Arkansas Senate unanimously approves batches of 2026–27 appropriations, adopts emergency clauses

The Arkansas State Senate on a routine session day approved multiple appropriations for the 2026–27 fiscal year in a series of unanimous roll-call votes and adopted emergency clauses that return the measures to the House for final processing.

Senator Hammer described House Bill 10 o 3 as "self explanatory" when he introduced the bill, which provides staff appropriation funding for House management for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The Senate voted 33–0 to pass the bill and adopt its emergency clause.

Budget calendar lead Senator Dismay told members the Senate would take appropriations in batches by page and asked senators to identify any bills they wished to pull for separate consideration. The chamber then read and approved a first batch that included House bills 10 79, 10 12, 10 15, 10 19, 10 21, 10 25, 10 26, 10 27, 10 28 and 10 29; the clerk recorded a 33–0 vote on the batch and the emergency clauses were adopted.

Senator Dismay removed House Bill 10 49 from a later batch for a separate vote and described it as "a $25,000 appropriation [to the] treasurer's office for animal rescues centers, shelters." Senator Caldwell asked whether the funding was general revenue; Dismay said she believed it was not general revenue and suggested, "license plate money" as a likely source but noted the bill text did not specify the funding source. Senator Payton asked whether the appropriation listing meant $25,000 for cities and $25,000 for counties or whether it was a broadly available appropriation; Dismay said it was an appropriation to authorize disbursement. The Senate approved HB 10 49 by a 33–0 roll-call vote and adopted its emergency clause.

A subsequent larger batch of agency and institutional appropriations — including House bills 10 30, 10 31, 10 32, 10 38, 10 39, 10 40, 10 42, 10 43, 10 44, 10 45, 10 46, 10 47, 10 56, 10 57, 10 58, 10 59 and 10 61 — passed by roll call (33–0) and the emergency clauses were adopted.

On page three of the budget calendar, Senator Dismay announced House Bill 10 73 would be passed over to allow for a change after consultation with Senator McKee. The Senate then approved another batch of appropriations covering the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System, several universities and colleges, and commissions (including House bills 10 63, 10 67, 10 69, 10 70, 10 71, 10 72, 10 74, 10 75 and 10 76) by unanimous votes and adopted their emergency clauses.

The chair concluded the business agenda, and Senator Ledding introduced the doctor of the day, Dr. Rachel Kirkpatrick Kilpatrick of Fayetteville, and nurse of the day, Leigh Fazio. Senators were reminded to submit funds for a charity softball jersey and a Republican caucus was scheduled after session. The Senate adjourned subject to the clearing of the desk until Tuesday, April 21, at 1 p.m.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 10 o 3 — passed, 33–0, emergency clause adopted; Batch (HBs 10 79, 10 12, 10 15, 10 19, 10 21, 10 25, 10 26, 10 27, 10 28, 10 29) — passed, 33–0, emergency clauses adopted; House Bill 10 49 — passed, 33–0, emergency clause adopted; Batch (HBs 10 30, 10 31, 10 32, 10 38, 10 39, 10 40, 10 42, 10 43, 10 44, 10 45, 10 46, 10 47, 10 56, 10 57, 10 58, 10 59, 10 61) — passed, 33–0, emergency clauses adopted; Batch (HBs 10 63, 10 67, 10 69, 10 70, 10 71, 10 72, 10 74, 10 75, 10 76) — passed, 33–0, emergency clauses adopted. House Bill 10 73 was passed over for later clarification.

Key details and questions recorded on the floor: the source of funding for HB 10 49 was not specified in the bill text; senators discussed whether it was from license-plate proceeds rather than general revenue. The chair and budget calendar lead indicated that bills may be pulled for separate consideration and that HB 10 73 would be revisited after clarification.

(Reporting from the Senate chamber: roll-call tallies and bill numbers are taken from the on-the-record readings and vote announcements.)