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HB 1655

TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF HUMAN SMUGGLING; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF HARBORING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Wayne Long

HB 1655 sought to create new offenses for human smuggling and harboring illegal immigrants in Arkansas, imposing felony charges to deter these activities.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1655

Summary of House Bill 1655

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: HB 1655
  • Title: To Create the Offense of Human Smuggling; and to Create the Offense of Harboring Illegal Immigrants
  • Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment
  • Introduced: March 04, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1655 aimed to establish new criminal offenses related to immigration in the state of Arkansas. Specifically, the bill sought to create two distinct offenses: human smuggling and harboring illegal immigrants. The intent was to address and penalize activities that involve the illegal transportation and concealment of individuals who have entered the United States unlawfully.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed the following significant changes to the Arkansas Code:

  1. Creation of New Offenses:

    • Human Smuggling:
      • Defined as knowingly transporting an individual into Arkansas who has entered the U.S. unlawfully and has not been inspected by the U.S. Government.
      • Classified as a Class D felony for a first offense and a Class C felony for subsequent offenses.
    • Harboring Illegal Immigrants:
      • Defined as knowingly concealing, harboring, or shielding from detection an individual who has unlawfully entered the U.S.
      • Also classified as a Class D felony for a first offense and a Class C felony for subsequent offenses.

  2. Penalties:

    • Both offenses would incur separate charges for each individual involved.
    • A Class A misdemeanor designation was included for lesser offenses under specific circumstances.

  3. Exemptions:

    • The bill included provisions that would not restrict educational institutions from providing housing services to regularly enrolled students.

Impact and Considerations

  • The impact assessment indicated that the potential number of occurrences for these new felony offenses was unknown, making it difficult to determine the bill's overall impact on correctional resources.
  • The introduction of these offenses would create new legal frameworks that did not previously exist in Arkansas law, potentially leading to increased legal actions and implications for law enforcement and the judicial system.

Legislative Timeline

  • March 04, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time.
  • April 14, 2025: The bill was placed on second reading for amendment, and Amendment No. 1 was adopted.
  • May 05, 2025: The bill died in the House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1655 aimed to address human smuggling and the harboring of illegal immigrants through the establishment of new criminal offenses, it ultimately did not progress beyond the committee stage. The proposed legislation highlighted ongoing discussions regarding immigration enforcement and the legal ramifications of such activities in Arkansas.

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

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