Download DOC A task force on law enforcement recommended that police officers get more training, more pay and more opportunities for advanced education. The Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement was appointed by the governor last summer, when many American cities were experiencing protests sparked by the death of a Minneapolis man […]
Weekly UpdatesStatement by Senator Jason Rapert regarding ruling by Judge Kristine Baker,
News ReleasesDownload DOC The United States Supreme Court upheld an Arkansas law regulating pharmacy benefit managers, which negotiate agreements between health insurance companies and drug stores. When people get prescriptions from their local drug store, in most cases they don’t pay the full cost. They have insurance, or get help from a government-subsidized program. Pharmacy benefit […]
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Senate Democratic Caucus is calling for the state to take stronger actions to protect all Arkansans from Covid-19, save lives, and limit the economic fallout due to the pandemic.
News ReleasesThe level of state government spending determines how much of a surplus is left at the end of the fiscal year. One of the legislature’s most important decisions is how much of a surplus to accumulate, and what to do with it.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas college students who receive lottery scholarships had until the first of October to document successful completion of summer coursework, in order to maintain their eligibility this fall. With the passing of that deadline, the state Department of Higher Education is able to compile a final report to legislators on the numbers and […]
Weekly UpdatesLast week it was reported that another former detention center, at Lewisville, will be converted into a substance abuse treatment facility for teenagers. Judges who hear juvenile cases said that a treatment center was needed, and were glad to have an option besides locking up troubled youths.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas schools this fall have seen a drop in enrollment of about 6,428 students. The good news is that the number of students in computer science courses is more than 10,000, which is a record high. The number of children being home schooled has gone up by 3,888 compared to last year. The […]
Weekly UpdatesThe governor presented a balanced budget proposal to the legislature for next fiscal year. It would authorize about $5.8 billion next year in spending from the state’s general revenue fund, about three percent more than this year.
Weekly UpdatesThe state is helping people who have trouble paying their rent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesAt the beginning of this year, there were more than 2,000 licensed child care programs in Arkansas. They had slots for 194,000 children.
By mid-April, about half the facilities had closed. Although most have been able to re-open, as of early October at least 20 had closed permanently
Weekly UpdatesA bipartisan group of 14 senators have requested that the CARES Act Steering Committee allocate $20 million in federal relief funding for senior citizens centers across Arkansas.
News ReleasesThe Legislative Council approved spending $48.5 million in federal relief money to fund a grant program that will help tourism-related businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. The grants will be available to small businesses that hire up to 250 full-time employees.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has begun budget hearings, in preparation for the regular session that begins in January.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC In this year’s election, Arkansas voters will determine the outcome of three proposed amendments to the state Constitution. If approved by voters, Issue One would make permanent the current half-cent sales tax that pays for highway construction and maintenance. In 2010, Arkansas voters approved spending the revenue from a half-cent sales tax on […]
Weekly UpdatesArkansas legislators approved using $165 million in federal relief funds to shore up the state unemployment insurance trust fund.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas cities and counties that have been hit hard by the economic impact of the coronavirus can apply for help, after legislators approved the use of $150 million for relief grants.
Weekly UpdatesCensus workers across Arkansas will be knocking on doors until the end of September in a last-ditch effort to make sure that as many people as possible get counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
Weekly UpdatesBefore this year, the legislature had already laid the groundwork for expansions of broadband capability in education and health care. In response to the changing needs of schools and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, legislators have accelerated the pace of projects that expand broadband access in rural Arkansas and in small towns.
Weekly UpdatesCounty clerks are preparing for a sharp increase in the number of absentee ballots that they expect to be turned in for the November 3 general election.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC September 3, 2020 Senate Information Office: 501-682-5954 LITTLE ROCK – Senator Trent Garner of El Dorado and five Senate colleagues have request $50 million in CARES Act funding for services to help veterans cope with health issues worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. The funds would go to the state Veterans Affairs Department, which […]
AnnouncementsArkansas legislators approved a plan to add $300 a week to unemployment benefits, to extend the extra benefits available during the coronavirus pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas teachers and students are beginning the most challenging school year in living memory.
Weekly UpdatesThe Transportation Department is upgrading its web site to make it easier for Arkansas drivers to follow the progress of highway construction projects.
Weekly UpdatesIn this year’s election, Arkansas voters will determine the outcome of three proposed amendments to the state Constitution.
Weekly UpdatesMore than 28,000 Arkansas residents work in the forest products industry, cutting trees, producing paper and pulp, manufacturing furniture and shipping wood products across the world.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Education Department will spend $10 million to expand Internet access in every school district in Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesThe average debt that a student incurs to earn a bachelor’s degree in Arkansas is almost $2,000 less than the national average. Over the course of a 30-year career, a person with a bachelor’s degree will earn an estimated $1.25 million, compared to $550,000 that a college dropout will earn over the same period.
Weekly UpdatesSenator Jason Rapert is in the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and testing positive for Covid-19, he is responding well to treatment. “This is a difficult time for my family, but we know that God is with us always,” Rapert said. “We’re sincerely grateful for the many prayers of love and support that have […]
Weekly UpdatesArkansas will hold its annual sales tax holiday on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.
Weekly UpdatesThe number of Arkansas children in foster care continued to go down last year, after reaching an all-time high in 2016 and prompting dramatic measures from elected officials to improve the state’s child welfare system.
