Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially called a special session of the state legislature, set to begin at 3:00 p.m. on May 4, 2026, at the State Capitol in Little Rock. Read more below.

In a proclamation issued April 30th, Sanders said an “extraordinary occasion” requires lawmakers to reconvene. The primary focus of the session will be potential tax cuts for individuals and corporations.

According to the proclamation, legislators will consider lowering the top individual income tax rate to 3.7%, effective January 1, 2026 (currently 3.9%). They will also decide whether to reduce the top corporate income tax rate to 4.1%, effective January 1, 2027 (currently 4.3%).

Sanders cited Arkansas’ financial position as justification for the proposal, pointing to “financial stability, increased economic growth, healthy reserve accounts, and conservative spending policies.”

The governor stated that during her administration, the state has cut income taxes three times, returning approximately $1.5 billion to Arkansas residents over the past three years.

The math: The Governor didn’t specify which tax brackets for the $1.5 billion, or whether it was individuals and/or businesses, however, there were about 1.2 million households in Arkansas in 2024, with an average of around 2.46 people per household, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. IF that savings applied to all individuals, it is an average of approximately $1,250 per household over 3 years, or just over $14 per person per month.

In addition to tax legislation, lawmakers will address payment of expenses and per diem for House and Senate members during the special session.

The governor’s call is issued under Article 6, Section 19 of the Arkansas Constitution, which allows the governor to convene the General Assembly for specific purposes. The agenda may be amended prior to the session’s start.

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