Bill > HB1947

This bill amends Arkansas law regarding possession of drug paraphernalia by modifying the penalties for such offenses. Previously classified as a Class A misdemeanor or Class D felony, the new law establishes an unclassified misdemeanor system with escalating penalties based on the type of controlled substance and number of offenses. For first-time offenses involving methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, or cocaine, individuals can be punished by 24 hours to one year in jail and a fine of $150 to $1,000. Subsequent offenses within ten years carry increasingly severe penalties: a second offense results in 7 days to one year in jail and a fine of $400 to $3,000, a third offense leads to 90 days to one year in jail and a fine of $900 to $5,000, and a fourth or subsequent offense becomes an unclassified felony with one to six years in prison and a fine of $900 to $5,000. The bill aims to create a more structured and progressive approach to penalizing drug paraphernalia possession, with harsher consequences for repeat offenders.

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https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1947&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R