The bill, SB307, introduces the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025, which amends existing laws related to public utilities in Arkansas. It requires that any new construction or operation of public service facilities obtain a certificate from the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) to confirm public convenience and necessity. The bill also mandates that public utilities notify the APSC of their intent to recover strategic investments through a rider, while clarifying exemptions for generation and transmission cooperatives under certain conditions. Additionally, it establishes a six-month timeline for the APSC to grant or deny these certificates and reduces the threshold for member-consumer petitions from fifteen percent to ten percent to trigger an investigation regarding rate changes.

Furthermore, the bill outlines a framework for investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities to recover costs associated with strategic investments, including those that are abandoned or indefinitely suspended. It emphasizes the need for regulatory oversight and consumer protection by ensuring that any imprudently incurred costs must be refunded to customers. The legislation also streamlines the certification process for major utility facilities, updates definitions related to these facilities, and establishes procedural requirements for applications. Overall, SB307 aims to enhance Arkansas's utility infrastructure, support economic development, and ensure that investments are made in a manner that is just and reasonable for consumers.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB307 V2 - 3-11-2025 05:16 PM: 23-3-201(a), 23-3-201(b), 03-11-2025, 23-3-201, 23-4-901, 23-4-902, 23-4-402, 23-4-405, 23-4-418, 23-4-620, 23-4-634, 23-4-903, 23-4-905, 23-4-906, 23-4-908, 23-4-907, 23-4-909, 23-4-1102, 23-4-1104(a), 23-4-1105(a), 23-4-1106, 23-18-104, 23-4-1303, 23-4-1301, 23-2-423, 23-18-202, 23-18-502(a), 23-18-503, 23-18-503(6), 23-18-504(a), 23-18-508, 23-18-510, 23-18-501, 23-18-513, 23-18-517, 26-35-705, 23-18-514, 23-18-516(a), 23-18-517(a), 23-18-519(a)
Old version SB307 Original - 2-25-2025 04:46 PM: 23-3-201(a), 23-3-201(b), 23-3-201, 23-4-901, 23-4-902, 23-4-402, 23-4-405, 23-4-418, 23-4-620, 23-4-634, 23-4-903, 23-4-905, 23-4-906, 23-4-908, 23-4-907, 23-4-909, 23-4-1102, 23-4-1104(a), 23-4-1105(a), 23-4-1106, 23-18-104, 23-4-1303, 23-4-1301, 23-18-202, 23-18-502(a), 23-18-503, 23-18-503(6), 23-18-504(a), 23-18-508, 23-18-510, 23-18-513, 23-18-517, 26-35-705, 23-18-514, 23-18-516(a), 23-18-517(a), 23-18-519(a)
SB 307: 23-3-201(a), 23-3-201(b), 23-3-201, 23-4-901, 23-4-902, 23-4-402, 23-4-405, 23-4-418, 23-4-620, 23-4-634, 23-4-903, 23-4-905, 23-4-906, 23-4-908, 23-4-907, 23-4-909, 23-4-1102, 23-4-1104(a), 23-4-1105(a), 23-4-1106, 23-18-104, 23-4-1303, 23-4-1301, 23-18-202, 23-18-502(a), 23-18-503, 23-18-503(6), 23-18-504(a), 23-18-508, 23-18-510, 23-18-513, 23-18-517, 26-35-705, 23-18-514, 23-18-516(a), 23-18-517(a), 23-18-519(a)
Act 373: 23-3-201(a), 23-3-201(b), 03-11-2025, 23-3-201, 23-4-901, 23-4-902, 23-4-402, 23-4-405, 23-4-418, 23-4-620, 23-4-634, 23-4-903, 23-4-905, 23-4-906, 23-4-908, 23-4-907, 23-4-909, 23-4-1102, 23-4-1104(a), 23-4-1105(a), 23-4-1106, 23-18-104, 23-4-1303, 23-4-1301, 23-2-423, 23-18-202, 23-18-502(a), 23-18-503, 23-18-503(6), 23-18-504(a), 23-18-508, 23-18-510, 23-18-501, 23-18-513, 23-18-517, 26-35-705, 23-18-514, 23-18-516(a), 23-18-517(a), 23-18-519(a)