Senate News

  • Legislators Discuss Teaching Fellowship Program with Top Educators

    The Joint Education Committee met this week for a presentation about the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program, delivered by Jacob Oliva, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education, Lyndsey Laster, a 3rd-grade teacher from Poyen Elementary, Melanie Brotherton, who teaches 3rd grade at Drew Central Elementary in Monticello, and Lissa Monroe, a 3rd-grade teacher […]

    22 May 2026 Weekly Updates
  • Rural Health Transformation Program Underway in Arkansas

    LITTLE ROCK — Recently, the state Senate and House Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor met jointly to review major developments affecting rural health care in Arkansas. The Senate committee is chaired by Senator Missy Irvin, with Senator Dave Wallace serving as Vice Chair. Committee members heard an overview of the Rural Health Transformation […]

    15 May 2026 Weekly Updates
  • Senate Meets for Special Session to Lower State Income Tax

    LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a proclamation on Thursday, April 30, calling the Arkansas General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session, which started May 4. The governor called the session to, according to the proclamation, “amend the individual income tax brackets and rates to a top rate of 3.7%, effective January 1, 2026, […]

    08 May 2026 Weekly Updates
  • Arkansas House and Senate Announce Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute to Expand Opportunities for Students

    LITTLE ROCK — Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate today announced the creation of the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute, a new initiative designed to provide leadership and civic engagement opportunities for students who were recently denied admission to Arkansas Girls State due to an administrative error. In recent weeks, members of […]

    06 May 2026 News Releases
  • Fiscal Session Wraps Up

    LITTLE ROCK – Some highlights from the fourth and final week of the Arkansas General Assembly’s Fiscal Session: The Senate started the week by passing appropriation bills for departments, divisions, and agencies, including the Department of Health; Parks, Heritage and Tourism; Department of Transportation, UA East Arkansas Community College, and more. Meeting briefly Monday evening, […]

    01 May 2026 Weekly Updates