AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION PROGRAMS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1035 is the Arkansas Department of Health appropriation bill for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs for fiscal year 2026-2027. It establishes a maximum of 31 regular positions and authorizes up to four extra-help employees, while appropriating $14,702,255 for salaries, matching costs, operating expenses, professional fees, tobacco prevention and cessation activities, and nutrition and physical activity expenses. The bill also includes standard fiscal-control language governing transfers, compliance with state purchasing and accounting laws, and legislative intent for how the funds are to be used.
The act is a one-year appropriation measure that becomes effective July 1, 2026, and it includes an emergency clause to ensure the program can continue without interruption. It also authorizes the Department of Health to transfer $500,000 from the Prevention and Cessation Program Account to the Breast Cancer Control Fund to support the state match for Medicaid breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment services. In addition, the bill states that tobacco settlement-funded positions are not guaranteed to continue if settlement revenues are insufficient, and that state funds will not automatically replace those dollars without further legislative and gubernatorial approval.
HB1035 primarily affects the Department of Health’s tobacco prevention and cessation operations by setting staffing limits, funding levels, and spending authority for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It does not create a new substantive regulatory program, but it does control how tobacco settlement and related public health funds may be spent, including a specified transfer to the Breast Cancer Control Fund. The bill also reinforces existing fiscal oversight statutes by requiring compliance with state purchasing, accounting, salary, and budget transfer rules, and by preserving legislative review of appropriation transfers.
The available voting history suggests the bill moved with generally favorable support, as it passed third reading in both chambers and was ultimately enacted as Act 162. The recorded votes show clear majorities in favor, though not unanimous support in the House and Senate. Because there are no committee transcripts provided, the discussion record does not show detailed debate, but the final outcome indicates broad acceptance of the appropriation and the public health funding priorities it supports.
The main points of potential contention are fiscal rather than policy-based. The bill’s use of tobacco settlement funds, the size of the appropriation, and the authority to transfer $500,000 to the Breast Cancer Control Fund could draw scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about earmarking, program priorities, or dependence on settlement revenues. The language stating that tobacco-settlement-funded positions are not guaranteed and that state funds will not replace expiring settlement money may also be important to legislators and agency staff concerned about long-term staffing stability. No specific opposing arguments are documented in the provided transcripts, but the non-unanimous votes indicate some level of disagreement.