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 As Engrossed: H3/12/25 S4/8/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1606
4
5 By: Representative Steimel
6 By: Senator Dees
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF
10 CERTAIN VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS; TO AMEND THE LAW
11 CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF A UTILITY TASK VEHICLE ON
12 A PUBLIC STREET OR HIGHWAY; TO ALLOW A LOCAL
13 GOVERNMENT TO AUTHORIZE THE OPERATION OF A UTILITY
14 TASK VEHICLE ON A DESIGNATED PUBLIC STREET OR HIGHWAY
15 WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S JURISDICTION; TO
16 ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR A UTILITY TASK VEHICLE
17 OPERATING ON A PUBLIC STREET OR HIGHWAY; AND FOR
18 OTHER PURPOSES.
19
20
21 Subtitle
22 TO ALLOW A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO AUTHORIZE
23 THE OPERATION OF A UTILITY TASK VEHICLE
24 ON A DESIGNATED PUBLIC STREET OR HIGHWAY
25 WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S
26 JURISDICTION SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
27 REQUIREMENTS.
28
29 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
30
31 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 27-21-101 is amended to read as follows:
32 27-21-101. Purpose.
33 It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to regulate the use of
34 recreational all-terrain vehicles by restricting their use and utility task
35 vehicles on the public streets and highways of this state. This law seeks to
36 ensure the safety and general welfare of the citizens of Arkansas by limiting
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1 the situations where all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles are
2 permitted to be used in a dangerous and unsafe fashion.
3
4 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 27-21-102(1)(C), concerning the definitions
5 used in the laws relating to all-terrain vehicles, is amended to read as
6 follows:
7 (C) "All-terrain vehicle" does not include a utility task
8 vehicle, golf cart, riding lawnmower, or lawn or garden tractor;
9
10 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 27-21-102(4)(B) and (C), concerning the
11 definitions used in the laws relating to all-terrain vehicles, are amended to
12 read as follows:
13 (B) "Recreational off-highway vehicle" includes a:
14 (i) Multipurpose multipurpose off-highway utility
15 vehicle; and
16 (ii) Utility task vehicle.
17 (C) "Recreational off-highway vehicle" does not include a
18 utility task vehicle, golf cart, riding lawnmower, or lawn or garden tractor.
19
20 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 27-21-102, concerning definitions used in
21 the laws relating to all-terrain vehicles, is amended to add an additional
22 subdivision to read as follows:
23 (5)(A) "Utility task vehicle" means a vehicle that:
24 (i) Is eighty inches (80") or less in width;
25 (ii) Travels on four (4) or more low-pressure tires;
26 (iii) Has a steering wheel;
27 (iv) Has non-straddle seating;
28 (v) Has a rollover protection system;
29 (vi) Is designed for or capable of travel over
30 unimproved terrain; and
31 (B) "Utility task vehicle" does not include an all-terrain
32 vehicle, a golf cart, a riding lawnmower, or a lawn or garden tractor.
33
34 SECTION 5. Arkansas Code �� 27-21-103 and 27-21-104 are amended to
35 read as follows:
36 27-21-103. Construction.
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1 Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an all-terrain
2 vehicle or a utility task vehicle to be registered as a motor vehicle,
3 motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle for operation on the public streets and
4 highways.
5
6 27-21-104. Penalty.
7 Any A person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be upon
8 conviction is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
9 shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more
10 than fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisoned not more than thirty (30) days, or
11 shall be both fined and imprisoned.
12
13 SECTION 6. Arkansas Code � 27-21-107, concerning the operation of all-
14 terrain vehicles, is amended to add an additional subsection to read as
15 follows:
16 (c) An operator of a utility task vehicle that is travelling on a
17 public street or highway as authorized under � 27-21-111(a)(2) shall:
18 (1) Have a valid driver's license;
19 (2) Be subject to the restrictions stated in � 27-16-804;
20 (3) Register the utility task vehicle under � 27-14-701 et seq.
