[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6124529,"mediaKeyId","2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227","parentId",2682450,"title","Senate approves bill clarifying involuntary holds for behavioral impairment from medical conditions","audioSeconds",1777,"startMs",2978000,"endMs",4755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227&start=2978&end=4755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227/thumbnail_2978000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124529/Arkansas/Senate-approves-bill-clarifying-involuntary-holds-for-behavioral-impairment-from-medical-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124529-9fbdfb0e3f091fd8dcc8afaa0eaf1461/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609033&Signature=YQz08v~2acaeAGdvg09HI-Wm0CO55op5cnWx-ZvkzTbkmOTizKIFU2y7Yu7tl9zqA4~Zc1dgR~gP~F~Izaa3zQhhipiMBV4JDJmedq9FQ775nVRvj8Ep9nC3Y8QxoSI~yxHomW-kX-PP5CKU6-HkMC9djBavOCuDobCjHG1tX0fAyqGBH-yv5qeJQIdk4bzGp-MlIJ1I0I1ZlOyzbATRWSF3wiyOyAPblhv2u5uADPpZTyysFjiLmuaND9lQIYCV5Oltgxulijk2lKCBmPckJUlPpQeJhsvThbF1ACPMWiC5oG0nM~N~4JdfTJNGyn2L~2GdodIFQnHgF0ysYhUXqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arkansas Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate approved legislation clarifying that a person exhibiting a behavioral health impairment caused by a medical condition — for example dementia or encephalitis — may be placed on an involuntary medical hold and reassessed to determine whether continued confinement is warranted.

Senator Sandra Davis, who presented the House bill on the Senate floor, said current law was silent about behavioral impairments caused by medical conditions and that clinicians, courts and judges worked together on agreed language. “If you're in the hospital and it's clear you're leaving, trying to freely leave as most people can, but you're in no mental condition to do so,” Davis said, the new language allows clinicians to hold and reassess the patient.

Davis stressed safeguards: the bill specifies that the person be reassessed every 24 hours by a physician or advanced practice registered nurse to confirm whether the confinement remains warranted; the statutory maximum 72‑hour hold remains the outer limit under law. She said the provision is intended primarily to address cases where a patient has no family present and is at clear and present risk if allowed to leave.

Senators asked about family notification, the setting for the hold and legal defensibility. Senator Stubblefield and others emphasized family‑involved situations; Davis said existing confidentiality and involuntary‑commitment rules remain in force and that the bill does not remove rights. Senator Hickey asked whether the Attorney General had reviewed constitutional issues raised by involuntary confinement; Davis said she would confirm that review.

Senator Gilmore and others pressed for clarity on the “clear and present danger” standard and how the 24‑hour reassessment works; Davis and other sponsors said language had been negotiated with neurologists, psychiatrists and judges to balance patient protection and civil liberties.

The secretary called the roll; the announced tally for House Bill 11‑69 was 22 yeas, 1 nay, 5 not voting, 6 present and 1 on leave. The bill passed and will return to the House.

Ending: Sponsors and medical stakeholders said the change fills a practical gap when clinicians confront dangerous behavior tied to an underlying medical condition and where family or representatives are not immediately available. Senators emphasized reassessment, statutory limits and existing privacy protections remain in place.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate approved legislation clarifying that a person exhibiting a behavioral health impairment from a medical condition — such as dementia or encephalitis — may be subject to a short involuntary medical hold and must be reassessed at regular intervals.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas","taxId",16120,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124534,"Senate approves new aggravated‑assault offense for assaults on health‑care workers",314,2309000,2623000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227&start=2309&end=2623","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227/thumbnail_2309000.jpg","/articles/6124534/Arkansas/Senate-approves-new-aggravatedassault-offense-for-assaults-on-healthcare-workers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124534-69c762b0a6c6d484cbd1902065ad0a98/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609034&Signature=KLv9wNeqBjOSZCEqfi5IWZ1dodk1cv919Bz2uznSiXllxbBFytgyEhfswmYJb6wmjyA~GuI4kXl12MXeL-LoCzVgWU8Wn~ff4CokkrGjGr-z8Q0HXgyZy1dODoacwYuVvCM0aLJugojyrbgcpnxT4Zbf7Nv4UbwjrOj6foEJCgkH51~PFIUf63bSnSszaaeiO517U~pDV8lTkc2~jHlQVa1DmJA4vk6ZdrG3dZ6XRZpujliGnWhHDpBW47LhdIai9nvZRnOtXaOV5TdiqPzLqAc6f4SWAmJLwSppXEmXpMOFUSMMdaSrqUNQz8vOtiCVyPm4PSznjfJSGi1i~eTtUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate passed legislation defining aggravated assault on health‑care workers as a discrete criminal offense and designating the offense as a Class D felony, senators said on the floor.

