WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1446

Summary of House Bill 1446: Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program

Bill Overview

  • Bill Number: HB 1446
  • Title: To Amend the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program; and to Declare an Emergency.
  • Introduced: February 11, 2025
  • Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment on May 5, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1446 aimed to amend the existing Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program to enhance educational opportunities for students pursuing vocational and technical education. The bill sought to broaden the definition of eligible institutions, increase scholarship award amounts, and address workforce needs in high-demand fields.

Key Provisions

  1. Expanded Definition of Approved Institutions:

    • The bill proposed to include public and private vocational-technical schools and technical institutes as approved institutions eligible for the scholarship program.

  2. Increased Award Amounts:

    • The maximum scholarship award was set to increase to $2,500 per student per academic year, with a total cap of $10 million for all awards distributed under the program.

  3. Eligibility Criteria:

    • Students must be Arkansas residents or have a parent who is an Arkansas resident, and they must be accepted into programs that lead to a certificate or degree in high-demand fields such as:
      • Industry Manufacturing
      • Health Care
      • Information Technology
      • Construction Trades
      • Logistics and Distribution

  4. Scholarship Usage:

    • Funds could be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, and necessary equipment for the program of study.

  5. Emergency Declaration:

    • The bill included a declaration of emergency, indicating the urgency of the proposed changes to address workforce challenges.

Fiscal Impact

  • The bill's fiscal impact statement indicated that the total estimated cost necessary to fund the new or amended scholarships could reach up to $10 million, with a potential reach of 4,700 students in private career and non-credit programs and an additional 2,540 students in healthcare programs.

Affected Parties

  • Students: The primary beneficiaries would be Arkansas residents pursuing vocational and technical education in high-demand fields.
  • Educational Institutions: Public and private vocational-technical schools and technical institutes would be impacted by the inclusion in the scholarship program.

Legislative Timeline

  • February 11, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time.
  • February 25, 2025: The bill underwent multiple amendments and was reported correctly engrossed.
  • May 5, 2025: The bill died in the House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1446 aimed to significantly enhance the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program by expanding eligibility and increasing funding, it ultimately did not progress beyond the committee stage. The proposed changes reflected a commitment to addressing workforce development needs in the state through education.

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

Sign in to ask a question.