Arkansas sets aside money for military operations and facilities

The law sets aside money for Department of the Military operations and programs. The appropriations cover department operations, emergency call-ups, court-martial expenses, the National Guard Museum, Fort Chaffee, and federal training sites. Each appropriation may be spent only from its named fund or source, as applicable. Spending must follow state fiscal and purchasing laws. These appropriations cover the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and the act takes effect July 1, 2026.

The law sets maximum staffing levels for the department. The limits cover Department of the Military workers during the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Temporary or part-time workers may be used when needed and paid from funds appropriated for that purpose. Their pay cannot exceed rates allowed by state pay law or this act. These staffing limits apply during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

The law allows certain spending transfers and carries unspent account money forward for specified department uses. These rules cover promotional-item transfers from general or cash operations funds and remaining money in the Department of the Military Fund Account. The department may move up to $10,000 each fiscal year from operating expenses to promotional items only with the stated state approvals. Unspent Department of the Military Fund Account money remaining June 30, 2027, must be reserved for construction, maintenance, or operating expenses, including future construction projects; carry-forward amounts must be reported. These provisions apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; the carry-forward rule covers money left on June 30, 2027.