PDF of Letter On Friday, September 26, 2025, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Blake Johnson with President Pro Tempore, Senator Bart Hester, with 24 other state senators sent a letter to U.S. Senators urging them to extend funding to prevent a government shutdown.
News ReleasesI am saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Stubblefield this morning. He was a man of deep faith in his Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He was a man of integrity and was committed to the protecting rights of the unborn and the protection of the Second Amendment. My thoughts and prayers are with […]
News ReleasesThe members and staff of the Arkansas Senate mourn the passing of Senator Gary Stubblefield, 74, who died on Tuesday, September 2. Senator Stubblefield was elected to the Senate in 2012, after serving two terms in the House of Representatives. He represented Senate District 26. Media – Senator Gary Stubblefield Biography Information
News ReleasesDownload DOC Senator Irvin Pleased with UAMS Choosing Dr. Barnes as Interim Chancellor June 30, 2025 LITTLE ROCK — C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), has been named interim chancellor of the university and will begin July 11. […]
News ReleasesSenator 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 ReleasesThis 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 ReleasesStatement by Senator Jason Rapert regarding ruling by Judge Kristine Baker,
News ReleasesDownload DOC For decades prison overcrowding has sparked a financial tug-of-war between the state and Arkansas counties. In recent months the issue has taken on a greater urgency. It has become more than a battle over budgeting, according to county sheriffs. It’s a matter of safety that is reaching crisis proportions. Three sheriffs and a […]
News ReleasesLegislators and other elected officials are gathering gifts for children in state custody, which they will present during a “Christmas in the Capitol” celebration at noon on December 6 in the Old Supreme Court Room of the State Capitol.
News ReleasesStatement from Senator Missy Irvin, chair of the Senate Education Committee:
“I am so pleased to learn that all the parties have come to an agreement that will allow Mr. Nick Smith, Jr. the eligibility to play basketball during his senior year of high school, and I commend his parents for being strong advocates for their son.”
News Releases(PDF of Joint Statement) NEWS RELEASE JOINT STATEMENT FROM SENATE PRO TEMPORE HICKEY AND HOUSE SPEAKER SHEPHERD Little Rock, Arkansas (August 13, 2021) – Arkansas Senate Pro Tempore Jimmy Hickey and Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd released the following statement Friday afternoon regarding McClane, et al v. State of Arkansas, et al : “Today we jointly […]
News ReleasesLegislative Black Caucus Choose Officers for 2021-2022
News ReleasesStatement by Senator Jason Rapert regarding ruling by Judge Kristine Baker,
News ReleasesThe 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 ReleasesA 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 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 ReleasesSenator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. was elected President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate for the 93rd General Assembly in 2021 and 2022.
News ReleasesSenate 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.
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Transparency in government is a growth industry, if you analyze the number of people who watched the Arkansas Senate during the 2019 legislative session.
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