Section 405(b) occupant protection grant (23 C.F.R. § 1300.21; 23 U.S.C. § 405(b)) ― grant to support certain costs of state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Arkansas State Police $608,018.63 under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant on October 1, 2025, to support state occupant protection programs through September 30, 2029. The award is authorized under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) formula grant program, which apportions funding to qualifying states using a statutory formula based on an approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application.

Arkansas State Police, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, will use the funds for countermeasure strategies and planned projects designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The Section 405(b) program targets states that meet statutory requirements for high or low seat belt use categories. Funding is provided to state highway safety offices for programming that aligns with identified problem areas and performance measures documented in the approved state highway safety plan.

Work will be performed in Little Rock, Arkansas. The recipient must retain all project records, contracts, financial documents, and supporting materials for three years following submission of a final expenditure report, pending resolution of any audit findings. Federal reimbursement occurs through voucher claims submitted for incurred costs under the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. NHTSA provided up to 60 days to review and approve the state's plan before obligating this award.

Section 405(b) funding is available to qualifying states that meet statutory requirements for a high or low seat belt use categories. These funds are apportioned using statutory apportionment formula. These funds are provided to the state and territorial highway safety offices based on an approved triennial highway safety plan that details problem identification, public participation and engagement, performance measures, countermeasure strategies for programming funds and an approved annual grant application that details planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies for programming funds to help reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.