Arkansas Lawmakers Open Path for Homestead Tax Credit Increase

The resolution allows a bill to be filed that could raise the credit from $600 to $675.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:04am

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A fractured, geometric painting in warm earth tones and cool blues, depicting an Arkansas state capitol building or other political structure in an abstract, overlapping pattern that conveys a sense of motion and change.As Arkansas lawmakers move to increase the homestead tax credit, the state capitol building is depicted in a dynamic, fractured painting style that reflects the evolving political landscape.Little Rock Today

Arkansas lawmakers have passed a resolution that opens the door for a bill to be filed to increase the state's homestead tax credit. The credit, which currently stands at $600, could potentially be raised to $675 if the bill is approved. The decision comes after a report from the Department of Finance and Administration indicated the state's fund could support the increase.

Why it matters

The homestead tax credit provides relief to homeowners in Arkansas, and an increase would put more money back into the hands of hard-working families as the state grapples with high costs for gasoline and groceries. The move aligns with the priority of the governor and legislature to cut tax costs for residents.

The details

House Resolution 1006, which is not a bill itself but gives permission for a non-appropriation bill to be filed, was passed by lawmakers on Tuesday. Representative Bart Schultz, who sponsored the resolution, said the decision came after a report showed the state's fund could support a $75 increase in the credit. To qualify for the homestead credit, property owners must be the owner of the home and it must be their primary residence.

  • On Tuesday, April 16, 2026, Arkansas lawmakers passed House Resolution 1006.
  • In January 2026, the Department of Finance and Administration reported the state's fund could support a $75 increase in the homestead tax credit.

The players

Bart Schultz

A state representative who sponsored the resolution to open the path for a bill to increase the homestead tax credit.

Kimber Hill

The Homestead manager for Saline County, who explained the process for homeowners to apply for the tax credit.

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What they’re saying

“We built in an automatic report that comes out from the Department of Finance and Administration that tells us if the fund is big enough to support an increase, and if it is, how much will it support? So we got that report in January, and it said that we could support a $75 increase, taking us to $675 from the current rate of $600.”

— Bart Schultz, State Representative

“There tends to be quite a bit of relief, and it is a huge success when it comes to that taxpayer. And beneficial for them, whenever you know it comes time to pay their taxes, they see that that huge chunk is being taken off of that and provides them with relief.”

— Kimber Hill, Homestead Manager, Saline County

What’s next

A bill to increase the homestead tax credit could be in front of lawmakers as soon as next week.

The takeaway

This move by Arkansas lawmakers to potentially raise the homestead tax credit reflects their ongoing efforts to provide tax relief to residents as they grapple with rising costs of living. The credit has been a successful program in supporting homeowners, and an increase would put more money back into the hands of hard-working families across the state.