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Arkansas · Snapshot open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-17

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-7-144: Prohibition on mandatory use of face mask, face shield, or other face covering

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. AR Code
  2. Title 20
  3. Chapter 7
  4. Subchapter 1

(a) The General Assembly reserves the right to enact legislation regarding the mandatory use of face masks, face shields, or other face coverings. (b) A state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official shall not mandate an individual in this state to use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering. (c) The use of a face mask, face shield, or other face covering shall not be a condition for entry, education, or services. (d) If a state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official recommends that an individual in this state use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering, a state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official shall provide notice that the recommendation is not mandatory. (e) This section does not apply to a face covering requirement imposed by: (1) A private business; (2) A state-owned or state-controlled healthcare facility; (3) A facility operated by the Department of Corrections; or (4) A facility operated by the Division of Youth Services. Added by Act 2021, No. 1002,§ 2, eff. 4/28/2021.

(a) The General Assembly reserves the right to enact legislation regarding the mandatory use of face masks, face shields, or other face coverings.

(b) A state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official shall not mandate an individual in this state to use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering.

(c) The use of a face mask, face shield, or other face covering shall not be a condition for entry, education, or services.

(d) If a state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official recommends that an individual in this state use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering, a state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official shall provide notice that the recommendation is not mandatory.

(e) This section does not apply to a face covering requirement imposed by: (1) A private business; (2) A state-owned or state-controlled healthcare facility; (3) A facility operated by the Department of Corrections; or (4) A facility operated by the Division of Youth Services.

(1) A private business;

(2) A state-owned or state-controlled healthcare facility;

(3) A facility operated by the Department of Corrections; or

(4) A facility operated by the Division of Youth Services.

Collected 2026-09-17T21:35:43Z. Source file · JSON

Compilation CC BY 4.0, Open US Law (Vaquill AI). GroundRules uses only the releases published under CC BY 4.0: from v2026.09 the compilation is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, and GroundRules does not use those releases. Each affected row names its release in its vintage label. GroundRules parsed and filtered the compilation to retain enacted text. Source · License

Arkansas electronic product files were republished by Public.Resource.Org under a public-domain mark. GroundRules uses enacted text from Release 78 only as a labeled supplement to the newer Open US Law rows. Source

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