Download DOC In 2023 the legislature enacted major changes to state laws affecting the operations of public schools and state prisons. The centerpiece of the 2023 session was the LEARNS Act, a proposal by the governor to make school choice more affordable, raise teacher salaries and train high school students for well-paid jobs even if […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC A subcommittee of the Legislative Council recommended almost $5.9 million in funding for the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, the primary training ground for firefighters from across the state. Southern Arkansas University Tech at Camden made the funding request, which would pay for needed repairs to the administration building. The HVAC is old and […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Over a 12-month period there were 130 reported cyberattacks against Arkansas government at the state and local levels. That was more than twice the number reported in the previous year. The Legislative Audit Committee compiles reports of cyberattacks against government entities in Arkansas, ranging from potentially serious security breaches to relatively trivial attempts […]
Weekly UpdatesLITTLE ROCK – The Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism publishes a report every year on the health of the state’s tourism industry. According to the most recent statistics available, tourism in Arkansas has never been stronger. Last year more than 48 million people visited Arkansas, an increase of seven million over the previous year. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC When the jackpot approaches a billion dollars a lot of people go out and buy lottery tickets, even though normally they hardly pay any attention to the lottery. Those occasions are good news for Arkansas college students, because the state will collect more money than usual for lottery scholarships. For example, ticket sales […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Law enforcement is predominately a duty of local governments, and the overwhelming majority of police officers in Arkansas work for cities and counties. However, state government does have 1,299 employees in the Department of Public Safety. There are 897 people working for the State Police. The Division of Emergency Management has 88 employees. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The Arkansas legislature has tried to apply lessons learned by other states when it enacted school safety laws over the past several years. The legislature also applied the best practices recommended by the School Safety Commission in 2018 and 2022. The Senate and House Committees on Education heard an update from the chair […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The Arkansas Economic Development Commission broke records for job creation and investment last year. Thirty companies invested close to $6 billion and announced the creation of 5,359 jobs. The average salary of those new jobs is $29 an hour. Last year got off to a good start, with the announcement of the largest […]
Weekly UpdatesThe state will continue to accept applications from families who want to fund their children’s tuition with Education Freedom Accounts, and perhaps as early as February the state will begin accepting applications for next school year.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC One of the ongoing developments in state government over the past six months has been the efforts of the Human Services Department to reduce the number of people on Medicaid. The goal is to return the health coverage program to levels more closely resembling those prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Since last year enrollment has gone up at most of the publicly supported institutions of higher education in Arkansas. The academic year began about a month ago and headcounts for this year are based on enrollment as of the 11th day of class. The largest campus in the state is the University of […]
Weekly UpdatesThe state Department of Education has released its annual school report cards, which allow parents to evaluate how well their children are being taught and whether they are learning at grade level. The school report cards provide a wealth of data and create an effective system of accountability for public education.
Weekly UpdatesThis week the Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin submitted an Opinion (2023-059) to clarify the laws concerning Arkansas School Board Association’s policies concerning previous legislation I had written.
The laws the legislature created were very clear in their purpose and intent. It was brought to my attention that a school board had a policy mirroring a federal model that would violate those laws. Therefore, I sought the Attorney General’s opinion.
News ReleasesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Transportation Department has written a plan to reduce carbon emissions by improving traffic flow and connecting highways more efficiently with railroad terminals and ports. The department is due to receive $87 million from the federal government, between now and 2026, for projects that reduce carbon emissions. According to […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Children are placed in foster care for many reasons, and the most common ( 52 percent) is neglect by parents. Substance abuse by parents or guardians (48 percent) is the second most common reason, followed by the incarceration of a parent (20 percent), physical abuse (16 percent) and inadequate housing […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – In a four-day special session, the legislature lowered state taxes by almost $250 million this year. Legislators also approved the governor’s proposal to prohibit state and local government officials from requiring proof of Covid vaccinations in order to qualify for services, employment or education. Arkansas had a ban in effect, […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Thanks to a Senate bill that became law earlier this year, thousands of Arkansas students will qualify for free lunches at school. Act 656 of 2023 was approved by an overwhelming majority of senators. It benefits children from families with low incomes by eliminating the requirement that they pay a […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Over the course of the upcoming year legislators will study all the various laws in Arkansas governing firearms, with the intent of simplifying them. The study was prompted by requests from law enforcement and instructors of gun safety. At legislative meetings this summer they have asked for clarification of when […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Participation in athletics at Arkansas institutions of higher education has increased in recent years, even as total enrollment at colleges and universities has gone down. About 3,900 students participated in athletics at ten universities and seven colleges two years ago, the most recent school year for which statistics are available. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature enacted a lengthy list of new laws to strengthen the integrity of the elections. Act 620 grants more power to the state Board of Election Commissioners to detect and prevent voter fraud. The board has been conducting an audit after each general election, and Act 620 requires […]
Weekly UpdatesThis year back to school activities in Arkansas have historic importance, thanks to the far-reaching changes in Act 237 of 2023.
Weekly UpdatesMost of the bills that were approved by the legislature earlier this year became law on August 1.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Highway has held four events around the state to commemorate the 31 projects paid for with a half-cent sales tax approved by voters 10 years ago. In 2012 Arkansas voters approved the sales tax increase and since then it has generated about $1.8 billion in revenue, which has paid for improvements to about 200 miles of highway. The projects are collectively called the Connecting Arkansas Program, or CAP, and they represent one of the largest highway programs in the history of the state.
