Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1638 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2		-	Act 508 of the Regular Session
3		-	ZRC022 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
4		-
5		-	State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/18/25 1
	2	+	ZRC022 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	3	+	State of Arkansas 1
6	4		95th General Assembly A Bill 2
7	5		Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1638 3
8	6		4
9	7		By: Representatives Painter, Ray 5
10	8		By: Senator Crowell 6
11	9		7
12	10		For An Act To Be Entitled 8
13	11		AN ACT TO MODERNIZE REFERENCES TO THE UNITED STATES 9
14	12		ARMED FORCES; TO AMEND ARMED FORCES AND UNIFORMED 10
15	13		SERVICES LISTINGS TO INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES SPACE 11
16	14		FORCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
17	15		13
18	16		14
19	17		Subtitle 15
20	18		TO MODERNIZE REFERENCES TO THE UNITED 16
21	19		STATES ARMED FORCES; AND TO AMEND ARMED 17
22	20		FORCES AND UNIFORMED SERVICES LISTINGS 18
23	21		TO INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES SPACE 19
24	22		FORCE. 20
25	23		21
26	24		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
27	25		23
28	26		SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. 24
29	27		(a) The General Assembly finds that: 25
30	28		(1) The United States Space Force was established on December 26
31	29		20, 2019, and is the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces and 27
32	30		eighth uniformed service of the United States under 10 U.S.C. § 101, as it 28
33	31		existed on January 1, 2025; and 29
34	32		(2) Arkansas legislation enacted after December 20, 2019, 30
35	33		includes the United States Space Force in statutory references to the United 31
36	34		States Armed Forces and uniformed services of the United States. 32
37	35		(b) The General Assembly intends for this act to: 33
38	36		(1) Add the United States Space Force to statutory references to 34
39	37		the United States Armed Forces and uniformed services of the United States 35
40		-	contained in existing statutes to ensure the eligibility of members and 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	38	+	contained in existing statutes to ensure the eligibility of members and 36 HB1638
41	39
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43		-
44		-
	40	+	2 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
45	41		veterans of the United States Space Force for existing programs; and 1
46	42		(2) Modernize the language and provisions of statutes adopted 2
47	43		during or immediately following World War II. 3
48	44		4
49	45		SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 5 -37-218(a), concerning the offense of 5
50	46		stolen valor, is amended to read as follows: 6
51	47		(a) As used in this section, “United States Armed Forces” means: 7
52		-	(1) Any branch ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States 8
53		-	~~Armed~~ Forces Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 9
	48	+	(1) Any branch or reserve component of the United States Armed 8
	49	+	Forces Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 9
54	50		Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard ; and 10
55	51		(2) The National Guard of any state. 11
56	52		12
57	53		SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 5 -73-101, concerning the definitions 13
58	54		to be used in relation to offenses concerning weapons, is amended to add an 14
59	55		additional subdivision to read as follows: 15
60	56		(15) "United States Armed Forces" means: 16
61		-	(A) Any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States 17
	57	+	(A) Any branch or reserve component of the United States 17
62	58		Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine 18
63	59		Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 19
64	60		(B) The National Guard of any state. 20
65	61		21
66	62		SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 5 -73-105 is amended to read as follows: 22
67	63		5-73-105. Legitimate manufacture, repair, and transportation of 23
68	64		prohibited weapons. 24
69	65		Section 5-73-104 shall not be construed to prohibit the manufacture, 25
70	66		repair, transportation, or sale of the weapons enumerated in § 5 -73-104 to or 26
71	67		for an authorized representative of: 27
72	68		(1) The armed forces United States Armed Forces ; or 28
73	69		(2) Any law enforcement agency. 29
74	70		30
75	71		SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 5 -73-119(e)(2) and (3), concerning 31
76	72		instances in which the possession of a handgun by a minor or on school 32
77	73		property is permissible, are amended to read as follows: 33
78	74		(2) The person is a law enforcement officer, correctional 34
79	75		officer, member of a municipal fire department bomb squad who is authorized 35
80		-	to carry a concealed handgun under § 12 -15-204, or member of the armed forces 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	76	+	to carry a concealed handgun under § 12 -15-204, or member of the armed forces 36 HB1638
81	77
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83		-
84		-
	78	+	3 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
85	79		United States Armed Forces acting in the course and scope of his or her 1
86	80		official duties; 2
87	81		(3) The person is assisting a law enforcement officer, 3
88	82		correctional officer, or member of the armed forces United States Armed 4
89	83		Forces acting in the course and scope of his or her official duties pursuant 5
90	84		to the direction or request of the law enforcement officer, correctional 6
91	85		officer, or member of the armed forces United States Armed Forces ; 7
92	86		8
93	87		SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 5 -73-120(c)(2) and (3), concerning the 9
94	88		instances in which a person is presumed to be carrying a weapon with a lawful 10
95	89		purpose, are amended to read as follows: 11
96	90		(2) The person is a law enforcement officer, correctional 12
97	91		officer, member of a municipal fire department bomb squad who is authorized 13
98	92		to carry a concealed handgun under § 12 -15-204, or member of the armed forces 14
99	93		United States Armed Forces , acting in the course and scope of his or her 15
100	94		official duties; 16
101	95		(3) The person is assisting a law enforcement officer, 17
102	96		correctional officer, or member of the armed forces United States Armed 18
103	97		Forces acting in the course and scope of his or her official duties pursuant 19
104	98		to the direction or request of the law enforcement officer, correctional 20
105	99		officer, or member of the armed forces United States Armed Forces ; 21
106	100		22
107	101		SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 6 -4-302, Article II(R), concerning the 23
108	102		adoption of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military 24
109	103		Children, is amended to read as follows: 25
110	104		R. “Uniformed service(s)” means: the Army, Navy, 26
111	105		Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard as well as the Commissioned 27
112	106		Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public 28
113	107		Health Services. 29
114	108		30
115	109		SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 6-17-306(b)(1), concerning a leave of 31
116	110		absence for a public school employee, is amended to read as follows: 32
117	111		(b)(1) A licensed employee or a classified employee who is employed by 33
118	112		a public school in this state is entitled to a leave of absence for fifteen 34
119	113		(15) days plus necessary travel time in any fiscal year for the purpose of 35
120		-	participating in: 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	114	+	participating in: 36 HB1638
121	115
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123		-
124		-
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125	117		(A) Military training programs or other official duties 1
126	118		made available by the armed forces of this state or any other state, 2
127	119		including without limitation the National Guard or a reserve component of the 3
128	120		armed forces United States Armed Forces ; or 4
129	121		(B) The civil defense and public health training programs 5
130	122		made available by the United States Commissioned Corps of the Public Health 6
131	123		Service. 7
132	124		(C) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" 8
133		-	means any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States Army, United 9
	125	+	means any branch or reserve component of the United States Army, United 9
134	126		States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United 10
135	127		States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard. 11
136	128		12
137	129		SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 7 -1-101(36), concerning the definitions 13
138	130		used in relation to elections, is amended to read as follows: 14
139	131		(36) “Uniformed services” means the United States Army, United 15
140	132		States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United 16
141	133		States Space Force, United States Coast Guard, the United States Commissioned 17
142	134		Corps of the Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 18
143	135		Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, or as defined in the federal 19
144	136		Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et 20
145	137		seq., as it existed on January 1, 2025, if different from the definition 21
146	138		stated in this subdivision (36); 22
147	139		23
