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Taxes & Budget

HB1046

An Act For The Department Of Commerce - Arkansas Waterways Commission Appropriation For The 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.

Engrossed

Last Action (April 15, 2026): Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1046 is a fiscal appropriation bill for the Arkansas Department of Commerce - Arkansas Waterways Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The bill authorizes funding for the agency's regular staff salaries, operating expenses, and personal services matching, totaling $335,324. It further appropriates $5,000,000 for the Arkansas Port, Intermodal, and Waterway Development Grant Program to support port authority projects. Additionally, it allocates $2,000,000 for the development, improvement, and expansion of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The bill requires compliance with standard state fiscal and procurement laws and includes an emergency clause for the act to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries include the Arkansas Waterways Commission, which receives funding for its operations and staffing, as well as port and intermodal authorities across the state that are eligible to apply for waterway development grants. The agricultural, industrial, and logistics sectors that rely on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System for shipping and transportation also benefit from the infrastructure improvements funded by this bill.

Who Might Suffer?

There are no specific groups negatively impacted by this bill; however, taxpayers in general are affected as the funds appropriated are derived from state revenue sources. Furthermore, other state agencies or programs that might have competed for these specific fund allocations for their own budgetary needs may be considered indirectly impacted by the allocation of these financial resources to the Arkansas Waterways Commission.

Vote Records

Third Reading

April 15, 2026
Yea: 94 Nay: 0 NV: 5 Absent: 0 Passed
View individual votes (99)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Tracy Steele Democrat House Yea
Fred Allen Democrat House Yea
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 Yea
Ken Ferguson Democrat House Yea
Ron Mcnair Republican House Yea
Marcus Richmond Republican House Yea
Deann Vaught Republican House Yea
Karilyn Brown Republican House NV
Sonia Eubanks Barker Republican House Yea
Frances Cavenaugh Republican House Yea
Jimmie Gazaway Republican House NV
Roger Lynch Republican House Yea
John Maddox Republican House Yea
Aaron Pilkington Republican House Yea
Johnny Rye Republican House Yea
Les Warren Republican House Yea
Austin Mccollum Republican House Yea
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
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 Yea
Joy Springer Democrat House Yea
Howard Beaty Republican House Yea
Tony Furman Republican House Yea
Kendon Underwood Republican House Yea
David Ray Republican House Yea
John Carr Republican House Yea
Rick McClure Republican House Yea
Keith Brooks Republican House Yea
Ashley Hudson Democrat House Yea
Jon Milligan Republican House Yea
RJ Hawk Republican House Yea
Wade Andrews Republican House Yea
Rebecca Burkes Republican House Yea
Hope Duke Republican House Yea
Zack Gramlich Republican House Yea
Mindy McAlindon Republican House Yea
Matt Duffield Republican House Yea
Stetson Painter Republican House Yea
Steve Unger Republican House Yea
Wayne Long Republican House Yea
Scott Richardson Republican House Yea
Brandon Achor Republican House NV
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 Yea
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 Yea
Nick Burkes Republican House Yea
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 Yea
Diana Gonzales Worthen Democrat House Yea
Alex Holladay Democrat House Yea
Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us