Senator Matt McKee was elected to the Senate in 2022 and was sworn on January 9, 2023. He represents District 6, which includes parts of Garland and Saline Counties.
Senator McKee is the Senate chair of the Charitable, Penal, and Corrections Subcommittee and the Senate vice chair of the Joint Energy Committee. He is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee, the Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee, the Joint Budget Committee, the Legislative Council, the Legislature Joint Auditing Committee and the Legislative Facilities Committee.
In 2025 Senator McKee sponsored legislation requiring the Public Service Commission to approve or deny utilities’ plans to close or decommission a power plant based on the effect the closure would have on electricity rates and grid reliability. Act 940 also established a state energy policy.
He also sponsored legislation making it easier for voters to register with the county clerk when they change address, legislation requiring individuals and organizations who lobby on behalf of hostile foreign nations or businesses to disclose that relationship when they register with the Secretary of State, and legislation prohibiting state entities from employing illegal aliens.
In 2023, Senator McKee sponsored legislation to prohibit anyone who commits fraud from collecting unemployment insurance or from becoming eligible for unemployment benefits for 10 years and legislation to make it easier for homeschool students to participate in after school activities outside of their public school district.
Senator McKee was the lead sponsor of a law that requires energy produced from biomass to be considered carbon neutral. Biomass is residue from harvesting timber and agricultural crops. He also sponsored legislation to prohibit election officials from accepting funds, grants or gifts other than from the governing authority for which the official works.
Senator McKee was a Garland County Justice of the Peace from 2009 through 2022. He has been the chair for the Garland County Quorum Court Finance Committee, chair of the Garland County Quorum Court Environmental Services Committee and chair of the Public Works and Buildings Committee. Senator McKee served as chairman of the Republican Party of Garland County from 2015 through 2022.
Senator McKee was born in Colorado and moved to Hot Springs in 2002. He is a licensed residential remodeler. He and his wife, Nikki, live in Pearcy and have four daughters. They worship at the National Park Church of Christ in Hot Springs.
