Senate News

Since last year enrollment has gone up at most of the publicly supported institutions of higher education in Arkansas. The academic year began about a month ago and headcounts for this year are based on enrollment as of the 11^th day of class.

The state Department of Education has released its annual school report cards, which allow parents to evaluate how well their children are being taught and whether they are learning at grade level. The school report cards provide a wealth of data and create an effective system of accountability for public education.

This week the Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin submitted an Opinion (2023-059) to clarify the laws concerning Arkansas School Board Association’s policies concerning previous legislation I had written.

The laws the legislature created were very clear in their purpose and intent.  It was brought to my attention that a school board had a policy mirroring a federal model that would violate those laws.  Therefore, I sought the Attorney General’s opinion.

The state Transportation Department has written a plan to reduce carbon emissions by improving traffic flow and connecting highways more efficiently with railroad terminals and ports. The department is due to receive $87 million from the federal government, between now and 2026, for projects that reduce carbon emissions.

Even though Arkansas has taken major steps to improve foster care over the past several years, the Division of Children and Family Services intends to do even better at recruiting foster families and providing services to children at a younger age.

In a four-day special session, the legislature lowered state taxes by almost $250 million this year. Legislators also approved the governor’s proposal to prohibit state and local government officials from requiring proof of Covid vaccinations in order to qualify for services, employment or education. Arkansas had a ban in effect, but it expired in August.

Thanks to a Senate bill that became law earlier this year, thousands of Arkansas students will qualify for free lunches at school. Act 656 of 2023 was approved by an overwhelming majority of senators. It benefits children from families with low incomes by eliminating the requirement that they pay a reduced price for lunch. Instead, lunch is free.

Over the course of the upcoming year legislators will study all the various laws in Arkansas governing firearms, with the intent of simplifying them.

Participation in athletics at Arkansas institutions of higher education has increased in recent years, even as total enrollment at colleges and universities has gone down.

The Arkansas legislature enacted a lengthy list of new laws to strengthen the integrity of the elections.