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Arkansas Reappropriates Balances of Capital Improvement Appropriations for Higher Education Institutions
Original title: AN ACT FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION REAPPROPRIATION.
Last action · April 27, 2026: Notification that HB1096 is now Act 116
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Introduced
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Floor Vote
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What This Bill Does
The General Assembly reappropriates unexpended balances of capital improvement appropriations for state institutions of higher education, payable from the , effective July 1, 2026.
Why it matters
The measure establishes funding limits for campus construction, roof repairs, IT infrastructure updates, and equipment purchases across multiple public colleges and universities.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Institutions of Higher Education
State colleges and universities receive reappropriated funds for capital improvements, building construction, and maintenance.
Directly affected
Department of Finance and Administration
The department oversees fiscal control regulations and budget manuals governing the disbursement of funds under this act.
Key Facts
- The Act reappropriates unexpended balances of capital improvement appropriations for state institutions of higher education from the Development and Enhancement Fund, taking effect July 1, 2026.
- Arkansas Northeastern College receives reappropriations including $1,350,000 for roof renovation and $680,000 for critical maintenance.
- Arkansas State University - Beebe receives reappropriations including $2,050,000 for Owen Center renovation and $2,000,000 for State Hall renovation.
- Northwest Arkansas Community College receives $4,144,000 for construction of Health Professions Building 2.
Show all 10 facts
- University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain receives $3,209,000 for construction of the Health Science Facility.
- Southeast Arkansas College receives $3,300,000 for construction of the SEARK Emergency Operations Center.
- National Park College receives $3,398,305 for construction of the Welding Technology Center.
- Institutions are authorized to accept grants, donations, and federal funds to supplement state treasury funds for these projects.
- Funds provided for maintenance and general operations shall not be used for the purposes appropriated in this act.
- An emergency is declared, making the act effective on July 1, 2026, to prevent irreparable harm to agency administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of HB 1096?
HB 1096 reappropriates the unexpended balances of capital improvement appropriations for state institutions of higher education from the .
When do these reappropriations become effective?
The s take effect on July 1, 2026.
Can regular operating funds be used for these projects?
No, appropriations and funds provided for Maintenance and General Operations of the agencies or institutions shall not be used for the purposes appropriated in this act.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Apr 27, 2026HouseEnrolledNotification that HB1096 is now Act 116
- Apr 23, 2026HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
- Apr 23, 2026HouseTO BE ENROLLED
- Apr 23, 2026HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
- Apr 23, 2026SenateReturned to the House as Passed.
- Apr 23, 2026SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
Show 10 earlier actions
- Apr 23, 2026SenateFloorRead the third time and passed.
- Apr 22, 2026SenateIntroducedRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
- Apr 22, 2026SenateReceived from the House.
- Apr 22, 2026HouseEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
- Apr 22, 2026HouseFloorRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
- Apr 22, 2026HouseConsidered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
- Apr 22, 2026HouseRULES SUSPENDED
- Apr 21, 2026HouseCommitteeReturned by the Committee Do Pass
- Apr 14, 2026HouseIntroducedRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
- Apr 14, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift100% confidence
Continuation of Prior Capital Appropriations
The bill systematically rolls over and reappropriates unspent balances originally authorized under Act 298 of 2025 for higher education infrastructure.
Connected Entities
OrganizationBlack River Technical College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for building renovations under Section 7.”Map →
OrganizationArkansas State University - Newport“Recipient of reappropriated funds for campus renovations and solar array under S”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Finance and Administration“Agency responsible for fiscal regulations and budget manuals.”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain“Recipient of reappropriated funds for health science facility construction under”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas Community College at Batesville“Recipient of reappropriated funds for Gateway Center and classroom renovations u”Map →
OrganizationSoutheast Arkansas College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for emergency operations center construction u”Map →
OrganizationSAU-Tech - Fire Training Academy“Recipient of reappropriated funds for training ground enhancements under Section”Map →
OrganizationOzarka College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for skilled trades facility construction under”Map →
OrganizationArkansas Northeastern College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for building repairs and maintenance under Sec”Map →
OrganizationNorth Arkansas College of the University of Arkansas“Recipient of reappropriated funds for Bradley Center expansion and ADA complianc”Map →
OrganizationNational Park College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for bridge, HVAC, and welding center projects ”Map →
OrganizationArkansas State University Three Rivers“Recipient of reappropriated funds for workforce training expansion and building ”Map →
OrganizationInstitutions of Higher Education“Recipients of the reappropriated capital improvement funds.”Map →
OrganizationArkansas State University - Mid-South“Recipient of reappropriated funds for technology and security upgrades under Sec”Map →
OrganizationSAU-Tech“Recipient of reappropriated funds for roof, foundation, and HVAC repairs under S”Map →
OrganizationSAU-Tech - Environmental Training Academy“Recipient of reappropriated funds for critical and deferred maintenance under Se”Map →
OrganizationArkansas State University - Beebe“Recipient of reappropriated funds for campus renovations under Section 2.”Map →
OrganizationArkansas State University - Mountain Home“Recipient of reappropriated funds for roofing and facility maintenance under Sec”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for innovation center construction and library”Map →
OrganizationSouth Arkansas College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for facilities plant and Health Science Center”Map →
OrganizationPhillips Community College of the University of Arkansas“Recipient of reappropriated funds for security upgrades and roof repair under Se”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for structural corrections and training labs u”Map →
OrganizationNorthwest Arkansas Community College“Recipient of reappropriated funds for cybersecurity, HVAC, and Health Profession”Map →
OrganizationCossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas“Recipient of reappropriated funds for fiber optics, construction, and roof repla”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton“Recipient of reappropriated funds for allied health building construction under ”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana“Recipient of reappropriated funds for HVAC and building upgrades under Section 2”Map →
Sources
Open source document
arkleg.state.ar.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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