148	140		SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 9 -13-110(a)(1), concerning parents who are 24
149	141		members of the armed forces, is amended to read as follows: 25
150	142		(1) “Armed forces” means : the National Guard and the reserve 26
151	143		components of the armed forces, the United States Army, the United States 27
152	144		Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, the 28
153	145		United States Air Force, and any other branch of the military and naval 29
154	146		forces or auxiliaries of the United States or Arkansas; and 30
155		-	(A) Any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States 31
	147	+	(A) Any branch or reserve component of the United States 31
156	148		Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine 32
157	149		Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; 33
158	150		(B) The National Guard of any state. 34
159	151		35
160		-	SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 9 -21-102(18), concerning the definitions 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	152	+	SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 9 -21-102(18), concerning the definitions 36 HB1638
161	153
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163		-
164		-
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165	155		to be used in relation to the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation 1
166	156		Act, is amended to read as follows: 2
167	157		(18) “Uniformed service” means: 3
168	158		(A) active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air 4
169	159		Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard of the United States; 5
170	160		(B) the United States Merchant Marine; 6
171	161		(C) the commissioned corps of the United States Public 7
172	162		Health Service; 8
173	163		(D) the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and 9
174	164		Atmospheric Administration of the United States; or 10
175	165		(E) the National Guard of a state. 11
176	166		12
177	167		SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 12 -60-102(13), concerning the definitions 13
178	168		to be used in relation to military affairs, is amended to read as follows: 14
179	169		(13) “Military” refers to any or all of means the armed forces, 15
180		-	including without limitation any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United 16
	170	+	including without limitation any branch or reserve component of the United 16
181	171		States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 17
182	172		Marine Corps, United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard ; 18
183	173		19
184	174		SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 12 -60-102, concerning the definitions to 20
185	175		be used in relation to military affairs, is amended to add an additional 21
186	176		subdivision to read as follows: 22
187	177		(22) "United States Armed Forces" means: 23
188		-	(A) Any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States 24
	178	+	(A) Any branch or reserve component of the United States 24
189	179		Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine 25
190	180		Corps, United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard; and 26
191	181		(B) The National Guard of any state. 27
192	182		28
193	183		SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 12 -61-108(c), concerning the appointment 29
194	184		of deputy adjutants general, is amended to read as follows: 30
195	185		(c) The deputy adjutants general must have a thorough knowledge of the 31
196	186		organization and missions of the departments and components of the armed 32
197	187		forces of the United States Armed Forces. 33
198	188		34
199	189		SECTION 15. Arkansas Code § 12 -61-110(b), concerning the property and 35
200		-	finance officer of the state militia, is amended to read as follows: 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	190	+	finance officer of the state militia, is amended to read as follows: 36 HB1638
201	191
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203		-
204		-
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205	193		(b) He or she shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident of 1
206	194		Arkansas, and shall have served on the active list as a commissioned officer 2
207	195		of either the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or the 3
208	196		National Guard of this state. 4
209	197		5
210	198		SECTION 16. Arkansas Code § 12 -61-111(a)(2), concerning the power of 6
211	199		the Governor to order the state militia into service, is amended to read as 7
212	200		follows: 8
213	201		(2) Such power shall include the power to order the organized 9
214	202		militia or any part thereof to function under the operational control of the 10
215	203		United States Army, United States Navy, United States Space Force, or United 11
216	204		States Air Force commander in charge of the defense of any area within the 12
217	205		state. 13
218	206		14
219	207		SECTION 17. Arkansas Code § 12 -62-406 is amended to read as follows: 15
220	208		12-62-406. Stay of proceedings. 16
221	209		(a) All lawsuits pending in any court of this state in which any an 17
222	210		attorney for either party or any party is a member of the a reserve 18
223	211		components component of the armed forces United States Armed Forces and who 19
224	212		has been ordered to a period of active duty in the armed forces of the State 20
225	213		of Arkansas or of the United States , pursuant to a written order issued by 21
226	214		the authority of the President of the United States or the Governor of the 22
227	215		State of Arkansas, upon written notice to the parties and the court, shall be 23
228	216		stayed for a period of not less than fifteen (15) days preceding the period 24
229	217		of active duty and for thirty (30) days following the period of active duty, 25
230	218		unless for a time less as requested by the party or attorney. The proceedings 26
231	219		shall be stayed without regard to the number of other attorneys also 27
232	220		representing the parties litigant. Judgments, decrees, sentences, or fines 28
233	221		rendered or imposed in violation hereof after written notice for continuance 29
234	222		has been filed hereunder shall be void and unenforceable. 30
235	223		(b)(1) This section does not apply to any dependency -neglect actions. 31
236	224		(2) However, in dependency -neglect actions, a member of the 32
237	225		National Guard or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States 33
238	226		Armed Forces who has been ordered to a period of active duty in the armed 34
239	227		forces of the State of Arkansas or the United States pursuant to a written 35
240		-	order issued by the authority of the President of the United States or the 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	228	+	order issued by the authority of the President of the United States or the 36 HB1638
241	229
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243		-
244		-
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245	231		Governor of the State of Arkansas shall be afforded the protections under the 1
246	232		Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 501 et seq., as in effect 2
247	233		on February 1, 2011, to the same extent as if his or her duties were for 3
248	234		federal military status. 4
249	235		5
250	236		SECTION 18. Arkansas Code § 12 -62-413(a), concerning employment 6
251	237		protections for members of the armed forces, is amended to read as follows: 7
252	238		(a) A person who is called to active state duty as a member of the 8
253	239		armed forces of this state or any other state, including without limitation 9
254	240		the National Guard, a reserve component of the armed forces, or the militia, 10
255	241		United States Armed Forces is afforded such employment and reemployment 11
256	242		rights, privileges, benefits, and protections in employment as though that 12
257	243		person had been called to active duty in the service of the United States and 13
258	244		shall not be denied hiring, retention in employment, promotion, or other 14
259	245		incidents or advantages of employment because of any obligation as a member 15
260	246		of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 16
261	247		17
262	248		SECTION 19. Arkansas Code § 12 -62-802(5), concerning the definitions 18
263	249		to be used under the Military Service Protection Act, is amended to read as 19
264	250		follows: 20
265	251		(5) “Military service” means current honorable service or 21
266	252		honorable discharge from service within six (6) months from the date of the 22
267	253		alleged discrimination in any active or reserve component of the United 23
268	254		States Armed Forces armed forces; and 24
269	255		25
270	256		SECTION 20. Arkansas Code § 12 -63-305(a)(1)(A), concerning the 26
271	257		conveyance or disposal of military real property, is amended to read as 27
272	258		follows: 28
273	259		(a)(1)(A) If the Adjutant General of the State of Arkansas determines 29
274	260		that any military reservation, armory, landing field, hangar, or any other 30
275	261		estate in real property owned or possessed by the State of Arkansas for the 31
276	262		use and benefit of the Arkansas National Guard or the armed forces of the 32
277	263		United States Armed Forces is no longer useful or necessary for National 33
278	264		Guard or other military purposes, the Adjutant General shall then have 34
279	265		authority to sell, convey, or otherwise dispose of the property. 35
280		-	36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	266	+	36 HB1638
281	267
