Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – The financial health of the state Teacher Retirement System has been steadily improving over the past decade. For example, using very conservative criteria, retirement systems are generally considered healthy if their “funded ratio” is above 80 percent. Ten years ago it was below 80 percent but at the end of […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas won a long and hard-fought legal battle against large pharmaceutical manufacturers when the United States Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling in the state’s favor. The decision means that Act 1103 of 2021 is constitutional and remains in effect. “This is a big win for Arkansas’s drug […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Department of Correction has been in the news recently because of its efforts to build additional prison space, in order to improve public safety. Much less public attention has been paid to the Department’s agency that supervises parolees and people on probation, even though Arkansas has many more […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Senate held its traditional organizational meeting to name its leaders and choose committee assignments. Senator Bart Hester of Cave Springs (Benton County) had previously been elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate for the 95th General Assembly. On January 13, the first day of the 2025 legislative session, […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The governor proposed a balanced budget for legislators to consider during the 2025 session when they set spending levels for state government agencies. Arkansas operates under a balanced budget, but the governor’s proposal is important because it outlines her spending priorities for Fiscal Year 2026. We are now in the […]
Weekly UpdatesSenator Missy Irvin of Mountain View, co- chairman of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, praised Booth’s three-and-a-half years of service as director of the Game and Fish Commission. “Austin Booth was an excellent director who initiated and implemented a clear, long-term strategic vision for the Arkansas Game & Fish” Irvin said. “He wasn’t just a visionary. […]
News ReleasesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The governor unveiled a new pay plan for state employees that she will present for legislative approval during the 2025 regular session. At the announcement of the pay plan, she said it was the fulfillment of a promise she made when campaigning for office. Bringing salaries more in line with […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas legislators have been hearing from constituents about the rising costs of homeowners insurance premiums, so during the 2025 session they will explore numerous options for holding down rate increases. At a recent meeting of the Senate and House Committees on Insurance and Commerce, top officials of the Arkansas Insurance […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Direct care nurses who work at long-term facilities operated by the state are eligible for a bonus of $5,000. … Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas tourism industry continues to flourish and is soon to surpass $10 billion in economic impact, acc… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – During budget hearings and continuing through the regular session that begins in January, legislators will tackle the diff… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Legislative budget hearings have begun at the state Capitol, in preparation for the 2025 regular session that begins in Ja… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – A subcommittee of legislators is close to finishing its year-long study of Arkansas gun laws. The study includes a packag… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – When the legislature convenes in regular session in January, lawmakers will consider changing how district courts are fund… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Most of the universities in Arkansas reported increases in enrollment for the fall semester. The state’s funding formula … Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Legislators and state officials continue to work on methods of improving maternal health care in Arkansas. A special comm… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – A legislative committee has signed off on stronger penalties against pharmacy benefit managers that fail to reimburse loca… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state has begun a new campaign to make people aware of the variety of Medicaid services for which they may be eligible… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate and House Education Committees are close to finalizing next year’s school funding formula. They have worked al… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Transportation estimates that in 2027 and 2028 about $2.2 billion of new projects will be added… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – More than 3,000 families applied for Education Freedom Accounts during the first week of August, bringing the total number… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – As the 2024-2025 school year begins, the state Education Department is making grants available to Arkansas school district… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas sales tax holiday this year will be on the first weekend in August, Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4. Con… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Department of Finance and Administration has published new income tax withholding tables. That’s good news for … Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Agriculture Department has completed a series of public hearings on updates to the statewide water plan, whic… Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Attorney General has sued two pharmacy benefit managers, alleging that they contributed to the dramatic rise in … Continue reading
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas is one of several states that have restricted their public retirement systems from investing in funds that refuse to trade in the stock of fossil fuel companies, energy companies, ammunition manufacturers and firearms makers. Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and West Virginia have drawn up a list of financial institutions that are restricted from […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The legislature has been working on a long-term, sustainable solution to the spike in property insurance costs of Arkansas schools. A consultant hired last year will submit his report in March. The legislature will meet in fiscal session in April. Schools are experiencing the same dramatic increases in property insurance that homeowners are […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas legislators approved a $30 million expenditure to improve mental health services and treatment of substance abuse. The governor and the state Human Services Department supported the plan to fill in the gaps in the statewide system of treating mental illness and helping people with drug problems. The money will help create a […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The state Division of Children and Family Services has intensified preventative services in troubled families, and managed to lower the number of children in foster homes. Over the previous two years, the number of Arkansas children in foster care has gone down from 4,614 to 3,698. Over the past year, in more than […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The families of about 20,000 elementary students will soon be notified that they are eligible for a $500 grant to pay for tutors to help their children learn to read at grade level. The Legislative Council approved emergency rules, clearing the way for literacy tutoring grants to be awarded. The grants will go […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC A group of physicians and nurses conducted an in-depth study of the deaths of pregnant women in Arkansas and submitted their recommendations to the Legislative Council. They recommend that maternity care providers should increase their understanding of the need to screen for chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which can worsen during […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The freezing weather may have prevented citizens from appearing in person at three public hearings held by the Arkansas Broadband Office to gather input about plans to expand and improve Internet access in the state. However, there is still time to submit comments. Arkansans have until January 25 to submit their comments online […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The Senate Education Committee has begun its review of the adequacy and equity of Arkansas public school funding. Lawmakers conduct the thorough review every two years, with the help of legislative staff. They use the results to determine how much to increase education funding, and whether or not to tighten curriculum standards and […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Numerous state laws will take effect in 2024, including tax reductions that will save Arkansas families and businesses about $250 million a year. During a September special session the legislature approved tax cuts that will benefit Arkansans in two ways. An income tax reduction will lower the top rate from 4.7 to 4.4 […]
Weekly Updates