Arkansas Lawmakers Wrap Up 2025 Legislative Session

Big Wins, Bold Moves & a Few Bumps in the Road

After 93 days of packed committee meetings, heated floor debates, and key policy shifts, the 95th General Assembly officially recessed on Wednesday, April 16, with final adjournment planned for Monday, May 5. 

Over the session, lawmakers filed 1,652 bills and 176 resolutions, shaping Arkansas’s future across nearly every major policy area.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, alongside legislative leaders, closed out the session in a press conference, calling it a “transformative session for the Natural State.”

Session Highlights

Governor Sanders highlighted a long list of legislative accomplishments, including:

·      Eliminating the state grocery tax

·      A full overhaul of state employee pay and higher ed funding 

·      Expanding free school breakfasts for public school students 

·      Banning cell phone use in classrooms, from bell to bell 

These accomplishments, she said, reflect a focus on family, freedom, and fiscal responsibility.

A $6.5 Billion Budget: Priorities in the Revenue Stabilization Act

The approved Revenue Stabilization Act set a balanced state budget of $6.5 billion, including:

·      $90M increase for Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs)

·      $13M boost for maternal health programs under DHS 

·      $9M more to reimburse county jails 

The state continues investing in education, health care, and justice infrastructure.

Constitutional Amendments Headed to the 2026 Ballot

In November 2026, Arkansas voters will weigh in on three constitutional amendments:

·      HJR1018 – Bans non-citizens from voting in state elections 

·      SJR11 – Reinforces the right to keep and bear arms 

·      SJR15 – Authorizes creation of economic development districts 

These proposals center on voter integrity, gun rights, and economic growth.

Healthcare Reform: Medicaid, Moms & Maternity Leave

Medicaid Work Requirements

·      Act 774, sponsored by Senator Missy Irvin, now requires certain Medicaid recipients to:

·      Work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week 

·      Or meet an exemption (e.g. caregiver of a child with severe medical needs)

Maternal Health Support (Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act):

·      Increased Medicaid payments for prenatal visits & deliveries 

·      Expanded access to doulas, community health workers, and telemedicine

Paid Maternity Leave for Teachers

·    Act 904 now makes 12 weeks of paid maternity leave mandatory for public school employees— previously optional.

LEARNS Act Updates & Education Reform

Governor Sanders’ LEARNS Act saw several updates this session:

·      EFAs expanded to all students 

·      EFA funding increased by $90M 

·      New accountability rules for preventing EFA misuse 

These reforms focus on choice, discipline, and performance in Arkansas schools.

Energy, Innovation & the Lithium Boom

With national interest in South Arkansas’s lithium reserves and the state’s growing wind industry, lawmakers acted fast:

·      Set taxes and fees for lithium extraction and salt water use 

·      Debated wind energy projects—leading to Act 945, which adds new oversight 

The Generating Jobs Act of 2025

·      This much-debated law allows utilities to:

·     Finance energy infrastructure with Construction Work in Progress (CWIP)

·     While staying under Public Service Commission oversight

 These moves aim to make Arkansas a competitive energy hub, balancing growth with regulation.

A Setback on Prison Reform

Governor Sanders’ push to build a $750 million, 3,000-bed prison in rural Franklin County failed to gain full legislative approval. 

Though this appropriation was blocked, press accounts note the Sanders administration and the state Board of Corrections remain committed to the Franklin County site. $75 million had already been approved in 2024 to get things started, and nearly 2,000 people are being housed in county jails while waiting for a prison bed.

Wrapping Up

As the 95th General Assembly winds down its Regular Session, its legacy is clear: Bold reforms. Budget boosts. Culture-shaping policies.

From education to energy, healthcare to constitutional rights, the 2025 legislative session touched nearly every part of life in Arkansas.