AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.
SB6 is a fiscal-year appropriation bill for the Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Aeronautics. It establishes the division’s authorized staffing level for fiscal year 2026-2027, including up to six regular employees, and sets salary and classification limits for specific positions such as the Director of Aeronautics, a professional engineer, program supervision and coordination roles, and executive assistants.
The bill appropriates funds for the division’s operations, including regular salaries, matching funds, operating expenses, travel, professional fees, and a large allocation for airport grant funding and related expenses. It also includes a separate appropriation of federal funds for airport grant funding and related expenses, making clear that the division may use both state and federal resources for aviation-related grants and administration.
SB6 authorizes the spending authority for the Division of Aeronautics for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and sets the legal framework for how those funds may be used. It affects state budget law by appropriating $16,518,370 from the Division of Aeronautics Fund and $12,000,000 in federal funds, while also requiring compliance with state fiscal control laws, procurement rules, accounting procedures, and salary restrictions. The bill primarily impacts the Department of Commerce, airports, and eligible grant recipients such as cities, counties, and other applicants seeking airport-related funding.
The available context suggests the bill was routine and noncontroversial. There are no recorded committee transcripts, no listed votes, and no evidence of opposition or amendment debate in the provided materials. The bill’s progression to Act 3 indicates it was enacted as part of the normal appropriations process, likely with broad support as a standard budget measure.
No specific points of contention are shown in the provided record. Because there are no committee discussions or vote details, there is no documented disagreement over the staffing levels, the size of the airport grant appropriation, the use of federal funds, or the emergency clause. Any potential concerns would likely have centered on budget priorities or the scale of grant funding, but none are reflected in the available materials.