Weekly Updates

The families of about 20,000 elementary students will soon be notified that they are eligible for a $500 grant to pay for tutors to help their children learn to read at grade level.

A group of physicians and nurses conducted an in-depth study of the deaths of pregnant women in Arkansas and submitted their recommendations to the Legislative Council.

They recommend that maternity care providers should increase their understanding of the need to screen for chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which can worsen during pregnancy and which is a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths.

The freezing weather may have prevented citizens from appearing in person at three public hearings held by the Arkansas Broadband Office to gather input about plans to expand and improve Internet access in the state. However, there is still time to submit comments. Arkansans have until January 25 to submit their comments online at broadband.arkansas.gov. That is the web address of ARConnect, the state Broadband Office.

The Senate Education Committee has begun its review of the adequacy and equity of Arkansas public school funding.

Thanks to legislation passed last year, Arkansas businesses will save about $31 million in taxes paid for unemployment insurance in 2024.

Numerous state laws will take effect in 2024, including tax reductions that will save Arkansas families and businesses about $250 million a year.

In 2023 the legislature enacted major changes to state laws affecting the operations of public schools and state prisons.

The centerpiece of the 2023 session was the LEARNS Act to make school choice more affordable, raise teacher salaries and train high school students for well-paid jobs even if they choose not to go to college. Also, legislature approved Act 659, the Protect Arkansas Act. It lengthens prison sentences for violent offenders and requires inmates to work harder to qualify for parole.

A subcommittee of the Legislative Council recommended almost $5.9 million in funding for the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, the primary training ground for firefighters from across the state.

Over a 12-month period there were 130 reported cyberattacks against Arkansas government at the state and local levels. That was more than twice the number reported in the previous year.