AR HB1982

Renames the "Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act" to the "Tire Management and Recycling Act" and replaces the Used Tire Recycling Fund with a new Waste Tire Abatement Fund effective January 1, 2026

Reduces the tire retailer fee from $3.00 to $1.50 per new tire sold, while eliminating the previous rim removal fee structure and import fee provisions

Establishes liability provisions making owners, operators, generators, transporters, or processors responsible for waste tire site cleanup costs, with immunity protections for those acting under Division of Environmental Quality direction

Authorizes waste tire abatement grants to regional solid waste management districts, cities, counties, tire retailers, and planning and development districts when responsible parties cannot be located or compelled to clean up waste tire sites

Allows the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission to reduce the tire retailer fee by up to 50% if the Waste Tire Abatement Fund balance exceeds $5 million