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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The Arkansas Senate passed two bills that will tighten state and local regulations of data centers and the newly emerging crypto mining industry. Senate Bill 78 passed with 26 votes in the 35-member Senate. SB 79 passed with 32 votes. Next, they will be considered by the House of Representatives. The measures represent […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The state Education Department has written new rules for troubled schools to enter “transformation contracts” with outside entities, such as charter school operators. The Department will accept public comments until May 15 on the eight pages of proposed rules. They will implement a provision in the LEARNS Act that was passed by the […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The legislature convened the fiscal session and will spend the next month working on a $6.3 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The legislature has always approved conservative budgets, and the balanced budget proposed by the governor is very conservative even by traditional standards. It calls for growth in […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Several state agencies are preparing for increased traffic from out-of-state tourists who will drive to Arkansas on Monday, April 8, to view the solar eclipse. They’re planning for traffic disruptions even in parts of the state that will not experience the full effect of the eclipse. For example, southeast Arkansas is not in […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansans who own a home or a business are becoming more aware that the cost of insurance coverage is going up significantly. Legislators are looking for ways to bring the cost down again. At a recent meeting of the Joint Senate and House Committees on Insurance and Commerce, industry representatives outlined the various […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC A legislative committee voted to add $25.2 million to a revolving loan fund for safe drinking water projects. The majority of the funds will be loans, but local water systems can apply to have the principle forgiven. The state Division of Natural Resources brought the funding request to legislators on the Performance Evaluation […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Legislators held budget hearings to scrutinize every spending category in state government, in preparation for the fiscal session that begins April 10. Leading off the agenda was the presentation of a balanced budget for next fiscal year. Arkansas does not deficit spend, or borrow money to pay for state government operations. The director […]
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