Arkansas Cost-of-Living Relief and Responsible Purchasing Act

The State of Arkansas shall, for a period of twelve months, suspend state sales tax collection on qualifying grocery items for home consumption and on residential electricity, natural gas, and water service up to a basic household usage threshold to provide targeted relief from inflation-driven costs. To offset revenue pressure and demonstrate fiscal discipline, all state agencies shall comply with strengthened purchasing rules requiring competitive bidding for non-emergency contracts above a set threshold, quarterly public reporting of discretionary procurement, and a temporary freeze on nonessential equipment and office furnishing purchases, with implementation and guidance issued under existing state administrative authority.