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SB 38ARKANSASSession 2026FState BillSigned into law

Enacted

Arkansas enacts Senate Bill 38, appropriating funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2026-2027 fiscal year

Original title: AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Last action · April 23, 2026: Notification that SB38 is now Act 16

Companion · HB 1102same policy, House version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Arkansas enacts Senate Bill 38 to fund personal services and operating expenses for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ending June 30, 2027, taking effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation establishes a maximum of 3,055 regular employees and allocates funding across state operations, veterans' homes, cemeteries, and assistance programs.

Why it matters

The measure sets the annual operating budget, staffing limits, and capital project allocations for state-run veterans' facilities and assistance programs, directly impacting the resources available for veteran care and cemetery maintenance.

Background

Senate Bill 38 was enacted during the 2026 Fiscal Session of the Arkansas General Assembly. context
The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs operates state veterans' homes, cemeteries, and provides advocacy and support services for veterans in the state. context

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

Department of Veterans Affairs

The department receives operational appropriations, employee staffing limits, and funding authority for veterans' homes, cemeteries, and support programs.

Directly affected

Veterans and their families

Services, care facilities, funeral honors, and child welfare assistance funded by this act are provided directly to veterans and their dependents.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total maximum number of regular employees authorized for the Department of Veterans Affairs?

The Act establishes a maximum of 3,055 regular employees for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2026-2027 .

How much funding is allocated for the Northwest Arkansas State Veterans' Home?

The Northwest Arkansas State Veterans' Home is appropriated $15,000,000 from cash funds and $30,000,000 from federal funds for land acquisition, improvements, construction, renovation, and purchase of equipment.

When does this appropriations act go into effect?

The Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

18 actions

Apr 23, 2026SenateEnrolled
Notification that SB38 is now Act 16
Apr 16, 2026SenateEnrolled
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
Apr 16, 2026Senate
Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
Apr 16, 2026Senate
ORDERED ENROLLED
Apr 16, 2026Senate
Returned from the House as passed.
Apr 16, 2026House
Returned To Senate as Passed.

Show 12 earlier actions

Apr 16, 2026House
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
Apr 16, 2026HouseFloor
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
Apr 16, 2026House
Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
Apr 16, 2026House
RULES SUSPENDED
Apr 15, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.
Apr 15, 2026House
RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
Apr 15, 2026Senate
Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.
Apr 15, 2026Senate
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
Apr 15, 2026SenateFloor
Read the third time and passed.
Apr 14, 2026SenateCommittee
Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
Apr 8, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
Apr 1, 2026SenateIntroduced
Filed

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.

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Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection98% confidence

Combined State and Federal Capital Funding

The Northwest Arkansas State Veterans' Home is financed through a combined injection of $15,000,000 in state cash funds and $30,000,000 in federal funds.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Connected Entities

Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Finance and Administration, General Assembly and 3 more

OrganizationDepartment of Veterans Affairs“State agency receiving appropriations and staffing authorization”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Finance and Administration“State department involved in budget administration and reporting”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body of the State of Arkansas enacting the bill”Map →

OrganizationJoint Budget Committee“Legislative committee that sponsored Senate Bill 38”Map →

locationNorth Little Rock Veterans' Cemetery“Cemetery receiving construction and expansion appropriations”Map →

OrganizationArkansas Legislative Council“Legislative council receiving carry-forward reports”Map →

Sources

Open source document

arkleg.state.ar.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance80
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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