In 2021 the legislature approved Act 626, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors. Since then at least 19 other states have enacted similar laws to prohibit procedures such as hormone therapy and surgery for adolescents under 18 who wish to change their genders.
Weekly Updates
Legislature and DHS Working on New Rates for Medicaid Enrollees in Assisted Living Facilities
The secretary of Human Services told lawmakers that the Arkansas Medicaid program would continue to reimburse assisted living facilities at the higher rate they were getting during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least until November. Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to review the entire Medicaid system, and will recommend methods of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program.
Arkansas Asks Federal Government for Changes to ARHOME Program
The Arkansas Human Services Department has officially petitioned the federal government for authority to make changes in the Medicaid expansion program.
Workforce Services Division Closing Nine Offices
The Division of Workforce Services will close nine offices around the state as of a restructuring of offices that administer welfare programs.
Members of Senate Education Committee Already Working on Adequacy Report for 2025
As soon as the 2023 legislative session adjourned, the Senate and House Committees on Education began work on school funding in preparation for the 2025 session. Every two years the committees issue an adequacy report that sets a level of state funding of public schools that will comply with the state Constitution and state Supreme Court orders in school funding cases.
DHS Redetermining Eligibility of Thousands of Medicaid Recipients
The Arkansas Medicaid program is re-examining the cases of hundreds of thousands of recipients to determine whether or not they remain eligible for services. By the end of April 72,802 cases were closed.
Numerous Public Safety Laws Enacted During 2023 Legislative Session
The major provisions of the new Protect Arkansas Act are well known, but they are only a few of the many measures passed during the 2023 regular session.
2023 Legislative Session Adjourns; Interim Committees Prepare for Busy Summer
The scheduled finish of the 2023 regular session of the legislature is May 1, when lawmakers adjourn sine die. However, during the interim legislators will have plenty of influence over the daily operations of state government. The Legislative Council meets regularly to closely monitor state agency policies.
Legislature Enacts Measures to Protect Children
During the 2023 session the legislature enacted a series of bills designed to protect children from exposure to sexually inappropriate literature, live performances and Internet sites.
Arkansas Legislature Reduces a Variety of Taxes
During the 2023 regular session the Arkansas legislature not only continued to lower state income taxes, but also reduced homeowners’ property taxes. Act 315 lowers property taxes by increasing the homestead property tax credit from $375 to $425 a year. It is effective beginning with assessment year 2023