SB196

Senate Bill 196 proposes the reappropriation of remaining capital improvement funds for various higher education institutions across Arkansas for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The bill allocates leftover balances from previous acts, specifically Act 108 of 2024 and Act 24 of 2024, to ensure these institutions can complete ongoing construction, renovation, maintenance, and equipment procurement projects. Beneficiary institutions include Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The funding is sourced from the Development and Enhancement Fund and the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Grant and Trust Fund. The bill does not authorize new taxes or spending but rather authorizes the continued expenditure of funds that were previously appropriated but not fully utilized. This type of legislation is standard procedure to prevent lapses in funding for multi-year capital projects.