Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 290 3
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By: Senator B. Johnson 5
By: Representatives Vaught, Painter 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF 9
PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER; AND 10
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 11
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Subtitle 14
TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE 15
OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER 16
BODIES OF WATER. 17
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 15, Chapter 23, Subchapter 1, is 21
amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 22
15-23-107. Prohibition on moratorium in watersheds and other bodies of 23
water. 24
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a state 25
agency, including without limitation the Department of Agriculture and the 26
Department of Energy and Environment, shall not institute a moratorium on the 27
issuance of permits in a watershed, including without limitation the Buffalo 28
River Watershed, or other body of water. 29
(b)(1) If a state agency wishes to institute a moratorium related to a 30
watershed or other body of water, the state agency first shall obtain 31
approval from the: 32
(A) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and 33
Economic Development; and 34
(B) House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic 35
Development. 36 SB290
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(2) A moratorium related to a watershed or other body of water 1
approved under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be valid until June 2
30 of the second year following the approval of the moratorium. 3
(3) By November 1 of each even -numbered year, a state agency 4
obtaining approval to institute a moratorium under subdivision (b)(1) of this 5
section shall provide a report on each moratorium in existence at the time of 6
the report to the: 7
(A) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and 8
Economic Development; and 9
(B) House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic 10
Development. 11
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SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. Existing moratoriums. 13
(a) A moratorium related to a watershed, including without limitation 14
the Buffalo River Watershed, or other body of water instituted before the 15
effective date of this act shall go through the approval process under ยง 15 -16
23-107(b) within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act to remain 17
enforceable. 18
(b) A moratorium related to a watershed, including without limitation 19
the Buffalo River Watershed, or other body of water instituted before the 20
effective date of this act that does not receive legislative approval within 21
thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act as required under 22
subsection (a) of this section is unenforceable. 23
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