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283		-
284		-
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285	269		SECTION 21. Arkansas Code § 12 -63-401(f), concerning the state's 1
286	270		acceptance of title to Camp Joseph T. Robinson, is amended to read as 2
287	271		follows: 3
288	272		(f) Such military training and support facilities, canteens, morale, 4
289	273		welfare, and recreational facilities, service clubs, and other facilities as 5
290	274		may be established and operated by the Adjutant General shall be operated in 6
291	275		accordance with applicable regulations of the United States armed forces 7
292	276		Armed Forces, subject to the orders, directions, regulations, and general 8
293	277		supervision of the Adjutant General, and subject to such restrictions and 9
294	278		requirements as provided by state law governing other military training 10
295	279		facilities, recreational facilities, and service clubs operated by the 11
296	280		Adjutant General. 12
297	281		13
298	282		SECTION 22. Arkansas Code § 12 -63-404(a), concerning military -type 14
299	283		canteens and exchanges, is amended to read as follows: 15
300	284		(a) The Adjutant General, as custodian of military properties and 16
301	285		military reservations, may institute and operate military -type canteens and 17
302	286		exchanges similar to those operated by armed forces of the United States 18
303	287		Armed Forces on any military reservation, and he or she may designate 19
304	288		suitable buildings and lands located on a military reservation for the 20
305	289		operation of military -type canteens and exchanges. 21
306	290		22
307	291		SECTION 23. Arkansas Code § 12 -64-817(1)(A), concerning actions for 23
308	292		which military personnel shall be punished as directed by a court martial, is 24
309	293		amended to read as follows: 25
310	294		(1)(A) Violates or fails to obey any lawful order or rule. A 26
311	295		lawful order or rule is a written, electronic, nonverbal , or oral 27
312	296		communication by a member of the armed forces United States Armed Forces 28
313	297		acting within the scope of official military duties regarding instruction, 29
314	298		decision, rule, judgment, directive, procedure, statement , or command, and 30
315	299		which primarily affects the action, organization, training, good order, 31
316	300		discipline, property, welfare, administration, operation, and procedure of 32
317	301		the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 33
318	302		34
319	303		SECTION 24. Arkansas Code § 12 -64-824(7), concerning actions that 35
320		-	constitute misbehavior before the enemy by military personnel, is amended to 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	304	+	constitute misbehavior before the enemy by military personnel, is amended to 36 HB1638
321	305
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323		-
324		-
	306	+	9 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
325	307		read as follows: 1
326	308		(7) Causes false arms in any command, unit, or place under 2
327	309		control of the armed forces of the United States Armed Forces or the 3
328	310		organized militia; 4
329	311		5
330	312		SECTION 25. Arkansas Code § 12 -64-841(3) and (4), concerning frauds 6
331	313		against the government, are amended to read as follows: 7
332	314		(3) Having charge, possession, custody, or control of any money 8
333	315		or other property of the United States or the state, furnished or intended 9
334	316		for the armed forces of the United States or the organized militia or any 10
335	317		force thereof United States Armed Forces , knowingly delivers to any person 11
336	318		having authority to receive it, any amount thereof less than that for which 12
337	319		he or she receives a certificate or receipt; or 13
338	320		(4) Being authorized to make or deliver any paper certifying the 14
339	321		receipt of any property of the United States or the state, furnished or 15
340	322		intended for the armed forces of the United States or the organized militia 16
341	323		or any force thereof United States Armed Forces , makes or delivers to any 17
342	324		person such writing without having full knowledge of the truth of the 18
343	325		statements therein contained and with intent to defraud the United States or 19
344	326		the state. 20
345	327		21
346	328		SECTION 26. Arkansas Code § 12 -64-851(a) and (b), concerning 22
347	329		prohibited activities by a person in a position of special trust, are amended 23
348	330		to read as follows: 24
349	331		(a) An officer, a noncommissioned officer, or a petty officer shall be 25
350	332		punished as a court-martial may direct for abuse of a training leadership 26
351	333		position if he or she: 27
352	334		(1) Is in a training leadership position with respect to a 28
353	335		specially protected junior member of the armed forces United States Armed 29
354	336		Forces; and 30
355	337		(2) Engages in prohibited sexual activity with the specially 31
356	338		protected junior member of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 32
357	339		(b) A military recruiter shall be punished as a court -martial may 33
358	340		direct for abuse of a position as a military recruiter if he or she engages 34
359	341		in prohibited sexual activity with: 35
360		-	(1) An applicant he or she is recruiting to enlist in military 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	342	+	(1) An applicant he or she is recruiting to enlist in military 36 HB1638
361	343
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363		-
364		-
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365	345		service; or 1
366	346		(2) A specially protected junior member of the armed forces 2
367	347		United States Armed Forces who enlisted under a delayed entry program. 3
368	348		4
369	349		SECTION 27. Arkansas Code § 14 -2-102(b), concerning records of 5
370	350		military discharges, is amended to read as follows: 6
371	351		(b) The record shall contain a complete copy of discharges and shall 7
372	352		contain an index of the names of the discharged soldiers, sailors, airmen, 8
373		-	~~marines~~ Marines, or other members of the United States Army, United States 9
374		-	~~Navy,~~ United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States 10
375		-	~~Space~~ Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Merchant Marine, 11
376		-	~~members of~~ the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Reserve of the United 12
377		-	~~States Naval~~ Reserve, nurses, and members of all other branches of the United 13
378		-	~~States Armed~~ Forces with reference to page, alphabetically arranged. 14
	353	+	marines, or other members of the United States Army, United States Navy, 9
	354	+	United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Space 10
	355	+	Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Merchant Marine, members of 11
	356	+	the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Reserve of the United States Naval 12
	357	+	Reserve, nurses, and members of all other branches of the United States Armed 13
	358	+	Forces with reference to page, alphabetically arranged. 14
379	359		15
380	360		SECTION 28. Arkansas Code § 16 -47-213 is amended to read as follows: 16
381	361		16-47-213. Acknowledgments by persons serving in or with the armed 17
382	362		forces of the United States Armed Forces within or without the United States. 18
383	363		In addition to the acknowledgment of instruments in the manner and form 19
384	364		and as otherwise authorized by this act, persons a person serving in or with 20
385	365		the armed forces of the United States Armed Forces or their dependents his or 21
386	366		her dependent may acknowledge the same wherever located before any 22
387	367		commissioned officer in active service of the armed forces of the United 23
388	368		States Armed Forces with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the 24
389	369		United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, or 25
390	370		United States Marine Corps, or ensign or higher in the United States Navy or 26
391	371		United States Coast Guard. The instrument shall not be rendered invalid by 27
392	372		the failure to state therein the place of execution or acknowledgment. No 28
393	373		authentication of the officer's certificate of acknowledgment shall be 29
394	374		required but the officer taking the acknowledgment shall endorse thereon or 30
395	375		attach thereto a certificate substantially in the following form: “On this 31
396	376		............. day of ............. , 19 20............., before me, 32
397	377		............., the undersigned officer, personally appeared ............. 33
398	378		(Serial No. .............) known to me or satisfactorily proven to be 34
399	379		(serving in or with the armed forces of the United States Armed Forces) (a 35
400		-	dependent of ............., (Serial No. .............) a person serving in or 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	380	+	dependent of ............., (Serial No. .............) a person serving in or 36 HB1638
401	381
402		-	11 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
403		-
404		-
	382	+	11 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
405	383		with the armed forces of the United States Armed Forces) and to be the person 1
406	384		whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that 2
407	385		............. he or she ............. executed the same for the purposes 3
408	386		therein contained. And the undersigned does further certify that he or she is 4
409	387		at the date of this certificate a commissioned officer of the rank stated 5
