Arkansas Legislative Session Recap: A Collection of Excellent News for Sportsmen and Women

Why It Matters: Even states as pro-sportsmen as Arkansas have opportunities to further support sportsmen and women by enacting new legislation. This session, Arkansas saw several important bills introduced, with many of them successfully crossing the finish line before the Legislature adjourned last week. From updating the No-Net-Loss baseline, to preempting laws related to knife possession, to recognizing the 75^th anniversary of the Dingell-Johnson Act, Natural State sportsmen and women have plenty to celebrate.

Highlights

• Arkansas’ 2025 Legislative Session recessed on April 16^th until May 5^th, at which time they can reconvene for limited remaining business or to adjourn the 95^th General Assembly sine die.
• During the legislative session, several key pieces of pro-sportsmen legislation were passed, including knife preemption language, liability protections for shooting sports events, protections against the tracking of firearm purchases, updates to Arkansas’ No-Net-Loss baseline, recognition of the 75^th anniversary of the Dingell-Johnson Act, and more.
• Additional legislative efforts to provide the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission with reimbursements for future discounted hunting or fishing licenses offered by the legislature failed to pass. However, the important conversations that this bill kickstarted will carry forward into future efforts to enact this legislation.

On April 16^th, the Arkansas General Assembly concluded their regular business for the 2025 legislative session and recessed until May 5^th, at which time they can reconvene for limited business or adjourn sine die. The 2025 session in Arkansas was one for the record books, with the Natural State passing several important bills designed to protect and advance opportunities for Arkansas’ sportsmen and women. Bills adopted this year include:

* Denotes priority legislation for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF)

House Bill 1007: Provides enhanced liability protections for the host of a shooting sports event.

• Signed into law on March 6, 2025.

House Bill 1117: Evaluates the appropriate age for in-school firearm safety instruction and provides guidelines for such curriculum across the state.

• Signed into law on March 4, 2025.

*House Bill 1418: Expands existing firearm preemption statute to include knives and knife-making components.

• Signed into law on February 25, 2025.

House Bill 1509: Prohibits the use of discriminatory merchant category codes to distinguish firearm retailers from other lawful retailers in the state.

• Signed into law on April 3, 2025.

*House Bill 1827: Updates Arkansas’ No-Net-Loss of public hunting and fishing access language to include both lands owned and leased by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

• Sent to Governor on April 14, 2025. Awaiting Governor Sanders’ signature.

*House Resolution 1045: Commemorates the 75^th Anniversary of the Sportfish Restoration Program as part of the American System of Conservation Funding.

• Adopted on April 7, 2025.

In addition to these bills, the progress of House Bill 1632 in both chambers represents a major victory for sportsmen and women. This bill would have provided the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission with reimbursements for any future discounted hunting or fishing licenses offered by the legislature. While the bill ultimately ran out of time, the conversations held this year will be invaluable as we continue to pursue this effort in the future.

CSF applauds the strong body of work produced this session by the sportsmen-legislators of the Natural State and is thankful for the leadership demonstrated by the Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’ Caucus, led by Representative Jeff Wardlaw, Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Executive Council President. CSF also thanks Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders for her signature on each of these important pieces of legislation.

 

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