Bill > HB1661

This bill addresses significant changes to the funding and administration of district courts in Arkansas. It eliminates the obligation of cities and counties to pay the salaries of state district court judges, transitioning to a fully state-funded system for judicial compensation. The bill recognizes the evolution of district courts from hundreds of part-time local courts to a unified state system of 70 full-time district court judges, effective January 1, 2025. Key provisions include modifying how court administration funds are collected and distributed, with counties and cities now retaining only 50% of uniform court costs and filing fees, and remitting the other half to the state. The legislation also adjusts installment payment fees for court fines, creating a cap on these fees and specifying how they will be allocated between local court automation funds and state administrative funds. Additionally, the bill repeals several sections of existing law related to district court organization and funding, streamlining the judicial system's financial structure. The underlying intent is to provide for more efficient administration of justice by centralizing court funding and standardizing judicial compensation at the state level.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1661&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R