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Special-language subcommittee adopts series of governor's-letter amendments affecting education, agriculture and other agencies
Summary
The special-language subcommittee reviewed multiple governor's letters and adopted amendments affecting DFA rulemaking on pregnancy-help grants, corrections fund transfer language, school funding adjustments tied to Act 909 of 2025, an agriculture promotion-board fee waiver, Camp Robinson maintenance funding, shared services billing, vocational rehab designation, and a $2.31 cap on used-tire reimbursements effective July 1, 2026.
The Special-Language Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee met to review and adopt special-language amendments to several governor's letters covering a range of state agencies.
The meeting opened with the chair explaining the subcommittee's role: it reviews special language in governor's letters that would be included in appropriation bills. Department of Finance and Administration representatives Jessica Moore and Secretary Jim Hudson introduced the DFA items and walked members through the letters on the agenda.
Jessica Moore said Governor's letter 30 would require DFA to amend rules so administrative costs do not exceed 25% of awarded amounts to pregnancy-help organizations. Representative Garner asked whether reporting required by a prior amendment on pregnancy centers was available; Secretary Jim Hudson replied, "we've not distributed any grant funds fiscal year to date," and said reports will follow any FY26 disbursements.
On Governor's letter 14 (Department of Correction), the subcommittee heard that the amendment removes conflicting language that previously barred transfers out of the county jail reimbursement fund while preserving separate appropriation language that allows transfers in. Senator Hickey asked whether the change would permit withdrawing funds once transferred; presenters clarified the amendment leaves only the authority to transfer money into the fund, not to transfer it out.
Two portions of Governor's letter 20 (Department of Education) were considered. One portion designates the Department of Agriculture as the responsible agency for the child nutrition program; a separate portion implements provisions to comply with Act 909 of 2025, including shifting employer (EBD) contributions for school districts to the Department of Education and phasing out teacher equalization funds while requiring a prior-year payment in addition to the current fiscal-year amount.
Members discussed Governor's letter 22, which would permit the state CFO to waive the 3% state central services and constitutional officer fee on special revenue funds for six promotion boards within the Department of Agriculture. Presenters and West Ward of the Department of Agriculture said the provision is a point-in-time response to an agricultural crisis and estimated the waiver could allow promotion boards to retain about $500,000 more annually. Senator Hickey and others questioned whether temporarily waiving the fee could create pressure for similar waivers elsewhere or prove difficult to reinstate after the year; presenters said any waiver would be at the CFO's discretion and not automatically permanent.
The subcommittee also adopted amendments allowing the Department of Public Safety to use revenues generated at Camp Robinson for facility maintenance, enabling shared administrative-services billing under a state initiative and removing duplicative reporting requirements, and designating Arkansas Rehabilitation Services as the state unit for the vocational rehabilitation grant in Governor's letter 29.
For environmental funding, the committee approved Governor's letter 27 to cap the used-tire reimbursement rate at $2.31, effective July 1, 2026. Throughout the meeting, motions to adopt each amendment were moved, seconded, and carried by voice vote; the chair announced each amendment as adopted.
Votes at a glance - Governor's letter 7 (agenda item): amendment adopted by voice vote. - Governor's letter 14 (Department of Correction): amendment adopted by voice vote. Clarifies transfers to county jail reimbursement fund (allows transfers in; removes any language allowing transfer out). - Governor's letter 20 (Department of Education, pages 23-38): designates Department of Agriculture as responsible for child nutrition program; amendment adopted. - Governor's letter 20 (pages 39-43): implements Act 909 of 2025 changes on EBD employer contributions and phases out teacher equalization funds; amendment adopted. - Governor's letter 22 (Agriculture promotion boards): CFO waiver of 3% fee authorized (point-in-time, not automatic); amendment adopted. Estimated fiscal effect to promotion boards: retain roughly $500,000 annually if waived. - Governor's letter 23 (Department of Public Safety/Camp Robinson): amendment adopted to direct facility-use revenues toward Camp Robinson maintenance. - Governor's letter 24 (Shared administrative services): amendment adopted to permit agency billing for support services and remove duplicative reporting requirements. - Governor's letter 29 (Commerce/Workforce Services): Arkansas Rehabilitation Services designated as state unit for vocational rehabilitation grant; amendment adopted. - Governor's letter 27 (Environment & Quality Division): used-tire program reimbursement rate capped at $2.31 effective 07/01/2026; amendment adopted.
Members did not request roll-call tallies in the transcript; each adoption was recorded by voice vote. The chair closed by noting all adopted amendments are released from special language and adjourning the subcommittee.
