Sets 2026-27 funding and staffing limits for Arkansas heritage programs

The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism may spend the listed amounts for staff, operations, grants, construction, land purchases, and other heritage programs. The funding covers the department's shared services, Division of Heritage, museums, archives, arts programs, natural areas, historic preservation, Main Street, and related grant programs. Spending must come from the funding source named for each program, such as state, federal, cash, or special funds. Disbursements must stay within the appropriations and follow state purchasing, accounting, budget, salary, and other fiscal-control laws. The appropriations apply to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and the act takes effect July 1, 2026.

The department may have up to 104 regular shared-services employees and 133 regular Division of Heritage employees. The limits cover listed jobs in administration, accounting, information technology, museums, archives, maintenance, security, education, and related heritage work. The act also allows up to 11 temporary or part-time shared-services workers and 65 temporary or part-time Division of Heritage workers when needed. Extra-help pay may not exceed the rates allowed for the applicable job classification. These employee limits apply during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

The Division of Arkansas Heritage may spend up to $40,000 each fiscal year on promotional and educational merchandise, and the department secretary handles certain council and Main Street funds. The provisions cover Division of Heritage promotional materials, Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council grants, Main Street grants, and a $20,000 grant to the Ouachita River Commission. Promotional merchandise must inform the public about the division's programs, functions, or services. Funds for grants to state agencies may be transferred for uses allowed by the grant conditions and the receiving agency. The Ouachita River grant must be used as the commission determines. These special provisions run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; the shared-services transfer authority runs from passage through June 30, 2027.