Arkansas funds Secretary of State operations for 2026-2027

The act authorizes up to $25,699,646 for the Secretary of State’s operations. The money covers salaries, temporary workers, employee benefits, overtime, office operations, maintenance, elections, and related expenses. Spending must follow state budget, purchasing, accounting, salary, and other fiscal-control laws. The money may be used only for the agency and purposes authorized by law. The authorization applies to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.

The act sets maximum staffing levels of 187 regular employees and 45 temporary or part-time employees. The limits cover the Secretary of State’s operations and include listed administrative, legal, election, maintenance, information technology, and Capitol Police positions. Temporary and part-time workers may be hired when needed. Their pay may not exceed the applicable state compensation schedule or the limits in the act. The staffing authorization applies during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

The act allows approved transfers among Operations budget items and requires the Secretary of State to operate a gift shop on the State Capitol’s first floor. Transfers cover Operations line items; the gift shop must remain on the first floor, which is the only place where its goods may be sold. The Chief Fiscal Officer must approve an Operations transfer after review by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. The Secretary of State may not remove the gift shop from the first floor or cancel these gift-shop requirements. The transfer authority runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; the gift-shop location requirement is described as permanent.