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 SENATE BILL 74
4
5 By: Joint Budget Committee
6
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES
10 AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
11 AFFAIRS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026; AND
12 FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
17 AFFAIRS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026
18 FISCAL YEAR.
19
20
21 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
22
23 SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES - OPERATIONS. There is hereby established
24 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the
25 following maximum number of regular employees.
26
27 Maximum Annual
28 Maximum Salary Rate
29 Item Class No. of Fiscal Year
30 No. Code Title Employees 2025-2026
31 (1) SC015 SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 1 GRADE SE05
32 (2) U008U ADVA DIRECTOR 1 GRADE SE02
33 (3) L018N NURSE PRACTITIONER 1 GRADE MP04
34 (4) L002C NURSING DIRECTOR 2 GRADE MP04
35 (5) L009C NURSE MANAGER 1 GRADE MP03
36 (6) L019C REGISTERED NURSE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE MP02
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1 (7) L027C REGISTERED NURSE SUPERVISOR 1 GRADE MP02
GRADE MP01
2 (8) L032C REGISTERED NURSE - HOSPITAL 18 GRADE IT09
GRADE IT02
3 (9) D022N IT SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER 1 GRADE GS15
GRADE GS14
4 (10) D079C COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN 1 GRADE GS13
GRADE GS13
5 (11) N197N NURSING HOME DIVISION DIRECTOR 1 GRADE GS12
GRADE GS12
6 (12) L026N ADVA STATE VETERANS HOME ADMINISTRATOR 2 GRADE GS11
GRADE GS11
7 (13) A133C ADVA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 1 GRADE GS10
GRADE GS09
8 (14) G318C ADVA DIVISION DIRECTOR 2 GRADE GS09
GRADE GS09
9 (15) L111C ADVA NURSING HOME ASST ADMINISTRATOR 2 GRADE GS08
GRADE GS08
10 (16) R006C HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE GS08
GRADE GS08
11 (17) A027C ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS MANAGER 1 GRADE GS08
GRADE GS08
12 (18) X223C ADVA QUALITY ASSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE GS07
GRADE GS07
13 (19) A044C AUDIT COORDINATOR 1 GRADE GS07
GRADE GS07
14 (20) M009C LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER 2 GRADE GS07
GRADE GS07
15 (21) P004C PUBLIC INFORMATION MANAGER 1 GRADE GS07
GRADE GS07
16 (22) X038C QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER 2 GRADE GS06
GRADE GS06
17 (23) A082C ACCOUNTANT II 1 GRADE GS06
GRADE GS05
18 (24) S003C FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR 2 GRADE GS05
GRADE GS05
19 (25) R014C PERSONNEL MANAGER 1
20 (26) V004C PROCUREMENT MANAGER 1
21 (27) A041C PROGRAM FISCAL MANAGER 1
22 (28) X062C QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR 2
23 (29) G253C ADVA SERVICE OFFICER 11
24 (30) G237C ADVA CEMETERY MANAGER 2
25 (31) U009U ADVA VETERANS CHILD WELFARE DIR 1
26 (32) R024C ASSISTANT PERSONNEL MANAGER 1
27 (33) G159C DEPARTMENT BUSINESS COORDINATOR 1
28 (34) P065C DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 2
29 (35) S017C MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR 2
30 (36) M024C RESIDENTIAL SERVICES MANAGER 1
31 (37) C037C ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 1
32 (38) L069C LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE 40
33 (39) S033C MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR 2
34 (40) C022C BUSINESS OPERATIONS SPECIALIST 1
35 (41) V014C BUYER 1
36 (42) A091C FISCAL SUPPORT ANALYST 1
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1 (43) R032C HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE 3 GRADE GS05
2 (44) V015C PURCHASING SPECIALIST 1 GRADE GS05
3 (45) M065C RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY SUPERVISOR 2 GRADE GS05
4 (46) V018C WAREHOUSE MANAGER 1 GRADE GS05
5 (47) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 2 GRADE GS04
6 (48) S044C FOOD PREPARATION MANAGER 1 GRADE GS04
7 (49) S046C MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN 9 GRADE GS04
8 (50) C073C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST II 3 GRADE GS03
9 (51) L082C CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT 146 GRADE GS03
10 (52) S056C FOOD PREPARATION SUPERVISOR 3 GRADE GS03
11 (53) S050C MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST 3 GRADE GS03
12 (54) C087C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST I 1 GRADE GS02
13 (55) S085C FOOD PREPARATION SPECIALIST 7 GRADE GS02
14 (56) S084C INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR 1 GRADE GS02
15 (57) S089C FOOD PREPARATION TECHNICIAN 2 GRADE GS01
16 MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 305
17
18 SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - STATE OPERATIONS. There is hereby
19 appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable from the
20 Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for personal services and operating
21 expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs - State Operations for the
22 fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
23
24 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
25 NO. 2025-2026
26 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $1,328,091
