Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – In 2023, the Arkansas Legislative Council set aside $200 million for the construction of a new state-of-the art, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL). The legislature approved requests totaling $19. 4 million for the architectural designs, purchase of the land and to cover contractor costs. In September 2025, the Legislative Council’s […]
Weekly UpdatesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Senator Missy Irvin District 24 870-269-2703 missy.irvin@senate.arkansas.gov December 8, 2025 This afternoon, Governor Sarah Sanders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Forestry Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture to make Blanchard Springs Caverns and the surrounding area into a new Arkansas State Park. Senator Irvin’s statement […]
News ReleasesDownload DOC Little Rock – Arkansas’ lithium fields are not anticipated to produce until 2028. Plans are underway to process bromine deposits found in the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas. Currently, the United States produces about 1 percent of the world’s lithium, which is used in advanced weapons systems, drones and as energy storage for […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – In July, the federal government’s passage of HR1, the Big Beautiful Bill, established the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. The program established $50 billion to be allocated to the States over a ten-year period to alleviate concerns over the cuts to Medicaid in the bill. Half of the funding will […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – A new program to serve more locally produced foods grown by Arkansas farmers is set to begin in select schools this January. The Arkansas Plate Initiative is a state-wide effort to connect Arkansas producers with state schools to provide students with nutritious, locally sourced meals made from Arkansas-grown products. According […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – Student enrollment continues to grow at most colleges and universities throughout the state. Retention and graduation rates are also continuing to rise. The University of Arkansas Systems total Fall 2025 headcount was 71,705 students, an increase of 2,000 students from last fall. Key figures include record enrollments at the University […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – On October 16, 2025, The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) temporarily cut back the daily trout possession limit in the state’s four most significant cold-water fisheries. Production losses were caused by poor water quality, due to low oxygen levels and higher water temperatures at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]
Weekly UpdatesDue to the federal government shutdown funding for SNAP benefits will cease on November 1st. Friday morning the Governor, along with the Arkansas Legislative Council co-chairs directed $500,000 from the Restricted Reserve Fund to the Arkansas Food Bank Network beginning Monday, November 3, 2025. The funds will be split equally between six Arkansas food banks: […]
Weekly UpdatesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2025 Senator Missy Irvin, Chair Senate Committee on Public Health 870-740-9694 LITTLE ROCK – Sen. Missy Irvin released the following statement today in response to the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ (DHS) announcement that it will be forced to furlough workers, cease some benefits and grant-funded services, and potentially close […]
News ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senator Missy Irvin 870-740-9694 Senator Missy Irvin, Chair of the Arkansas Legislative Hunger Caucus, stated, “the Governor along with the Arkansas Legislative Council are directing $500,000 from the Restricted Reserve funds to food banks starting on Monday, November 3, 2025.” Due to the federal government shutdown funding for SNAP benefits will cease […]
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