LITTLE ROCK— On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Governor signed into law:
HB1137 - An act to separate the offices of sheriff and tax collector in Searcy County; and for other purposes.
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the offices of sheriff and tax collector in Searcy County, shall be separate offices.
At the 2026 general election, the electors of Searcy County shall elect both a sheriff and a tax collector, and each officer so elected shall take office on Jan. 1, 2027.
The sheriff and the tax collector in Searcy County shall each give bond for the faithful performance of their respective duties as provided by law.
The sheriff and the tax collector of Searcy County shall each receive compensation that shall be determined by the Searcy County Quorum Court within the minimum and maximum compensation range prescribed by the General Assembly and shall hire deputies and have other allowances as prescribed by the Searcy County Quorum Court.
Continuing education for county officials
SB53 - An act to make an appropriation for maintaining and operating a continuing education program for the county clerks, circuit clerks, county treasurers, county collectors and county coroners for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and for other purposes.
There is hereby appropriated, to the Auditor of State, to be payable from the County and Circuit Clerks Continuing Education Fund, for the County Clerks' Continuing Education Board in carrying out the responsibilities for maintaining and operating a continuing education program and certification program for county clerks by the County Clerks' Continuing Education Board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the following: County clerk's. $75,000; circuit clerks, $75,000; county treasurers, $75,000; county collectors, 75,000 and county coroners, $125,000
Disbursement of funds authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
It is found and determined by the General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the
appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025.
