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Arkansas — Veteran Benefits

Complete reference covering 58 benefit categories across 14 service tiers. Verify current eligibility with your County VSO before filing.

At a Glance — What Unlocks by Status / Rating

Veteran benefits unlocked at each service status and disability rating in Arkansas
Status / Rating Headline Benefits Unlocked
Active Duty Income tax exempt on active pay; in-state tuition regardless of residency; resident hunting/fishing license pricing; CDL skills-test waiver; DL extension at no charge
Guard / Reserve Active pay exempt from state income tax; 15 days paid state military leave; NGTW tuition waiver (up to 120 credit hours); SSLI life insurance; 6-pt state hiring preference after 6+ yrs; UI eligibility
Military Retiree Military retirement pay fully exempt from state income tax; discounted lifetime hunting ($25.00), fishing ($10.50), and combo ($35.50) licenses at age 60+; 50% state park camping discount; veteran DL designation
Veteran (honorable, no rating) In-state tuition (90+ days AD within 3 yrs of enrollment); 5-pt state hiring preference; veteran designation on DL/ID; CDL skills-test waiver; permitless carry; USERRA reemployment rights
0% SC Same as veteran no-rating tier; no additional state benefits trigger at 0% alone
10–20% 10-pt state hiring preference (any SC disability); DV specialty plate may qualify at 10%+ SC per A.C.A. § 27-24-203 (⚠️ verify threshold below)
30–40% Free DV license plate confirmed at 30%+ SC (DFA official page); 10-pt hiring preference
50–60% 50%+ SC with Purple Heart: $52.50 VLL2 lifetime combo license (hunt + fish + trout + duck stamp); 10-pt hiring preference
70–90% $52.50 VLL2 lifetime combo license (no Purple Heart required at 70%+); 10-pt hiring preference
100% schedular Full property tax exemption (homestead + personal property); $1.50 lifetime hunting license; $1.50 lifetime fishing license; $3.00 lifetime combo license; free DV plate; free state park day use; 50% camping discount; Heroes Scholarship for eligible dependents; CHAMPVA (federal)
TDIU Same as 100% schedular — TDIU treated as 100% P&T for all Arkansas state benefit purposes
P&T Same as 100% schedular; surviving spouse retains property tax exemption on remarriage reinstatement
SMC (Housebound/A&A) All P&T benefits plus: SMC-qualifying limb loss/blindness independently triggers property tax and adaptive-vehicle sales tax exemption; additional federal SMC payment
Surviving spouse / dependents Property tax exempt (unremarried SS and minor dependents); Heroes Scholarship (tuition/fees/R&B); Military Dependents Scholarship; DIC (federal); $807 dependent cemetery burial fee

Taxes

1. Property Tax — Primary Residence

Arkansas residents who are (a) 100% service-connected totally and permanently disabled (VA-rated), OR (b) receiving VA Special Monthly Compensation for loss or loss of use of one or more limbs or total blindness in one or both eyes. Must be owner-occupied homestead. Also applies to personal property.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-3-306; Act 876 of 2025.

2. Property Tax — Vehicle / Personal Property

Same as § 1 — 100% P&T or SMC-qualifying. Arkansas personal property tax on vehicles is assessed at the county level.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-3-306.

3. Vehicle Sales / Use Tax

**Adaptive vehicles (VA-funded purchases):** Any veteran who purchases a specially adapted vehicle or adaptive equipment with VA financial assistance under 38 U.S.C. §§ 1901–1905 is fully exempt from Arkansas sales and use tax on that purchase. Proof: VA letter verifying the assistance. No annual dollar cap on this specific program.
Verify locally: Proof: VA letter verifying the assistance.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-52-401 (adaptive vehicle/equipment exemption only). No enacted general sales-tax card authority as of 2026-05-30.

4. State Income Tax — Active Duty Military Pay

All active duty and reserve component service members (any branch).

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-51-307(a); Ark. Code R. 4.26.51-307.

5. State Income Tax — Military Retirement Pay

All military retirees receiving uniformed services retirement pay.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-51-307; Act 141 of 2017.

6. State Income Tax — SBP Annuity

Survivors receiving Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component SBP (RCSBP), or Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) annuities.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-51-307.

7. State Income Tax — General

Arkansas imposes a state income tax. Key military-related exclusions:

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-51-307; MSRRA (federal); Military Family Relief Act.

8. Sales Tax Exemption

**Status:** No enacted general sales-tax exemption card program for disabled veterans as of 2026-05-30. See § 3 above for details. The only operative sales-tax exemption for veterans is the adaptive vehicle/equipment purchase provision under A.C.A. § 26-52-401.

