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HB 1655

establishing a funding source for maintaining state owned dams.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Darby

Arkansas HB 1655 creates two new state offenses: transporting or harboring unlawfully entered noncitizens, each offense counting separately.

Lay HB1655 on Table (Rep. Janigian): MA RC 187-161 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 49
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Bill Summary · HB 1655

Summary — HB 1655 (as introduced by Rep. Long) — Immigration offenses (Arkansas)

Note on documents: The materials provided include multiple, unrelated drafts from different states sharing the number “HB 1655.” This summary focuses on the Arkansas version sponsored by Representative Long (95th General Assembly, 2025) and the associated Arkansas Sentencing Commission impact assessment and amendment H1. The original brief header (a tax-credit title) appears to be inconsistent with the Arkansas text and is not reflected in the bill language below.

Purpose / Intent

To create a new chapter in Arkansas Code Title 5 establishing two distinct criminal offenses related to unlawful entry into the United States: (1) human smuggling (transporting) and (2) harboring illegal immigrants (concealing or shielding). The bill aims to make those specific conduct types criminal offenses under state law.

Key provisions

  • Adds Chapter 80 — Immigration to Arkansas Code Title 5 with two offenses:
    • Human smuggling (5-80-101): Knowingly transports into Arkansas an individual who the actor knows or reasonably should know entered the U.S. unlawfully and has not been inspected by the U.S. government since that unlawful entry. Each transported individual is a separate offense.
    • Harboring illegal immigrants (5-80-102): Knowingly conceals, harbors, or shields from detection such an individual. Each harbored individual is a separate offense.
  • Penalty structure (as amended by H1):
    • Class C felony for a second or subsequent offense (repeat offender).
    • Class D felony if the actor receives anything of value in return for committing the offense.
    • Class A misdemeanor if the conduct would otherwise fall under the misdemeanor definition.
  • Explicit carve‑out: The sections do not restrict or prevent a school or institution of higher education from providing housing services to any regularly enrolled student.

Who is affected

  • Persons who knowingly transport, conceal, harbor, or shield from detection noncitizens who unlawfully entered the U.S. and have not been inspected.
  • Repeat offenders and those who profit (receive value) from the conduct face elevated felony charges.
  • Colleges/schools providing housing to enrolled students are explicitly exempted from the housing restriction.

Penalties / Sentencing ranges (context)

  • Arkansas sentencing guidance cited in the impact assessment: typical ranges include (state definitions vary) — Class C: generally 3–10 years (up to $10,000 fine); Class D: 0–6 years (up to $10,000); Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year (fines as statutorily provided). (Exact sentencing is governed by Arkansas criminal code and statutory ranges.)

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Arkansas Sentencing Commission: The impact on correctional resources cannot be determined because these are new offenses with unknown likely occurrence rates and do not duplicate existing criminal offenses. The Commission notes uncertainty whether additional prison capacity or budget increases would be required.

Procedural status / Timeline

  • Introduced by Rep. Long; amendment H1 was adopted and the bill was engrossed (April 2025).
  • Committee activity: public hearing, committee substitute considered, reported favorably as substituted, then left pending in committee at times.
  • Final status reported in the provided materials: Died in House Committee (sine die adjournment) — i.e., the bill did not become law in the 2025 session.

Additional notes

  • The packet included unrelated drafts from other states (Indiana and Illinois) also labeled HB 1655; those are separate bills and are not part of the Arkansas measure summarized here.
  • If you want, I can produce a side‑by‑side comparison of the text before/after Amendment H1 or extract exact statutory text to a clean one‑page bill digest.

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

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