410	388		below and is in the active service of the armed forces of the United States 6
411	389		Armed Forces. 7
412	390		............................................ 8
413	391		Signature of the Officer 9
414	392		............................................ 10
415	393		Rank and Serial No. of Officer 11
416	394		and Command to which attached." 12
417	395		13
418	396		SECTION 29. Arkansas Code § 16 -56-118 is amended to read as follows: 14
419	397		16-56-118. Suspension of limitations — Persons in the armed forces 15
420	398		United States Armed Forces . 16
421	399		(a) The statutes of limitations in this state are suspended so far as 17
422	400		those statutes affect the claim or cause of action of a person in the armed 18
423	401		forces of the United States Armed Forces during the existence of a state of 19
424	402		war between the United States and any other nation, and for six (6) months 20
425	403		thereafter. 21
426	404		(b) Any person in the armed forces of the United States Armed Forces 22
427	405		during the existence of a state of war between the United States and any 23
428	406		other nation may, at any time within one (1) year after the end of the state 24
429	407		of war and six (6) months thereafter, maintain a suit for the collection of 25
430	408		any debt or the recovery of any real or personal property to which the person 26
431	409		may be entitled if the statute of limitations had not run against the action 27
432	410		prior to the person's entry into the armed forces of the United States Armed 28
433	411		Forces. 29
434	412		(c) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" means: 30
435		-	(1) Any ~~regular~~ or reserve component of the United States Army, 31
	413	+	(1) Any branch or reserve component of the United States Army, 31
436	414		United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 32
437	415		United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 33
438	416		(2) The National Guard of any state. 34
439	417		35
440		-	SECTION 30. Arkansas Code § 16 -112-118(a)(1), concerning who may be 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	418	+	SECTION 30. Arkansas Code § 16 -112-118(a)(1), concerning who may be 36 HB1638
441	419
442		-	12 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
443		-
444		-
	420	+	12 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
445	421		discharged under a writ of habeas corpus, is amended to read as follows: 1
446	422		(1) Who is in custody or held by virtue of any legal engagement 2
447	423		or enlistment in the United States Army , or the United States Navy, United 3
448	424		States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, or 4
449	425		United States Coast Guard ; 5
450	426		6
451	427		SECTION 31. Arkansas Code § 17 -1-101(a) and (b), concerning the 7
452	428		examination credit for United States veterans and nurses on examinations held 8
453	429		by state boards, commissions, or bureaus for the purpose of examining 9
454	430		applicants for a license or permit to engage in a profession, trade, or 10
455	431		employment, are amended to read as follows: 11
456	432		(a) In all examinations held by any and all state boards, commissions, 12
457	433		or bureaus for the purpose of examining applicants for any license or permit 13
458	434		to engage in any profession, trade, or employment, all applicants for such 14
459	435		examinations who are veterans of the United States Army, United States Navy, 15
460	436		United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Space 16
461	437		Force, United States Coast Guard, or Nurses of the United States shall have a 17
462	438		credit of ten percent (10%) over and above all applicants who are not such 18
463	439		veterans or nurses. 19
464	440		(b) The only requirement on the part of the applicant for examination 20
465	441		to secure credit of ten percent (10%) shall be the delivery to the examining 21
466	442		board, commission, or bureau of the original or a duly and properly executed 22
467	443		certified copy of an honorable discharge from the United States Army, United 23
468	444		States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United 24
469	445		States Space Force, United States Coast Guard, or Nurses of the United 25
470	446		States. 26
471	447		27
472	448		SECTION 32. Arkansas Code § 17 -20-103(a), concerning exemptions to the 28
473	449		Arkansas Barber Law, is amended to read as follows: 29
474	450		(a) The following persons, firms, or corporations are exempt from the 30
475	451		provisions under this chapter while in the proper discharge of their 31
476	452		professional duties: 32
477	453		(1) Persons licensed by the laws of this state to practice the 33
478	454		healing arts; 34
479	455		(2) Commissioned medical or surgical officers of the uniformed 35
480		-	services of the United States Army, United States Navy, or United States 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	456	+	services of the United States Army, United States Navy, or United States 36 HB1638
481	457
482		-	13 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
483		-
484		-
	458	+	13 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
485	459		Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service ; 1
486	460		(3) Persons licensed or registered by the Arkansas State Board 2
487	461		of Nursing; 3
488	462		(4) Undertakers and morticians; and 4
489	463		(5) Jails, prisons, or penitentiaries. 5
490	464		6
491	465		SECTION 33. Arkansas Code § 17 -82-302(1), concerning acts and 7
492	466		practices that do not require a person to be licensed as a dentist, dental 8
493	467		hygienist, or dental assistant, is amended to read as follows: 9
494	468		(1) The performance of duty in this state of a commissioned 10
495	469		dental or medical officer of the United States Army, United States Air Force, 11
496		-	United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Department of 12
497		-	Veterans Affairs, or United States Public Health Service; 13
498		-	14
499		-	SECTION 34. Arkansas Code § 17 -83-104(2), concerning exemptions from 15
500		-	the laws concerning the licensing of dietitians, is amended to read as 16
501		-	follows: 17
502		-	(2)(A) A dietitian who is serving in the armed forces United 18
503		-	States Armed Forces or the United States Public Health Service or is employed 19
504		-	by the Department of Veterans Affairs from engaging in the practice of 20
505		-	dietetics, provided that the practice is related to that service or 21
506		-	employment;. 22
507		-	(B) As used in this subdivision (2), "United States Armed 23
508		-	Forces" means: 24
509		-	(i) Any regular or reserve component of the United 25
510		-	States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 26
511		-	Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 27
512		-	(ii) The National Guard of any state; 28
	470	+	United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, 12
	471	+	United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or 13
	472	+	United States Public Health Service; 14
	473	+	15
	474	+	SECTION 34. Arkansas Code § 17 -83-104(2), concerning exemptions from 16
	475	+	the laws concerning the licensing of dietitians, is amended to read as 17
	476	+	follows: 18
	477	+	(2)(A) A dietitian who is serving in the armed forces United 19
	478	+	States Armed Forces or the United States Public Health Service or is employed 20
	479	+	by the Department of Veterans Affairs from engaging in the practice of 21
	480	+	dietetics, provided that the practice is related to that service or 22
	481	+	employment;. 23
	482	+	(B) As used in this subdivision (2), "United States Armed 24
	483	+	Forces" means: 25
	484	+	(i) Any branch or reserve component of the United 26
	485	+	States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 27
	486	+	Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 28
	487	+	(ii) The National Guard of any state; 29
	488	+	30
	489	+	SECTION 35. Arkansas Code § 17 -96-102 is amended to read as follows: 31
	490	+	17-96-102. Exemptions. 32
	491	+	This chapter shall not apply to physicians or surgeons licensed in the 33
	492	+	State of Arkansas, nor to the surgeons of the uniformed services of the 34
	493	+	United States Army, the United States Navy, and the United States Public 35
	494	+	Health Service, when in actual performance of their duties. 36 HB1638
	495	+
	496	+	14 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	497	+	1
	498	+	SECTION 36. Arkansas Code § 19 -5-1095(b)(1)(B), concerning the 2
	499	+	Military Support Revolving Fund, is amended to read as follows: 3
	500	+	(B) All moneys received by the Department of the Military 4
	501	+	from the United States Army, the United States Air Force, the United States 5
	502	+	Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the 6
	503	+	United States Coast Guard, foreign allied governments, and reserve forces of 7
	504	+	the United States, allied nations, and other federal agencies; and 8
	505	+	9
	506	+	SECTION 37. Arkansas Code § 19 -5-1127(c), concerning the Military 10
	507	+	Family Relief Trust Fund, is amended to read as follows: 11
	508	+	(c) The fund shall be used exclusively by the Adjutant General or his 12
	509	+	or her designee to assist members and families of members of the Arkansas 13
	510	+	National Guard and reserve components of the armed forces United States Army, 14
	511	+	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 15
	512	+	United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard . 16
	513	+	17
	514	+	SECTION 38. Arkansas Code § 20 -64-205(2)(b), concerning the sale on 18
