An act TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF 10 PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER, the official text

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 84

4

5 By: Senator B. Johnson

6 By: Representative Vaught

7

8                            For An Act To Be Entitled

9          AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF

10         PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER; AND

11         FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

12

13

14                                          Subtitle

15                        TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE

16                        OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER

17                        BODIES OF WATER.

18

19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

20

21         SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 15, Chapter 23, Subchapter 1, is

22 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:

23         15-23-107. Prohibition on moratorium in watersheds and other bodies of

24 water.

25         (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a state

26 agency, including without limitation the Department of Agriculture and the

27 Department of Energy and Environment, shall not institute a moratorium on the

28 issuance of permits in a watershed, including without limitation the Buffalo

29 River Watershed, or other body of water.

30         (b) If a state agency wishes to institute a moratorium related to a

31 watershed or other body of water, the state agency first shall obtain

32 approval from the Legislative Council.

33

34         SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. Existing moratoriums.

35         A moratorium related to a watershed, including without limitation the

36 Buffalo River Watershed, or other body of water instituted before the

    *CRH053*                                                  01/21/2025 1:38:32 PM CRH053
   SB84

 1 effective date of this act is unenforceable on and after the effective date
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