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HB 1898

Optometry; TPA-Formulary; TPA-Formulary Committee; dissolution.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Griffin and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a Regulatory Division within DFA and a Regulatory Enforcement Division with statewide law enforcement authority to investigate and enforce alcohol, tobacco, medical marijua

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0391)
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Bill Summary · HB 1898

Summary — HB 1898 (as provided)

Note on documents: The materials supplied appear to combine text from more than one bill that share the number “HB 1898” (including an Arkansas bill about regulatory/enforcement consolidation and an unrelated Illinois income‑tax bill). There is also a mismatch between the bill title at the top (“Appropriation; City of Nettleton…”) and the main bill text supplied. This summary focuses on the substantive Arkansas DFA bill text and DFA fiscal note included in the packet (creating a Regulatory Division and Regulatory Enforcement Division inside the Department of Finance and Administration). Where legislative status records conflict, this summary flags the inconsistency and recommends verifying current status with the official state legislative website.

Main purpose

To reorganize and consolidate certain regulatory and enforcement functions within the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) by creating a new Regulatory Division and a Regulatory Enforcement Division, and to authorize personnel in the enforcement division to be designated as agents with statewide law‑enforcement authority for relevant regulatory matters.

Key provisions

  • Creates a Regulatory Division within DFA (proposed codification: Arkansas Code Title 25, Ch. 8, Subch. 1).
  • Secretary of DFA appoints a Regulatory Administrator to oversee the Regulatory Division; the Administrator:
    • Serves at the Secretary’s pleasure;
    • Reports to the Secretary; and
    • Oversees: Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC), Arkansas Tobacco Control (ATC), Arkansas Racing Commission, and the new Regulatory Enforcement Division.
  • Creates a Regulatory Enforcement Division within the Regulatory Division.
    • Secretary appoints an Enforcement Director who serves at the Secretary’s pleasure and reports to the Regulatory Administrator.
    • The division is designated as a law enforcement agency.
    • The Director may assign personnel as agents to investigate alleged violations of state law or rules governing:
    • Tobacco
    • Alcohol (alcoholic beverage laws and ABC rules)
    • Medical marijuana (and Medical Marijuana Commission rules)
    • Gambling and the promotion of gambling (and Racing Commission rules where applicable)
    • Agents:
    • Are to be considered full‑time law enforcement officers under Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CALEST/§ 12‑9‑101 et seq.);
    • Have statewide law‑enforcement authority;
    • Present investigation findings to the appropriate board (ABC Board, Tobacco Control Board, Medical Marijuana Commission, etc.);
    • May have investigations referred to prosecuting attorneys or other law enforcement agencies.
  • Procedural change noted: personnel currently titled ABC and ATC agents would have a uniform title of “Regulatory Agent” under the reorganization.

Who is affected

  • Department of Finance and Administration (organizational structure, appointments).
  • Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, Arkansas Tobacco Control, Arkansas Racing Commission, and Medical Marijuana Commission (enforcement processes, coordination).
  • Existing ABC and ATC enforcement personnel (retitling and organizational reassignment; designation as state law‑enforcement agents).
  • Regulated industries and individuals subject to alcohol, tobacco, medical marijuana, and gambling regulation (investigations, enforcement referrals).
  • Prosecuting attorneys and local law enforcement (may receive referrals).

Fiscal impact

  • DFA fiscal note states: No fiscal impact, no taxpayer impact, no additional resources or time required.

Procedural / status notes

  • The packet includes conflicting legislative history entries (some indicating referral and “Died In Committee” on 2025‑02‑26; other entries indicate readings, passage, and enrollment). Sponsors listed include Rep. Painter and Sen. Crowell (Arkansas). An unrelated bill with the same number from Illinois (Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro) also appears in the packet.
  • Recommendation: Confirm current status and official bill text on the Arkansas General Assembly website or DFA to resolve contradictions and see whether the measure advanced or was enacted.

If you want, I can:
- Check the Arkansas legislative database for the definitive history and final disposition of the Arkansas HB 1898; or
- Produce a redlined comparison showing precisely which existing code sections the bill would have amended.

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

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