	515	+	written orders of narcotics under the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act, is amended 19
	516	+	to read as follows: 20
	517	+	(b) To a master of a ship or a person in charge of any aircraft 21
	518	+	upon which no physician is regularly employed, or to a physician or surgeon 22
	519	+	duly licensed in some state, territory, or the District of Columbia, to 23
	520	+	practice his or her profession, or to a retired commissioned medical officer 24
	521	+	of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air 25
	522	+	Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the 26
	523	+	United States Coast Guard, or the United States Public Health Service 27
	524	+	employed upon such ship or aircraft, for the actual medical needs of persons 28
	525	+	on board of such ship or aircraft, when not in port. Provided: Such narcotic 29
	526	+	drugs shall be sold to the master of such ship or person in charge of such 30
	527	+	aircraft or to a physician, surgeon, or retired commissioned medical officer 31
	528	+	of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air 32
	529	+	Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the 33
	530	+	United States Coast Guard, or the United States Public Health Service 34
	531	+	employed upon such ship or aircraft only in pursuance of a special order form 35
	532	+	approved by a commissioned medical officer or acting assistant surgeon of the 36 HB1638
	533	+
	534	+	15 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	535	+	United States Public Health Service; 1
	536	+	2
	537	+	SECTION 39. Arkansas Code § 20 -64-205(5), concerning the sale on 3
	538	+	written orders of narcotics under the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act, is amended 4
	539	+	to read as follows: 5
	540	+	(5) A person in charge of a hospital or of a laboratory, or in the 6
	541	+	employ of this state or of any other state, or of any political subdivisions 7
	542	+	thereof, or a master of a ship or a person in charge of any aircraft upon 8
	543	+	which no physician is regularly employed, or a physician or surgeon duly 9
	544	+	licensed in some state, territory, or the District of Columbia, to practice 10
	545	+	his or her profession, or a retired commissioned medical officer of the 11
	546	+	United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the 12
	547	+	United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the United States 13
	548	+	Coast Guard, or the United States Public Health Service employed upon such 14
	549	+	ship or aircraft who obtains narcotic drugs under the provisions of this 15
	550	+	section or otherwise, shall not administer nor dispense nor otherwise use 16
	551	+	such drugs, within this state, except within the scope of his or her 17
	552	+	employment or official duty, and then only for scientific or medicinal 18
	553	+	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subchapter. 19
	554	+	20
	555	+	SECTION 40. Arkansas Code § 21 -2-105(b), concerning the administration 21
	556	+	of oaths for public officers and employees, is amended to read as follows: 22
	557	+	(b) However, if the officer is serving in or with the United States 23
	558	+	Armed Forces, he or she may take the oath of office before any commissioned 24
	559	+	officer in active service of the United States Armed Forces with the rank of 25
	560	+	second lieutenant or higher in the United States Army, United States Air 26
	561	+	Force, United States Space Force, or United States Marine Corps, or ensign or 27
	562	+	higher in the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard. 28
513	563		29
514		-	SECTION 35. Arkansas Code § ~~17 -96-102 is amended to read as follows:~~ 30
515		-	~~17-96-102. Exemptions.~~ 31
516		-	~~This chapter shall not apply to physicians or surgeons licensed~~ in the 32
517		-	~~State of Arkansas, nor to the surgeons~~ of the United States ~~Army,~~ the ~~United~~ 33
518		-	~~States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Public Health~~ 34
519		-	~~Service, when in actual performance~~ of ~~their duties.~~ 35
520		-	36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	564	+	SECTION 41. Arkansas Code § 21 -4-301(4), concerning definitions 30
	565	+	related to military leaves of absence, is amended to read as follows: 31
	566	+	(4) “Person in military service” and “persons in the military 32
	567	+	service of the United States” shall include the following persons and no 33
	568	+	others: 34
	569	+	(A) All members of the United States Army, United States 35
	570	+	Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States 36 HB1638
521	571
522		-	14 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
	572	+	16 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	573	+	Space Force, and United States Coast Guard; and 1
	574	+	(B) All officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 2
	575	+	Administration Commissioned Officer Corps and United States Commissioned 3
	576	+	Corps of the United States Public Health Service detailed by proper authority 4
	577	+	for duty with either the United States Army or the United States Navy . 5
	578	+	6
	579	+	SECTION 42. Arkansas Code § 23 -64-302(9), concerning exemptions from 7
	580	+	continuing education requirements for insurance licensees, is amended to read 8
	581	+	as follows: 9
	582	+	(9)(A) A member of the Arkansas National Guard on state active 10
	583	+	duty or a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty , including 11
	584	+	without limitation an active duty member of the: 12
	585	+	(A) United States Coast Guard; or 13
	586	+	(B) Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces . 14
	587	+	As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" 15
	588	+	means: 16
	589	+	(i) A branch or reserve component of the United 17
	590	+	States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 18
	591	+	Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 19
	592	+	(ii) The National Guard of any state. 20
	593	+	21
	594	+	SECTION 43. Arkansas Code § 24 -2-503(a), concerning the Arkansas 22
	595	+	National Guard and armed forces reserve service credit under public employee 23
	596	+	retirement plans, is amended to read as follows: 24
	597	+	(a) As used in this section, “armed forces reserve” means one (1) of 25
	598	+	the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces United States Army, 26
	599	+	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 27
	600	+	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 28
	601	+	29
	602	+	SECTION 44. Arkansas Code § 24 -4-501(b), concerning prior service 30
	603	+	credit under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, is amended to 31
	604	+	read as follows: 32
	605	+	(b) Any active member of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement 33
	606	+	System who would otherwise be eligible for free prior service credit under 34
	607	+	the provisions of this chapter because of employment with a public employer 35
	608	+	or with the public schools but who was drafted and was serving in the 36 HB1638
523	609
	610	+	17 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	611	+	military United States Armed Forces on active duty on a date which would have 1
	612	+	made the member eligible for the free prior service had the member been an 2
	613	+	employee on that date shall receive, upon application and submission of 3
	614	+	proper proof to the board, free prior service credit for employment prior to 4
	615	+	July 1, 1957, in the case of a state, municipal, or school employee, or prior 5
	616	+	to July 1, 1959, in the case of a county employee, if the following 6
	617	+	conditions are met: 7
	618	+	(1) The member was an employee of a public employer immediately 8
	619	+	preceding his or her involuntary service in the armed forces United States 9
	620	+	Armed Forces; and 10
	621	+	(2) The member was reemployed as an employee within six (6) 11
	622	+	months of his or her discharge from the United States Armed Forces. 12
	623	+	13
	624	+	SECTION 45. Arkansas Code § 24 -4-501, concerning prior service credit 14
	625	+	under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, is amended to add an 15
	626	+	additional subsection to read as follows: 16
	627	+	(d) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" means: 17
	628	+	(1) Any branch or reserve component of the United States Army, 18
	629	+	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 19
	630	+	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 20
	631	+	(2) The National Guard of any state. 21
	632	+	22
	633	+	SECTION 46. Arkansas Code § 24 -6-104(a), concerning credit for service 23
	634	+	in the National Guard and armed forces reserve for the purposes of state 24
	635	+	police retirement, is amended to read as follows: 25
	636	+	(a) As used in this section, “armed forces reserve” means one (1) of 26
	637	+	the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces United States Army, 27
	638	+	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 28
	639	+	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 29
	640	+	30
	641	+	SECTION 47. Arkansas Code § 24 -7-610(a), concerning credit for service 31
	642	+	in the National Guard and armed forces reserve for the purpose of the 32
	643	+	Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, is amended to read as follows: 33
	644	+	(a) As used in this section, “armed forces reserve” means one (1) of 34
	645	+	the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces United States Army, 35
	646	+	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 36 HB1638
524	647
525		-	SECTION 36. Arkansas Code § 19 -5-1095(b)(1)(B), concerning the 1
526		-	Military Support Revolving Fund, is amended to read as follows: 2