21 and display the registration decal for the utility task vehicle on the
22 driver's side roll bar of the utility task vehicle;
23 (4) Maintain insurance that meets the requirements for private
24 passenger motor vehicles under � 23-89-201 et seq.;
25 (5) Carry proof of insurance covering the utility task vehicle
26 as required under the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, � 27-19-101 et
27 seq. and � 27-22-101 et seq.; and
28 (6) Comply with the rules of the road as provided under � 27-51-
29 101 et seq.
30
31 SECTION 7. Arkansas Code � 27-21-108, concerning the equipment
32 required for all-terrain vehicles, is amended to add an additional subsection
33 to read as follows:
34 (c) A utility task vehicle operated on a public street or highway as
35 authorized under � 27-21-111(a)(2) shall have the following functional
36 equipment:
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1 (1) At least two (2) headlamps;
2 (2) Rear-facing turn signals;
3 (3) At least one (1) brake light; and
4 (4) Seatbelts.
5
6 SECTION 8. Arkansas Code Title 27, Chapter 21, Subchapter 1, is
7 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:
8 27-21-111. Operation of utility task vehicle on designated public
9 streets and highways.
10 (a) A person may operate a utility task vehicle on a public street or
11 highway of this state if:
12 (1) The utility task vehicle is being operated on the public
13 street or highway under a condition or circumstance listed in � 27-21-106(a);
14 or
15 (2) The following requirements are met:
16 (A) The public street or highway has been designated as
17 being open to the operation of a utility task vehicle under this section; and
18 (B) The utility task vehicle and the operator of the
19 utility task vehicle meet the requirements of this chapter.
20 (b)(1)(A) The governing body of the city in which a public street or
21 highway is located may adopt an ordinance designating the public street or
22 highway within the jurisdiction of the city as being open to the operation of
23 a utility task vehicle.
24 (B) An ordinance adopted under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of
25 this section:
26 (i) May apply to all public streets and highways
27 within the boundaries of the city; or
28 (ii)(a) If the ordinance does not apply to all
29 public streets and highways within the boundaries of the city, shall include
30 a map depicting and a list identifying the particular public streets and
31 highways that are designated as being open to the operation of a utility task
32 vehicle.
33 (b) The map required under subdivision
34 (b)(1)(B)(ii)(a) of this section shall be attached as an exhibit to the
35 ordinance on file with the city clerk.
36 (2)(A) The county judge of the county in which a public street
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1 or highway is located may issue an executive order designating the public
2 street or highway within the jurisdiction of the county as being open to the
3 operation of a utility task vehicle.
4 (B) An executive order issued under subdivision (b)(2)(A)
5 of this section:
6 (i) May apply to all public streets and highways
7 within the boundaries of the county; or
8 (ii)(a) If the executive order does not apply to all
9 public streets and highways within the boundaries of the county, shall have
10 attached as an exhibit a map depicting and a list identifying the particular
11 public streets and highways that are designated as being open to the
12 operation of a utility task vehicle.
13 (b) The map required under subdivision
14 (b)(2)(B)(ii)(a) of this section shall be attached as an exhibit to the
15 executive order on file with the county clerk.
16 (3) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a
17 state highway that is located within an area that has been designated as
18 being open under this subsection is open to the operation of a utility task
19 vehicle.
20 (c) If a public street or highway is subject to the jurisdiction of
21 both a city and a county, the city ordinance or the executive order of the
22 county judge that is least restrictive to the operation of a utility task
23 vehicle applies.
24 (d) The governing body of a city or the county judge of a county shall
25 not designate a public street or highway within the jurisdiction of the city
26 or county as being open to the operation of a utility task vehicle under this
27 subsection if the public street or highway:
28 (A) Has a posted speed limit that exceeds fifty-five miles
29 per hour (55 m.p.h.);
30 (B) Is a divided four-lane highway; or
31 (C) Is located in a state park.
32
33 /s/Steimel
34
35
36
5 04-08-2025 10:06:41 JLL202Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.