AN ACT FOR THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.
Summary
HB1037 is the fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation act for the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners. It authorizes funding for the agency’s regular staff, extra help, and operating expenses, and sets the maximum number of employees and temporary workers the board may use during the fiscal year. The bill also provides specific appropriations for election expenses and for nonpartisan general election costs, both drawn from designated state funds.
In addition to the core appropriations, the bill includes standard fiscal controls and special language governing how unused election-expense money may be carried forward into the next fiscal year and how funds may be transferred if the board lacks sufficient money to carry out its duties. It also contains compliance, legislative intent, and emergency clauses, making the act effective July 1, 2026 so the agency can continue operating without interruption.
Impact
The bill directly affects state budget law by appropriating a total of $1,103,617 for the board’s operations, $6,340,000 for election expenses, and $1,600,000 for nonpartisan general election expenses, while also setting staffing limits and temporary employment authority. It governs the use of the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account and the Nonpartisan Filing Fee Fund, and it authorizes carry-forward and transfer procedures that shape how election administration funds may be managed across fiscal years. The act does not change election policy or substantive election law, but it does control the financing and administration of the State Board of Election Commissioners and related election functions.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support, with the bill passing the House 94-0 and the Senate 34-0 on third reading. The absence of committee transcript material suggests there was little recorded controversy in the available record. Overall, the sentiment appears routine and favorable, consistent with a standard appropriation measure needed to fund election administration.
Contention
No notable points of contention appear in the provided materials. Because HB1037 is an appropriations bill, any discussion would likely have focused on funding levels, carry-forward authority, and transfer provisions rather than policy disputes, but no objections or competing viewpoints are reflected in the transcript record provided. The unanimous votes indicate that any concerns, if raised, were not significant enough to generate opposition.