Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas HB1865: TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST A CHILD
Status: Chaptered, April 22, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to create an enhanced penalty for certain offenses against a child; and for other purposes. subtitle to create an enhanced penalty for certain offenses against a child.
From the enrolled text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST A CHILD; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST A CHILD. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, is amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 5-4-708. Enhanced penalty for offenses committed against child. (a) A person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and commits a felony offense described in subsection (b) of this section is subject to an enhanced penalty under this section and (2) The person is in a position of trust or authority over the child. (b) The enhanced penalty in this section applies to a felony offense listed below or contained in the following chapters or (2) Kidnapping and related offenses, § 5-11-101 et seq.; (3) Sexual offenses, § 5-14-101 et seq.; (4) Voyeurism offenses, § 5-16-101 et seq.; (5) The Human Trafficking Act of 2013, § 5-18-101 et seq.; (6) The Arkansas Protection of Children Against Exploitation Act *CEB225* 04-14-2025 12:08:31 CEB225 As Engrossed: S4/8/25 S4/14/25 HB1865 of 1979, § 5-27-301 et seq.; (7) Use of children in sexual performances, § 5-27-401 et seq.; and (8) Computer crimes against minors, § …
Sponsors
- Deann Vaught (R, 87) · primary sponsor
- Ben Gilmore (R, 1)
- Jimmie Gazaway (R, 31)
- Lincoln Barnett (D, 63)
- Matt Brown (R, 55)
- Ashley Hudson (D, 75)
- Lee Johnson (R, 47)
- John Maddox (R, 86)
- Shad Pearce (R, 40)
- R. Scott Richardson (R, 13)
- Ryan Rose (R, 48)
- Nicole Clowney (D, 21)
Latest actions
- : Notification that HB1865 is now Act 976
- : Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
- : TO BE ENROLLED
- : Senate amendment # 2 read and concurred in.
- : Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.
- : Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass, concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 & 2
- : Re-referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
- : Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1 & 2
- : Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 & 2 .
- : Read the third time and passed.
Votes
- House Roll Call #1393 (April 16, 2025): 91 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #1392 (April 16, 2025): 90 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #1261 (April 14, 2025): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #1113 (April 9, 2025): 91 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #999 (April 7, 2025): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #817 (April 3, 2025): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB1865?
- HB1865 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST A CHILD.
- What does HB1865 do?
- In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to create an enhanced penalty for certain offenses against a child; and for other purposes. subtitle to create an enhanced penalty for certain offenses against a child.
- What is the status of HB1865?
- Chaptered as of April 22, 2025. Latest action: Notification that HB1865 is now Act 976 (April 22, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB1865?
- Deann Vaught (R, 87), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1865?
- On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=HB1865
Source: official Arkansas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.