Appropriations committee approves broad package of temporary transfers and pay‑plan requests; $250,000 land‑office transfer fails

The Appropriations Committee approved a package of temporary appropriation and transfer requests covering technology upgrades, workforce grants, vehicle purchases and salary appropriation adjustments, and cleared pay‑plan appropriation requests totaling $25,700,000 for 15 agencies.

Speaker Billy presented the grouped items in Section B and subsequent sections, including an Office of State Technology request for $3,390,000 to modernize IT systems and consolidate software licenses; Department of Education Division of Higher Education carryover funds totaling $5,350,000 for regional workforce grants and a credentialing pathway for high school faculty; and a $4,250,000 restricted reserve transfer to the State Police to purchase 102 vehicles. All of those grouped items were approved by voice vote after brief presentation.

The committee also approved a $46,998 appropriation tied to an American Rescue Plan Act grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to support an LPN program, and small overtime appropriations (for example, $16,000 for the Department of Emergency Management). The section of cash‑fund appropriations for the Division of Real Estate — including $60,000 for an AV system and $100,000 for HVAC repair — also passed by voice vote.

Separately, members debated pay‑plan appropriation requests. DFA Secretary Jim Hudson and DFA staff clarified the package before the committee was appropriation‑only and did not request new funding beyond available balances; they said roughly $60,000,000 in appropriation authority remained after the requested $25.7 million and that the performance fund available for pay adjustments stood at about $45,000,000. After discussion the committee approved I‑1 through I‑15 by voice vote.

One item did not pass: a $250,000 budget classification transfer from professional fees to operating expenses at the Commissioner of State Lands to accommodate a building purchase drew extended questioning from members about lease obligations, subleasing options and the purchase price. Fiscal director Sam Sparrow and counsel Peyton Murphy described the lease situation (monthly lease payments of approximately $16,000 and a purchase price the presenters said was $3.5 million), but the committee ultimately voted the motion down.

The committee advanced remaining agenda items and closed its session. Where the record shows voice votes without roll‑call tallies, the committee chair announced outcomes but did not provide member‑by‑member recorded votes.