Weekly UpdatesEvery year the sales tax holiday is the first weekend in August. This year it will be Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6.
Weekly UpdatesThe governor announced that the state would provide about $11 million to local school districts to help them pay the steeply rising costs of property insurance premiums.
Weekly UpdatesFiscal Year 2023, which just ended, was one of the best in Arkansas history. The state closed out the fiscal year with a budget surplus of $1.161 billion.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas officials announced that the state is about to receive more than a billion dollars in federal funding for expanding broadband access throughout the state. Before the end of the year, the state Broadband Office will submit a five-year plan with details of how we intend to spend the funds.
Weekly UpdatesIn 2021 the legislature approved Act 626, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors. Since then at least 19 other states have enacted similar laws to prohibit procedures such as hormone therapy and surgery for adolescents under 18 who wish to change their genders.
Weekly UpdatesThe secretary of Human Services told lawmakers that the Arkansas Medicaid program would continue to reimburse assisted living facilities at the higher rate they were getting during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least until November. Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to review the entire Medicaid system, and will recommend methods of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Human Services Department has officially petitioned the federal government for authority to make changes in the Medicaid expansion program.
Weekly UpdatesThe Division of Workforce Services will close nine offices around the state as of a restructuring of offices that administer welfare programs.
Weekly UpdatesAs soon as the 2023 legislative session adjourned, the Senate and House Committees on Education began work on school funding in preparation for the 2025 session. Every two years the committees issue an adequacy report that sets a level of state funding of public schools that will comply with the state Constitution and state Supreme Court orders in school funding cases.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Medicaid program is re-examining the cases of hundreds of thousands of recipients to determine whether or not they remain eligible for services. By the end of April 72,802 cases were closed.
Weekly UpdatesThe major provisions of the new Protect Arkansas Act are well known, but they are only a few of the many measures passed during the 2023 regular session.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC During the 2023 regular session, which adjourned on May 1, the legislature enacted a list of new laws to protect the integrity of elections. Act 352 prohibits election officials at the local or state level from accepting any funds, grants or gifts from any entity other than the governing body. Its intent is […]
Weekly UpdatesThe scheduled finish of the 2023 regular session of the legislature is May 1, when lawmakers adjourn sine die. However, during the interim legislators will have plenty of influence over the daily operations of state government. The Legislative Council meets regularly to closely monitor state agency policies.
Weekly UpdatesDuring the 2023 session the legislature enacted a series of bills designed to protect children from exposure to sexually inappropriate literature, live performances and Internet sites.
Weekly UpdatesDuring the 2023 regular session the Arkansas legislature not only continued to lower state income taxes, but also reduced homeowners’ property taxes. Act 315 lowers property taxes by increasing the homestead property tax credit from $375 to $425 a year. It is effective beginning with assessment year 2023
Weekly UpdatesThe Legislature easily passed legislation to save Arkansas families about $100 million a year in lower income taxes. The bill also lowers corporate income taxes and will save Arkansas businesses about $24 million a year.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate has approved legislation that lengthens prison sentences for violent offenders and requires prison inmates to work harder to qualify for parole.
Weekly UpdatesIn every regular session the legislature can refer up to three proposed constitutional amendments to voters. The measures referred during the 2023 session will be on Arkansas general election ballots of November, 2024. If a majority of voters approve, the amendments will become part of the state Constitution.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has advanced a long list of bills to prevent voter fraud and protect the integrity of elections.
Weekly UpdatesThe governor’s historic reform of Arkansas education is now law. Dozens of other important measures were advanced out of committee and approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. Both chambers approved HB 1419 to change the rules for citizens’ groups trying to place an issue on statewide ballots. Currently, supporters of an initiative or proposed amendment must submit signatures from at least 15 counties. HB 1419 would require a minimum number of signatures from 50 counties. Arkansas has 75 counties.
Weekly UpdatesState government and a host of private organizations announced a new effort to recruit more foster families, streamline the process of placing foster children with relatives and accelerating the process for the permanent adoption of children.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate has approved legislation that makes the single largest investment in public education in Arkansas history. Senate Bill 294, the governor’s education package, has 144 pages and 25 Senate co-sponsors.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas is changing the eligibility requirements for people who are enrolled in ARHOME, a category of Medicaid the program. Beginning next year they will have to work, volunteer in their community or continue their education in order to continue receiving benefits.
Weekly UpdatesBacked by a host of legislators, the governor revealed details of her education package. The proposed changes in public school funding would be numerous and far reaching. They include large increases in teacher pay and the expansion of literacy programs for young children.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate passed legislation to repeal language in state law allowing medical facilities to be licensed in order to perform abortions.
Weekly UpdatesThe first three weeks of the 2023 legislative have session have been remarkable for the wide variety of issues the Senate has addressed.
Weekly UpdatesThere are many stages in the process of convicting criminals and sentencing them to prison. Senate Bill 2, the “Truth in Sentencing and Parole Reform Act of 2023,” will change many of them.
Weekly UpdatesThe 2023 legislative session got off to a smooth start. The full Senate confirmed the governor’s secretarial nominations, and Senate committees got their initial organizational meetings out of the way.
Weekly UpdatesSchool choice, prison expansion and tax cuts are expected to be the highlights of the 2023 regular legislative session that convenes on Monday, January 9.
Weekly UpdatesWhen the 2023 regular session convenes on January 9, there will be 13 new members in the Arkansas Senate.
Weekly Updates