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Arkansas House clears wide slate of appropriations and reappropriations; several bills fail on the floor
Summary
The Arkansas House on April 22 passed a large package of general-appropriation and reappropriation bills, including Senate Bill 1 and multiple batches of budget measures, while several individual appropriation bills failed after floor votes.
The Arkansas House on April 22 cleared a broad series of appropriation and reappropriation measures, approving the Senate'passed budget bill and multiple grouped funding bills while rejecting several standalone appropriation measures.
Representative Vaught, who presented the Senate'passed budget, asked members for a favorable vote on Senate Bill 1, saying, "the senate passed our appropriation, so I'm asking for a good vote that we could pass their appropriation." The House approved SB 1 and its emergency clause by a vote of 90 yeas, 1 nay and 1 present.
Representative Johnson handled the day's budget calendar and multiple roll-call items, explaining individual bills and batches. On an amendment to House Bill 10 34 that would have provided a 10% pay increase connected to the secretary of state, Johnson said it "settled on a 10% increase for salaries for the secretary of state" after debate in the joint budget committee. Representative Pilkington raised concerns about how raises would be allocated, asking, "are there any safeguards in this to make sure that that's not happening, that some people in the office are receiving ... disproportionate raises?" The amendment failed on the floor.
Votes at a glance (selected floor outcomes): - Senate Bill 1 (Senate appropriation for FY 2026'27): passed, 90 y, 1 nay, 1 present. - Batch: House bills 1009, 1010, 1011, 1017, 1018, 1024, 1055, 1077: passed (batch vote), 92 y, 0 nay, 2 present. - House Bill 10 20 (Department of Transportation appropriation): passed, 88 y, 2 nay, 5 present. - House Bill 10 23 (Department of Human Services, Secretary's Office): failed, 68 y, 19 nay, 8 present. - House Bill 10 41 (Secretary of State appropriation; added security positions): passed, 88 y, 3 nay, 4 present. - House Bill 10 53 (University of Arkansas at Little Rock appropriation adjustments): failed, 60 y, 21 nay, 11 present. - House Bill 10 98 (Parks & Recreation reappropriation for ongoing capital project): passed, 92 y, 0 nay, 3 present. - Batch: Senate general-appropriation bills (SB 19, 22, 32, 42, 52, 53, 74 and others): passed (batch vote), 95 y, 0 nay. - Senate Bill 2 (Department of Finance & Administration, assessment coordination division): passed, 88 y, 4 nay, 3 present. - Senate Bill 14 (Game and Fish Commission appropriation): passed, 88 y, 4 nay, 2 present. - Senate Bill 26 (University of Central Arkansas appropriation): passed, 82 y, 7 nay, 5 present. - Batch: Senate reappropriations (SB 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 70, 71): passed, 94 y, 0 nay, 1 present. - Senate Bill 68 (workforce services reappropriation): passed, 93 y, 0 nay, 2 present. - Senate Bill 69 (supplemental for university building): passed, 92 y, 0 nay, 3 present. - Senate Bill 72 (AEDC reappropriation): passed, 82 y, 10 nay, 3 present.
Representative Dolly Henley used a point of personal privilege to clarify prior floor remarks and apologize, saying, "I had no intention to mislead you as members of this House. Please accept my sincere apology," after members had sought clarification about her earlier position on House Bill 10 98.
Several members sought to pull individual bills from batches for separate consideration; Representative Johnson acknowledged those requests and restated the bills included in batches before each grouped vote. Members also discussed reappropriations that continue previously approved capital projects, and sponsors repeatedly emphasized that several items were reappropriations rather than new general-revenue increases.
The House concluded the day's business by approving a motion to adjourn until 3 p.m. Monday and announcing administrative deadlines and committee schedules. The desk will remain open as needed for reading of bills until the adjournment actions are completed.
What's next: Many of the measures carry emergency clauses; where required those measures take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature. The House will reconvene Monday at 3 p.m. to continue remaining adjourned-session business.
