Download DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Legislative Council voted to fund the Educational Freedom Accounts (EFA) through the rest of the 2025-2026 school year. The accounts can be used to offset the expenses of home school materials or go toward tuition at an accredited private or parochial school in Arkansas. Currently, over 44,000 Arkansas students are participating in the program this school year. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announced a new $14.7 million federal grant aimed at strengthening early childhood education and expanding access to high-quality learning programs across the state. The federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is for the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Most laws from the regular 2025 legislative session become effective 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die, some include language that make them effective on a certain date, and some officially became law on January 1st. One of the most impactful new laws is Act 1008, the removal of […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – This past regular session both the Senate and House filed over 1,600 bills. Of those bills, 1,026 passed both chambers and were signed into law by the governor. Here are a few bills that stand out for the 2025 Regular Session. Act 140 of 2025, known as the “Healthy Moms, […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – With the year nearing its end, it’s worth reflecting on the major pieces of education legislation that were passed this year. The 95th General Assembly Regular Session kicked off in January and ended the first week of May. The legislature completed the 2025 regular session after approving a balanced budget, […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC State Capitol Week in Review Little Rock – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is currently working on 230 active projects as of early October 2025, with a projected cost of $2.4 billion. The department has been actively maintaining secondary highways across the state with about 500 miles of road planned to be […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC December 12, 2025 Little Rock – Despite many challenges facing maternal health care, Arkansas has made progress. Arkansas now ranks among the top 10 states with the lowest rates of severe maternal morbidity, proving that focused hospital improvements are saving lives. Earlier this year, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) launched […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – In 2023, the Arkansas Legislative Council set aside $200 million for the construction of a new state-of-the art, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL). The legislature approved requests totaling $19. 4 million for the architectural designs, purchase of the land and to cover contractor costs. In September 2025, the Legislative Council’s […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – Arkansas’ lithium fields are not anticipated to produce until 2028. Plans are underway to process bromine deposits found in the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas. Currently, the United States produces about 1 percent of the world’s lithium, which is used in advanced weapons systems, drones and as energy storage for […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – In July, the federal government’s passage of HR1, the Big Beautiful Bill, established the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. The program established $50 billion to be allocated to the States over a ten-year period to alleviate concerns over the cuts to Medicaid in the bill. Half of the funding will […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – A new program to serve more locally produced foods grown by Arkansas farmers is set to begin in select schools this January. The Arkansas Plate Initiative is a state-wide effort to connect Arkansas producers with state schools to provide students with nutritious, locally sourced meals made from Arkansas-grown products. According […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Little Rock – Student enrollment continues to grow at most colleges and universities throughout the state. Retention and graduation rates are also continuing to rise. The University of Arkansas Systems total Fall 2025 headcount was 71,705 students, an increase of 2,000 students from last fall. Key figures include record enrollments at the University […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – On October 16, 2025, The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) temporarily cut back the daily trout possession limit in the state’s four most significant cold-water fisheries. Production losses were caused by poor water quality, due to low oxygen levels and higher water temperatures at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]
Weekly UpdatesDue to the federal government shutdown funding for SNAP benefits will cease on November 1st. Friday morning the Governor, along with the Arkansas Legislative Council co-chairs directed $500,000 from the Restricted Reserve Fund to the Arkansas Food Bank Network beginning Monday, November 3, 2025. The funds will be split equally between six Arkansas food banks: […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Total revenue for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery increased by $9.1 million in the last year, boosted by the Powerball jackpot that reached $1.8 billion in early September 2025. Since 2009, The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has provided over $1.5 billion in scholarship money to Arkansas students. More than 822,000 college scholarships have been distributed […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK –The Arkansas Broadband Office known as ARConnect has been working on major broadband expansion and upgrades for Arkansas. The Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program approved a new $1 billion initiative in funding to overhaul the Arkansas broadband expansion plan. Currently, the state is in the final stages of […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – In 2019 the legislature passed Act 789, directing the Arkansas Department of Transportation to collect information on the most congested highways in the state, as well as the stretches of road with the highest frequency of crashes. The purpose is to provide legislators with the data they need to make […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) has secured more than a billion dollars in research funding since it was created about 25 years ago, its directors announced at a recent meeting. They emphasized that the billion dollars did not come from a government appropriation or a large grant that designated a […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Department of Education has released letter grades for all public schools in