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Kristin Higgins
Public Policy Center
Phone: 501-671-2160
Email: khiggins@uada.edu
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
An Overview of Non-Fiscal Bills in the 2026 Arkansas Fiscal Session
The Arkansas General Assembly meets in two different types of sessions: regular sessions and fiscal sessions. While regular sessions focus on a wide range of policies, fiscal sessions are mainly dedicated to the state’s budget. Arkansas legislators finished their most recent fiscal session on April 29, 2026.
Fiscal Sessions
Fiscal sessions take place in even-numbered years and are shorter than regular sessions, typically lasting about 30 days. During this time, lawmakers focus on how the state will spend money for the upcoming fiscal year.
Legislators reviews budget requests from state agencies and decide how funding will be distributed across areas like education, healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure. Unlike general sessions, fiscal sessions are very limited in scope.
Lawmakers can introduce non-budget-related bills, but only if two-thirds of both chambers approve doing so. These bills are called resolutions.
2026 Non-Appropriation Bills
In the 2026 fiscal session, legislators filed several non-appropriation bills on a variety of issues including increasing the homestead property tax credit. Additionally, in response to the recent controversy around data centers, Sen. Bryan King of Green Forest filed six non-appropriation bills aiming to regulate future data centers.
King filed these bills with the goal of extending regulations towards any new or existing data center in the state. These regulations proposed limiting water and power usage, limiting what software can be bought, and obtaining a license under the Uniform Money Services Act.
Data centers are facilities that store, process, and manage large amounts of digital data and computer systems. They contain servers, storage systems, and networking equipment, but they rely on cooling systems and backup power which raises concerns for local governments.
What Did These Bills Say?
While other non-appropriation bills were passed, none of the proposed resolutions regarding data centers gained enough votes to be considered during the fiscal session, meaning these issues were not debated or passed into law. However, they may be introduced again when Arkansas legislators meet in 2027 for their next general session.
Senate Resolution 7 (SR7)
This bill would update the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 by requiring businesses
to reduce noise levels and avoid placing strain on water and electric systems. However,
it also limits how local governments can restrict or regulate these businesses.
Senate Resolution 8 (SR8)
This bill would require digital asset mining companies to pay fees based on how much
electricity they use. The money collected would go toward monitoring and enforcing
regulations.
Senate Resolution 9 (SR9)
This bill would ban digital asset mining companies from using computers or software
made by certain foreign entities. In particular it limits software linked to China and
Russia. It also creates penalties for violations of this law.
Senate Resolution 10 (SR10)
This bill would require digital asset miners to register and obtain a license under
the Uniform Money Services Act, meaning these businesses would be more strictly regulated
like other financial service providers.
Senate Resolution 11 (SR11)
This bill would require companies to notify state regulators and local governments
at least six months before buying land, leasing property, or starting construction
for a data center or digital mining facility.
Senate Resolution 12 (SR12)
This bill would require state agencies to monitor how digital asset mining affects
water usage and the electric grid. If a mining operation uses too much water or threatens the state and
local power system, the state would have the authority to shut it down or limit its
operations.