Over the course of the upcoming year legislators will study all the various laws in Arkansas governing firearms, with the intent of simplifying them.
Weekly Updates
Participation in College Sports at Record Level in Arkansas
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.
New Laws Will Protect Integrity of Elections
The Arkansas legislature enacted a lengthy list of new laws to strengthen the integrity of the elections.
Back to School is Historic This Year in Arkansas
This year back to school activities in Arkansas have historic importance, thanks to the far-reaching changes in Act 237 of 2023.
Hundreds of New State Laws Take Effect on First of August
Most of the bills that were approved by the legislature earlier this year became law on August 1.
Highway Commission Commemorates "Connecting Arkansas Program," Approved by Voters 10 Years Ago
The Arkansas Highway has held four events around the state to commemorate the 31 projects paid for with a half-cent sales tax approved by voters 10 years ago. In 2012 Arkansas voters approved the sales tax increase and since then it has generated about $1.8 billion in revenue, which has paid for improvements to about 200 miles of highway. The projects are collectively called the Connecting Arkansas Program, or CAP, and they represent one of the largest highway programs in the history of the state.
Sales Tax Holiday coming on Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6
Every year the sales tax holiday is the first weekend in August. This year it will be Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6.
State to Help Schools With Property Insurance Increases
The governor announced that the state would provide about $11 million to local school districts to help them pay the steeply rising costs of property insurance premiums.
State Ends Fiscal Year With $1.2 Billion Surplus
Fiscal Year 2023, which just ended, was one of the best in Arkansas history. The state closed out the fiscal year with a budget surplus of $1.161 billion.
Arkansas to Receive $1 Billion for Broadband Expansion
Arkansas officials announced that the state is about to receive more than a billion dollars in federal funding for expanding broadband access throughout the state. Before the end of the year, the state Broadband Office will submit a five-year plan with details of how we intend to spend the funds.