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HB 1997

Concerning gubernatorial appointments for the state parks and recreation commission.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Davis and 6 co-sponsors

Arkansas HB 1997 creates a zoning exemption for licensed childcare family homes, letting them operate in municipalities despite local zoning limits, with health/safety rules intact.

By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
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Bill Summary · HB 1997

Summary — HB 1997 (95th Arkansas General Assembly, 2025)

Note on document inconsistencies: The uploaded materials contain mixed metadata (titles and legislative actions from multiple jurisdictions) that do not all align. The substantive bill text below is from an Arkansas bill (95th General Assembly, 2025) introduced by Representative Torres with Senator Dees. This summary focuses on that Arkansas text (creating a zoning exemption for childcare family homes) and the enacted provisions in that text.

Main purpose and intent

HB 1997 seeks to increase access to licensed home-based childcare by creating a statutory exemption from local zoning ordinances that would otherwise restrict the operation of licensed childcare family homes. The bill is framed as a measure to expand childcare availability—especially in rural and small-town communities—by removing local zoning barriers while maintaining health and safety oversight.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Arkansas Code § 20-78-229 to add subsection (f).
  • Defines “licensure” for purposes of the subsection as the process through which the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education grants permission to operate a childcare family home.
  • Establishes that a childcare family home that is licensed or seeking licensure under the Childcare Facility Licensing Act is exempt from local zoning ordinances that restrict the operation of a childcare family home.
    • The exemption explicitly applies to all residential properties within the corporate limits of a municipality.
  • Preserves municipal authority to enforce existing health and safety regulations applicable to childcare facilities.
  • Directs the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education to provide guidance and resources to aspiring providers to ensure compliance with health, safety, and educational standards.
  • Modifies existing language in subsection (b) to make the zoning compliance requirement subject to the new subsection (f) exemption.
  • Emergency clause: declares the act immediately necessary for public health and safety, making it effective upon the Governor’s approval (or as otherwise provided in the clause).

Who is affected

  • Primary: Individuals and small business operators who run or want to operate licensed childcare family homes (home-based childcare providers).
  • Local governments/municipalities: lose the ability to use zoning laws to prohibit or restrict licensed childcare family homes within residential areas, though they retain enforcement authority for health and safety rules.
  • Families: potentially increased local availability of licensed child care slots, particularly in rural/smaller communities.
  • Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education: responsible for licensure oversight and provider guidance.

Procedural/timeline highlights

  • Introduced in Arkansas in 2025 (Rep. Torres / Sen. Dees).
  • Includes legislative findings referencing successes in communities such as Gentry and Gravette.
  • Emergency clause makes the act effective upon the Governor’s approval (text indicates immediate effectiveness on approval).
  • (Administrative note) The provided legislative action record includes entries from other jurisdictions and some conflicting status notes; readers should consult the Arkansas legislative records or the Secretary of State for the official enactment date and final status.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely to increase supply of home-based licensed childcare by removing local zoning barriers.
  • Reduces municipal land‑use control over where licensed family childcare homes can operate, raising possible concerns from local planners or neighbors about neighborhood impacts.
  • Municipalities retain health and safety enforcement, which the bill reinforces by requiring Division support and guidance for providers to meet those standards.

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

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