The Arkansas Long-Term Care Facility Resident Monitoring and Communications Act aims to establish resident rights regarding electronic monitoring and communication within long-term care facilities. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to create a comprehensive framework that supports the use of electronic monitoring systems while ensuring the safety, welfare, and privacy of residents. It recognizes the importance of communication for residents' quality of life and outlines the need for guidelines on how monitoring can be conducted ethically and legally.

Key provisions of the bill include the definition of authorized electronic monitoring, which allows residents or their representatives to use monitoring devices in their rooms after notifying the facility. It prohibits retaliation against residents for conducting such monitoring and requires consent from roommates if applicable. The Department of Human Services is tasked with developing rules and a framework that addresses privacy, consent, and liability issues, and it must report its proposed framework to relevant legislative committees by July 1, 2026.