Summary — HB 1720
Note on source material
- The document provided appears to combine text from more than one jurisdiction and more than one bill. Portions clearly identify an Arkansas bill titled the “Babies at Work Act” (Rep. Vaught, 95th Arkansas General Assembly, 2025) while other portions reproduce an Illinois bill titled the “Retail Sale of Tianeptine Prohibition Act” (Rep. Amy Elik, 104th Illinois General Assembly, 2025–2026). Legislative action items listed are inconsistent across states and chambers. Readers should verify the authoritative text and status on the appropriate state legislature website (Arkansas or Illinois) depending on which provision is of interest.
Below are clear summaries of the two distinct substantive proposals found in the materials.
1) “Babies at Work Act” (Arkansas text in packet)
Purpose and intent
- To allow state agencies discretion to permit public employees to bring infants to the workplace during the infant’s first six months, with an aim of improving employee retention.
Key provisions
- Definitions:
- “Infant” — biological, adopted, or stepchild under six months; foster child under six months placed in the employee’s home.
- “Public employee” — employee of a state agency.
- “State agency” — any state department, agency, board, commission, office, or authority.
- The head of a state agency may permit a public employee to bring his or her infant to work.
- Agency heads who permit infants at work may establish internal policies that may include:
- Identification of appropriate work environments;
- Standards for acceptable employee work performance while the infant is present;
- Safety guidelines for infants at the workplace.
- The section does not prevent agencies from allowing children six months or older.
Who would be affected
- State agency employees who are new parents or legal guardians of infants under six months, their supervisors, and state agencies that choose to adopt such policies.
Procedural/timing notes
- The draft includes “DO NOT CODIFY” language and appears intended to create a new section (21‑1‑107). No uniform effective date is provided in the excerpt. Final adoption would require agency policy implementation if enacted.
2) “Retail Sale of Tianeptine Prohibition Act” (Illinois text in packet)
Purpose and intent
- To prohibit retail sale and distribution of products containing tianeptine in Illinois beginning January 1, 2026.
Key provisions
- Effective January 1, 2026: it is unlawful to sell, offer to sell, or distribute any product containing tianeptine in the state.
- Exception: does not apply to products containing tianeptine lawfully dispensed or prescribed by a pharmacist or health care professional.
- Enforcement/sanction: violation classified as a business offense, punishable by a minimum fine of $1,500 per violation.
- “Health care professional” is defined broadly to include licensed or regulated persons who treat human ailments (including students and residents).
Who would be affected
- Retailers, distributors, and manufacturers selling tianeptine-containing products in Illinois; pharmacists and licensed health care professionals prescribing or dispensing tianeptine under lawful medical practice would be exempt.
Procedural/timing notes
- Effective date stated as January 1, 2026.
Procedural history and status (as provided)
- The packet lists many procedural entries (committee referrals, readings, reports, “died in committee,” re‑committals, etc.) spanning multiple dates and appearing to refer to different legislative bodies. The top-line status provided with the request is “Referred to Local Government” and an introduction date of January 2, 2025, but that appears inconsistent with the mixed records. Confirm current status with the clerk’s office or online legislative docket for the relevant state (Arkansas or Illinois).
Recommendation
- Because the supplied material mixes different bills and jurisdictions, consult the official legislative website or bill tracking service for the state and bill number that you intend to follow to obtain the authoritative text, current status, and any amendments.
