The halls of the state Capitol rang with youthful enthusiasm on May 28 as delegates from Arkansas Girls State took over for a day. Founded in 1942, Arkansas Girls State is a week-long leadership and civic engagement summer program for high school girls finishing their junior year, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. It educates […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK — On May 26, the Arkansas legislature looked a little younger. And a lot more female. Earlier this year, legislators became aware that up to 150 young women from Arkansas high schools were blocked from participation in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State due to a deadline for schools that fell on spring […]
Weekly UpdatesThe Joint Education Committee met this week for a presentation about the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program, delivered by Jacob Oliva, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education, Lyndsey Laster, a 3rd-grade teacher from Poyen Elementary, Melanie Brotherton, who teaches 3rd grade at Drew Central Elementary in Monticello, and Lissa Monroe, a 3rd-grade teacher […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK — Recently, the state Senate and House Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor met jointly to review major developments affecting rural health care in Arkansas. The Senate committee is chaired by Senator Missy Irvin, with Senator Dave Wallace serving as Vice Chair. Committee members heard an overview of the Rural Health Transformation […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a proclamation on Thursday, April 30, calling the Arkansas General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session, which started May 4. The governor called the session to, according to the proclamation, “amend the individual income tax brackets and rates to a top rate of 3.7%, effective January 1, 2026, […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK — Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate today announced the creation of the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute, a new initiative designed to provide leadership and civic engagement opportunities for students who were recently denied admission to Arkansas Girls State due to an administrative error. In recent weeks, members of […]
News ReleasesLITTLE ROCK – Some highlights from the fourth and final week of the Arkansas General Assembly’s Fiscal Session: The Senate started the week by passing appropriation bills for departments, divisions, and agencies, including the Department of Health; Parks, Heritage and Tourism; Department of Transportation, UA East Arkansas Community College, and more. Meeting briefly Monday evening, […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK – Some highlights from the third week of the Arkansas General Assembly’s Fiscal Session: Senator Dave Wallace sponsored a bill to declare April 21 as Arkansas Lineworker Appreciation Day. A large group of electrical lineworkers were present in the public galleries. These dedicated workers serve our state at great risk, often under harsh […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK — The fiscal session in the Arkansas General Assembly continued this week. This was a busy week in which legislators really dug into budget details. Some highlights: The Joint Budget Committee directed the legislative staff to draft a reappropriation measure that would bar the Department of Corrections from spending any of the $73.7 […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK — In 2008, Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment that established a fiscal session separate from the general session. Legislators meet in general sessions in odd-numbered years, when they consider a wide range of issues. In even-numbered years, the Legislature holds fiscal sessions that focus on the state budget. The Arkansas General Assembly […]
Weekly Updates