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: S1/22/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 24
4
5 By: Joint Budget Committee
6
7 For An Act To Be Entitled
8 AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES
9 AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE GAME
10 AND FISH COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE
11 30, 2026; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE GAME AND
16 FISH COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE
17 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
18
19
20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
21
22 SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES. There is hereby established for the
23 Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the
24 following maximum number of regular employees.
25
26 Maximum Annual
27 Maximum Salary Rate
28 Item Class No. of Fiscal Year
29 No. Code Title Employees 2025-2026
30 (1) Q249U AGFC DIRECTOR 1 $170,437
31 (2) Q250U AGFC CHIEF OF STAFF 1 $136,703
32 (3) Q251U AGFC DEPUTY DIRECTOR 3 $135,253
33 (4) Q255U AGFC CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 1 $132,292
34 (5) Q252U AGFC VETERINARIAN 1 $130,050
35 (6) Q256U AGFC COLONEL 1 $128,282
36 (7) Q266U AGFC IT ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR 1 $127,986
*CJW006* 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 (8) Q371U AGFC CHIEF OF HUMAN RESOURCES 1 $125,049
$125,049
2 (9) Q370U AGFC CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 1 $125,049
$121,923
3 (10) Q254U AGFC GENERAL COUNSEL 1 $121,321
$121,321
4 (11) Q404U AGFC LIEUTENANT COLONEL 1 $121,321
$121,321
5 (12) Q375U AGFC CHIEF OF FISHERIES 1 $117,593
$117,593
6 (13) Q374U AGFC CHIEF OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 1 $117,593
$117,593
7 (14) Q373U AGFC CHIEF OF EDUCATION 1 $117,593
$117,593
8 (15) Q372U AGFC CHIEF OF OPERATIONS 1 $117,593
$117,593
9 (16) Q393U AGFC DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL 1 $115,563
$113,591
10 (17) Q392U AGFC CONTROLLER 1 $113,591
$113,591
11 (18) Q381U AGFC CHIEF OF RESEARCH 1 $113,591
$113,591
12 (19) Q380U AGFC CHIEF OF SHOOTING SPORTS 1 $113,591
13 (20) Q379U AGFC CHIEF OF PRIVATE LANDS MANAGEMENT 1 $98,718
$98,718
14 (21) Q378U AGFC CHIEF OF ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION 1 $95,269
$95,269
15 (22) Q377U AGFC CHIEF OF GIS 1 $95,269
$95,269
16 (23) Q376U AGFC CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS 1 $90,064
$90,064
17 (24) Q261U AGFC MAJOR 3 $78,575
$78,575
18 (25) Q265U AGFC IT SOFTWARE ENGINEER LEAD 1 $72,345
$72,345
19 (26) Q258U AGFC GIS LEAD 1 $67,267
20 (27) AGFC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POOL 13
21 Q383U AGFC IT SECURITY SPECIALIST
22 Q382U AGFC IT DATA SCIENTIST
23 Q384U AGFC IT SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
24 Q386U AGFC IT SENIOR SOFTWARE SUPPORT SPECIALIST
25 Q385U AGFC IT DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
26 Q283U AGFC IT SENIOR SOFTWARE SUPPORT ANALYST
27 Q387U AGFC IT PROJECT MANAGER
28 Q388U AGFC IT NETWORK SUPPORT ANALYST
29 Q389U AGFC IT SYSTEMS SPECIALIST
30 Q410U AGFC IT PROJECT COORDINATOR
31 Q390U AGFC IT COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST
32 Q308U AGFC IT WEBSITE DEVELOPER
33 Q391U AGFC IT ASSET MANAGER
34 Q365U AGFC IT SOFTWARE SUPPORT ANALYST
35 Q311U AGFC IT COMPUTER SUPPORT ANALYST
36 Q409U AGFC IT DATA ANALYST
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As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 Q364U AGFC IT SOFTWARE SUPPORT SPECIALIST $66,316
$107,692
2 (28) Q267U AGFC CAPTAIN 14 $105,933
$103,930
3 (29) Q260U AGFC DIVISION ASST CHIEF 24 $100,285
4 (30) Q276U AGFC LIEUTENANT 15 $99,107
$99,107
5 (31) Q284U AGFC SERGEANT 26 $89,744
$86,609
6 (32) AGFC CONS PROGRAM BIOLOGIST POOL 90 $98,718
$98,718
7 Q394U AGFC CONS PROGRAM BIOLOGIST III $98,718
$89,744
8 Q402U AGFC CONS PROGRAM BIOLOGIST II $98,718
$98,718
9 Q403U AGFC CONS PROGRAM BIOLOGIST I $95,269
$68,354
10 (33) Q268U AGFC ASSISTANT CONTROLLER 1 $98,718
$96,748
11 (34) AGFC ATTORNEY POOL 2 $96,748
$90,004
12 Q452U AGFC ATTORNEY SPECIALIST $85,718
$89,744
13 Q269U AGFC ATTORNEY $89,744
$86,609
14 (35) AGFC GIS POOL 6 $78,576
$75,004
15 Q271U AGFC SENIOR GIS ANALYST $71,432
$71,432
16 Q279U AGFC GIS ANALYST $71,432
$68,031
17 Q356U AGFC GIS TECHNICIAN $68,031
$61,706
18 (36) Q368U AGFC STATEWIDE PROJECT MANAGER 8 $61,706
$61,706
19 (37) AGFC ENFORCEMENT POOL 126 $58,767
20 Q288U AGFC CORPORAL
21 Q299U AGFC GAME WARDEN 1ST CLASS
22 Q309U AGFC GAME WARDEN
23 (38) AGFC SKILLED TRADES POOL 28
24 Q278U AGFC OPERATIONS & FACILITY MANAGER
25 Q396U AGFC FLEET MANAGER
26 Q307U AGFC SURVEYOR
27 Q306U AGFC REAL ESTATE OFFICER
28 Q285U AGFC CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
