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Committee approves $1.50 increase to driver's record fee to aid State Police budget
Summary
A Senate committee approved a bill to raise the driver's record fee from $7 to $8.50; sponsors and the Arkansas State Police said the additional $1.50 would generate roughly $1.8 million to offset lost concealed‑carry revenue and support staffing for crimes‑against‑children work.
A Senate committee approved a bill to increase the state's driver's record fee from $7 to $8.50, a change sponsors said is intended to offset recent revenue reductions and support Arkansas State Police operations.
Senator Blake Johnson presented the measure, saying the fee — unchanged since 1989 — would rise by $1.50. Johnson told the committee the increase would remain competitive with surrounding states and would produce revenue to help the state police cover costs associated with data access and departmental needs.
Director Bill Brown of the Arkansas State Police testified that the department faces an estimated $1.4 million revenue shortfall tied to recent reductions in concealed‑handgun permit fees and that the $1.50 increase is projected to generate about $1.8 million for the department. Brown said some of the funds would be used to hire hotline operators and investigators for the Crimes Against Children Division, estimating roughly $300,000 for that need.
Committee members pressed for arithmetic clarity; speakers explained the $1.50 is special revenue that would come to the Arkansas State Police after other designated distributions are paid. A voice vote approved the bill in committee.
The committee record does not include a roll‑call vote; the measure was advanced by voice vote and will proceed to the next legislative stage.
