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Education

HB1005

An Act For The Department Of Education Appropriation For The 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.

Introduced

Last Action (April 1, 2026): Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1005 is a fiscal appropriation act for the Arkansas Department of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. It establishes the maximum number of regular and extra-help employees for various divisions within the department, including Shared Services, State Operations, and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The bill authorizes funding for personal services, operating expenses, and specific programmatic needs such as the Child Nutrition Program, federal grant administration, and building maintenance. Additionally, it provides appropriation authority for the Revolving Loan Certificates Program to support school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools. The act details funding allocations for entitlement grant programs and multiple grant award programs. Overall, the bill functions as a standard budgetary mechanism to ensure the administrative and operational continuity of the Department of Education.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries of this bill are the Arkansas Department of Education, including its various divisions, and its employees who receive authorized salary funding. Additionally, public school districts, open-enrollment public charter schools, and the students they serve benefit through the provision of loans, nutrition programs, and various federal and state-funded educational grant initiatives.

Who Might Suffer?

There are no groups or entities directly negatively impacted by this bill in the traditional sense, as it is a routine appropriation act necessary for the functioning of state government. Potential indirect negative impacts could be felt by taxpayers if the allocation of these funds is viewed as inefficient or if specific policy priorities funded by these appropriations do not align with all citizens' perspectives.

Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us