29 Q315U AGFC MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR
30 Q400U AGFC REGIONAL FACILITY MANAGER
31 Q319U AGFC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS SUPERVISOR
32 Q326U AGFC SKILLED TRADESMAN
33 Q304U AGFC CENTRAL WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS MANAGER
34 Q327U AGFC AUTO/DIESEL MECHANIC
35 Q335U AGFC MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
36 Q329U AGFC CALIBRATION TECHNICIAN
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As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 Q331U FIRING RANGE SPECIALIST $58,767
$89,744
2 (39) AGFC HR POOL 4 $89,744
$89,081
3 Q408U AGFC PAYROLL MANAGER $75,004
$68,031
4 Q292U AGFC PERSONNEL MANAGER $86,609
$86,609
5 Q301U AGFC ASSISTANT PERSONNEL MANAGER $75,004
$75,004
6 Q313U AGFC HUMAN RESOURCE ANALYST $71,432
$86,609
7 (40) AGFC EDUCATION PROGRAM POOL 51 $86,609
$75,004
8 Q277U AGFC NATURE CENTER/SHOOTING FAC MGR II $71,432
$86,609
9 Q296U AGFC EDUCATION STATEWIDE COORDINATOR $80,624
$80,624
10 Q353U AGFC NATURE CENTER/SHOOTING FAC MGR I $75,004
$68,031
11 Q302U AGFC EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST $61,706
$75,004
12 (41) AGFC GRANTS MANAGEMENT POOL 4 $75,004
$75,004
13 Q291U AGFC GRANTS MANAGER $75,004
$75,004
14 Q398U AGFC GRANTS COORDINATOR II $68,031
$64,644
15 Q297U AGFC GRANTS COORDINATOR I $58,767
$75,004
16 (42) Q354U AGFC ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR 1 $75,004
$71,432
17 (43) AGFC BIOLOGIST POOL 109 $75,004
$75,004
18 Q395U AGFC BIOLOGIST II $71,432
$71,432
19 Q294U AGFC BIOLOGIST I
20 Q310U AGFC BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN II
21 Q337U AGFC BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN I
22 (44) Q450U AGFC FOI COORDINATOR 1
23 (44.1)Q294U AGFC BIOLOGIST I 3
24 (45) Q303U AGFC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 1
25 (46) AGFC ADMIN SUPPORT POOL 37
26 Q318U AGFC REGIONAL OFFICES ADMINISTRATOR
27 Q323U AGFC ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST
28 Q328U AGFC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE COORDINATOR
29 Q339U AGFC ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST
30 (47) AGFC ACCOUNTING POOL 3
31 Q357U AGFC ACCOUNTANT II
32 Q406U AGFC ACCOUNTANT I
33 (48) AGFC COMMUNICATIONS POOL 10
34 Q397U AGFC CREATIVE ARTIST
35 Q399U AGFC COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
36 Q316U AGFC PHOTOGRAPHER
4 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 Q330U AGFC COMMERCIAL GRAPHIC ARTIST $64,444
2 Q336U AGFC MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST $61,706
3 (49) Q435U AGFC TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGER 1 $75,004
4 (50) Q300U AGFC LICENSING SUPERVISOR 2 $75,004
5 (51) Q298U AGFC PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR 1 $75,004
6 (52) Q322U AGFC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR 1 $68,031
7 (53) Q314U AGFC LEGAL SERVICES SPECIALIST 1 $68,031
8 (54) Q305U AGFC FISCAL SUPPORT SUPERVISOR 1 $67,877
9 (55) AGFC FISCAL SUPPORT POOL 12 $61,706
10 Q324U AGFC FISCAL SUPPORT ANALYST $61,706
11 Q340U AGFC FISCAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST $58,767
12 (56) Q333U AGFC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST 9 $61,706
13 (57) Q401U AGFC PRINTER/MAIL SERVICES SPECIALIST 1 $58,767
14 (58) Q343U AGFC LICENSING SPECIALIST 8 $58,767
15 (59) Q334U AGFC INVENTORY CONTROL MANAGER 1 $58,767
16 (60) Q332U AGFC FOOD PREPARATION MANAGER 1 $58,767
17 (61) Q341U AGFC FOOD PREPARATION SUPERVISOR 1 $50,131
18 MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 647
19
20 SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP. There is hereby authorized, for the Arkansas
21 State Game and Fish Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following
22 maximum number of part-time or temporary employees, to be known as "Extra
23 Help", payable from funds appropriated herein for such purposes: one hundred
24 eighty-five (185) temporary or part-time employees, when needed, at rates of
25 pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform Classification and
26 Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the appropriate
27 classification.
28
29 SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated,
30 to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be payable from the Game
31 Protection Fund, for personal services and operating expenses of the Arkansas
32 State Game and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the
33 following:
34
35 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
36 NO. 2025-2026
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As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $45,121,544
2 (02) EXTRA HELP 1,891,500
3 (03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 16,455,708
4 (04) OVERTIME 250,000
5 (05) UNIFORM ALLOWANCE 1,000,000