Arkansas. They can be found on the Department’s web site. The Internet address for the school report cards is quite lengthy. Perhaps the simplest way to access them is to conduct a search for “Arkansas school […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Last year about 173,000 Arkansans spent more than 265 million hours taking care of family members or friends who were suffering from Alzheimer’s. They were not paid for those hours. Measured another way, that amount of care would have cost $5.4 billion if government or private insurance had paid for […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Earlier this year the legislature enacted broad measures to improve maternal health care in Arkansas, and progress is already being made. Act 140 of 2025, also known as the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, makes maternal care more available for women of all ages and socio-economic categories. Act 140 has […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas education officials are promoting more “acceleration’ in schools because they believe students can handle more rigorous content, the Secretary of Education told legislators. Acceleration means teaching middle schoolers more subjects that used to be strictly limited to high schools. It means encouraging high school students to take concurrent college […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, superintendents and school boards will learn to adjust to a new system of property and casualty insurance. It’s called SCIP for short. That stands for the State Captive Insurance Program that was created by legislation enacted earlier this year in Act 779 to create […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The inmate population in Arkansas prisons will grow by an estimated two percent a year until 2035, according to an expert’s presentation at a conference of county officials, sheriffs, prison administrators and lawmakers. There is general agreement that Arkansas needs to add prison space in order to relieve overcrowding in […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The director of the state Division of Children and Family Services told lawmakers that much of the agency’s improvements in recent years is due to greater involvement on the part of faith-based groups, churches and private sector organizations. For example, CarePortal is a program that the Arkansas Family Alliance uses […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Earlier this year the legislature approved Act 302 to allow executions by nitrogen hypoxia. The act took effect on August 5, the same day 10 inmates on death row filed suit to challenge its constitutionality. Execution by nitrogen hypoxia occurs when the inmate is forced to breathe nitrogen and therefore […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas colleges and universities will spend about $279 million on athletics during the upcoming school year. State law requires all state-supported institutions of higher education to certify their budgeted revenues and expenditures for athletics. The results are submitted every summer to the state Higher Education Coordinating Board. State law also […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas tourism continued to grow last year, generating $17.4 billion to the state’s economy and supporting almost 72,000 jobs. Every year the state Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism commissions an analysis of the economic impact of tourism. In 2024 about 52 million visitors were welcomed in Arkansas, an increase […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas sales tax holiday this year will be on the first weekend in August, Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3. Consumers will not have to pay sales tax on any articles of clothing that cost less than $100. The exempted items include pants, shirts, dresses and shoes. Also […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – About 325,000 Arkansas children have qualified for Summer EBT, which provides them with $120 for food purchases during the months when they do not receive free or reduced priced meals at school. Last summer 293,000 children qualified. The program was new and didn’t start until the middle of the summer. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – After more than five years of steady progress in expanding research and outreach programs, the leading cancer institute in Arkansas is just about ready to apply for designation as a National Cancer Institute. Leadership at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock have […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – More than 4,200 Arkansas teachers will receive merit bonuses averaging $3,325 as part of an incentive program created two years ago to retain the best teachers and recruit them in subject areas that are most in demand. The incentive program is part of the LEARNS Act, a sweeping series of […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Due to its growing popularity, legislators allocated an additional $90 million to Educational Freedom Accounts. The chief financial officer of the Education Department said that without the additional funds the state would not be able to make first quarter payments before the upcoming school year. The governor proposed and the […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Tuition will increase at almost all Arkansas universities and colleges in the fall. The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees has approved tuition and fees for the school year that begins in the fall of 2025. The system comprises five four-year universities, several colleges in the medical school, an […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Arkansas teacher salaries went up 3.2 percent last year, to an average of $54,309. That ranked Arkansas 45th in the country. However, when the cost of living is factored in, salaries in Arkansas ranked 33rd in the country. It costs more to live in California, New York and other states with higher teacher […]
