle, equipment, or other personal property for sale during the rental period or afterward (without good cause) as conduct that can constitute an offense.
    • Courts may order a person convicted under this section to reimburse victims or their representatives for court filing costs, attorney fees, and related costs; restitution remains available.
    • Penalty structure retained/updated: offenses under the section include misdemeanors and felonies depending on value and subsection (Class 4 felony for subsection (b) circumstances).
  • Affected parties: renters/lessees and rental companies, equipment rental businesses, libraries (separate subsection on library materials), courts, and victims seeking costs.

Component C — Mississippi: Appropriation for Engineers & Land Surveyors Board (Committee Amendment)

  • Purpose: Approve the expenditure of special funds to defray expenses of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for FY2026.
  • Key provisions:
    • Appropriation amount: $630,147 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
    • Authorized headcount: 25 permanent positions (0 time‑limited in some versions of the text).
    • Numerous administrative conditions on personnel/payroll actions, transfers, use of vacancy funds, compliance with IRS reporting for contract workers, bidding preferences (Mississippi Industries for the Blind), and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
    • Effective date language in the text includes a drafting inconsistency (states take effect July 1, 2025 and repealed June 30, 2025 — likely a clerical error).
  • Affected parties: State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, board employees, State Personnel Board, Department of Finance & Administration, and vendors (including preference terms).

Procedural Status & Timeline (selected)

  • Introduced: January 02, 2025 (overall bill entry); other filings in Jan 2025 for separate jurisdictional texts.
  • Key dates across materials: readings, committee referrals, amendments, and conferee appointments through March–May 2025.
  • Final listed status: Died in Conference (03/29/2025). Also recorded: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment (05/05/2025).
  • Arkansas-specific rulemaking deadline: January 1, 2026 (for initial rules if act had advanced).

Potential Impact / Takeaways

  • Arkansas component would have created a targeted, annually funded ($500,000) SBHC grant program focused on minority‑majority districts, administered by the Arkansas Minority Health Commission and aligned with existing DESE/Health programs.
  • Illinois component modernizes notification options (email) for return-of-rented-property demands and closes a gap by criminalizing sale-placement of rented property during/after rental without good cause; expands potential restitution remedies.
  • Mississippi component provides modest special‑fund support ($630,147) and staffing authorization (25 positions) for the engineers/land surveyors board with detailed fiscal controls and purchasing preferences.
  • Because the bill died in conference, none of these changes took effect.

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

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