6 (06) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
7 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 54,728,848
8 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 517,727
9 (C) PROF. FEES 4,070,553
10 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 8,628,647
11 (E) DATA PROC. 0
12 (07) GAME AND FISH GRANTS 9,292,451
13 (08) CONSTRUCTION 17,238,903
14 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $159,195,881
15
16 SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - GAS LEASE REVENUES. There is hereby
17 appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be payable
18 from the Game Protection Fund, for maintenance and general operations,
19 capital projects, acquisition of land and conservation easements, grants, and
20 expenses associated with Disaster Response of the Arkansas State Game and
21 Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
22
23 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
24 NO. 2025-2026
25 (01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
26 (A) OPER. EXPENSE $850,000
27 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0
28 (C) PROF. FEES 350,000
29 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 750,000
30 (E) DATA PROC. 0
31 (02) GAS LEASE GRANTS 50,000
32 (03) DISASTER RESPONSE 3,000,000
33 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $5,000,000
34
35 SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - FARM BILL BIOLOGISTS. There is hereby
36 appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be payable
6 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 from the Game Protection Fund, for personal services and operating expenses
2 associated with implementing Farm Bill Programs of the Arkansas State Game
3 and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
4
5 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
6 NO. 2025-2026
7 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $479,508
8 (02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 164,143
9 (03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
10 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 1,350
11 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 14,580
12 (C) PROF. FEES 0
13 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 0
14 (E) DATA PROC. 0
15 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $659,581
16
17 SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM GRANTS. There
18 is hereby appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be
19 payable from the Game Protection Fund, for grants to conservation partners,
20 or other eligible entities for operating, equipment, and maintenance expenses
21 associated with addressing statewide hunger needs of the Arkansas State Game
22 and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
23
24 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
25 NO. 2025-2026
26 (01) CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM GRANTS $150,000
27
28 SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - BLACK RIVER SETTLEMENT FUNDS. There is
29 hereby appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be
30 payable from the Game Protection Fund, for all expenses associated with the
31 mitigation to the hardwood timber destruction in the Wildlife Management
32 Area, inclusive of Regular Salaries and Personal Services Matching of the
33 Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30,
34 2026, the following:
35
36 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
7 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 NO. 2025-2026
2 (01) RESTORATION OF BLACK RIVER WMA
3 EXPENSES $13,250,000
4
5 SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION - MARINE FUEL TAX PROGRAM. There is hereby
6 appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be payable
7 from the Game Protection Fund, for personal services, operating expenses and
8 expenditures associated with increasing and improving access to waterways of
9 the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June
10 30, 2026, the following:
11
12 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
13 NO. 2025-2026
14 (01) MARINE FUEL TAX PROGRAM $6,000,000
15
16 SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION - GTR AND WETLAND HABITAT RESTORATION. There
17 is hereby appropriated, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, to be
18 payable from the Game Protection Fund, for all expenses associated with
19 Greentree reservoir renovation and other wetland habitat restoration of the
20 Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30,
21 2026, the following:
22
23 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
24 NO. 2025-2026
25 (01) GTR & WETLAND HABITAT RENOVATION $20,000,000
26
27 SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
