Arkansas Senate approves wide slate of bills, extends Medicaid appeal window and repeals obsolete motor‑fuel program

The Arkansas State Senate on the floor approved a batch of bills and resolutions that lawmakers and sponsors described as technical fixes, administrative clarifications and efficiency measures.

Among the measures adopted, senators amended and passed a change to initiative and referendum petition language requiring canvassers to be told that petition fraud is a criminal offense; extended the appeal window for Medicaid providers from 35 to 65 days; revised enforcement options for the Arkansas Forestry Commission; shortened the retake interval for failed pest‑control licensing exams; and repealed the state’s Alternative Motor Fuel Development Act, which sponsors said no longer had dedicated funding.

Senator Hammer, the floor sponsor for Senate Bill 207, said the bill was amended in committee to resolve a statutory cross‑reference and that the final language makes the canvasser disclosure a criminal‑offense statement rather than a class A misdemeanor. After debate and a roll call, the Senate approved the measure with the emergency clause.

Senator Penzo, sponsor of Senate Bill 257, described the measure as “not controversial” and said the bill increases the Medicaid appeals period to reduce paperwork and problems caused when mailed notices arrive after a provider’s appeal deadline. “Currently, it’s 35 days. This bill would extend it out to 65 days,” Penzo said on the floor.

Senator Stone presented two agency bills: Senate Bill 249 would add an intermediate enforcement option for people who unlawfully hold themselves out as registered foresters, allowing fines rather than…