Arkansas Act 848 (HB 1958) — All Public Entities Must Adopt AI Policy

Arkansas Act 848 (HB 1958), signed April 17, 2025 and effective August 3, 2025, requires every state agency, school district, county, municipality, and other public entity in Arkansas to adopt a written policy governing the use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making tools. Each policy must: (1) require a human official to make or confirm any final decision affecting citizens; (2) provide staff training on AI tool limitations; (3) make the policy publicly accessible upon request; and (4) prohibit using AI to make decisions based on political affiliation or for unlawful purposes. Passed unanimously — 93-0 in the House, 35-0 in the Senate.

Technical detail

Arkansas Act 848 (HB 1958) requires all public entities (state agencies, school districts, counties, municipalities, and other public bodies) to adopt written policies on the use of AI systems and automated decision-making tools. Required policy elements: human final-decision authority, employee training, public accessibility, prohibition on politically-motivated or unlawful AI use. Effective August 3, 2025. Enforcement through each entity's internal governance; no standalone enforcement agency or civil penalty specified.

Who is protected: Arkansas residents interacting with any state or local government agency using AI/automated decision tools

Who must comply: All Arkansas public entities including state agencies, school districts, counties, cities, and other government bodies

Key facts

More AI rules in Arkansas

• Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
• AR Act 1096 (2019 AV) · In effect
• Arkansas Deepfake Sexual Content Act · In effect
• Arkansas AI CSAM Law · In effect
• AR Generative AI Ownership Act (Act 927) · In effect
• Initial Report - Arkansas Artificial Intelligence and Analyt · In effect

Related government use of AI rules elsewhere

• CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
• WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
• One-year moratorium on data center development (Inver Grove Heights MN) · In effect
• FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform · Enacted (not yet in effect)
• San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendme · In effect
• Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium · Enacted (not yet in effect)