9. Other State Tax Breaks

- **Gross receipts exemption on VA-funded adaptive equipment:** A.C.A. § 26-52-401 also covers VA-funded wheelchair-accessible home modifications and medical equipment purchased with VA financial assi

Vehicle, Travel & ID

10. Vehicle Registration Fee

The free DV license plate (§ 11) effectively waives the annual registration fee for one vehicle. Standard vehicle registration fees otherwise apply; no separate veteran registration-fee waiver exists outside the DV plate program.

Authority: A.C.A. § 27-24-206.

11. Disabled Veteran License Plates

The DFA official page (current as of 2026-05-30) still references the following qualifying criteria under Act 7 of 1949 and Act 30 of 1979: - 100% non-service-connected permanent and total disability (VA-certified), OR - Service-connected disability (threshold: the DFA page language references prior act criteria; current A.C.A. § 27-24-203 per secondary legal sources sets the SC threshold at **10% or greater**)
Verify locally: § 27-24-203 per secondary legal sources sets the SC threshold at **10% or greater**) > ⚠️ Verify threshold: The DFA online page shows older act references. Verify the current enacted threshold with DFA at dfa. **Application:** VA letter verifying eligibility; in person at any Arkansas Revenue Office.

Authority: A.C.A. § 27-24-203; A.C.A. § 27-24-206; DFA Specialty Plates program.

12. Other Veteran / Military Specialty Plates

Arkansas offers 19+ military specialty plates. Notable free or reduced-fee plates:

Authority: A.C.A. Title 27; DFA Specialty Plates.

13. Toll Road / Bridge Exemption

Arkansas has no state toll roads or toll bridges, so no veteran toll exemption program exists.

14. Public Transit Discount

No statewide veteran public transit fare discount program exists. Some localities may offer discounts; verify with local transit agencies (e.g., CATA in Little Rock).

15. Disabled Parking Privileges

Veterans with qualifying mobility impairments may obtain a standard disabled parking placard or plate through DFA under A.C.A. § 27-15-306, regardless of military service. No veteran-specific enhanced parking benefit exists beyond the standard ADA-based disabled parking program.

16. Driver License / State ID Fee

**Unavailable as a distinct veteran fee waiver** — Standard DL and ID fees apply. The veteran designation (§ 18) does not reduce the fee.

17. CDL Fee / Skills-Test Waiver

**Skills test waiver:** Veterans who operated a military vehicle comparable to a commercial vehicle for at least two years, with that experience occurring within the year before application or discharge, may waive the CDL road test. Written knowledge test still required.

Authority: Federal FMCSA 49 CFR Part 383 military skills-test waiver, implemented by DFA.

18. Veteran Designation on DL / ID

Any honorably discharged veteran or service member with a "general under honorable conditions" discharge.

Authority: A.C.A. § 27-16-202.

Outdoor Recreation

19. Hunting License

**Note:** The VLL2 ($52.50) combo is available to veterans rated 70%+ SC or 50%+ SC with a Purple Heart. It is NOT available to 100% P&T veterans whose SC rating is below 50% — those veterans use VLC2 ($3.00). A 100% SC veteran who is also rated 70%+ individually qualifies for both options.

Authority: A.C.A. § 15-42-128; AGFC regulations; Act 729 of 2023.

20. Fishing License — Freshwater

Trout permit is an additional $10.00 for most license types. Included in VLL2.

Authority: A.C.A. § 15-42-128; AGFC regulations.

21. Fishing License — Saltwater

Arkansas is a landlocked state; no saltwater fishing license program exists.

22. Combination Hunt/Fish License

**Note:** The VLL2 is NOT available to 100% P&T veterans with a SC rating below 50%. Those veterans use VLC2 ($3.00). If a 100% P&T veteran independently meets the 70%+ threshold, VLL2 is also available to them.

Authority: A.C.A. § 15-42-128; AGFC regulations; agfc.com/resources/licensing.

23. Trapping License

**Unavailable as a distinct veteran discount** — No veteran-specific trapping license discount has been identified beyond the hunting license programs. Standard hunting licenses in Arkansas cover trapping privileges for those license types. Verify with AGFC at 501-223-6300 whether the VLH ($1.50) or VLL2 ($52.50) covers trapping privileges for qualifying disabled veterans.
Verify locally: Verify with AGFC at 501-223-6300 whether the VLH ($1.

24. State Parks — Day Use / Entrance

**Benefit:** Free day-use entry to all Arkansas State Parks for 100% P&T disabled veterans. Covers hiking, picnicking, boat launching, and interpretive programs.

Authority: Arkansas State Parks policy; 22 CAR § 50-103.

25. State Parks — Camping

100% total and permanent service-connected disability, AR resident.

Authority: 22 CAR § 50-103 (Camping Discounts); Arkansas State Parks.

