Bill > HB1830

This bill amends Arkansas law regarding the Attorney General's ability to enter into contingency fee contracts by establishing new requirements and oversight mechanisms. Specifically, the bill removes previous language prohibiting contingency fees based on penalties or civil fines and instead focuses on ensuring government attorneys maintain control over legal proceedings. The new provisions require that government attorneys retain complete control over case conduct, have supervisory involvement, maintain the authority to reject outside counsel decisions, allow defendants to directly contact lead government attorneys, mandate government attorney attendance at settlement conferences, and reserve settlement decisions exclusively to government attorneys and the Attorney General. The bill also mandates that the Attorney General develop a standard contract addendum detailing the responsibilities of both the contracted private attorney and the Attorney General, while explicitly stating that the law does not expand the Attorney General's existing contractual authority. These changes aim to provide more transparent and accountable guidelines for contingency fee contracts involving the Attorney General's office.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1830&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R