Arkansas Legislature Nears Budget Completion Amid AI Policy Adoption

Legislature Prepares to Wrap Fiscal Session

Arkansas lawmakers are expected to complete their fiscal session Wednesday, with legislative leaders anticipating the session will wrap up before returning for a special session the following week . The Arkansas General Assembly convened the fiscal session on April 8th and has spent the month finalizing a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027 .

Lawmakers are expected to consider increasing the state's homestead property tax credit to $675 when they resume their fiscal work Monday, with the bill having advanced out of a House committee Thursday and requiring approval from the full House and Senate before heading to the governor's desk . The legislation closely matches a nearly $6.7 billion budget proposed by the governor that raises spending by 3%, including setting aside funding for a variety of programs, including $70 million for the state's school voucher program .

Prison Funding Debates Continue

The Joint Budget Committee directed legislative staff to draft a reappropriation measure that would bar the Department of Corrections from spending any of the $73.7 million in state funds for construction of a prison in Franklin County, with the funds left over from a previous prison expansion in Calico Rock . This represents ongoing resistance to prison construction projects that have faced significant community opposition.

The committee also approved a $1 million appropriations bill for the Department of Corrections for a pilot program designed to detect, identify, and terminate illegal cell phones used by inmates in state prisons, as it is estimated that one out of every four inmates have access to an illegal cell phone and prisoners are using these phones for a wide range of criminal activity .

Little Rock Embraces AI Technology

The City of Little Rock is adopting a new Artificial Intelligence policy, with Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announcing that the policy creates a framework allowing city departments to use AI to support and streamline their work while erecting strong safeguards for privacy, security, and accountability . The policy calls for an AI Committee led by the Department of Information Technology to review and approve AI tools before they are implemented across the city government .

City officials say they currently use AI in tools on their website that allows people to find answers to common questions, navigate city services, and access relevant information . This policy positions Little Rock as a forward-thinking municipality embracing technological innovation while maintaining oversight and accountability measures.

Looking Ahead to Special Session

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said she plans to call lawmakers into a special session to cut taxes, but the Republican governor has not issued a proclamation formally scheduling the session and setting its agenda . The timing suggests lawmakers will have only a brief respite before returning to address additional legislative priorities.

With plenty of work left to be done, lawmakers still plan to find some time for fun Tuesday with their annual charity game that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, with the House facing the Senate in a softball game Tuesday evening at North Little Rock's Dickey-Stephens Park after a decade of basketball games . This bipartisan tradition demonstrates that even amid serious budget negotiations, Arkansas legislators maintain collegial relationships focused on community service.