House Education Committee approves emergency rules, grants changes, contracts and Conway school construction waiver

The House Education Committee reviewed and approved several emergency rules, contracts and a school waiver at a meeting of the House Education Committee on April 5, 2025. Members approved an Arkansas Department of Human Services emergency rule implementing Act 675 of 2023 on broad-based categorical eligibility for SNAP-related benefits, an amended Department of Commerce emergency rule expanding the Community Assistance Grants program after a $10 million appropriation, authorization for Bureau of Legislative Research contracts tied to a proposed captive program, acceptance of an addendum to a procurement study report, a three-month extension of a CASA consulting agreement, and a waiver request from Conway Public Schools to exceed cooperative purchasing limits for a renovation project.

The most immediate action was review and approval of an emergency rule from the Arkansas Department of Human Services to implement Act 675 of 2023 and update SNAP-related resource limits. Christy Putnam, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, told the committee the department had initially “made it more complicated than it needed to be” while seeking technical and legal clarification. The rule adds an eligibility definition and updates resource limits to $5,500 for households in compliance with Act 675 of 2023. The committee approved the emergency rule to be effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The committee next reviewed an emergency rule from the Arkansas Department of Commerce to amend Community Assistance Grants program rules after a new appropriation. Jay Quinley, director of legislative affairs for the Department of Commerce, said the appropriation raised the program’s funding to $10,000,000. The rule expands eligible applicants to include certain nonprofits that participate in covered community development projects and raises the individual award cap from $50,000 to $1,500,000. Quinley said the eligible projects include construction or renovation of community centers, libraries, public health facilities and purchase of police or firefighting equipment. The committee reviewed and approved the emergency rule, also effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The committee approved two contracting items tied to a proposed captive insurance program that remains contingent on pending legislation. Jill Thayer of the Bureau of Legislative Research presented a broker and consulting services agreement with Stevens to serve as broker for the proposed captive. Thayer said the agreement “contains all the terms that you saw in their presentation” and is “contingent upon passage of the legislation.” Representative Rice moved to approve the Stevens contract and to authorize the Bureau of Legislative Research to sign and assign the contract to the Department of Transformation and Shared Services effective July 1, 2025; the motion carried. The committee also approved a draft master management services agreement with Willis Towers Watson, which Thayer said would serve as the captive manager, also contingent on passage of the legislation; that motion carried as well.

The committee accepted an addendum to a procurement study report from the Bureau of Legislative Research that clarifies language about political subdivisions voting to use competitive bidding. Marty Garrity of the bureau said the addendum aligns report language with current draft legislation. The addendum was accepted without objection.

Members approved a three-month extension of a CASA consulting agreement to allow ongoing rule-related training and work tied to pending legislation; committee members said the extension was intended to let the contractor complete remaining tasks after the original contract expiration of May 1.

Finally, Conway Public Schools requested and received approval to exceed cooperative purchasing aggregate limits for construction services under Arkansas Code Annotated §19-11-249(d). Shasta D. Wagner, chief legal officer for Conway Public Schools, said the waiver would allow renovation of the Bob And Betty Courtway Bridal School to begin after school dismisses in May and finish before students return in August. Superintendent Jeff Collum said the district’s maintenance team will contribute labor and materials where possible; the motion to approve the waiver carried.

Votes at a glance: - DHS emergency rule to implement Act 675 of 2023 (broad-based categorical eligibility; resource limit $5,500): approved; effective 12:01 a.m. April 5, 2025. - Department of Commerce emergency rule (Community Assistance Grants; appropriation $10,000,000; award cap increased from $50,000 to $1,500,000; eligible nonprofits included): approved; effective 12:01 a.m. April 5, 2025. - Broker contract (Stevens) for proposed captive program, authorize BLR to sign/assign to Department of Transformation and Shared Services 07/01/2025: motion by Representative Rice; approved. - Master management services agreement (Willis Towers Watson) for proposed captive manager: approved; contingent on passage of legislation. - Addendum to procurement study report (BLR): accepted. - CASA consulting agreement extension (3 months): approved. - Conway Public Schools waiver under Ark. Code Ann. §19-11-249(d) to exceed cooperative purchasing aggregate for construction services (Bob And Betty Courtway Bridal School renovation): approved.

The meeting record shows motions carried by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript.

Committee members and presenters emphasized that several of the contracts and program changes are contingent on pending legislation or appropriations and that emergency rules were approved to take effect April 5, 2025. Several presenters noted time sensitivity for projects (school renovations) and urged more expeditious rule development in the future.