Arkansas has enacted legislation (House Bill 1576), which expressly prohibits employers with nine or more employees from discriminating against individuals based on a natural, protective or cultural hairstyle. The changes take effect July 31, 2023.

Arkansas has enacted legislation (House Bill 1410) that will remove a requirement for individuals under the age of 16 to obtain a work certificate from the state Department of Labor. House Bill 1410 takes effect July 30, 2023.

Arkansas has enacted legislation (House Bill 1977) that requires employers to provide an exemption process as an alternative to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. House Bill 1977 takes effect on or about January 13, 2022 and expires on July 31, 2023, unless extended.

Arkansas has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 555) that amends the state's law concerning transportation and storage of firearms by employees in employers' parking lots. Senate Bill 555 takes effect on July 29, 2021.

The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services has adopted an emergency rule that requires employers to provide an unemployment insurance notice to employees upon termination. The emergency rule takes effect April 27 and expires on Dec. 31, 2020.From April 27, 2020 to December 31, 2020, employers must provide the following notice to employees upon separation from the company.

Seven (7) states have joined the growing list of states legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational purposes.  Arkansas, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and North Dakota passed new marijuana laws on election day, bringing the total states (plus the District of Columbia) with medical marijuana laws to 28 and the total states (plus the District of Columbia) with recreational marijuana laws to eight (8).