Weekly UpdatesDOWNLOAD DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas ranks first in the nation in election integrity, according to the most recent study by the Heritage Foundation. Last year Arkansas ranked number eight. At a press conference at the Capitol, the Governor, the Secretary of State and members of the legislature announced the newest ranking. They attributed the […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The state Department of Human Services has contracted with experts at the University of Arkansas to update the current health care system, in order to fill the gaps in coverage for people who face the gravest health risks. The Department has identified three groups who face higher risks for poor […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature and the governor agreed earlier this year that food stamps should not be used to buy candy, soft drinks and junk food. Now it appears that the federal government also agrees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved a waiver that allows Nebraska to impose the first […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Officials who recruit industry to Arkansas are saying that the 2025 legislative may turn out to be the most significant of the past 25 years. The legislature approved a package of laws designed to boost energy production, simplify regulations and create well paid jobs. Act 373, also known as the […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The legislature officially adjourned the 2025 regular session on May 5, and is not scheduled to convene again until the 2026 fiscal session. The legislature will consider spending bills during next year’s fiscal session, which begins at noon on the second Wednesday in April. The legislature changed the starting date […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Medicaid expansion program known as ARHOME must be renewed every five years, and earlier this year the Department of Human Services submitted a renewal application to federal authorities that includes a revised work requirement for recipients. Also this year the legislature approved Act 774 to achieve more than […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The legislature agreed on three proposed amendments to the state Constitution. One measure would expand the economic development authority of local governments. Another proposal would protect the right to keep firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories and components. The third proposed amendment would prohibit people who are not citizens of the United […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The legislature completed the 2025 regular session after approving a balanced budget, increasing public school funding, making higher education more accessible and improving maternal health care. State government spending will be about $6.5 billion next fiscal year. That is a 2.89 percent increase over this year. The increase reflects economic […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas is at the center of a national battle between local pharmacies on the one hand, and on the other hand a giant industry known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). It is a battle of economic life and death. Local pharmacies accuse PBMs of anti-competitive practices and multiple violations of […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate voted to create a new and sustainable property insurance plan to help school districts meet the rising cost of property insurance. Senate Bill 481 is the result of two years of work by legislators, school administrators and state officials. Two years ago the governor and legislators agreed to […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – Beginning on May 7, Arkansas residents will need to produce a “Real ID” in order to board a domestic flight, enter a federal building or visit a military base. If you don’t have a Real ID, you must present additional forms of identification along with your driver’s license. On May […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The legislature has approved and sent to the governor a bill that clarifies the meaning of a medical emergency when the life of a pregnant woman and her unborn children are threatened. House Bill 1610 defines a medical emergency as a condition which complicates the medical condition of a pregnant […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate passed legislation with far-reaching changes in how state-supported colleges and universities divide state aid, and how students qualify for scholarships. One of the most noticeable changes will be in how much is awarded the first year to students who qualify for an Academic Challenge Scholarship. Now, students receive […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate has approved a property tax cut that will save Arkansas homeowners $56 million every year. The tax reduction is in Senate Bill 263, which will take effect in 2026. It raises the homestead property tax credit by $100 to $600 a year. The credit is currently $500. About […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate has approved a package of bills with tougher regulations for the signature-gathering process by which citizens can place issues on statewide ballots. In recent years the legislature has passed numerous new laws to prevent voter fraud and protect election integrity. The Secretary of State, the top election official […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate approved legislation to transfer the powers of the state Library Board to the Education Department. The same bill transfers the authority of the Arkansas Educational Television Commission to the Education Department. The measure is Senate Bill 184. It passed in the Senate by a vote of 23-to-8 and […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate approved legislation to improve maternal health care in Arkansas, especially in areas where existing medical services are lacking. Also, a bill to provide a free breakfast every day to all students continued to breeze through the legislature and should soon be sent to the governor for her signature. […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate voted to provide all public school children with a free breakfast, regardless of their income, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Also, the Senate passed legislation to restrict students’ cell phone use during the school day. State budget officials estimate that it will cost $14.7 million a year […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The Senate passed legislation to prohibit discrimination and preferential treatment in state government, public schools and state-supported institutions of higher education. The written intent of Senate Bill 3 is “to prohibit discrimination by public entities on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.” The bill allows people […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The Arkansas Senate quickly approved legislation to protect the rights of more than 500 victims of child sex abuse who have already won civil cases and are waiting for their settlements to become official. Senators unanimously approved Senate Bill 13 on the same day that attorneys for a former pediatrician, and convicted child […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC January 17, 2025 LITTLE ROCK – The 2025 legislative session got off to a fast start. By the end of the session’s third day more than 200 bills had been introduced. In November the governor presented a balanced budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The legislature’s Joint Budget Committee has already begun […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC LITTLE ROCK – The timing could not have been better for the good news Arkansas just received. A $17 million federal grant to improve maternal health care was formally announced a few days before the beginning of the 2025 legislative session. Improving maternal health care is high on the legislature’s list of priorities […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Anyone who commits a violent felony in 2025 will learn that Arkansas law has become much tougher on serious criminals. They will serve longer prison sentences, and many serious offenders will not be eligible for early release. If they are eligible, they will have to work harder to earn it. If they satisfy […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC The legislature’s list of accomplishments in 2024 was highlighted by a $438 reduction in income taxes for Arkansas families and businesses. Individual income taxes for about 1.1 million Arkansas taxpayers will go down because the legislature lowered the top rate from 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent. The legislature also lowered corporate income taxes […]
