Ark. Code Ann. § 27-65-138: Acquisition of property

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any laws to the contrary, the Arkansas Department of Transportation, acting on behalf of the State Highway Commission, is hereby authorized, on acquiring whole taxable parcels of property upon which real estate taxes or assessments are due and payable or which shall become due and payable for any time period prior to the acquisition, to collect from the owner or owners of such property such taxes or assessments and to remit such taxes or assessments to the appropriate taxing or assessing authorities.

(b) Likewise, upon a showing by the department of such tax or assessment amounts, the courts of this state may deduct such amounts prior to delivering any orders regarding compensation by the department or commission to the owner or owners, and the department shall remit such taxes or assessments to the appropriate taxing or assessing authorities. In those instances where the department acting on behalf of the commission has deposited an estimated just compensation amount with the court, the department shall notify the county tax collector of that deposit.