Arkansas State and School Employment Veterans Preference

Arkansas Code section 21-3-302, the Veterans Preference Law, applies to state agencies and colleges under the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act and to school districts. Who is covered. A veteran as defined in subsection (b), honorable active duty or six honorable years in the Guard or reserves, a disabled veteran, or an unremarried surviving spouse, who is a citizen and resident of Arkansas and has substantially equal qualifications. Points. Where a numerically scored examination or evaluation sets the interview list, a veteran with a passing score gets 5 points. Ten points go instead to a veteran with a service-connected disability established by VA records, a veteran over 55 who is disabled and entitled to a pension or compensation, or the spouse of a veteran whose service-connected disability disqualifies the veteran from the job. Ten-point names go to the top of the register among equal scores, then five-point names. Where there is no score. The hiring authority must "demonstrate how veterans preference was applied", and on request give the veteran the documents showing how. Under section 21-3-303 it must also give a rejected veteran, on request, the reason in writing for not interviewing or hiring the veteran. Promotion and layoffs. Section 21-3-304 counts military service as service with the agency for layoff seniority. The Army benefits library (re-read 2026-10-24) describes preference in hiring, promotion and retention in the same way. Not covered. Elected officials, political appointees and their assistants or secretaries. County and city jobs are not under this section; see the voluntary preference entry. The 2025 anti-preference act. Act 116 of 2025 created section 25-1-130, which forbids state entities to discriminate or grant preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Subsection (d)(4) says it does not "affect any preference given to veterans in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement", and the act's statement of intent says the same.