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HB 1860

Confidential records; requiring certain victim photographs submitted to the Pardon and Parole Board be kept confidential; clemency; Open Records Act; clemency hearing packets; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Todd Gollihare and 1 co-sponsor

Arkansas HB 1860 would streamline medical marijuana registry by allowing renewed qualifying-patient IDs without new physician certification for one cycle and create a universal ID

Placed on General Order
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Bill Summary · HB 1860

Summary — HB 1860 (as provided)

Note: The documents provided for “HB 1860” appear to combine material from more than one bill and more than one state. The core substantive text below describes the Arkansas provisions labeled HB 1860 (medical marijuana registry changes). The packet also includes a distinct Illinois draft (also labeled HB1860) on “deepfakes” in elections, and an unrelated bill title about an appropriation for the Town of Pickens. This summary focuses on the Arkansas medical-marijuana registry language and highlights procedural status and the mixed-record issues.

Main purpose

To amend Arkansas law governing medical marijuana registry identification cards by:
- changing the validity/period for visiting qualifying patient registry identification cards, and
- creating a process to renew qualifying patient registry identification cards;
and to create a “universal registry identification card” for individuals employed by or providing services to dispensaries or cultivation facilities.

Key provisions (by code section referenced)

  • Section 20-56-307 (visiting qualifying patient card)

    • Revises the validity period for a visiting qualifying patient registry identification card. The bill text states: “A registry identification card for a visiting qualifying patient shall be extended for a period of ninety (90) days valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance.” (Language as drafted is ambiguous in combining “ninety (90) days” and “one (1) year”; intent appears to change the permitted period for visiting cards.)

  • Section 20-56-309 (new/renumbered) — Qualifying patient registry identification card renewal

    • Establishes that a qualifying patient registry ID card expires one year after issuance unless the certifying physician designates an earlier expiration.
    • Allows a qualifying patient to renew their registry ID card by submitting a written request to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
    • Prohibits the department from requiring an additional physician certification solely to renew the card.
    • Limits: after a card has been renewed once, obtaining a “new” registry card requires a new certifying physician certification; that new card may thereafter be renewed as above.
    • Grants ADH rulemaking authority to implement the renewal process.

  • Section 20-56-310 (new) — Universal registry identification card

    • Creates a universal registry ID card for persons employed by or providing services to dispensary or cultivation facilities.
    • Requires holders of a universal card to notify the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division in writing before beginning employment or services at a dispensary or cultivation facility.
    • Directs the Division to maintain records identifying the designated facility or facilities associated with each universal cardholder.
    • Authorizes the Division to promulgate implementing rules.

Who would be affected

  • Qualifying medical marijuana patients in Arkansas (including visiting/outs‑of‑state patients).
  • Certifying physicians (because the statute clarifies expiration and when a new certification is required).
  • Arkansas Department of Health (administration of renewals, rulemaking).
  • Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (recordkeeping and notification for universal cardholders).
  • Employees and service providers of dispensaries and cultivation facilities (new universal card requirements).
  • Dispensaries and cultivation facilities (notification/record obligations; possible operational impacts).

Practical impact

  • Eases administrative burden for patients by allowing renewal via written request without a new physician certification for at least one renewal cycle, which may improve continuity of access to medical marijuana.
  • Requires a new physician certification after one renewal cycle to verify continued eligibility.
  • Introduces a standardized “universal” card for industry workers and a notification/recordkeeping requirement, potentially improving oversight of personnel at licensed facilities.
  • Ambiguities in the visiting-patient validity language (90 days vs 1 year) could require clarifying amendment or rulemaking.

Rulemaking and implementation

  • Both the Department of Health and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division are authorized to promulgate rules to implement the new provisions.

Procedural status and notes

  • Introduced: January 15, 2025 (sponsor Representative Duffield; Senators C. Penzo and G. Leding listed).
  • Engrossed version dated 4/2/2025; Amendment H1 was adopted and the bill was ordered engrossed.
  • Additional entries show the bill later withdrawn by the author (4/10/2025) and recommended for interim study by the House Rules Committee.
  • Overall status in the provided materials: Died In Committee (and also listed as withdrawn).
  • Important: The packet also contains an unrelated Illinois draft (also labeled HB1860) addressing disclosure and criminal penalties for distribution of materially deceptive “deepfake” media in elections. That is a separate bill in another jurisdiction and is not part of the Arkansas medical-marijuana changes summarized above.

If you want, I can:
- Prepare a redraft that resolves the visiting-card validity ambiguity (clarify 90‑day vs 1‑year intent);
- Draft a short comparison of current law vs proposed changes; or
- Produce a plain‑language explainer for affected patients and dispensary employees.

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

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