Weekly UpdatesDuring the upcoming school year, local districts will have flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances created by the outbreak of the coronavirus, thanks to a set of waivers adopted by the state Board of Education during a special meeting.
Weekly UpdatesThe state will hire 350 more contact tracers to help control the spread of the coronavirus. After the funding is allocated to pay them, it will bring the state’s total to 900.
Weekly UpdatesAs Arkansas began Phase Two of its gradual reopening of businesses and social activities, the governor issued three executive orders related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Weekly UpdatesA federal judge upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection procedures used in Arkansas for carrying out the death penalty.
Weekly UpdatesState revenues have gone down because of the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak, but not as much as Arkansas budget officials had feared.
Weekly UpdatesMore than 10,500 Arkansas businesses have been approved for grants to reimburse them for the expenses of protecting the health of employees and customers.
The grants are worth up to $100,000, and the total amount of approved grants is about $115 million. They were made available through the Ready for Business Program.
Weekly UpdatesMay 22, 2020
LITTLE ROCK – In June the Senate Education Committee will hear a report on the effect that public schools have seen due to the recent widespread requests for waivers from education standards.
Weekly UpdatesDisruptions in the food supply chain have forced Arkansas cattlemen and farmers to make financial decisions today that will affect the supply and demand of food over the coming months and years.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas is gradually opening up businesses and public activities, under careful monitoring by public health officials to avoid bringing on a second wave of the coronavirus. The governor announced that church services may resume, as long as the congregation wears masks and everyone stays at least six feet from each other.
Weekly UpdatesThe next few weeks will determine whether Arkansas moves forward or backward on the way to re-opening businesses.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program has been established by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and is designed to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
News ReleasesSenator Bob Ballinger of Berryville and 14 other state senators on Friday commended the governor and public health officials, and assured them that Arkansas citizens would take the precautions necessary for opening businesses again.
News ReleasesWhen Arkansas makes it past the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, restrictions on businesses and social interactions will be loosened carefully, always with the goal in mind to prevent a second wave of the pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature completed the 2020 fiscal session in record time, approving a balanced budget that funds state government spending of $5.68 billion.
Weekly UpdatesSenator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. was elected President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate for the 93rd General Assembly in 2021 and 2022.
News ReleasesThe sudden and severe economic downturn caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus means that the 2020 fiscal session will be the most difficult one for legislators since Arkansas voters first voted to establish fiscal sessions 12 years ago.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas state parks will be open only during the daytime, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus among dense gatherings of visitors at trailheads and campsites, state officials announced. Also, state officials and legislators joined in requesting that federal authorities close the Buffalo River National River, because so many out-of-state tourists were […]
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature convened in special session to address potential revenue shortfalls, resulting from the sudden economic downturn caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Weekly UpdatesTo cushion the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak on working families, the state has streamlined the process of applying for unemployment insurance.
Weekly UpdatesPay raises have been proposed for direct care employees at the state’s five centers for people with multiple disabilities.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has begun budget hearings in preparation for the 2020 Fiscal Session, which convenes on April 8 and is scheduled to last a month.
Weekly UpdatesSenate Information Office: 501-682-5954
LITTLE ROCK – Health Department officials will join members of the legislative Committees on Public Health, Welfare and Labor for a press conference about the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, at 1 p.m. Monday, March 9, in the Old Supreme Court Room of the state Capitol.
Senator Missy Irvin of Mountain View is chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health, and Representative Jack Ladyman of Jonesboro of the House committee will be available, as will Dr. Nathaniel Smith, the state Secretary of Health.
They will outline the steps that state government is taking to keep the public updated and how to find the most recent information. Also, they will outline what protocol businesses should follow when staff need time off from work.
News Releases
An Arkansas success story that is attracting national attention is the expansion of computer science classes in public schools over the past five years.
Weekly UpdatesLast year the legislature voted to conduct an extensive review of the operations of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, to identify areas where improvements could be made.
Weekly UpdatesThe governor, judges and legislators have all participated in changes to the juvenile justice system, with the goal of reducing the number of young people who are locked up in a secure location.
Weekly UpdatesDuring the first week it was available, about 600 Arkansans took advantage of a new online service to schedule the driving portion of their test to get a driver’s license.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Levee Task Force has completed its final report, with recommendations on how to pay for maintenance and repairs, and how to best gauge the current condition of levees.
Weekly UpdatesAt a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 30, in the Old Supreme Court Room of the state Capitol, Senator Cecile Bledsoe of Rogers; Dr. Greg Bledsoe, the state Surgeon General; Kirk Lane, the state drug director; Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council, and Larry Page, director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council will urge Arkansas citizens to refuse to sign petitions in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana.
Weekly UpdatesCanada and Mexico continue to be the top destinations for Arkansas exports, according to the 2019 report by the World Trade Center of the University of Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesOver the past decade, greater numbers of Arkansas children have been diagnosed with disabilities that require them to receive special education.
Weekly UpdatesThe Legislative Council endorsed a plan for two southeast Arkansas counties to contract with a private company to build and operate a 600-bed prison.
Weekly UpdatesThe new year is an election year, and thanks to legislation approved during the regular session earlier this year, the primaries in Arkansas will take place on Tuesday, March 3.
Weekly Updates