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 UpdatesDownload 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 A subcommittee of legislators is close to finishing its year-long study of Arkansas gun laws. The study includes a package of bills to clarify the rights and restrictions of owning and carrying firearms. Arkansas lawmakers overwhelmingly support the Second Amendment. The intent of the subcommittee’s work has been to make it easier to […]
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 UpdatesDownload 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 UpdatesDownload 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 UpdatesLegislators finished the calendar year with a final round of recommendations for spending federal relief funds and reserve funds. The recommendations include using another $93.8 million for broadband projects and $20 million to upgrade computerized case management for the state court system. Also, $6.25 million was recommended to help cover the expenses of opening the new Sevier County Medical Center.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Natural Resources Commission has awarded $270 million in grants for 157 drinking water and wastewater projects in 58 counties. Work will begin in 2023 on the projects and they must be completed before the end of 2026.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas has been developing a statewide response to the growing health crisis created by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. During the 2023 session the legislature will consider a series of proposals brought by the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Advisory Council, which was created by Act 319 of 2021.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas lawmakers have begun pre-filing bills in advance of the 2023 legislative session, which begins on January 9.
Weekly UpdatesA record prize in the Powerball lottery generated increased ticket sales in Arkansas in October. Increased sales of lottery tickets generated an additional $2.1 million for college scholarships, compared to the same month last year.
Weekly UpdatesFunds are now available from the settlement of a massive lawsuit against opioid distributors, and will be awarded to projects that have demonstrated effectiveness in combating the abuse of painkillers.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas received good news from federal regulators that allows the state Medicaid program to better help women during at-risk pregnancies and other at-risk populations. Last year Medicaid provided medical services to 12,500 Arkansas women with high-risk pregnancies. The availability of more benefits will extend also to veterans aged 19 through 30, and to people in rural areas who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness or a substance abuse disorder.
Weekly UpdatesA panel of three federal judges dismissed portions of a lawsuit filed against state officials, in which plaintiffs argue that the legislature violated the federal Voting Rights Act last year when it drew new maps for the state’s four Congressional districts.
Weekly UpdatesLegislators have begun budget hearings in preparation for the 2023 regular session. Members of the Joint Budget Committee and the Legislative Council will review in detail all spending requests by state agencies.
Weekly UpdatesWhen Arkansas voters go to the polls on November 8 they will determine the fate of four proposed amendments to the state Constitution.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Division of Children and Family Services continues to struggle with high staff turnover and high caseloads for family service workers. The two problems are closely related.
Weekly UpdatesIn the fiscal session earlier this year the legislature appropriated a million dollars for pregnancy resource centers. The state has awarded grants totaling about $455,000 to 14 centers. Because $545,000 has still not been awarded, the Department of Finance and Administration will open a second round of applications in October.
Weekly UpdatesOver the next three years about 3,200 Arkansans with disabilities will be able to get Medicaid services at home or in their community, rather than in an institution. The Legislative Council approved the expansion of eligibility, submitted by the state Division of Developmental Disabilities Services.
Weekly UpdatesSince the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic Arkansas has received billions of dollars in federal relief funding. The PEER subcommittee of the Legislative Council has grown significantly in importance because it reviews how state agencies, institutions of higher education and public schools proposed to spend those federal relief dollars.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate and House Committees on Education are scheduled to vote on next year’s adequacy report at their meeting in early October.
Weekly UpdatesAt first glance, arts and technology would appear to be opposites in how they are taught and how they affect economic development. However, a bipartisan group of legislators has been working since 2018 to build the case that there is a crucial intersection where the arts and technology meet.
Weekly UpdatesIn July seven parolees were arrested and 18 weapons were seized. Their sentences will reflect the stronger penalties imposed by Act 946 of 2021, which enhances penalties for repeat offenders who use a firearm to commit felonies. The act prohibits them from being released on parole.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas has begun the process of expanding Medicaid services so that more pregnant women can qualify for the government health care program.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature concluded a quick, three-day special session after approving income tax cuts that will save 1.6 million Arkansas taxpayers about $500 million.
