AR HB1446

Expands eligible institutions for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship to include public and private vocational-technical schools and technical institutes that receive Title IV federal student aid, are on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act training provider list, qualify for VA education benefits, or are on the State Board of Private Career Education list

Increases the maximum annual scholarship award from $800 to $2,500 per student, with funds covering tuition, fees, textbooks, course materials, and required equipment

Adds construction trades and logistics/distribution to the existing high-demand fields of manufacturing, health care, and information technology that qualify for scholarship funding

Requires participating institutions to submit annual reports to the Division of Higher Education including graduation rates, enrollment comparisons, job placement statistics, and starting salaries of graduates

Declares an emergency based on the 2024 passage of Issue 1 amending the Arkansas Constitution to allow lottery proceeds for vocational/technical school scholarships, making the act effective immediately upon gubernatorial approval