527		-	(B) All moneys received by the Department of the Military 3
528		-	from the United States Army, the United States Air Force, the United States 4
529		-	Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the 5
530		-	United States Coast Guard, foreign allied governments, and reserve forces of 6
531		-	the United States, allied nations, and other federal agencies; and 7
532		-	8
533		-	SECTION 37. Arkansas Code § 19 -5-1127(c), concerning the Military 9
534		-	Family Relief Trust Fund, is amended to read as follows: 10
535		-	(c) The fund shall be used exclusively by the Adjutant General or his 11
536		-	or her designee to assist members and families of members of the Arkansas 12
537		-	National Guard and reserve components of the armed forces United States Army, 13
538		-	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 14
539		-	United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard . 15
	648	+	18 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	649	+	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 1
	650	+	2
	651	+	SECTION 48. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-306(c)(2) and (3), concerning the 3
	652	+	definitions used in relation to the income tax exemption for compensation and 4
	653	+	benefits from military service, are amended to read as follows: 5
	654	+	(2)(A) “Armed forces” means the United States Army, United 6
	655	+	States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United 7
	656	+	States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard, the National Guard, and 8
	657	+	the reserve components of the United States Army, United States Navy, United 9
	658	+	States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, and 10
	659	+	United States Coast Guard. 11
	660	+	(B) “Armed forces” does not include: 12
	661	+	(i) A military technician (dual status) under 10 13
	662	+	U.S.C. § 10216(a)(1), as it existed on January 1, 2019; 14
	663	+	(ii) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 15
	664	+	Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; or 16
	665	+	(iii) The United States Commissioned Corps of the 17
	666	+	Public Health Service; and 18
	667	+	(3) “Armed services” means includes the National Guard of any 19
	668	+	state, reserve components of the armed forces, United States Army, United 20
	669	+	States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, United 21
	670	+	States Air Force, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 22
	671	+	Commissioned Officer Corps, and United States Commissioned Corps of the 23
	672	+	Public Health Service. 24
	673	+	25
	674	+	SECTION 49. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-307(e)(2), concerning the income tax 26
	675	+	exemption for retirement and disability benefits, is amended to read as 27
	676	+	follows: 28
	677	+	(2) As used in this subsection, “member of the uniformed 29
	678	+	services” means a retired member of any of the following: 30
	679	+	(A) The United States Army, the United States Marine 31
	680	+	Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States 32
	681	+	Space Force, or the United States Coast Guard; 33
	682	+	(B) A reserve component of any of the United States Armed 34
	683	+	Forces listed in subdivision (e)(2)(A) of this section; 35
	684	+	(C) The National Guard of any state; 36 HB1638
	685	+
	686	+	19 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	687	+	(D) The commissioned regular or reserve corps of the 1
	688	+	United States Public Health Service; or 2
	689	+	(E) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 3
	690	+	Commissioned Officer Corps. 4
	691	+	5
	692	+	SECTION 50. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-2506(i), concerning the Military 6
	693	+	Family Relief Check-off Program, is amended to read as follows: 7
	694	+	(i)(1) The Adjutant General or his or her designee shall use funds 8
	695	+	from the Military Family Relief Trust Fund to establish a grant program to 9
	696	+	assist the families of members of the National Guard and the reserve 10
	697	+	components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 11
	698	+	(2)(A) The grant program created under this section shall assist 12
	699	+	members and families of members of the National Guard and the reserve 13
	700	+	components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 14
	701	+	(B) The eligibility criteria for receiving grants under 15
	702	+	the grant program shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 16
	703	+	(i) The need of the family; 17
	704	+	(ii) The pay grade of the member of the National 18
	705	+	Guard and reserve components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces ; 19
	706	+	(iii) The difference between the member's military 20
	707	+	salary and civilian salary; or 21
	708	+	(iv) Any other factors that establish the family's 22
	709	+	financial hardship. 23
	710	+	(3) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" means 24
	711	+	the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United 25
	712	+	States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard. 26
	713	+	27
	714	+	28
	715	+	SECTION 51. Arkansas Code § 27 -14-704(a)(4), concerning the operation 29
	716	+	of motor vehicles registered in foreign states, is amended to read as 30
	717	+	follows: 31
	718	+	(4) The secretary is authorized and empowered to enter into any 32
	719	+	agreement or issue any permit for the operation of any motor vehicles upon 33
	720	+	the highways of this state without payment of license fees when the motor 34
	721	+	vehicles are operated under and by the supervision of the proper authorities 35
	722	+	of the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Navy, or 36 HB1638
	723	+
	724	+	20 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	725	+	United States Marine Corps , United States Space Force, or United States Coast 1
	726	+	Guard during any period of emergency. 2
	727	+	3
	728	+	SECTION 52. Arkansas Code § 27 -16-603(1), concerning persons exempted 4
	729	+	from the licensing requirements for the operation of motor vehicles, is 5
	730	+	amended to read as follows: 6
	731	+	(1) A person who operates a motor vehicle for a military 7
	732	+	purpose: 8
	733	+	(A) While in the service of the: 9
	734	+	(i) United States Army, United States Air Force, 10
	735	+	United States Navy, United States Space Force, United States Coast Guard, or 11
	736	+	United States Marine Corps; or 12
	737	+	(ii) National Guard and reserve components of the 13
	738	+	armed forces; or 14
	739	+	(B) While serving as a National Guard military technician; 15
540	740		16
541		-	SECTION 38. Arkansas Code § ~~20 -64-205~~(~~2)(b~~), concerning the ~~sale on~~ 17
542		-	~~written orders of narcotics~~ under the ~~Uniform Narcotic Drug~~ Act, is amended 18
543		-	~~to read as~~ follows: 19
544		-	(b) ~~To a master~~ of ~~a ship or a person in charge of any aircraft~~ 20
545		-	~~upon which no physician is regularly employed, or to~~ a ~~physician or surgeon~~ 21
546		-	~~duly licensed in some state,~~ ~~territory, or~~ the ~~District~~ of ~~Columbia, to~~ 22
547		-	~~practice his or her profession, or to a retired commissioned medical officer~~ 23
548		-	of the United States Army~~, the United States Navy, the United States Air~~ 24
549		-	~~Force,~~ the United States ~~Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the~~ 25
550		-	~~United States Coast Guard, or~~ the United States ~~Public Health Service~~ 26
551		-	~~employed upon such ship or aircraft, for~~ the ~~actual medical needs of persons~~ 27
552		-	~~on board of such ship or aircraft,~~ ~~when not in port. Provided: Such narcotic~~ 28
553		-	~~drugs shall be sold to~~ the ~~master of such ship or person in charge of such~~ 29
554		-	~~aircraft or to a physician,~~ ~~surgeon, or retired commissioned medical officer~~ 30
555		-	of the ~~United States Army,~~ ~~the United States Navy, the United States Air~~ 31
556		-	~~Force,~~ the United States ~~Coast Guard, or the United States Public Health~~ 32
557		-	~~Service employed upon such ship or aircraft only in pursuance of a special~~ 33
558		-	~~order form approved by a commissioned medical officer or acting assistant~~ 34
559		-	~~surgeon of~~ the ~~United States Public Health Service;~~ 35
560		-	36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1638
	741	+	SECTION 53. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-203(6), concerning the definitions 17
	742	+	to be used under the Special License Plate Act of 2005, is amended to read as 18
	743	+	follows: 19
	744	+	(6) “Retired member of the armed forces United States Armed 20
	745	+	Forces” means a person who presents proof of retirement in the form of 21
	746	+	retirement orders issued by one (1) of the following services of the United 22
	747	+	States Armed Forces: 23
	748	+	(A) The United States Army; 24
	749	+	(B) The United States Navy; 25
	750	+	(C) The United States Marine Corps; 26
	751	+	(D) The United States Air Force; 27
	752	+	(E) The United States Space Force; 28
	753	+	(F) The United States Coast Guard; 29
	754	+	(F)(G) The Army National Guard; 30
	755	+	(G)(H) The Air National Guard; or 31
	756	+	(H)(I) The reserve components of the United States Armed 32
	757	+	Forces; 33
	758	+	34
	759	+	SECTION 54. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-209(c)(1), concerning the redesign 35
	760	+	and simplification of military service and veterans special license plates, 36 HB1638
561	761
562		-	15 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
	762	+	21 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	763	+	is amended to read as follows: 1