27 (02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 476,999
28 (03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
29 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 197,906
30 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 69,594
31 (C) PROF. FEES 0
32 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 0
33 (E) DATA PROC. 0
34 (04) AID TO COUNTY VETERANS' SERVICE
35 OFFICES 516,000
36 (05) PROMOTIONAL ITEMS 4,000
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1 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $2,592,590
2
3 SECTION 3. EXTRA HELP - VETERANS' HOMES. There is hereby authorized,
4 for the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans' Homes for the 2025-2026
5 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary
6 employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated
7 herein for such purposes: thirty (30) temporary or part-time employees, when
8 needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform
9 Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the
10 appropriate classification.
11
12 SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - VETERANS' HOMES - CASH. There is hereby
13 appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable from the
14 cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief Fiscal
15 Officer of the State, for personal services and operating expenses of the
16 Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans' Homes - Cash for the fiscal year
17 ending June 30, 2026, the following:
18
19 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
20 NO. 2025-2026
21 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $11,198,689
22 (02) EXTRA HELP 45,339
23 (03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 4,810,335
24 (04) OVERTIME 550,000
25 (05) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
26 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 14,903,703
27 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 52,500
28 (C) PROF. FEES 1,176,000
29 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 313,000
30 (E) DATA PROC. 0
31 (06) PROMOTIONAL ITEMS 6,000
32 (07) SPECIAL MAINTENANCE 72,831
33 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $33,128,397
34
35 SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - NW AR STATE VETERANS' HOME - CASH. There is
36 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
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1 from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief
2 Fiscal Officer of the State, for matching funds for land acquisition,
3 improvements, construction, renovation, and purchase of equipment for a State
4 Veterans' Home in Northwest Arkansas for the Department of Veterans Affairs -
5 NW AR State Veterans' Home - Cash for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026,
6 the following:
7
8 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
9 NO. 2025-2026
10 (01) NW AR STATE VETERANS HOME $15,000,000
11
12 SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - NW AR STATE VETERANS' HOME - FEDERAL. There
13 is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
14 from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the
15 State, for land acquisition, improvements, construction renovation, and
16 purchase of equipment for a State Veterans' Home in Northwest Arkansas for
17 the Department of Veterans Affairs - NW AR State Veterans Home - Federal for
18 the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
19
20 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
21 NO. 2025-2026
22 (01) NW AR STATE VETERANS HOME - FEDERAL $30,000,000
23
24 SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - VETERANS' CEMETERIES - STATE. There is
25 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
26 from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for personal services and
27 operating expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans'
28 Cemeteries - State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
29
30 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
31 NO. 2025-2026
32 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $688,586
33 (02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 286,867
34 (03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
35 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 158,350
36 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0
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1 (C) PROF. FEES 0
2 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 0
3 (E) DATA PROC. 0
4 (04) CEMETERY REALIGNMENT AND MAINTENANCE 50,000
5 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,183,803
6
7 SECTION 8. EXTRA HELP - VETERANS' CEMETERIES - CASH. There is hereby
8 authorized, for the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans' Cemeteries -
9 Cash for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time
10 or temporary employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds
11 appropriated herein for such purposes: five (5) temporary or part-time
12 employees, when needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the
13 Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act
14 for the appropriate classification.
