Medical care for minorsBan▾
SAFE Act (HB1570 / Act 626). District court enjoined it; Eighth Circuit reversed on 12 August 2025. Ban in force.
Eighth Circuit (Brandt, 12 Aug 2025)
MedicaidFederal funding ended (minors)▾
Medicaid doesn't pay for sex-change procedures for minors. A federal CMS rule ends federal Medicaid and CHIP money for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery for minors.
42 C.F.R. 441.800–802, 457.476 (91 Fed. Reg. 52406)
State employeesExcludes▾
State-employee health plans don't pay for sex-change procedures.
Arkansas state-employee health plan document (sas.arkansas.gov)
SportsSex-based▾
Girls' sports are protected: state law keeps males out of girls' and women's teams (K-12 and higher education).
HB1570/SB354
FacilitiesSex-based (schools + government buildings)▾
Bathrooms and changing rooms in K-12 schools, and government buildings are separated by sex, so males stay out of women's and girls' spaces.
HB1156 (2023; K-12) and
Pronouns and parent noticeParental consent for names/pronouns▾
Teachers need a parent's permission before using a different name or pronouns that don't match their sex for a child.
HB1468
CurriculumRestricted▾
Schools may not teach gender ideology or sexual orientation to young children (K-4).
Arkansas SB294
Sex definitionNo state law▾
No state law defines male and female by biology.
No state law identified (statute review, Oct 2026)
ID markersBirth-certificate sex changed only with surgery and court order▾
Birth-certificate sex changed only with surgery and court order; licence sex change needs surgery, court order or amended birth certificate. 'X' marker offered.
Arkansas birth-certificate / ID rule (arkleg.state.ar.us)
Shield lawNone▾
No shield law.
No shield statute identified
AdultsRestricted (funding)▾
Detransition15 years after turning 18▾
PrisonsBy sex (statute)▾
Act 955 of 2025 (SB 486) requires correctional facilities to designate multi-occupancy sleeping quarters, restrooms and changing rooms for one sex and bars requiring anyone to share sleeping quarters with the opposite sex.
Ark. Act 955 of 2025 (SB 486)
Pending billsNo active bills▾
No active bills (checked 13 Oct 2026). The 2026 regular session has adjourned (or the legislature does not meet in 2026), so 2025-26 bills are no longer moving. LegiScan search linked.
LegiScan search, checked 13 Oct 2026 (adjourned legislature)
LitigationResolved▾
Brandt v. Griffin: 8th Circuit (en banc) upheld Act 626 on 12 Aug 2025.
8th Circuit opinion, No. 23-2681 (Aug 2025)
Key datesNone upcoming▾
No upcoming effective dates or court deadlines identified.
Review, Oct 2026
Sources
- Eighth Circuit (Brandt, 12 Aug 2025)
- 42 C.F.R. 441.800–802, 457.476 (91 Fed. Reg. 52406)
- HB 1570
- Arkansas state-employee health plan document (sas.arkansas.gov)
- HB1570/SB354
- HB1156 (2023; K-12) and
- HB1468
- Arkansas SB294
- Arkansas birth-certificate / ID rule (arkleg.state.ar.us)
- SB 199 (2023)
- Ark. Act 955 of 2025 (SB 486)
- LegiScan search, checked 13 Oct 2026 (adjourned legislature)