AR SB85

Amends Arkansas Code § 5-52-101 (abuse of public trust) to apply penalties based on the value of benefits received, ranging from Class A misdemeanor (less than $500) to Class B felony ($25,000 or more)

Expands Arkansas Code § 5-52-107 (abuse of office) to include both elected and appointed officials not yet occupying their positions, and changes the offense from a Class B misdemeanor to a tiered felony structure matching the abuse of public trust penalties

Broadens the definition of abuse of office to include obtaining "any benefit, pecuniary or otherwise" rather than limiting it to pecuniary benefits, and adds harming another person as a prohibited purpose

Establishes that it is not a defense that the underlying decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or discretion exercised was otherwise proper when corruption is involved