An Act For The Auditor Of State - Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Appropriation For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.
Summary
SB54 is a fiscal appropriations bill for the Auditor of State’s deputy prosecuting attorneys for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes the maximum number of authorized positions across several deputy prosecutor classifications, including senior deputy prosecuting attorneys, attorney supervisors, specialists, and part-time attorneys, and sets the salary grades associated with each category.
The bill appropriates $32,942,383 from the State Central Services Fund for regular salaries, employer matching costs, a special deputy expense allowance, and licensure expenses. It also includes standard provisions requiring compliance with state fiscal and procurement laws, and it contains an emergency clause making the act effective July 1, 2025 so the funding is available at the start of the fiscal year.
Impact
SB54 does not change criminal law or prosecutorial authority; instead, it funds the staffing and operating costs for deputy prosecuting attorneys through the Arkansas budget process. Its effect on state law is to authorize spending, set maximum employee counts and salary limits for specified positions, and direct that the appropriation be administered under existing fiscal control statutes and Department of Finance and Administration rules. The act also creates a one-year appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and becomes effective immediately on July 1, 2025 under its emergency clause.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the Senate 33-0 and the House 98-0 on third reading, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests it was treated as a routine budget measure rather than a disputed policy bill.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. Because SB54 is an appropriation bill, any discussion would likely have focused on staffing levels, salary grades, and the size of the funding request rather than policy disagreements. The unanimous votes suggest no recorded opposition over the amount appropriated, the number of authorized positions, or the emergency effective-date provision.