26. State Parks — Annual / Lifetime Pass

**Unavailable as a distinct veteran annual or lifetime pass** — The camping discount (§ 25) and day-use waiver (§ 24) are the operative benefits for 100% P&T veterans. No separate veteran annual or lifetime pass program exists.

27. Boat / Watercraft Registration

No veteran-specific boat registration fee waiver or discount has been identified for Arkansas. Standard DFA boat registration fees apply ($7.50–$105 depending on vessel length). ⚠️ Contact DFA Motor Vehicle at 501-682-4692 to confirm no subsequent legislation has added a veteran discount.

Education

28. In-State Tuition

Honorably discharged veterans who served 90+ days active duty within 3 years of enrollment; active duty service members; spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans/service members. ROTC cadets (contracted) also qualify.

Authority: A.C.A. § 6-60-205; Federal Veterans Access, Choice, and First to Serve Act (38 U.S.C. § 3679).

29. Tuition Waiver — Disabled Veteran

Legal Arkansas resident (1+ year); U.S. citizen or permanent resident; biological child, stepchild, legally adopted child, or spouse of an eligible Arkansas Hero. Dependent children must be under age 26 at the start of the semester.

Authority: A.C.A. § 6-82-601; ADHE HEROES program.

30. Dependent Education Benefit

Spouse or dependent child (under 23 if student, or permanently disabled before 21) of an eligible veteran/service member who is: - Declared MIA or POW, OR - Killed in action, OR - 100% service-connected permanently and totally disabled

Authority: A.C.A. § 6-82-601; ADHE MDS program.

31. Spouse Education Benefit

Spouses are covered under both the Heroes Scholarship (§ 29) and the Military Dependents Scholarship (§ 30) per the eligibility criteria above.

Authority: A.C.A. §§ 6-82-601 and 6-60-205.

32. National Guard / Reserve Tuition Assistance

- Enlisted or officer personnel of the Arkansas Army or Air National Guard - Has not previously earned a bachelor's degree - Arkansas resident - In "Good Standing" with unit - Completed Initial Active Duty Training (or ROTC waiver) - Enrolled at an Arkansas state-supported public institution in a degree-seeking program - Not flagged for AWOL or ASAP - Maintains satisfactory academic progress

Authority: 131 Ark. Code R. § 001 (ARNG NGTW Program); ADHE SAMS system.

33. K-12 Support

**Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3):** Arkansas participates. Removes barriers from frequent military moves — facilitates enrollment timing, prevents grade-placement disadvantages, and allows course substitutions. Schools designate a trained military liaison.

34. State Student Loan / Scholarship

**Unavailable as a distinct veteran-specific state loan program** — No separate AR state veteran loan or scholarship beyond the Heroes Scholarship and MDS (§§ 29–30) and NGTW (§ 32) was identified. The ADHE scholarship database at sams.adhe.edu lists all current programs. ⚠️ Verify with ADHE for any new FY 2026 awards.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with ADHE for any new FY 2026 awards.

Employment & Licensing

35. Veterans Hiring Preference

**State civil service (A.C.A. § 21-3-302):**

Authority: A.C.A. § 21-3-302; A.C.A. § 11-15-103.

36. Professional License Fee Waiver

**Licensure reciprocity — Act 135 of 2021 (Arkansas Occupational Licensing of Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Act):**
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with the specific board (DEQ, ADH, ADLL, etc.

Authority: Act 135 of 2021; A.C.A. § 17-1-107; arkansas.gov licensing agencies.

37. Professional License Reciprocity — Military Spouse

Spouses of active duty service members assigned to Arkansas; spouses of veterans establishing residency; surviving spouses of service members KIA.

Authority: Act 135 of 2021; U.S. DOL Military Spouses License Transfer documentation.

38. Business License Fee Break

**Unavailable as a distinct reduced-fee veteran business license** — No state-level veteran business license fee waiver was identified. Veterans may benefit from state procurement preferences for veteran-owned small businesses. ⚠️ Verify with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (arkansaseconomicdevelopment.com).
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (arkansaseconomicdevelopment.

39. Civil Service / Retirement Credit

**State Employee Military Leave (A.C.A. § 21-4-212):** - 15 days paid leave annually for reserve component training and official military duties - 30 working days paid leave for emergency activation by the Governor or President - No loss of seniority, status, promotional standing, retirement, insurance, or other benefits during military leave

Authority: A.C.A. § 21-4-212; USERRA (38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335).

Housing & Financial

40. State Home Loan / Down-Payment Assistance

Arkansas does not operate a state-specific veteran home loan or down-payment assistance program. Veterans in Arkansas use the federal VA Home Loan Guaranty program (no down payment, no PMI, competitive rates). The Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) operates general home loan programs but no dedicated veteran tier was identified.

