A civil union is a legally recognized relationship between members of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of a marriage relationship.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, Arkansas does not recognize civil unions. The state only recognizes marriage, which is legally defined as a union between two people, regardless of gender, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. This decision effectively extended all marriage rights to same-sex couples, making the specific legal framework of civil unions largely redundant for same-sex couples seeking recognition of their relationship. Therefore, in Arkansas, same-sex couples have the same rights, responsibilities, and benefits under the law as opposite-sex couples in a marriage.