How Arkansas Lawmakers Are Working To Make Summer Activities Safe

With the end of the school year approaching, most parents are brainstorming plans to keep their children occupied during summer break. Despite family vacations and holiday celebrations, kids have a significant amount of downtime in their day-to-day schedule.

There are a ton of community activities to keep children busy in the summertime, like public pools and playgrounds. While these spaces are open to residents, Arkansas has just recently signed a bill to protect children in these public areas.

In February 2025, HB1437 (also known as Act 158) was signed into law, preventing registered sex offenders from entering swimming areas, public playgrounds, and water parks. Here’s all the details regarding this new legislature to ensure everyone has a safe summer vacation. 

The Legal Details Of HB1437

If you’re familiar with Arkansas law, you may be wondering, “Wasn’t there previously a law regarding sex offenders in public parks?” There was, however, the wording of this bill was unclear. Public parks were interpreted as state property, but did not appear to encompass parks that were owned by cities, towns, or counties (areas that are now included in HB147). 

In addition, HB1437 clarifies the definition of “water park” from a previous legislature. In the past, it was understood that registered sex offenders could not visit government owned water parks. Now, with HB1437, this law extends to public recreational areas. This means children can enjoy their local neighborhood splash pad in the park safely.

By law, level 3 and 4 registered sex offenders must maintain a distance of 100 ft from swimming areas, water parks, and playgrounds. If found in violation of these laws, an individual will be charged with a class D felony and may face hefty fines or jail time.

But notice, this new law only applies to level 3 and 4 sex offenders. What does that mean in terms of risk level to the community?

How To Determine A Sex Offender’s Risk For Reoffense 

Looking back on a previous blog post describing Halloween-related legislation (Act 463) for registered sex offenders, we discussed details about who would be considered a sex offender. Today, we are adding onto the discussion by elaborating on the different levels of community risk. 

Sex Offender Screening & Risk Assessment Program 

The Arkansas Department of Correction office requires that every sex offender in the state be assessed by the Sex Offender Screening & Risk Assessment Program to determine their level of risk. 

There are four possible levels: 

• Level 1: Low Risk; no prior history of inappropriate sexual behaviors
• Level 2: Moderate Risk; limited prior history of sexual behaviors or mild antisocial traits
• Level 3: High Risk; repeated history of inappropriate sexual behaviors and prevalent antisocial tendencies
• Level 4: Sexually Violent Predator; offenders who cannot control their behaviors, likely due to mental health disorders 

Offenders who fail to take this examination will be automatically categorized as level 3. As you may notice, HB1437 (and previously discussed Act 463) only include level 3 and level 4 registered sex offenders because these two categories pose the greatest risk for the community. 

Enjoy The Arkansas Sun Safely This Summer Without Legal Trouble

HB1437 helped clarify the unclear terms and conditions of previous statutes regarding registered sex offenders in public spaces. With this new act, Arkansas offenders know exactly where they should and shouldn’t be on a hot summer’s day, allowing children to play safely and securely in public areas.

Spring, summer, autumn, or winter, if you’re in need of legal assistance, Hickey & Hull Law Partners is available to take your call. Visit our website to find an office near you and contact us to schedule a consultation. Our online agent is available to schedule a consultation and answer basic questions you may have about the legal process.