Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1613

Introduced

2/27/25

Refer

2/27/25

Report Pass

3/6/25

Engrossed

3/12/25

Enrolled

3/14/25

Chaptered

3/18/25

Passed

3/18/25

Caption

An Act For The Department Of Education - Division Of Higher Education - Northwest Technical Institute Capital Improvement Appropriation.

Summary

HB1613 is a fiscal appropriation bill for the Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, specifically for Northwest Technical Institute. It authorizes up to $1,000,000 from the Development and Enhancement Fund for capital improvement projects, including construction, renovation, major maintenance, and the purchase of equipment for facility improvements. The bill is structured as a standard capital appropriation measure rather than a policy change. It includes disbursement controls requiring that spending not exceed available state treasury funds, allows the institute to supplement the appropriation with grants, donations, federal funds, or unobligated cash income, and prohibits use of general maintenance and operations funds for the specified projects. It also requires compliance with state purchasing, accounting, budgetary, and revenue stabilization laws, and contains an emergency clause making the act effective July 1, 2025.

Impact

HB1613 affects state budgeting and higher education capital funding by creating a dedicated appropriation for Northwest Technical Institute’s facility and equipment needs. It does not amend substantive education law, but it authorizes the transfer or refund of funds for approved capital projects and sets conditions on how those funds may be spent, thereby directing state resources to infrastructure and maintenance at the institute.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House and Senate on third reading with unanimous votes of 95-0 and 34-0, respectively, and there is no committee transcript indicating debate or opposition. The voting record suggests consensus around funding the institute’s capital needs.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only notable constraints are the usual fiscal controls and the prohibition on using maintenance-and-operations appropriations for these capital projects, but no legislator or stakeholder is recorded as objecting to those provisions. Because no committee discussion is available, any disagreement that may have existed is not reflected in the provided materials.

Latest AR HB1613 Activity

View All Events: AR 2025 Regular Session HB1613

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

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