	764	+	(c)(1) The Office of Motor Vehicle shall design a branch decal based 2
	765	+	on the official emblem for each of the following: 3
	766	+	(A) The United States Army; 4
	767	+	(B) The United States Army Reserve; 5
	768	+	(C) The United States Navy; 6
	769	+	(D) The United States Navy Reserve; 7
	770	+	(E) The United States Marine Corps; 8
	771	+	(F) The United States Marine Corps Reserve; 9
	772	+	(G) The United States Air Force; 10
	773	+	(H) The United States Air Force Reserve; 11
	774	+	(I) The United States Coast Guard; 12
	775	+	(J) The United States Coast Guard Reserve; 13
	776	+	(K) The United States Space Force; 14
	777	+	(L) The United States Space Force Reserve; 15
	778	+	(K)(M) The Army National Guard; and 16
	779	+	(L)(N) The Air National Guard. 17
	780	+	18
	781	+	SECTION 55. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-210(a), concerning the special 19
	782	+	license plate for retired members of the armed forces, is amended to read as 20
	783	+	follows: 21
	784	+	(a) The Department of Finance and Administration shall continue the 22
	785	+	special license plate for a retired members member of the armed forces United 23
	786	+	States Armed Forces that existed before the July 31, 2009. 24
	787	+	25
	788	+	SECTION 56. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-1313(a), concerning special license 26
	789	+	plates for United States veterans, is amended to read as follows: 27
	790	+	(a) The Department of Finance and Administration shall create for 28
	791	+	issuance a special license plate that bears a decal stating “U. S. Veteran” 29
	792	+	to be issued to an eligible applicant who establishes that he or she has 30
	793	+	served in the: 31
	794	+	(1) United States Army; 32
	795	+	(2) United States Navy; 33
	796	+	(3) United States Marine Corps; 34
	797	+	(4) United States Air Force; 35
	798	+	(5) United States Space Force; 36 HB1638
563	799
564		-
565		-	SECTION 39. Arkansas Code § 20 -64-205(5), concerning the sale on 1
566		-	written orders of narcotics under the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act, is amended 2
567		-	to read as follows: 3
568		-	(5) A person in charge of a hospital or of a laboratory, or in the 4
569		-	employ of this state or of any other state, or of any political subdivisions 5
570		-	thereof, or a master of a ship or a person in charge of any aircraft upon 6
571		-	which no physician is regularly employed, or a physician or surgeon duly 7
572		-	licensed in some state, territory, or the District of Columbia, to practice 8
573		-	his or her profession, or a retired commissioned medical officer of the 9
574		-	United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the 10
575		-	United States Coast Guard, or the United States Public Health Service 11
576		-	employed upon such ship or aircraft who obtains narcotic drugs under the 12
577		-	provisions of this section or otherwise, shall not administer nor dispense 13
578		-	nor otherwise use such drugs, within this state, except within the scope of 14
579		-	his or her employment or official duty, and then only for scientific or 15
580		-	medicinal purposes and subject to the provisions of this subchapter. 16
581		-	17
582		-	SECTION 40. Arkansas Code § 21 -2-105(b), concerning the administration 18
583		-	of oaths for public officers and employees, is amended to read as follows: 19
584		-	(b) However, if the officer is serving in or with the United States 20
585		-	Armed Forces, he or she may take the oath of office before any commissioned 21
586		-	officer in active service of the United States Armed Forces with the rank of 22
587		-	second lieutenant or higher in the United States Army, United States Air 23
588		-	Force, United States Space Force, or United States Marine Corps, or ensign or 24
589		-	higher in the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard. 25
590		-	26
591		-	SECTION 41. Arkansas Code § 21 -4-301(4), concerning definitions 27
592		-	related to military leaves of absence, is amended to read as follows: 28
593		-	(4) “Person in military service” and “persons in the military 29
594		-	service of the United States” shall include the following persons and no 30
595		-	others: 31
596		-	(A) All members of the United States Army, United States 32
597		-	Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States 33
598		-	Space Force, and United States Coast Guard; and 34
599		-	(B) All officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 35
600		-	Administration Commissioned Officer Corps and United States Commissioned 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
601		-
602		-	16 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
603		-
604		-
605		-	Corps of the United States Public Health Service detailed by proper authority 1
606		-	for duty with either the Untied States Army or the United States Navy the 2
607		-	United States Armed Forces under subdivision (4)(A) of this section . 3
608		-	4
609		-	SECTION 42. Arkansas Code § 23-64-302(9), concerning exemptions from 5
610		-	continuing education requirements for insurance licensees, is amended to read 6
611		-	as follows: 7
612		-	(9)(A) A member of the Arkansas National Guard on state active 8
613		-	duty or a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty., including 9
614		-	without limitation an active duty member of the: 10
615		-	(A) United States Coast Guard; or 11
616		-	(B) Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. 12
617		-	As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" 13
618		-	means: 14
619		-	(i) A regular or reserve component of the United 15
620		-	States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 16
621		-	Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 17
622		-	(ii) The National Guard of any state. 18
623		-	19
624		-	SECTION 43. Arkansas Code § 24 -2-503(a), concerning the Arkansas 20
625		-	National Guard and armed forces reserve service credit under public employee 21
626		-	retirement plans, is amended to read as follows: 22
627		-	(a) As used in this section, "armed forces reserve" means one (1) of 23
628		-	the reserve components a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces 24
629		-	United States Army,United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States 25
630		-	Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 26
631		-	27
632		-	SECTION 44. Arkansas Code § 24 -4-501(b), concerning prior service 28
633		-	credit under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, is amended to 29
634		-	read as follows: 30
635		-	(b) Any active member of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement 31
636		-	System who would otherwise be eligible for free prior service credit under 32
637		-	the provisions of this chapter because of employment with a public employer 33
638		-	or with the public schools but who was drafted and was serving in the 34
639		-	military United States Armed Forces on active duty on a date which would have 35
640		-	made the member eligible for the free prior service had the member been an 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
641		-
642		-	17 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
643		-
644		-
645		-	employee on that date shall receive, upon application and submission of 1
646		-	proper proof to the board, free prior service credit for employment prior to 2
647		-	July 1, 1957, in the case of a state, municipal, or school employee, or prior 3
648		-	to July 1, 1959, in the case of a county employee, if the following 4
649		-	conditions are met: 5
650		-	(1) The member was an employee of a public employer immediately 6
651		-	preceding his or her involuntary service in the armed forces United States 7
652		-	Armed Forces; and 8
653		-	(2) The member was reemployed as an employee within six (6) 9
654		-	months of his or her discharge from the United States Armed Forces. 10
655		-	11
656		-	SECTION 45. Arkansas Code § 24 -4-501, concerning prior service credit 12
657		-	under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, is amended to add an 13
658		-	additional subsection to read as follows: 14
659		-	(d) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" means: 15
660		-	(1) Any regular or reserve component of the United States Army, 16
661		-	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 17
662		-	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard; and 18
663		-	(2) The National Guard of any state. 19
664		-	20
665		-	SECTION 46. Arkansas Code § 24 -6-104(a), concerning credit for service 21
666		-	in the National Guard and armed forces reserve for the purposes of state 22
667		-	police retirement, is amended to read as follows: 23
668		-	(a) As used in this section, “armed forces reserve” means one (1) of 24
669		-	the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces United States Army, 25
670		-	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 26
671		-	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 27
672		-	28
673		-	SECTION 47. Arkansas Code § 24 -7-610(a), concerning credit for service 29
674		-	in the National Guard and armed forces reserve for the purpose of the 30
675		-	Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, is amended to read as follows: 31
676		-	(a) As used in this section, “armed forces reserve” means one (1) of 32
677		-	the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces United States Army, 33
678		-	United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, 34
679		-	United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard . 35
680		-	36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
681		-
682		-	18 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