28 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. PAYMENT OF
29 REWARDS. Payment of rewards shall be from the Game Protection Fund from the
30 Commission's Maintenance and General Operation appropriation as herein
31 appropriated in the Operating Expenses line item of the Operations
32 appropriation.
33 The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024
34 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026.
35
36 SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
8 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. TRANSFER
2 PROVISION. After receiving approval from the Chief Fiscal Officer of the
3 State, and prior review by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget
4 Committee, the Agency is authorized to transfer appropriation from any line
5 item authorized in the Operations appropriation to any other line item
6 authorized in the Operations appropriation and the Agency is authorized to
7 transfer appropriation from any line item authorized in the Gas Lease
8 Revenues appropriation to any other line item authorized in the same section.
9 The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024
10 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026.
11
12 SECTION 12. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
13 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW.
14 PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission is hereby
15 authorized to purchase from the Maintenance & General Operation
16 Classifications in the Operations Appropriation provided by this Act for
17 promotional items in an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars
18 ($50,000), as authorized by the Director of the Commission to meet fish and
19 wildlife conservation and education needs.
20 The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024
21 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026.
22
23 SECTION 13. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
24 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. DIRECTOR
25 SALARY INCREASE RESTRICTION. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director
26 shall not receive any salary adjustment that exceeds their June 17, 2024 2025
27 actual salary by more than five percent (5%) without first receiving prior
28 approval from the Legislative Council or if the General Assembly is in
29 regular session, fiscal session, or extraordinary session, the Joint Budget
30 Committee.
31 It is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain
32 oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint
33 Budget Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of approval by
34 the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of
35 this section. If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or
36 Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent
9 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB24
1 jurisdiction, this entire section is void.
2 The provisions of this section shall be in effect through June 30, 2025
3 2026.
4
5 SECTION 14. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds
6 authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency
7 and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and
8 the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and
9 Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary
10 Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal
11 control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by
12 the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be
13 strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
14
15 SECTION 15. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General
16 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
17 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
18 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
19 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
20 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
21 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
22 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
23
24 SECTION 16. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
25 General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits
26 the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
27 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of
28 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
29 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
30 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm
31 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
32 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
33 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
34 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025.
35
36 /s/Joint Budget Committee
10 01-22-2025 10:52:12 CJW006Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.