Senator Irvin, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the measure was drafted with input from health‑care stakeholders and is intended to protect “our health care workers that are on the front lines dealing with patients every day.” She described the bill as a response to real incidents experienced by health‑care workers and added it was designed to give prosecutors a clearer offense for assaults in clinical settings.

Senator Sullivan questioned whether the bill would create a special class of victims who receive greater protection than others and asked whether similar protections should apply to other groups, naming prison guards as an example. “Here, it appears we're setting a certain segment of people outside of the boundaries for the regular citizen,” Sullivan said.

Senator Clark and others noted requests from their districts for similar protections; Irvin said the bill addresses the daily, unique risks that clinical staff face and thanked colleagues for support. The floor later recorded the roll: the secretary announced the final tally as 32 yeas, 1 nay and 1 not voting; the bill passed and was transmitted to the House.

Ending: Supporters said the bill targets assaults that occur in the clinical setting and will give prosecutors a clearer statutory vehicle to charge aggravated assaults on health‑care providers. The measure now goes to the House for further consideration.","The Senate approved a bill creating the criminal offense of aggravated assault on a health‑care worker and making it a Class D felony; debate focused on whether the law creates a special class of victims and protections for front‑line workers. The bill passed 32–1–1 (one not voting).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124539,"Senate advances bill allowing developers to hire third‑party plan reviewers and inspectors",529,1270000,1799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227&start=1270&end=1799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227/thumbnail_1270000.jpg","/articles/6124539/Arkansas/Senate-advances-bill-allowing-developers-to-hire-thirdparty-plan-reviewers-and-inspectors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124539-827e24cdd99d9785e9f95f967347fe27/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609034&Signature=FqljRxbdRVIwI5Ue-OR94-832QrsTYUZL9nE7-HioKmTyJRf3M-JtwEetgic2rUHipNEoEykpCg9WYWOTQGU-hiRtUM9vze1eTlkfSJ-FgHx9TguhFn5ZF1Z0sX-LyjEFBVTsgeeNJ5f7~DwUF9CoGMWE9bWwl8g2~1yYQU7i-5suBYl7w-tagzeLhmV4VBUUaqcSwUeyWPvlFj7~Xt-umT9sWYxi9YWjp3851QWXbblhDcmmePeodqkgtwtoDYfj-yqj7asTH9aVKpRW4nf1lXJlQNcjBm699ZdYJSI~1Qx1X~Tr2uKSIR1btFJ6DLsvoKvWWA2cupqaLLDvjw0~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators passed a bill that lets applicants for local building permits hire approved third‑party firms to perform plan reviews and site inspections, a measure supporters say will shorten permit timelines and reduce soft costs for development.

Senator Bryan Brown, who presented the bill on the floor, said the measure would allow applicants to “go hire your own third party reviewer…at your cost” when a city or county cannot process plans quickly. He described existing delays that can range “from 2 days…to several years” and said the change shifts the burden from local governments to applicants while preserving municipal oversight.

