AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE - ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.
Summary
HB1048 is a fiscal-year appropriation act for the Office of the Treasurer of State that directs money from the Arkansas Citizens First Responder Safety Enhancement Fund to two recipient organizations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It provides $310,000 for emergency medical expenses for the Arkansas Ambulance Association and $310,000 for local law enforcement expenses for the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, both under Arkansas Code 19-43-277.
The bill is primarily a budget measure rather than a policy change. It authorizes the Treasurer’s Office to disburse the appropriated funds, subject to existing state fiscal controls, procurement rules, accounting and budget procedures, revenue stabilization requirements, and salary restrictions. It also includes legislative intent language tying spending to the agency requests, executive recommendations, and legislative materials used in adopting the appropriation, and it takes effect July 1, 2026 under an emergency clause.
Impact
HB1048 amends state spending authority for fiscal year 2026-2027 by appropriating a total of $620,000 from the Arkansas Citizens First Responder Safety Enhancement Fund through the Office of the Treasurer of State. It affects the Arkansas Ambulance Association and the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police by making state funds available for their emergency medical and local law enforcement expenses, while leaving underlying substantive law unchanged.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little controversy. It passed the House 97-0 and the Senate 32-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript debate suggests it was treated as a routine appropriations measure within the Joint Budget Committee process.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. Because the bill is an appropriation for specific first responder-related organizations, any potential points of contention would likely concern the allocation of public funds between emergency medical and law enforcement purposes, but the voting record shows no recorded dissent. The measure’s use of the Citizens First Responder Safety Enhancement Fund and its emergency clause are the main structural features, though neither appears to have generated dispute.