Arkansas Senate adopts revenue stabilization plan and passes a batch of appropriations

The Arkansas Senate on April 28 passed Senate Bill 75, a revenue stabilization measure that lawmakers said largely mirrors proposals in the governor’s balanced‑budget plan and includes a series of specific set‑asides. Senator Jonathan Dismang (Senator Dismang) told colleagues the RSA keeps roughly 3% growth in general revenue while adding discrete reserves and targeted funds, and the Senate adopted the bill and its emergency clause by roll call, 33 yays, 1 nay, and 1 present.

Senator Dismang summarized the largest set‑asides included in SB75: two $100,000,000 Medicaid set‑asides (one described as an additional Medicaid set‑aside), a $70,000,000 set‑aside for education finance adjustments (EFAs), a $43,700,000 majority set‑aside, $5,000,000 for motor vehicle needs, and a $300,000,000 quick‑action fund for a “super project” in West Memphis (described as split into $150,000,000 to an entity conditioned on meeting thresholds and $150,000,000 for potential road improvements). "We have the 100,000,000 which was the Medicaid set aside ... there's a $70,000,000 set aside for EFAs," Dismang said on the floor.

In addition to SB75, the Senate handled a range of appropriations on the budget calendar. Senator Kroll presented House Bill 11‑3, a bill to raise the Homestead Property Tax Credit rebate to $6.75; the Senate rolled the vote and HB 11‑3 passed by roll call, 34 yeas, 0 nays, 1 present. Senator Kroll said the decision followed a January report that showed available funds to support the increase.

Other individual appropriations taken up separately included House Bill 10‑5 (Department of Education appropriation for FY2027), which was pulled for a separate vote and passed, 28 yeas, 2 nays, 5 present. The Senate also approved House Bill 10‑89 (a Department of Finance and Administration supplemental appropriation related to the pregnancy crisis centers grant program), 29 yeas, 6 nays; and House Bill 10‑90 (a Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality, supplemental appropriation) to provide $2,500,000 for a used‑tire recycling and abatement program plus a $2,500,000 transfer from general‑appropriated‑dollars (GAD); HB 10‑90 passed, 34 yeas, 0 nays, 1 present.

The Senate approved a batch of House bills (HBs 10‑08, 10‑37, 10‑51, 10‑52, 10‑68 and 10‑93) by a single roll call, 35 yays, 0 nays, with emergency clauses adopted and the bills returned to the House. A second batch of Senate appropriation bills (SBs 3, 4, 7, 15, 21 and 31) also passed unanimously by roll call, 35 yays, 0 nays.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 75 (revenue stabilization, emergency clause): Passed 33‑1‑1 (yay‑nay‑present). Outcome: approved with emergency clause. - House Bill 11‑3 (increase homestead rebate to $6.75): Passed 34‑0‑1. Outcome: passed; return to House. - House Bill 10‑5 (Department of Education FY2027 appropriation): Passed 28‑2‑5. Outcome: passed; emergency clause adopted. - House Bill 10‑89 (DFA supplemental appropriation related to pregnancy crisis centers): Passed 29‑6. Outcome: passed; emergency clause adopted. - House Bill 10‑90 (ADEQ used‑tire recycling appropriation; $2,500,000 + $2,500,000 transfer): Passed 34‑0‑1. Outcome: passed; emergency clause adopted. - Batch (HBs 10‑08, 10‑37, 10‑51, 10‑52, 10‑68, 10‑93): Passed 35‑0. Outcome: passed; emergency clauses adopted. - Batch (SBs 3, 4, 7, 15, 21, 31): Passed 35‑0. Outcome: passed; emergency clauses adopted.

Why it matters

Senate Bill 75 sets the framework for how surplus and stabilization funds will be used in the coming fiscal year, including specific dollars earmarked for Medicaid, education, and a large quick‑action fund described for a major project in West Memphis. The separate appropriations votes move forward agency budgets and targeted programs — from education finance adjustments to environmental remediation — and many of the measures were approved with emergency clauses to take effect immediately upon presentation to the governor.

What’s next

Bills that passed will be transmitted to the House or, where indicated, delivered to the governor. Senate leaders said the chamber will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, subject to the clearing of the desk.

Quotes

"This RSA largely mimics what we've done or what the discussion was with the governor's balanced budget proposal," Senator Dismang said while introducing SB75. "We have the 100,000,000 which was the Medicaid set aside ... there's a $70,000,000 set aside for EFAs."

"We did the resolution last week so that we can make this bill up so that we could raise the Homestead property rebate to $6.75," Senator Kroll said when presenting HB 11‑3.