The bill, known as the "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025," amends existing laws related to public utilities in Arkansas, specifically focusing on the construction and operation of public service facilities. It requires that such facilities obtain a certificate from the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) to ensure public convenience and necessity are met. The bill introduces new provisions for public utilities to notify the APSC of their intent to recover strategic investments through a rider, while also clarifying exemptions for generation and transmission cooperatives. Additionally, it establishes a timeline for the commission to act on applications and revises notification requirements for proposed rate changes by cooperatives, reducing the threshold for member-consumer petitions from fifteen percent to ten percent.

Furthermore, the bill outlines a framework for investor-owned and cooperative utilities to recover costs associated with strategic investments, including those related to advanced energy technologies. It mandates that the APSC approve special rate contracts and financing methods for these investments, ensuring they align with public interest. The bill also simplifies the certification process for major utility facilities, allowing the applicant to be the sole party in proceedings and streamlining the application process. An emergency clause is included to emphasize the urgency of supporting economic development through these strategic investments, with the act taking effect immediately upon approval.

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)