Weekly UpdatesWhen it meets in special session the legislature will consider a $50 million grant program for school safety measures.
Weekly UpdatesThe joint Senate and House Committees on City, County and Local Affairs met to explore methods of funding of much-needed improvements to water and sewer systems across Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesEvery year the sales tax holiday is the first weekend in August. This year it will be Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7.
Weekly UpdatesTwo interest groups submitted petitions to the Secretary of State seeking to have two proposed constitutional amendments placed on the November general election ballot.
One would legalize marijuana and the other would remove Pope County as a possible site for a gambling casino.
Weekly UpdatesThe governor announced that he would call the legislature into special session on August 8 to consider income tax cuts that would save Arkansas families and businesses almost $700 million when they take effect.
Weekly UpdatesWhen the legislature convenes in regular session at noon on Monday, January 11, the individuals in the Senate will bring a wide variety of real-world experience to the task.
Weekly UpdatesWhen people call the state hotline to report suspected child abuse or neglect, about 80 percent are assigned to the Division of Children and Family Services. The other 20 percent are considered more serious, and are assigned to the State Police, which has a Division of Crimes Against Children. The Division has 428 family services workers. Their average caseload in March was 23.3, which is down from 25.5 last October. The state’s goal is to bring it below 20.
Weekly UpdatesStatement of Senator Jason Rapert regarding Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas School Safety Commission has been set up again to update measures to protect students while they are in school. The governor issued an executive order to reinstate the commission in the wake of the mass murder of 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24.
Weekly UpdatesThe economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was especially hard for child care centers, so the Arkansas Department of Human Services is administering about $286 million to help them cover expenses and remain in business. So far, about $110 million of the relief funding has been sent to child care providers, according to the department’s Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Forestry Division is known for managing woodlands, helping control fires and supporting rural fire departments. Not so well known is its work in cities and towns. In mid-May, the division hosted forestry professionals from across the Southeast for a training event designed to improve the skills of Urban Strike Force Teams.
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.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas is making a massive public investment to bring broadband access to every corner of the state. Last year the state hired a consultant firm, Broadband Development Group (BDG), to develop a master plan. The firm’s chief technical officer made a lengthy presentation to the legislative Joint Performance Review Committee.
Weekly UpdatesLast year the legislature enacted a series of new election laws, and four of them were challenged in court by plaintiffs who argued that they restricted voting rights.
Weekly UpdatesThe 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 UpdatesA six-month survey of Internet access in Arkansas has been completed, and state officials now have a more accurate roadmap of which regions need more investment in broadband technologies.
Weekly UpdatesAt their first meeting scheduled after Easter, lawmakers heard an update on new rules and new funding that will eliminate a waiting list for services for people with developmental disabilities.
Weekly UpdatesDownload DOC Average teacher salaries in Arkansas ranked 47th in the nation in 2020, down from 46th in 2019 and 44th in 2018. Legislators on the Senate and House Education Committees heard a lengthy salary comparison last week, written by legislative staff. Nationally, the average teacher salary in 2020 was $64,133. In Arkansas it was […]
Weekly UpdatesThe recidivism rate for Arkansas prison inmates is 46.1 percent, a rate which the head of state prisons called unacceptable.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas tourism industry is recovering from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on collections of the state two percent tourism tax, the industry now exceeds pre-pandemic levels of economic activity. However, other gauges of tourism indicate that fewer people are working at Arkansas hotels than in 2019.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Education Department has partnered with a non-profit organization called Forward Arkansas to address a growing teacher shortage in Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature completed the 2022 fiscal session in 23 days, approving a budget for state government that calls for spending about $6 billion in general revenue next year.
Weekly UpdatesCertified law enforcement officers will get a $5,000 salary stipend this year, thanks to a Senate bill approved by the Arkansas legislature.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature approved a package of bills that allow greater oversight of two major health insurance plans that cover public school teachers and state employees.
Weekly UpdatesDownload Doc The legislature completed the first week of the 2022 fiscal session, approving budgets for numerous state agencies and advancing reforms of public health insurance systems. For almost a year a group of legislators has been working on the complex task of reforming state employee and teacher health insurance systems, which have experienced financial […]
Weekly UpdatesArkansas motorists who wish to contact the State Police for non-emergency reasons can now call *ASP on their cell phones. Dialing *ASP is the same as dialing *277.