683		-
684		-
685		-	SECTION 48. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-306(c)(2) and (3), concerning the 1
686		-	definitions used in relation to the income tax exemption for compensation and 2
687		-	benefits from military service, are amended to read as follows: 3
688		-	(2)(A) “Armed forces” means the United States Army, United 4
689		-	States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United 5
690		-	States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard, the National Guard, and 6
691		-	the reserve components of the United States Army, United States Navy, United 7
692		-	States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, and 8
693		-	United States Coast Guard. 9
694		-	(B) “Armed forces” does not include: 10
695		-	(i) A military technician (dual status) under 10 11
696		-	U.S.C. § 10216(a)(1), as it existed on January 1, 2019; 12
697		-	(ii) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 13
698		-	Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; or 14
699		-	(iii) The United States Commissioned Corps of the 15
700		-	Public Health Service; and 16
701		-	(3) “Armed services” means includes the National Guard of any 17
702		-	state, reserve components of the armed forces, United States Army, United 18
703		-	States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, United 19
704		-	States Air Force, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20
705		-	Commissioned Officer Corps, and United States Commissioned Corps of the 21
706		-	Public Health Service. 22
707		-	23
708		-	SECTION 49. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-307(e)(2), concerning the income tax 24
709		-	exemption for retirement and disability benefits, is amended to read as 25
710		-	follows: 26
711		-	(2) As used in this subsection, “member of the uniformed 27
712		-	services” means a retired member of any of the following: 28
713		-	(A) The United States Army, the United States Marine 29
714		-	Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States 30
715		-	Space Force, or the United States Coast Guard; 31
716		-	(B) A reserve component of any of the United States Armed 32
717		-	Forces listed in subdivision (e)(2)(A) of this section; 33
718		-	(C) The National Guard of any state; 34
719		-	(D) The commissioned regular or reserve corps of the 35
720		-	United States Public Health Service; or 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
721		-
722		-	19 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
723		-
724		-
725		-	(E) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1
726		-	Commissioned Officer Corps. 2
727		-	3
728		-	SECTION 50. Arkansas Code § 26 -51-2506(i), concerning the Military 4
729		-	Family Relief Check-off Program, is amended to read as follows: 5
730		-	(i)(1) The Adjutant General or his or her designee shall use funds 6
731		-	from the Military Family Relief Trust Fund to establish a grant program to 7
732		-	assist the families of members of the National Guard and the reserve 8
733		-	components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 9
734		-	(2)(A) The grant program created under this section shall assist 10
735		-	members and families of members of the National Guard and the reserve 11
736		-	components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces . 12
737		-	(B) The eligibility criteria for receiving grants under 13
738		-	the grant program shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 14
739		-	(i) The need of the family; 15
740		-	(ii) The pay grade of the member of the National 16
741		-	Guard and reserve components of the armed forces United States Armed Forces ; 17
742		-	(iii) The difference between the member's military 18
743		-	salary and civilian salary; or 19
744		-	(iv) Any other factors that establish the family's 20
745		-	financial hardship. 21
746		-	(3) As used in this section, "United States Armed Forces" means 22
747		-	the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United 23
748		-	States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, or United States Coast Guard. 24
749		-	25
750		-	26
751		-	SECTION 51. Arkansas Code § 27 -14-704(a)(4), concerning the operation 27
752		-	of motor vehicles registered in foreign states, is amended to read as 28
753		-	follows: 29
754		-	(4) The secretary is authorized and empowered to enter into any 30
755		-	agreement or issue any permit for the operation of any motor vehicles upon 31
756		-	the highways of this state without payment of license fees when the motor 32
757		-	vehicles are operated under and by the supervision of the proper authorities 33
758		-	of the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Navy, or 34
759		-	United States Marine Corps , United States Space Force, or United States Coast 35
760		-	Guard during any period of emergency. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
761		-
762		-	20 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
763		-
764		-
765		-	1
766		-	SECTION 52. Arkansas Code § 27 -16-603(1), concerning persons exempted 2
767		-	from the licensing requirements for the operation of motor vehicles, is 3
768		-	amended to read as follows: 4
769		-	(1) A person who operates a motor vehicle for a military 5
770		-	purpose: 6
771		-	(A) While in the service of the: 7
772		-	(i) United States Army, United States Air Force, 8
773		-	United States Navy, United States Space Force, United States Coast Guard, or 9
774		-	United States Marine Corps; or 10
775		-	(ii) National Guard and reserve components of the 11
776		-	armed forces; or 12
777		-	(B) While serving as a National Guard military technician; 13
778		-	14
779		-	SECTION 53. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-203(6), concerning the definitions 15
780		-	to be used under the Special License Plate Act of 2005, is amended to read as 16
781		-	follows: 17
782		-	(6) “Retired member of the armed forces United States Armed 18
783		-	Forces” means a person who presents proof of retirement in the form of 19
784		-	retirement orders issued by one (1) of the following services of the United 20
785		-	States Armed Forces: 21
786		-	(A) The United States Army; 22
787		-	(B) The United States Navy; 23
788		-	(C) The United States Marine Corps; 24
789		-	(D) The United States Air Force; 25
790		-	(E) The United States Space Force; 26
791		-	(F) The United States Coast Guard; 27
792		-	(F)(G) The Army National Guard; 28
793		-	(G)(H) The Air National Guard; or 29
794		-	(H)(I) The reserve components of the United States Armed 30
795		-	Forces; 31
796		-	32
797		-	SECTION 54. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-209(c)(1), concerning the redesign 33
798		-	and simplification of military service and veterans special license plates, 34
799		-	is amended to read as follows: 35
800		-	(c)(1) The Office of Motor Vehicle shall design a branch decal based 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
801		-
802		-	21 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
803		-
804		-
805		-	on the official emblem for each of the following: 1
806		-	(A) The United States Army; 2
807		-	(B) The United States Army Reserve; 3
808		-	(C) The United States Navy; 4
809		-	(D) The United States Navy Reserve; 5
810		-	(E) The United States Marine Corps; 6
811		-	(F) The United States Marine Corps Reserve; 7
812		-	(G) The United States Air Force; 8
813		-	(H) The United States Air Force Reserve; 9
814		-	(I) The United States Coast Guard; 10
815		-	(J) The United States Coast Guard Reserve; 11
816		-	(K) The United States Space Force; 12
817		-	(L) The United States Space Force Reserve; 13
818		-	(K)(M) The Army National Guard; and 14
819		-	(L)(N) The Air National Guard. 15
820		-	16
821		-	SECTION 55. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-210(a), concerning the special 17
822		-	license plate for retired members of the armed forces, is amended to read as 18
823		-	follows: 19
824		-	(a) The Department of Finance and Administration shall continue the 20
825		-	special license plate for a retired members member of the armed forces United 21
826		-	States Armed Forces that existed before the July 31, 2009. 22
827		-	23
828		-	SECTION 56. Arkansas Code § 27 -24-1313(a), concerning special license 24
829		-	plates for United States veterans, is amended to read as follows: 25
830		-	(a) The Department of Finance and Administration shall create for 26
831		-	issuance a special license plate that bears a decal stating “U. S. Veteran” 27
832		-	to be issued to an eligible applicant who establishes that he or she has 28
833		-	served in the: 29
834		-	(1) United States Army; 30
835		-	(2) United States Navy; 31
836		-	(3) United States Marine Corps; 32
837		-	(4) United States Air Force; 33
838		-	(5) United States Space Force; 34
839		-	(6) United States Coast Guard; 35
840		-	(6)(7) Army National Guard; or 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1638
841		-
842		-	22 03-18-2025 10:45:34 ZRC022
843		-
844		-
845		-	(7)(8) Air National Guard. 1
846		-	2
847		-	/s/Painter 3
	800	+	22 03/03/2025 11:30:30 AM ZRC022
	801	+	(6) United States Coast Guard; 1
	802	+	(6)(7) Army National Guard; or 2
	803	+	(7)(8) Air National Guard. 3
848	804		4
849	805		5
850		-	~~APPROVED: 4/10/25~~ 6
	806	+	6
851	807		7
852	808		8
853	809		9
854	810		10
855	811		11
856	812		12
857	813		13
858	814		14
859	815		15
860	816		16
861	817		17
862	818		18
863	819		19
864	820		20
865	821		21
866	822		22
867	823		23
868	824		24
869	825		25
870	826		26
871	827		27
872	828		28
873	829		29
874	830		30
875	831		31
876	832		32
877	833		33
878	834		34
879	835		35
880	836		36