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This act amends existing laws in Arkansas relating to the Arkansas Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1977, which regulates tobacco products, to include vapor products, alternative nicotine products, and e-liquid products.

This Act permits certain individuals to report the occurrence or suspected occurrence of financial exploitation of qualified adults, defined as a person who is either 60 years of age or older or has a disability as defined under current law and is between the ages of 18 and 59. The Act permits certain individuals to notify an immediate family member, legal guardian, conservator, co-trustee, successor trustee, or agent under power of attorney of the qualified adult if they are of the belief that the qualified adult is, or may become, a victim of financial exploitation. The Act permits certain individuals to refuse to make a disbursement from the account of a qualified adult or an account on which a qualified adult is a beneficiary or beneficial owner if the individual reasonably believes the request will result in financial exploitation

The Act clarifies that Internet gambling cafes, also known as Internet sweepstakes cafes, are illegal gambling activity. Café proprietors typically advertise for sale internet time or long-distance telephone minutes. In addition to the internet time or telephone minutes, the purchaser will receive entries in an internet sweepstakes and can participate in the sweepstakes games on the café’s computers set up for that purpose. Based on a random allocation of winning and losing entries, the customer may or may not win cash prizes through the games.

This Act provides that neither the state nor a political subdivision may impose, assess, collect, or attempt to collect a tax on Internet access or the use of Internet access.

The Act prohibits the sale of electronic smoking devices and alternative nicotine products to minors, and requires child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers. The Act also requires that all tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices and alternative nicotine products, are sold with the assistance of a clerk, meaning that these products can no longer be sold in self-service displays.

The Act authorizes open-ended credit plans extended to non-commercial borrowers for personal, family, or household purposes. Such loans may be secured or unsecured by personal property, lacking in fixed maturities or designated length of term, and are subject to prepayment of the outstanding balance at any time without penalty.

The Act authorizes and directs the Governor to execute an interstate compact on participation in live pari-mutuel horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering activities; define terms; establish compact commission and assign powers and duties; establish rule-making procedure; permit compact commission to charge fees; establish rights and responsibilities of member states, restrictions on authority, and construction, saving, and severability; establish effective provision based upon enactment by at least six states.

The Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (URPTODA) enables an owner to pass real property to a beneficiary at the owner’s death simply, directly, and without probate by executing and recording a TOD deed. Just as importantly, URPTODA permits the owner to retain all ownership rights in the property while living, including the right to sell the property, revoke the deed, or name a different beneficiary.