Weekly Updates

Legislators held budget hearings to scrutinize every spending category in state government, in preparation for the fiscal session that begins April 10.

The legislature has been working on a long-term, sustainable solution to the spike in property insurance costs of Arkansas schools.

Arkansas legislators approved a $30 million expenditure to improve mental health services and treatment of substance abuse.

The state Division of Children and Family Services has intensified preventative services in troubled families, and managed to lower the number of children in foster homes.

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.