41. Financial Assistance / Emergency Relief

Arkansas does not have a state-funded veteran financial assistance or emergency grant program at the state level. Local VSOs and service organizations (American Legion, DAV) may have emergency funds. Contact the ADVA VSO network at veterans.arkansas.gov/veteran-services-map for local assistance.

42. State Veteran Bonus

Arkansas does not currently offer a state wartime military service bonus. The Arkansas Veterans' Trust Account (VTA) funds veteran programs but does not include a direct service bonus payment.

43. Specially Adapted Housing — State Supplement

**Unavailable as a distinct state supplement** — No Arkansas state-funded adapted housing supplement was identified. Veterans use the federal VA SAH Grant (up to $126,526 for FY 2026), SHA Grant (up to $25,350), and TRA Grant (up to $9,100 for renters) through the VA Regional Loan Center.

44. Utility / Heating Assistance

**Unavailable as a veteran-specific state program** — No Arkansas veteran-specific utility or heating assistance program was identified. Veterans may apply for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services; eligibility is income-based regardless of veteran status.

Health & Support

45. State Veterans Home / Nursing Home

- Honorably discharged veteran (OR spouse or Gold Star parent of eligible veteran) - Medical need for skilled nursing home placement - No disqualifying criminal record
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify current per-diem with the facility directly.

Authority: ADVA; A.C.A. Title 12 (veterans affairs).

46. Behavioral / Mental Health Programs

**Federal VA services (primary):** - Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), Little Rock/North Little Rock: 501-257-1000 - Fayetteville VA Medical Center: 479-443-4301 - 14+ Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) across AR — Conway, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Harrison, Hot Springs, Mena, Mountain Home, Ozark, Pine Bluff, Russellville, Searcy, and others - Telehealth mental health appointments available statewide - Veterans Crisis Line: call 988, press 1

47. Dental / Vision / Health Programs

Arkansas does not operate a state-funded veteran dental or vision supplement.

48. Long-Term Care / Aid & Attendance Supplement

Arkansas does not operate a state-funded Aid and Attendance cash supplement. The federal VA A&A pension benefit is available through the VA.

49. Free Legal Aid / Veteran Treatment Courts

**Arkansas Veterans Legal Services Clinic:** - Free and reduced-rate legal services for veterans - Handles VA appeals, discharge upgrades, and other veterans' matters - Operated by: University of Arkansas – Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law - Phone: 501-916-3434 - Application: ualrmediationclinic.cliogrow.com/intake/572caae4098aea00869337e68569d423

50. Concealed Carry / Firearms Fee Waiver

**Permitless carry:** Arkansas allows constitutional (permitless) carry for adults 18+ who are otherwise legally allowed to possess a firearm. Active duty military, National Guard, Reserve members, and honorably discharged veterans are specifically recognized by statute.

Authority: A.C.A. § 5-73-322 (permitless carry); Act 562 of 2021 (CHCL fee waiver).

51. Vital Records / Notary Fee Waiver

**Unavailable as a distinct veteran discount** — No veteran-specific vital records fee waiver or notary fee reduction was identified at the state level. Standard fees apply.

Legal & Administrative

52. Unique State Programs

**Arkansas Veterans' Trust Account (VTA):** State fund supporting veteran programs and services, funded in part by the voluntary Veterans' License Plate surcharge. Does not provide direct cash payments.

Survivor Benefits

53. Surviving Spouse — Property Tax

**Benefit:** Unremarried surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran (100% P&T, SMC-qualifying, or KIA/died from SC cause) retains the full homestead and personal property tax exemption under A.C.A. § 26-3-306.

Authority: A.C.A. § 26-3-306.

54. Surviving Spouse — Education

Covered under the Heroes Scholarship (§ 29) and Military Dependents Scholarship (§ 30).

55. Dependent / Survivor State Benefit

**Heroes Scholarship (§ 29)** and **Military Dependents Scholarship (§ 30)** are the primary state education benefits for dependents.

Memorial & Burial

56. State Veterans Cemetery

Two Arkansas State Veterans Cemeteries:
Verify locally: **Dependent burial fee:** Approximately $807 (⚠️ verify with cemetery annually as this fee may adjust).

Authority: ADVA; A.C.A. Title 12.

57. Burial Allowance / Plot

Arkansas does not provide a state-funded burial cash allowance separate from the free state cemetery burial in § 56.

58. Headstone / Memorial / Honors

**Federal headstone/marker:** Provided by the VA for eligible veterans in any cemetery (national, state, or private). Available at no cost.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Exact stipend amount — verify with ADVA at 501-683-2382 or adva. Verify all figures, thresholds, and statutes with ADVA (501-683-2382 | adva.

Authority: ADVA Military Funeral Honors program; 10 U.S.C. § 985; A.C.A. Title 12.