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AR·Bill·2025 Regular Session

HB 1690

Signed into Law

TO TRANSFER THE NUCLEAR PLANNING AND RESPONSE PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Introduced 2025-03-05Last action 2025-04-14 — Notification that HB1690 is now Act 583Committee State Agencies & Governmental Affairs

Sponsor

B. DavisR

Cosponsors

Breanne Davis(R)
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Signed into Law

Legislative Progress

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Introduced
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In Committee
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Passed Chamber
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Enacted / Signed

Votes

Senate2025-04-08PassedSee how each member voted →
Third Reading
Yea 35 · 6 D · 29 RNay 0
House2025-03-17PassedSee how each member voted →
Third Reading
Yea 97 · 18 D · 79 RNay 0NV 3 · Absent 0

Summary

This bill transfers the Nuclear Planning and Response Program, which oversees emergency preparedness and environmental radiation surveillance around nuclear power plants in Arkansas, from the Department of Health to the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2025. The transfer includes all associated authority, personnel, property, contracts, and funding, while maintaining existing rules and regulations currently in place. The bill maintains the program's core mission of monitoring radiation levels and coordinating emergency response capabilities around nuclear electricity generating facilities, with costs continuing to be borne by the utilities operating these facilities, but shifts administrative oversight to align nuclear emergency planning with the state's broader emergency management infrastructure.

Bill history

  1. 2025-03-05 · House
    Filed
  2. 2025-03-05 · House
    Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE
  3. 2025-03-12 · House
    Returned by the Committee Do Pass
  4. 2025-03-17 · House
    Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
  5. 2025-03-17 · Senate
    Received from the House.
  6. 2025-03-17 · Senate
    Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE
  7. 2025-04-01 · Senate
    Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
  8. 2025-04-08 · Senate
    Read the third time and passed.
  9. 2025-04-08 · Senate
    EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
  10. 2025-04-08 · Senate
    Returned to the House as passed.
  11. 2025-04-09 · House
    Returned from the Senate as passed.
  12. 2025-04-09 · House
    TO BE ENROLLED
  13. 2025-04-09 · House
    Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
  14. 2025-04-14 · House
    Notification that HB1690 is now Act 583

Note

Historical import. Session: 2025

Full Bill Text
https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=583.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R
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