15
16 SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION - VETERANS' CEMETERIES - CASH. There is
17 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
18 from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief
19 Fiscal Officer of the State, for personal services and operating expenses of
20 the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans' Cemeteries - Cash for the
21 fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
22
23 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
24 NO. 2025-2026
25 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $28,020
26 (02) EXTRA HELP 24,000
27 (03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 14,213
28 (04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
29 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 453,475
30 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 17,600
31 (C) PROF. FEES 0
32 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 125,000
33 (E) DATA PROC. 0
34 (05) PROMOTIONAL ITEMS 6,500
35 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $668,808
36
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1 SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION - MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS PROGRAM. There is
2 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
3 from the Military Funeral Honors Fund, for operating expenses of the
4 Department of Veterans Affairs - Military Funeral Honors Program for the
5 fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following:
6
7 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
8 NO. 2025-2026
9 (01) MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS EXPENSES $45,900
10
11 SECTION 11. APPROPRIATION - NLR CEMETERY EXPANSION 2 - FEDERAL. There
12 is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be payable
13 from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the
14 State, for construction and expansion expenses for the North Little Rock
15 Veterans' Cemetery of the Department of Veterans Affairs - NLR Cemetery
16 Expansion 2 - Federal for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the
17 following:
18
19 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
20 NO. 2025-2026
21 (01) CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION EXPENSES $2,000,000
22
23 SECTION 12. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS - DIABLED VETERANS' SERVICES
24 OFFICE. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans Affairs,
25 to be payable from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for personal
26 services and operating expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs -
27 Disabled Veteran's Services Office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026,
28 the following:
29
30 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
31 NO. 2025-2026
32 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $33,205
33 (02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 15,547
34 (03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
35 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 3,000
36 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0
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1 (C) PROF. FEES 0
2 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 0
3 (E) DATA PROC. 0
4 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $51,752
5
6 SECTION 13. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS - ARKANSAS VETERANS' CHILD
7 WELFARE SERVICE. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Veterans
8 Affairs, to be payable from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for
9 personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Veterans
10 Affairs - Arkansas Veterans' Child Welfare Service for the fiscal year ending
11 June 30, 2026, the following:
12
13 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
14 NO. 2025-2026
15 (01) REGULAR SALARIES $48,400
16 (02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 19,037
17 (03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
18 (A) OPER. EXPENSE 4,182
19 (B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0
20 (C) PROF. FEES 0
21 (D) CAP. OUTLAY 0
22 (E) DATA PROC. 0
23 (04) GRANTS/AID-ASSISTANCE TO MINOR
24 CHILDREN 107,762
25 TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $179,381
26
27 SECTION 14. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
28 36 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW.
29 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. At the close of the fiscal year
30 ending June 30, 2025, the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall authorize
31 up to $50,000 of the balance of funds remaining in the Miscellaneous Agencies
32 Fund Account for the Department of Veterans Affairs for operations to be
33 transferred into a sub-fund created within the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund
34 Account to support the state veteran cemetery realignment and maintenance
35 expenses in the appropriation entitled "Cemetery Realignment and Maintenance
36 Expenses".
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1 Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, may
2 be carried forward under the following conditions:
3 (1) Prior to June 30, 2025 the Agency shall by written statement set forth
4 its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the Department
5 of Finance and Administration Office of Budget;
6 (2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall
7 report to the Arkansas Legislative Council all amounts carried forward by the
8 September Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee meeting
9 which report shall include the name of the Agency, Board, Commission or
10 Institution and the amount of the funding carried forward from the first
11 fiscal year to the second fiscal year, the program name or line item, the
12 funding source of that appropriation and a copy of the written request set
13 forth in (1) above;
14 (3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written
15 report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee
16 containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written
17 statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for
18 which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30)
19 days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents
20 its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget
21 Committee; and
22 (4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include
23 all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a
24 statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution.
25 The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025
26 through June 30, 2026.
27
28 SECTION 15. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds
29 authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency
30 and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and
31 the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and
32 Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary
33 Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal
34 control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by
35 the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be
36 strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
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1
2 SECTION 16. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General
3 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
4 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
5 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
6 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
7 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
8 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
9 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
10
11 SECTION 17. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
12 General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits
13 the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
14 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of
15 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
16 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
17 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm
18 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
19 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
20 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
21 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025.
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10 01/14/2025 2:25:29 PM BSS011Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.