Brown and other backers said the third party must meet qualifications set by the local authority — examples given included a registered architect or engineer — and that the municipality would have short, specified time windows to respond. “The county or the city has 10 days to determine what the problem is,” Brown said, and the local authority would have one day to act on a third‑party inspection report. The bill excludes some facility types — hospitals, nursing homes, jails, airports and structures affecting national security — and authorizes the municipality to require final walkthroughs and issue the certificate of occupancy.

To address concerns about reliability, the measure requires third‑party inspectors to carry errors‑and‑omissions (E&O) insurance so an owner who can prove negligent inspection could seek compensation from the inspector’s carrier. Brown said the bill does not alter municipal immunity: “This bill does not change that…cities are still not liable,” he said.

Supporters pointed to a version of the approach used in other states. Brown noted Georgia had implemented a similar system and that stakeholders — including developers and municipal staff who helped draft the language — were involved in revisions. He also described a dispute resolution path that can escalate to a municipal council or the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing for professional board issues.

Senator Tucker asked about objectivity when applicants pay the third party; Brown replied that final authority remains with the municipality for the certificate of occupancy and that professional liability and reputation provide practical checks on inspectors. After floor debate and questions, the Senate adopted the bill; the secretary announced the final vote as 34 yeas, 0 nays.

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Ending: The bill sets new timelines and insurance requirements for third‑party reviewers and imposes exclusions for sensitive facility types. Supporters say it aims to reduce permit delays and soft costs for projects; the House will now consider the measure.","The Senate passed legislation authorizing applicants to hire approved third‑party plan reviewers and inspectors for building permits; bill includes limits, insurance requirements and dispute resolution routes and passed 34–0.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124520,"Senate approves overhaul of district court funding and new installment fee structure",0,7398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227&start=7398&end=7398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227/thumbnail_7398000.jpg","/articles/6124520/Arkansas/Senate-approves-overhaul-of-district-court-funding-and-new-installment-fee-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124520-21fd241b95afc7d87dccca8a5b6a85be/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609034&Signature=buHliReAIjqymcm1e0XqV~rBvJTaa5B9CUkph79FDL1CX-iJOdN-s20jrf5qxR2DLc0u6U~wnDmjbA79evRO5gGQY8lWdpiunoEE5wt~Cid7lxDaXbIrHDl0z4EjqQYVxNYa7kipC842ALIeSpbJ19X-AZD3rmRxjU-fToBFjf-nwi8qu-BlfYau8wreDnrp8CcQRrUK3ooIz79B1a7GDbgbDyDxKGfG7JK~3UM2PCsxe0mAMsW93QfYvJbh18bCNo2wTtc1qQkZUEQ43~pxbAbpnag2DNz9uQXKQjzM-hzNgSlHWVSmECiC7luf-gxv1Q-MEJC9wsjhf62greUlLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate approved a wide‑ranging judiciary bill intended to change how district court costs and salaries are funded and to simplify installment payment fees for defendants.

Sponsor Senator Clark said the bill eliminates the obligation of cities and counties to pay state district court judges’ salaries and reorganizes how court‑collected funds are split. The measure also sets a new approach for installment fees: rather than ongoing monthly surcharges that can amount to high effective interest rates, the bill establishes a one‑time installment fee (discussed on the floor as $90) when a defendant elects to pay costs over time; once paid, the installment fee is not repeatedly charged for that offense.

Senator Dismang and others questioned fiscal impacts and legislative findings inserted into the bill. Senator Bryant pressed through a concrete example and asked whether the measure would increase per‑case charges; Senator Clark said the measure was negotiated and intended as a compromise to reduce the effective usurious costs that often fall on low‑income defendants while addressing how courts are funded.

Clark told the floor the change reduces local obligations for districts that previously paid as much as 90 percent toward certain court costs; the bill limits retention to “an amount equal to but no more than 50%” for county administration of justice funds. Clark said the change reflected extensive committee work and a negotiated settlement among stakeholders.

