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Business & Economy

SB530

To Amend The Arkansas Wood Energy Products And Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit.

Passed

Last Action (April 18, 2025): Notification that SB530 is now Act 701

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

Senate Bill 530 amends the Arkansas Wood Energy Products and Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit program. The bill significantly expands the scale of qualified projects by increasing the required minimum capital investment from $50 million to $1 billion and raising the commitment for net new full-time permanent employees from 100 to 400. It extends the deadline for project certification to June 30, 2028, and adjusts the tax credit rate for qualifying equipment from 30% to 20%. Additionally, the bill updates administrative notification requirements for taxpayers and public retirement systems regarding the sale or transfer of these tax credits. The legislation aims to further incentivize large-scale industrial investment in the state's timber and wood energy sectors starting in the 2026 tax year.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries are large-scale industrial entities in the timber and wood energy sectors that are capable of making significant capital investments of at least $1 billion and creating 400 new full-time jobs. Additionally, the broader Arkansas timber industry, including forestry operations, may benefit from increased demand for low-value wood products like sawmill residuals, treetops, and forest thinnings.

Who Might Suffer?

The primary group negatively impacted is the State of Arkansas's general revenue fund, which will forgo tax income due to the granting of these credits. Furthermore, taxpayers who do not meet the highly specific and increased threshold for 'qualified wood energy products and forest maintenance projects'—such as smaller, localized wood energy businesses—may be disadvantaged compared to the large corporations eligible for these substantial incentives.

Vote Records

Third Reading

April 9, 2025
Yea: 82 Nay: 3 NV: 15 Absent: 0 Passed
View individual votes (100)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Tracy Steele Democrat House Yea
Fred Allen Democrat House NV
Lane Jean Republican House Yea
Stephen Meeks Republican House Yea
Mark Perry Democrat House Yea
Jon Eubanks Republican House Yea
Matthew Shepherd Republican House Yea
Jeff Wardlaw Republican House Yea
Bruce Cozart Republican House Yea
David Whitaker Democrat House Yea
Mike Holcomb Republican House Yea
Stephen Magie Democrat House Yea
Mark McElroy Republican House Yea
Richard Womack Republican House Yea
Jack Ladyman Republican House Yea
Robin Lundstrum Republican House NV
Dwight Tosh Republican House Yea
Rick Beck Republican House Yea
Mary Bentley Republican House Yea
Les Eaves Republican House Yea
Justin Gonzales Republican House Yea
Julie Mayberry Republican House NV
Ken Ferguson Democrat House Yea
Ron Mcnair Republican House Yea
Marcus Richmond Republican House Yea
Deann Vaught Republican House Yea
Karilyn Brown Republican House Yea
Sonia Eubanks Barker Republican House Yea
Frances Cavenaugh Republican House Yea
Jimmie Gazaway Republican House Yea
Roger Lynch Republican House Yea
John Maddox Republican House Yea
Aaron Pilkington Republican House NV
Johnny Rye Republican House Yea
Les Warren Republican House Yea
Carlton Wing Republican House Yea
Austin Mccollum Republican House NV
Carol Dalby Republican House Yea
Steve Hollowell Republican House Yea
Brian Evans Republican House Yea
Lee Johnson Republican House Yea
Andrew Collins Democrat House Yea
Stan Berry Republican House Yea
Harlan Breaux Republican House Yea
Cameron Cooper Republican House Yea
Nicole Clowney Democrat House Yea
Cindy Crawford Republican House Yea
Denise Garner Democrat House Yea
Tippi McCullough Democrat House Yea
Jay Richardson Democrat House Yea
Jim Wooten Republican House Yea
Denise Ennett Democrat House Yea
Richard McGrew Republican House NV
Joy Springer Democrat House Yea
Howard Beaty Republican House Yea
Tony Furman Republican House Yea
Kendon Underwood Republican House Nay
David Ray Republican House Nay
John Carr Republican House Yea
Rick McClure Republican House Yea
Keith Brooks Republican House Yea
Ashley Hudson Democrat House Yea
Jon Milligan Republican House NV
RJ Hawk Republican House Yea
Wade Andrews Republican House Yea
Rebecca Burkes Republican House NV
Hope Duke Republican House Nay
Zack Gramlich Republican House Yea
Mindy McAlindon Republican House NV
Matt Duffield Republican House Yea
Stetson Painter Republican House Yea
Steve Unger Republican House Yea
Wayne Long Republican House NV
Scott Richardson Republican House Yea
Brandon Achor Republican House Yea
Jeremiah Moore Republican House Yea
Joey Carr Republican House Yea
Matt Brown Republican House Yea
Shad Pearce Republican House Yea
Chad Puryear Republican House Yea
Ryan Rose Republican House NV
Bart Schulz Republican House Yea
Trey Steimel Republican House Yea
Tara Shephard Democrat House Yea
Jeremy Wooldridge Republican House Yea
Kendra Moore Republican House Yea
Brit McKenzie Republican House NV
Steven Walker Republican House Yea
Glenn Barnes Democrat House Yea
Lincoln Barnett Democrat House Yea
Alyssa Brown Republican House NV
Nick Burkes Republican House NV
Paul Childress Republican House Yea
James Eaton Republican House Yea
Brad Hall Republican House Yea
Dolly Henley Republican House Yea
Jessie McGruder Democrat House Yea
Jason Nazarenko Republican House Yea
Randy Torres Republican House NV
Diana Gonzales Worthen Democrat House Yea

Third Reading

April 3, 2025
Yea: 32 Nay: 0 NV: 1 Absent: 2 Passed
View individual votes (35)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Jane English Republican Senate Yea
Jonathan Dismang Republican Senate Yea
Greg Leding Democrat Senate Yea
Missy Irvin Republican Senate Yea
Bryan King Republican Senate Yea
Kim Hammer Republican Senate Yea
Stephanie Flowers Democrat Senate Absent
Frederick Love Democrat Senate Yea
Terry Rice Republican Senate Yea
Reginald Murdock Democrat Senate Yea
Gary Stubblefield Republican Senate Yea
Jim Dotson Republican Senate NV
John Payton Republican Senate Yea
Alan Clark Republican Senate Yea
Ronald Caldwell Republican Senate Yea
Bart Hester Republican Senate Yea
Jimmy Hickey Republican Senate Yea
Dan Sullivan Republican Senate Yea
David Wallace Republican Senate Absent
Blake Johnson Republican Senate Yea
Justin Boyd Republican Senate Yea
Clarke Tucker Democrat Senate Yea
Scott Flippo Republican Senate Yea
Clint Penzo Republican Senate Yea
Mark Johnson Republican Senate Yea
Ricky Hill Republican Senate Yea
Jamie Scott Democrat Senate Yea
Breanne Davis Republican Senate Yea
Ben Gilmore Republican Senate Yea
Joshua Bryant Republican Senate Yea
Matt McKee Republican Senate Yea
Jim Petty Republican Senate Yea
Steve Crowell Republican Senate Yea
Tyler Dees Republican Senate Yea
Matt Stone Republican Senate Yea
Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us