Three new laws pump $575 million into Arkansas water infrastructure
Video: Van Buren community voices concerns after being without water over the weekend
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Three bills passed during the current legislation session and signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders mark an investment in Arkansas water.
Sanders said in a statement that the state’s access to safe and reliable water infrastructure was necessary for the state to grow and thrive.
“I was proud to work with the legislature to support this legislation and invest more than half a billion dollars in Arkansas’ water issues, and I will work closely with the Department of Agriculture to ensure we provide assistance to the communities that need it most,” the governor said.
Senate Bill 420, now Act 736, allows more private entities to convert to public water authorities, allowing them to apply for additional state funding.
House Bill 1681, now Act 812, establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program, providing $25 million from interest earnings per year over the next three years to water and sewer facilities, with 20% earmarked for rural systems serving 1,200 people or fewer.
Senate Bill 421, now Act 578, creates a ballot initiative for the 2026 election that, if approved by voters, would provide $500 million in water and wastewater project funding through 2043, currently set to expire in 2027, paid for through loan repayments and no increase to state general revenue.
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