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Bill

SB 385

TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RURAL SERVICES DIVISION OF THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SUBMIT A BIENNIAL REPORT CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DIVISION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Fran Cavenaugh and 1 co-sponsor

Arkansas repeals the biennial reporting requirement for the Rural Services Division, reducing transparency and oversight of rural economic development activities.

Notification that SB385 is now Act 469
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 385

Legislative bill overview

SB 385 eliminates a legal requirement for the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to submit biennial (every two years) reports on its activities. The bill removes this reporting obligation, allowing the division to operate without mandatory public documentation of its work.

Why is this important

Reporting requirements create accountability mechanisms that allow legislators, auditors, and the public to track how government divisions spend resources and execute their missions. Removing this requirement reduces transparency into rural economic development activities and could make it harder to assess program effectiveness or identify issues.

Potential points of contention

  • Government transparency: Critics argue that eliminating mandatory reporting reduces public accountability and oversight of taxpayer-funded programs
  • Program evaluation: Without structured reporting, it becomes more difficult to measure the Rural Services Division's performance, outcomes, and impact on rural communities
  • Legislative oversight: Lawmakers lose institutionalized data collection that helps inform budget decisions and policy adjustments for rural economic development initiatives

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

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