ARKANSAS, USA — In Arkansas, dozens of state laws are going into effect beginning in 2024, including changes to state income taxes, unemployment, and healthcare coverage requirements.
The last legislative session began on Monday, Jan. 2023, and ended on May 1, 2023. In September, Governor Sarah Sanders moved for state lawmakers to meet for a special session lasting from Sept. 11-14, 2023. During those meetings of legislators, hundreds of laws were passed. Many went into effect right away if lawmakers voted to approve an emergency clause. Several more—specifically laws that involve the public school system—began at the outset of the 2023-2024 school year.
However, there were some laws passed that will take effect on or after Jan. 1, 2024. Even though it's been months since lawmakers decided on these changes, it's important to know which laws directly impact Arkansans and life in the Natural State.
Here are some noteworthy Arkansas laws going into effect on Jan. 1, that will change state law, collectively impacting criminal law, business, health care, and more.
Healthcare coverage
Depression screenings for new mothers covered by health insurance
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, new moms in Arkansas will be required to be screened for depression, and health insurance providers in the state will be required to provide coverage for the screenings by a healthcare professional within six weeks of the mothers giving birth.
Coverage for ambulance rides
Ambulance rides that are coordinated through telemedicine with a doctor for a medical-based complaint or with a behavioral health specialist for a behavioral health complaint will be required to be covered by healthcare providers in Arkansas, beginning in 2024.
Licensed traumatic event counseling offered to public safety employees
Act 537 will require a public employer to provide coverage of counseling resources for any public safety employees who experience a traumatic event while on duty. This includes firefighters, police officers, probation officers, surveillance officers, and juvenile detention officers.
This will also begin a study that will evaluate the availability and effectiveness of licensed counseling for volunteer firefighters to evaluate ways to fund coverage for licensed counseling and make additional legislation to implement the coverage.
Crime and corrections
Protect Arkansas Act
The Protect Arkansas Act was first signed off on April 11 by Gov. Sanders, with goals to expand prisons and sentencing for more violent crimes and create tougher punishments. Within this law, though, are certain changes that are effective on Jan. 1, 2024, such as removing residential burglary as a "felony involving violence."
This covers residential burglaries committed on or after the first of the year. Aggravated residential burglary, which is when a deadly weapon is used, will remain a felony involving violence under Arkansas law.
Clarifying sentencing for a felony with a firearm and changing eligibility for early release.
If someone in Arkansas commits any of the following crimes on or after Jan. 1, 2024, they will not be eligible for early release and have to serve the full sentence.
- Murder in the first degree
- Kidnapping that is a Class Y felony
- Aggravated robbery
- Rape
- Causing a catastrophe
- Trafficking methamphetamine
- Manufacturing methamphetamine
- Possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine
Act 584 adds delivering fentanyl to someone who dies from an overdose and predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors as felonies ineligible for early release.
Income taxes, housing, workforce
Lowering Arkansas state income tax will take effect on the tax year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2024.
Gov. Sanders on April 11, 2023, signed into law a measure to cut individual and corporate income taxes in Arkansas by $124 million a year.
Phasing out the "Throwback Rule"
Arkansas is one of 22 states in the country with a "throwback rule," which taxes the profits of a business based in another state after it sells something in Arkansas. The taxes get "thrown back" into Arkansas's economy, despite the profit not being earned in Arkansas.
Arkansas will begin to phase out the throwback rule beginning with the 2024 tax year.
Housing Welfare Reform Act of 2023
A law that claims to "ensure that an individual who can work is required to work, train, or volunteer to qualify for and receive public housing benefits and is intended to preserve limited resources for truly needy Arkansans."
Another law going into effect in 2024 that has to do with unemployment is the Prohibiting Unemployment Claimants from Ghosting Employers Act. According to the new law, its purpose is to disqualify someone from collecting unemployment benefits when the person "fails to respond to an offer of employment or fails to appear for a previously scheduled job interview.
Required Alzheimer's training
Law enforcement officers in Arkansas will be required to go through training concerning persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias to be certified as an officer in the state. Another new law taking effect in 2024 requires similar required training for staff members at an assisted living facility.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.