Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas A Bill
2 95th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1159
4
5 By: Representative J. Richardson
6
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO CREATE THE RETAIL CONVENIENCE STORE
10 SECURITY ACT; TO REGULATE SECURITY MEASURES AT RETAIL
11 CONVENIENCE STORES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO CREATE THE RETAIL CONVENIENCE STORE
16 SECURITY ACT; AND TO REGULATE SECURITY
17 MEASURES AT RETAIL CONVENIENCE STORES.
18
19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
20
21 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 4 is amended to add an additional
22 chapter to read as follows:
23
24 CHAPTER 120
25 RETAIL CONVENIENCE STORE SECURITY ACT
26
27 4-120-101. Title.
28 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Retail Convenience
29 Store Security Act".
30
31 4-120-102. Legislative findings.
32 The General Assembly finds that:
33 (1) Retail convenience stores are convenient for both criminals
34 and consumers alike;
35 (2) Retail convenience stores have long been targets for
36 nighttime robberies and other crimes;
*ANS077* 01/15/2025 1:04:49 PM ANS077
HB1159
1 (3) It has been estimated by law enforcement officials that six
2 percent (6%) of all robberies of businesses in the United States involve
3 retail convenience stores;
4 (4) Employees in the retail trade sector are at a higher risk of
5 violence and homicide than in other industry sectors, and within the retail
6 sector, employees in gasoline stations or retail convenience stores are at a
7 higher risk of violence and homicide compared with employees in other types
8 of retail and the overall workforce;
9 (5) According to 2021 Federal Bureau of Investigation crime
10 data, there were over twenty-two thousand seven hundred eighty-eight (22,788)
11 incidents of violent crime that occurred at retail convenience stores in the
12 United States, double the incidence of violent crime that occurred at retail
13 convenience stores in 2017, and represented three percent (3%) of the
14 nation's total violent crime statistics for 2021;
15 (6) The increase in nighttime robberies and other crimes at
16 retail convenience stores heightens the risk of danger, exposure to violent
17 incidents, and crime to consumers and employees;
18 (7) Some states have mandated certain minimum security measures
19 at retail convenience stores to enhance and protect customers and employees
20 of convenience stores during the nighttime hours, including Florida, Maine,
21 and New Mexico; and
22 (8) Increased security measures can decrease the amount of
23 retail convenience store crimes.
24
25 4-120-103. Minimum increased security measures -- Retail convenience
26 store -- Definition.
27 (a) As used in this section, "retail convenience store" means a
28 location used by an entity to conduct retail sales of miscellaneous consumer
29 convenience goods to the public.
30 (b) On and after January 1, 2026, a retail convenience store shall:
31 (1) Require a minimum of two (2) employees on the premises of
32 the retail convenience store between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;
33 (2) Require a security camera system capable of recording and
34 retrieving images to assist in offender identification and apprehension;
35 (3) Have a drop safe or cash management device for restricted
36 access to cash receipts and post a conspicuous notice to this effect at the
2 01/15/2025 1:04:49 PM ANS077
HB1159
1 retail convenience store;
2 (4) Maintain a lighted parking lot illuminated at an intensity
3 of at least two foot-candle (2 lm/sq. ft.) at eighteen inches (18") above the
4 parking lot's surface;
5 (5) Post a conspicuous notice at the entrance of the retail
6 convenience store that states that the cash register contains fifty dollars
7 ($50) or less;
8 (6) Maintain window signage that allows a clear and unobstructed
9 view from outside the building and in a normal line of sight of the cash
10 register and sales transaction area;
11 (7) Install height markers at the entrance of the retail
12 convenience store that displays height measures to aid in offender
13 identification;
14 (8) Develop a cash management policy to limit the amount of cash
15 on hand at all times after 9:00 p.m.;
16 (9) Conduct regular employee training;
17 (10) Maintain a silent alarm to law enforcement or a private
18 security agency; and
19 (11) Lock the business premises throughout the hours of 9:00
20 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and only transact business through an indirect pass-
21 through trough, trapdoor, or window.
22
23 4-120-104. Penalty.
24 A violation of this chapter is punishable by action of the Attorney
25 General under the provisions of � 4-88-101 et seq.
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
3 01/15/2025 1:04:49 PM ANS077Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.