AR HB1149

Prohibits cabinet-level department secretaries from knowingly soliciting or accepting gifts from lobbyists, persons acting on behalf of lobbyists, or persons employing or contracting with lobbyists, covering 15 specified departments.

Establishes a Class B misdemeanor penalty for knowingly violating the gift prohibition.

Provides an affirmative defense if a person returns the gift within 30 days of discovery or pays the donor consideration equal to or greater than the gift's value; the Arkansas Ethics Commission shall not investigate violations when the affirmative defense is available.

Directs the Arkansas Ethics Commission to promulgate rules, issue advisory opinions and guidelines, and investigate complaints regarding violations of this section.

Amends the definition of "gift" in Arkansas Code § 21-8-402 to include § 21-8-311 within its scope and requires the Ethics Commission to adopt initial rules by January 1, 2024.