July Is the New January – 2025 (Arkansas)

 

States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October. 
Arkansas

Bill / Ordinance / Regulation

Main Topic

Summary

Effective Date

Arkansas HB 1643

 

Background ChecksAuthorizes an employer to disclose substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment by a current or former employee to a prospective employer upon written consent from the current or former employee.8/4/2025
Arkansas SB 139Healthcare Noncompete AgreementsProvides that a noncompete agreement that restricts the right of a physician to practice within the physician’s scope of practice is unenforceable.8/4/2025
Arkansas HB 1854Home Caregiver TrainingExempts home caregivers from home caregiver training if they provide documentation of having previously completed the training.8/4/2025

Arkansas SB 279

 

Unpaid WagesProvides that the Director of Labor has one year from the entry of the final order in an unpaid wage claim to initiate legal action to recover the unpaid wages, and that the assessment period is two years preceding the filing of the complaint.8/4/2025
Arkansas SB 497Workplace PostersRequires employers with 50 or more employees to display a poster concerning veterans' services.8/4/2025

Arkansas SB 598

 

Employee DefinitionAmends the definition of “the employee” under wage and hour, workers' compensation, unemployment, and wage discrimination laws.8/4/2025
This article provides a general snapshot of generally applicable labor and employment laws taking effect soon. Please note that while some of the laws listed below are industry-specific, this article is not meant to be all-inclusive. In addition, many state legislatures are still active, so new laws are taking effect on a near-daily basis. Littler monitors federal, state and local legislation, executive orders, and administrative regulations and other agency activity that impact the labor and employment landscape. Employers that want to keep abreast of new laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate can learn more here.

This article also does not address new minimum wages taking effect during this period. For information on wage-related laws and regulations taking effect this summer, see Littler’s Semi-Annual Rates Update for Minimum Wage, Tips, and Exempt Pay Increases on July 1, 2025 (and Other Developments).



Source(s):

July Is the New January – 2025 | Littler. (2025, June 17). Littler.com. https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/july-new-january-2025?utm_source=elinfonet