Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed into law three significant pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening Arkansas’ water infrastructure.
The legislative package, passed during the 2025 session, represents a historic investment in the state’s water systems, with more than $500 million in funding proposed over the coming years.
“If our state is going to continue to grow and thrive, then every Arkansan needs access to safe and reliable water infrastructure,” said Governor Sanders.
“I was proud to work with the legislature to support this legislation and invest more than half a billion dollars in Arkansas’ water issues, and I will work closely with the Department of Agriculture to ensure we provide assistance to the communities that need it most.”
The new laws include:
– SB420 (now Act 736): Expands eligibility for state funding by allowing more private water entities to convert to public water authorities.
– HB1681 (now Act 812): Establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program, dedicating $25 million annually over the next three years from interest earnings. Twenty percent of those funds will be reserved for rural water systems serving populations of 1,200 or fewer.
– SB421 (now Act 578): Sets up a ballot initiative for the 2026 general election. If approved by voters, the measure would authorize $500 million in water and wastewater project funding through 2043, financed through loan repayments without increasing general state revenue. This comes ahead of the expiration of Arkansas’ current bond authority in the summer of 2027.
The package has been praised by state officials as a major step forward in modernizing and expanding critical infrastructure.
“Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is vital for the sustainability of communities and industries throughout our state as well as the quality of life for every Arkansan,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.
Chris Colclasure, Director of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division, also highlighted the importance of the new laws. “This legislative package provides critical tools to improve how we plan, fund, and deliver water projects across the state,” he said.
“We appreciate the Governor’s leadership and look forward to working with communities and partners to implement these programs and make meaningful progress where it’s needed most.”
The combined efforts of state lawmakers and the Governor’s office mark one of the most comprehensive investments in water infrastructure in Arkansas history.