Senate News

  • Legislators Consider Ideas to Hold Down Medicaid Costs

    Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – More than 870,000 Arkansas residents receive some type of health care through Medicaid, which is operated by the state Dep… Continue reading

    17 Jul 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Statewide Water Plan

    Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Agriculture Department has completed a series of public hearings on updates to the statewide water plan, whic… Continue reading

    10 Jul 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Attorney General has sued Two Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

    Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Attorney General has sued two pharmacy benefit managers, alleging that they contributed to the dramatic rise in … Continue reading

    03 Jul 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Legislature Cuts $438 Million a Year in State Income Taxes

    Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas families and businesses will save more than $483 million in income taxes next year, thanks to a tax cut passed by… Continue reading

    26 Jun 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Deadline to Register to Vote

    Download DOC The deadline to register to vote in the November 5 general election falls on Monday, October 7. Keep in mind that county clerks may not accept voter registration forms signed digitally, unless they are submitted by certain state agencies. The state Board of Election Commissioners has approved an emergency rule concerning digital signatures […]

    19 Jun 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Drug Overdoses Declined Faster than National Average

    Download DOC The number of fatalities in Arkansas due to drug overdoses declined faster than the national average last year, according to records maintained by the Centers for Disease Control. From 2022 to 2023 the number of fatalities dropped by 13.7 percent, from 591 fatalities caused by an overdose to 510 fatalities. Nationwide, there was […]

    05 Jun 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Arkansas Supreme Court Upholds Four Election Laws

    Download DOC Four election laws passed by the legislature in 2021 will continue to be enforced, thanks to an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that upholds their constitutionality. The four laws were immediately challenged after the 2021 regular session, during which the legislature enacted a long series of election integrity laws. Last year a Pulaski County […]

    29 May 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Limiting Children’s Access to Social Media

    Download DOC Limiting children’s access to social media is still a priority for Arkansas policy makers. Last week the governor sent a letter to the governors of all 50 states, and to all Arkansas legislators, urging them to continue working for meaningful restrictions on children’s use of social media platforms. With the letter she includes […]

    22 May 2024 Weekly Updates
  • DCFS Recruit more Foster Families Among Health Care Professionals, Educators and Businesses

    Download DOC The Division of Children and Family Services will try to recruit more foster families among health care professionals, educators and businesses. Officials of the Division were joined by the governor at an announcement to mark the first day of National Foster Care Month. The Division director said that its focus would be to […]

    15 May 2024 Weekly Updates
  • Balanced Budget Passed the Senate

    Download DOC The Senate has passed a balanced budget for state government for next fiscal year, clearing the way for completion of the 2024 session. The budget calls for general revenue spending of $6.31 billion in Fiscal Year 2025, which begins on July 1. That is an increase of only 1.76 percent over current general […]

    08 May 2024 Weekly Updates