After debate the roll call was held; the secretary announced the tally as 23 ayes, 1 nay, 1 not voting, 9 present and 1 on leave and declared House Bill 16‑61 passed. The bill returns to the House.

Ending: Sponsors described the measure as a negotiated compromise that reduces recurring installment charges on defendants and shifts some court salary obligations to the state while capping certain local fund retentions; fiscal details and implementation will follow as agencies and counties adjust to the new distribution rules.","The Senate passed a compromise bill that shifts payment of state district court judge salaries away from cities and counties, caps local retention of certain funds at 50%, and restructures installment fees (one‑time fee cited as $90) to reduce recurring monthly charges for defendants; vote recorded 23–1 with several present/not voting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124524,"Senate allows private property owners to use automatic license plate readers and share plate images for investigations",295,2630000,2925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227&start=2630&end=2925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682450-e07371539f446b3bb82c9291b28af227/thumbnail_2630000.jpg","/articles/6124524/Arkansas/Senate-allows-private-property-owners-to-use-automatic-license-plate-readers-and-share-plate-images-for-investigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124524-54c84e037a76f9e63f7bb6741e9f3448/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609034&Signature=O5qNmmldv4cc6QI4WZ2ElKDzzhXmWvd4g~ismvEVmgerrkw0MsrMp4qV9sybGIz2dQ~qCrCTXcFAF1fXmsvo6L9M-6Wz1DuARH0x6dTy5D7r2~hy-22r~pQm6NvE5NA1MDuSsRnvXpnJqtTdX786kJjeMW5EUi34pv061Q~DLzBRPqdrkiw8rJ7ref0i7aIwy0jc4mg3exRKHnSGNIOV5sCAjPiONQRL6L~UFXI66SYi4VP3jcx8a2UnLZfHUgQeRrWRPridrDbUl4MwzbsZv27ZL8wK8AZEbtXeSBOoHR40dc8cQh2a81q3HMC~g3-Z1IiNzO3PV80GJat4eeWLQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators approved a bill to amend Arkansas’ automatic license plate reader rules to allow private landowners, leaseholders and commercial businesses to operate ALPR systems on private property and to share plate images for law‑enforcement investigations under enumerated protections.

Senator Gilmore, who introduced the bill, said the change is intended to help deter organized theft and other crimes by enabling property owners to collect plate information on vehicles that enter private lots and to turn that data over for investigation when appropriate. “The license plates of people who are entering into their parking lot…allows them to use that data so that if they are trying to catch maybe a ring of thieves, that they can use that, turn that over for investigation purposes,” Gilmore said.

During floor questions, Senator Sullivan asked whether private businesses can turn camera access over to government; Gilmore replied that image data could be used in an investigation with a valid subpoena and that the bill limits government access to investigatory uses tied to legal processes. Senator Clark asked whether the law currently permits the practice; Gilmore replied the state does not expressly allow private ALPR use and the bill would set parameters and protections.

Senator Lening asked whether Arkansas is an outlier among neighboring states; Gilmore said most neighboring states allow the practice, though he did not cite an exact count. The secretary announced the final tally as 32 yeas, 0 nays, and 2 present; Senate Bill 446 passed and will be sent to the House.

Ending: Sponsors said the bill balances investigative benefits with privacy protections and sets use limits and subpoena requirements for law enforcement access to private ALPR images. The House will next consider the measure.","The Senate passed legislation authorizing private landowners, leaseholders and commercial businesses to operate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) on their premises and to share plate images for investigations under parameters and subpoena protections; the measure passed 32–0 with two senators recorded present.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves bill clarifying involuntary holds for behavioral impairment from medical conditions

Senate approves new aggravated‑assault offense for assaults on health‑care workers

Senate advances bill allowing developers to hire third‑party plan reviewers and inspectors

Senate approves overhaul of district court funding and new installment fee structure

Senate allows private property owners to use automatic license plate readers and share plate images for investigations