TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF A SENTENCE, PROBATION, PA...
This new legislation may influence employment opportunities for individuals with past offenses by emphasizing rehabilitation.
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SB 485 — TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF A SENTENCE, PROBATION, PAROLE, AND POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION.
Last action — Notification that SB485 is now Act 670
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 17, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican) on April 18, 2025.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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4 sponsors
2 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill amends laws related to sentencing, probation, and parole to reduce recidivism.
This bill focuses on altering the conditions of sentencing and probation to better rehabilitate offenders and reduce the risk of them reoffending. It introduces guidelines for tailoring conditions based on individual criminogenic risks and needs.
What this means for you
- Workers: This new legislation may influence employment opportunities for individuals with past offenses by emphasizing rehabilitation.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
1 added · 2 removedPlain-language change summary
The changes made to Bill SB 485 include the addition of a new line that specifies an effective date, while a reference to a prior law (Act 670 of the Regular Session) has been removed. This adjustment clarifies when the bill will take effect, ensuring there is a clear timeline for its implementation. This matters because it helps all involved parties understand when the new provisions will begin to be enforced.
Act 670 of the Regular Session State of Arkansas As Engrossed:
Tucker 8 APPROVED:14 04-03-2025 09:20:34 CEB177
4/16/25 14 04-03-2025 09:20:34 CEB177
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The bill amends various sections of Arkansas law to reduce recidivism through enhanced definitions, assessment requirements, and new provisions for probation and release processes.
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Arkansas Code § 5-4-101
(8) "Criminogenic" means those factors which are static and dynamic personal and situational characteristics that increase the risk of criminality and reoffending.
Adds a definition for 'criminogenic' to help frame the context of risk factors associated with reoffending.
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Arkansas Code § 5-4-303(a)
for public safety; and→ for public safety; and (B) To the criminogenic risks and needs of the defendant.Requires court conditions for probation to be tailored to a defendant's criminogenic risks and needs.
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Arkansas Code § 5-4-303(c)
(3) Participate in a community-based rehabilitative program or work-release program that uses practices proven to reduce recidivism and for which the court may impose a reasonable fee or assessment on the defendant to be used in support of the community-based rehabilitative program or work-release program;
Requires participation in community-based programs proven to reduce recidivism as a condition of probation.
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Arkansas Code § 12-27-103(b)(18)
The Department of Corrections shall establish the Evidence-based Practices and Quality Assurance Unit that conducts programs of research, evaluation, statistics, audit, and planning, including studies and evaluation of the performance of various functions and activities of the department and studies affecting the treatment of offenders and information about other programs;
Establishes a unit within the Department of Corrections focused on evidence-based practices and quality assurance.
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Arkansas Code § 12-29-112
(f) To the extent that an inmate is engaging in prosocial activities while incarcerated, the inmate’s reentry plan shall prioritize the continuation of those activities, including without limitation continued employment and continued participation in mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment, or both.
Mandates that inmates' reentry plans prioritize the continuation of prosocial activities.
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Arkansas Code § 16-10-103
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall consult with the Department of Corrections to develop training and judicial education on the use of evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism, including without limitation the use of risk and needs assessment tools.
Requires the development of training on evidence-based practices for court personnel.
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Arkansas Code § 16-90-102
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (c) of this section and subject to funding by the General Assembly, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall develop a pilot program to expand the number of presentence officers dedicated to preparing presentence reports with a validated risk and needs assessment component.
Establishes a pilot program to expand the number of presentence officers using validated assessments.
Amendments
1 amendment- Amendment S1 April 02, 2025 Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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Notification that SB485 is now Act 670
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DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
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Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
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ORDERED ENROLLED
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Returned from the House as passed.
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Returned to the Senate as passed.
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Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
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Returned by the Committee Do Pass
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Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
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RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
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Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
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Read the third time and passed.
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REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
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Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
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Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.
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Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
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Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
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Filed
Sponsors
- Carol Dalby · Cosponsor
- Ben Gilmore · Cosponsor
- Jimmy Gazaway · Primary
- Clarke Tucker · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 134 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
Co-sponsors (2)
Not signed on (134)
134 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 134 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 485?
- SB 485 is sponsored by Carol Dalby, Ben Gilmore, Jimmy Gazaway, and Clarke Tucker.
- What is the current status of SB 485?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 17, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 485?
- Track SB 485 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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