Arkansas SB409: TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS BY FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS; AND TO ESTABLISH THE FARMER PROTECTION ACT

What the bill says

An act to be entitled an act to prohibit discrimination of agricultural producers by financial services providers; to amend the law concerning environmental, social justice, or governance scores or metrics; to establish the farmer protection act; and for other purposes. subtitle to prohibit discrimination of agricultural producers by financial services providers; and to establish the farmer protection act.

From the enrolled text:

An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS BY FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL JUSTICE, OR GOVERNANCE SCORES OR METRICS; TO ESTABLISH THE FARMER PROTECTION ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS BY FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS; AND TO ESTABLISH THE FARMER PROTECTION ACT. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 25-1-1001(4), concerning the definition of "discriminate" used for environmental, social justice, or governance scores or metrics, is amended to read as follows: (4)(A) "Discriminate" means a company's: (i) Refusal to engage in the trade of any goods or services with an entity based solely on its status as an energy, fossil fuel, firearms, or ammunition industry entity, or agricultural producer; or *ANS346* 03/07/2025 3:34:02 PM ANS346 SB409 (ii) Termination of an existing business relationship with an entity based solely on the entity's status as an energy, fossil fuel, firearms, or ammunition industry entity, or agricultural producer. (B) "Discriminate" does not include actions by an investment adviser according to the investment-related guidelines, policies, or preferences of its the investment adviser's clients; SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 25-1-1001, concerning definitions used for environmental, social justice, or governance scores or metrics, is amended to add an additional subdivision …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Blake Johnson (R, 21) · primary sponsor
• Randy Torres (R, 17)
• Ricky Hill (R, 11)
• Brandon Achor (R, 71)
• Wade Andrews (R, 98)
• Sonia Barker (R, 96)
• Beaty Jr., Howard (R, 95)
• Rick Beck (R, 43)
• Mary Bentley (R, 54)
• Stan Berry (R, 44)
• Harlan Breaux (R, 6)
• Keith Brooks (R, 78)

Latest actions

1. March 31, 2025: Notification that SB409 is now Act 406
2. March 21, 2025: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
3. March 21, 2025: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4. March 20, 2025: ORDERED ENROLLED
5. March 20, 2025: Returned from the House as passed.
6. March 20, 2025: Returned to the Senate as passed.
7. March 20, 2025: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
8. March 19, 2025: Returned by the Committee Do Pass
9. March 17, 2025: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE
10. March 17, 2025: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

Votes

• House Roll Call #711 (March 20, 2025): 82 yea, 10 nay, passed
• Senate Roll Call #573 (March 17, 2025): 27 yea, 6 nay, passed
• House Roll Call #115 (February 6, 2025): 70 yea, 18 nay, passed
• House Roll Call #114 (February 6, 2025): 21 yea, 58 nay, failed

Common questions

What is SB409?

SB409 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS BY FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS; AND TO ESTABLISH THE FARMER PROTECTION ACT.

What does SB409 do?

In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to prohibit discrimination of agricultural producers by financial services providers; to amend the law concerning environmental, social justice, or governance scores or metrics; to establish the farmer protection act; and for other purposes. subtitle to prohibit discrimination of agricultural producers by financial services providers; and to establish the farmer protection act.

What is the status of SB409?

Chaptered as of March 31, 2025. Latest action: Notification that SB409 is now Act 406 (March 31, 2025).

Who sponsored SB409?

Blake Johnson (R, 21), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB409?

On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=SB409