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HB 1929

Supporting young adults following inpatient behavioral health treatment.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Callan and 30 co-sponsors

Arkansas requires state agencies to stop using West Bank and switch to Judea and Samaria in all official materials; waivers possible with notice; affects agencies and contractors.

Effective date 6/6/2024.
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Bill Summary · HB 1929

Summary — HB 1929 (Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act) — Arkansas, 95th General Assembly (2025)

Note: The packet provided includes other, unrelated bills (including an Illinois HB1929). This summary addresses the Arkansas bill text titled the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act" as introduced by Rep. McAlindon and Sen. J. Dotson.

Main purpose and intent

HB 1929 directs Arkansas state government agencies to stop using the term “West Bank” in official government materials when referring to the territory Israel gained control of during the 1967 Six‑Day War, and instead to use the historical designation “Judea and Samaria” (with the bill describing the area south of Jerusalem as “Judea” and north of Jerusalem as “Samaria”). The bill expresses legislative intent to adopt that terminology in state materials.

Key provisions

  • Adds Subchapter 13 (25-1-1301 et seq.) to Arkansas Code Title 25, Chapter 1:

    • 25-1-1301: States legislative intent to refer to the land captured from Jordan in 1967 by its historical names “Judea and Samaria” and to no longer use the term “West Bank” in official state materials.
    • 25-1-1302: Defines terms and establishes prohibitions and procedures:
    • Defines “official government material” to include guidance, rules, material, briefing, press release, or communication prepared by a state agency.
    • Defines “state agency” broadly (departments, divisions, offices, boards, commissions, institutions).
    • Prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” to refer to Judea and Samaria in official government materials.
    • Prohibits use of state funds to create official materials that use the term “West Bank” (text in the engrossed bill indicates this limitation on state moneys).
    • Allows the executive head of a state agency to waive the prohibition if they determine it is in the state’s interests; the executive head must submit a written explanation of the waiver within 30 days of the determination to the General Assembly (if in session) or to the Legislative Council (if the General Assembly is not in session).

  • Amendment H1 (adopted) changes wording in the bill: replaces “annexed” with “controlled” when describing the 1967 change in territorial control, and narrows some definitional language (e.g., deletes “communication, or work product document” and substitutes “or communication”).

Who is affected

  • All Arkansas state agencies and their official publications/communications.
  • Executive heads of agencies (who can grant limited waivers subject to reporting).
  • Contractors or vendors producing official materials for state agencies may need to follow the new terminology and will be prohibited from creating state-funded materials that use “West Bank.”

Procedural and timeline aspects / current status

  • Introduced: January 16, 2025.
  • Floor and committee actions (House and Senate) progressed in March–April 2025.
  • Read third time and passed by both chambers; correctly enrolled and transmitted.
  • Notification listed: HB1929 is now Act 797 (notification dated 2025-04-17). Records show enrollment and transmission to the Governor’s Office on 2025-04-15.
  • Amendment H1 was read and adopted (4/3/2025).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Changes official vocabulary used by Arkansas state government in publications, guidance, briefings, and other communications. This is a policy and symbolic change rather than a change in substantive foreign policy authority.
  • The waiver procedure provides limited flexibility when an agency head believes use of “West Bank” is necessary; such waivers must be reported to the legislature or Legislative Council within 30 days.
  • The act could require review and revision of existing materials and templates (potential administrative cost/time for agencies and contracted communications vendors).
  • The bill is primarily terminological and symbolic; it does not create new regulatory duties toward foreign entities or alter state law enforcement jurisdiction.

Notes / ambiguities

  • Some engrossed text is fragmented; whether every prohibited use (e.g., non‑state‑funded materials produced by agencies) is covered could require consultation of the final enrolled Act text (Act 797) for precise statutory language and any effective date provisions.

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

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