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: S1/21/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 63
4
5 By: Senator Hickey
6 By: Representative Wardlaw
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING REPORTS BY
10 THE SECRETARIES OF CABINET-LEVEL DEPARTMENTS ON THE
11 STATE OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING REPORTS
16 BY THE SECRETARIES OF CABINET-LEVEL
17 DEPARTMENTS ON THE STATE OF THEIR
18 DEPARTMENTS.
19
20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
21
22 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 25-38-202(c), concerning the duties of the
23 Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, is repealed.
24 (c)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
25 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
26 department.
27 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
28 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
29 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
30 report as required in this subsection.
31
32 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 25-43-303(h), concerning the duties of the
33 Secretary of the Department of Commerce, is repealed.
34 (h)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
35 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
36 Department of Commerce.
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1 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
2 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
3 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
4 report as required in this subsection.
5
6 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 25-43-403(d), concerning the duties of the
7 Secretary of the Department of Corrections, is repealed.
8 (d)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
9 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
10 department.
11 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
12 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
13 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
14 report as required in this subsection.
15
16 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 25-43-503 is amended to read as follows:
17 25-43-503. Secretary of the Department of Education.
18 (a) The executive head of the Department of Education shall be the
19 Secretary of the Department of Education.
20 (b) The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to
21 confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
22 (c) Each division of the department shall be under the direction,
23 control, and supervision of the secretary.
24 (d)(1) The secretary may delegate his or her functions, powers, and
25 duties to various divisions or employees of the department as he or she shall
26 deem desirable and necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the
27 department.
28 (2)(A) The secretary may appoint a designee to appear on behalf
29 of the secretary at a meeting of a board or commission of which the secretary
30 is a member in his or her official capacity as secretary.
31 (B) The designee of the secretary may vote on behalf of
32 the secretary.
33 (e) The secretary may, unless otherwise provided by law:
34 (1) Hire department personnel;
35 (2) Perform or assign duties assigned to the department; and
36 (3) Serve as the director, or the administrative or executive
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1 head of any state entity under the administrative control of the department
2 if the secretary also meets all statutory requirements for the position.
3 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
4 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
5 department.
6 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
7 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
8 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
9 report as required in this subsection.
10 (g)(f) The appropriation for the salary of the secretary shall be the
11 sole and exclusive authority for his or her salary.
12 (h)(g) The secretary shall:
13 (1) Devote all of his or her working time exclusively to the
14 performance of his or her duties as secretary;
15 (2) Not accept any additional salary from any other source,
16 including without limitation a state, federal, or private entity or person,
17 for the performance of his or her duties as secretary; and
18 (3) Not accept any salary, fees, or compensation from any other
19 source, including without limitation a state, federal, or private entity or
20 person, for any other employment of any kind outside the scope of his or her
21 duties as secretary, including without limitation consulting work for any
22 other public or private entity.
23 (i)(h) This section does not prohibit the secretary from accepting or
24 receiving expense reimbursements and employee benefits as provided under
25 state law.
26
27 SECTION 5. Arkansas Code � 25-43-603(f), concerning the duties of the
28 Secretary of the Department of Energy and Environment, is repealed.
29 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
30 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
31 department.
32 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
33 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
34 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
35 report as required in this subsection.
36
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1 SECTION 6. Arkansas Code � 25-43-703(f), concerning the duties of the
2 Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, is repealed.
3 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
4 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
5 department.
6 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
7 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
8 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
9 report as required in this subsection.
10
11 SECTION 7. Arkansas Code � 25-43-803(f), concerning the duties of the
12 Secretary of the Department of Health, is repealed.
13 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
14 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
15 department.
16 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
17 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
18 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
19 report as required in this subsection.
20
21 SECTION 8. Arkansas Code � 25-43-903(f), concerning the duties of the
22 Secretary of the Department of Human Services, is repealed.
23 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
24 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
25 department.
26 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
27 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
28 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
29 report as required in this subsection.
30
31 SECTION 9. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1003 is amended to read as follows:
32 25-43-1003. Secretary of Department of Inspector General.
33 (a) The executive head of the Department of Inspector General shall be
34 the Secretary of the Department of Inspector General.
35 (b) The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to
36 confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
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1 (c) Each division of the department shall be under the direction,
2 control, and supervision of the secretary.
3 (d) The secretary may delegate his or her functions, powers, and
4 duties to various divisions or employees of the department as he or she shall
5 deem desirable and necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the
6 department.
7 (e) The secretary may, unless otherwise provided by law:
8 (1) Hire department personnel;
9 (2) Perform or assign duties assigned to the department; and
10 (3) Serve as the director or the administrative or executive
11 head of any state entity under the administrative control of the department
12 if the secretary also meets all statutory requirements for the position.
13 (f) The secretary has the authority to direct the department as
14 necessary to conduct and supervise activities to prevent, detect, and
15 investigate fraud and abuse.
16 (g)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
17 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
18 department.
19 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
20 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
21 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
22 report as required in this subsection.
23 (h)(g) The secretary shall appear at the request of the General
24 Assembly or the Legislative Council to provide information concerning the Tax
25 Appeals Commission or the Independent Tax Appeals Commission Act, � 26-18-
26 1101 et seq.
27
28 SECTION 10. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1103(f), concerning the duties of
29 the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing, is repealed.
30 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
31 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
32 department.
33 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
34 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
35 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
36 report as required in this subsection.
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1
2 SECTION 11. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1203(g), concerning the duties of
3 the Secretary of the Department of the Military, is repealed.
4 (g)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
5 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
6 department.
7 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
8 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
9 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
10 report as required in this subsection.
11
12 SECTION 12. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1303(f), concerning the duties of
13 the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, is repealed.
14 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
15 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
16 department.
17 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
18 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
19 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
20 report as required in this subsection.
21
22 SECTION 13. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1403(f), concerning the duties of
23 the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, is repealed.
24 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
25 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
26 department.
27 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
28 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
29 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
30 report as required in this subsection.
31
32 SECTION 14. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1503(f), concerning the duties of
33 the Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, is
34 repealed.
35 (f)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
36 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
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1 department.
2 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
3 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
4 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
5 report as required in this subsection.
6
7 SECTION 15. Arkansas Code � 25-43-1604(k), concerning the duties of
8 the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, is repealed.
9 (k)(1) By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary shall
10 provide an oral report to the Legislative Council on the state of the
11 department.
12 (2) The Legislative Council shall schedule an appropriate date
13 and shall give notice thereof to the secretary of the date on which the
14 secretary is to appear before the Legislative Council to make his or her
15 report as required in this subsection.
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17 /s/Hickey
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7 01-21-2025 11:14:46 MBM069Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.