HB1259

House Bill 1259 provides appropriations for the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Arkansas Biosciences Institute for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The bill authorizes funding for personal services, operating expenses, and capital outlays, drawing from the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Program Account of the Tobacco Settlement Program Fund. It allocates approximately $2.38 million to the University of Arkansas and $2.42 million to the Division of Agriculture for these purposes. The legislation includes specific provisions for the transfer of appropriations between line items, subject to oversight by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. It also mandates that employees funded by these sources be informed that their positions are dependent on continued Tobacco Settlement funding. An emergency clause is included to ensure the funding takes effect by July 1, 2025.