Weekly UpdatesLast year Arkansas joined a rental assistance program to help people who have lost jobs or businesses from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
So far the state Department of Human Services (DHS) made 31,373 payments, totalling $64.6 million. The money helps people with rent and utility bills, so they do not have to move out of their home or have their lights turned off.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Division of Children and Family Services intends to try out a new method of intervention, by assigning cases to a team of workers instead of to an individual.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has begun budget hearings in preparation for the 2022 fiscal session, which begins on February 14. Legislators will consider the governor’s proposed balanced budget of about $6 billion for Fiscal Year 2023, which officially begins on July 1.
Weekly UpdatesThis year marks the 20th anniversary of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s landmark decision in the Lake View school funding case.
Weekly UpdatesWhen the new year begins, the Arkansas Works program will have a new name and will operate under new rules.
ARHOME is the new Medicaid program.
Weekly UpdatesIn large part because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state Human Services Department has a backlog of applications for Medicaid.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature completed a three-day special session in which it passed reductions in state income taxes that will save Arkansas families and businesses almost $500 million a year when they take effect.
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 UpdatesState agencies have experienced the same problems as many companies with difficulty hiring entry-level employees. Several agencies have contacted the state Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report a difficulties attracting applicants for available positions. OPM put together a proposal that allows for higher entry-level salaries for all state agencies and presented it to legislators in June.
Weekly UpdatesIn the past couple of years Arkansas has made a massive financial commitment to expanding broadband access to all parts of state.
So far $275 million has been approved, and the Legislative Council is set to increase that investment to $400 million when it considers an additional $125 million in broadband proposals at its November meeting.
Weekly UpdatesThe state is helping people who have trouble paying their rent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesIn a settlement of a major lawsuit, pharmaceutical manufacturers who make and market opioids will pay $216 million to Arkansas cities, counties and state government.
Weekly UpdatesBusiness activity was severely affected by the pandemic last year across most areas of the economic spectrum, from the largest corporations to small businesses and individual wage earners. In spite of the challenges created by the pandemic, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission signed incentive agreements for 48 projects that will create or preserve 2,917 jobs in the state. The average wage of those jobs is $22.10 an hour.
Weekly UpdatesState government will collect more in tax revenue this year than previously estimated, according to a revised forecast by the Department of Finance and Administration.
Weekly UpdatesThe market for workers’ compensation insurance remains competitive in Arkansas, thanks to efforts by the legislature to hold down rates.
Weekly UpdatesIn an extension of this year’s regular session the legislature drew new boundaries for the four Congressional districts in Arkansas, and approved exemptions for workers at companies that require staff to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature reconvened to draw new boundaries for the four Congressional districts in Arkansas, and to consider responses to federal vaccination mandates.
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 UpdatesEnrollment has dropped at many state-supported colleges and universities because of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature is preparing to convene again on September 29, to redraw boundaries of the four Congressional districts in Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas legislators continue to support a statewide expansion of broadband service as quickly as possible, especially in areas where there is no Internet at all and in places where the technology is obsolete.
Weekly UpdatesA federal appeals court has ruled in favor of the state Education Department, and against four south Arkansas school districts that want to be exempt from the state school choice law.
Weekly UpdatesThe number of people who live in Arkansas increased by about 95,600 over the past 10 years, a growth rate of 3.3 percent that brought the state’s population to more than three million people.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas Legislative Council approved a funding request of more than $245 million to help hospitals and nursing homes recruit and retain staff, and to cope with extraordinary expenses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The money comes from a massive federal act known as the American Rescue Plan.
Weekly UpdatesLegislators gathered at the Capitol in Little Rock to affirm the governor’s declaration of a public health emergency for 60 days.
Weekly UpdatesAct 651 of 2021 mandates that when a physician prescribes opioids, the physician must also prescribe naloxone, a drug that can quickly reverse the effects of an overdose.
Weekly UpdatesThis year computer and electronic equipment will be included in the Arkansas sales tax holiday. Every year the sales tax holiday is the first weekend in August. This year it will be Saturday, August 7, and Sunday, August 8.
Weekly UpdatesIn the regular session of 2021 the legislature approved at least 25 new election laws that will go into effect on July 28. Some of the new laws will affect poll workers, county election commissioners and county clerks’ office. Others will affect voters the next time they cast a ballot.
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.
Weekly UpdatesThe state Board of Education has approved another round of plans submitted by Arkansas school districts that want the option of offering online classes in the fall.
At a special meeting, the Board approved 60 applications from school districts and charter schools.
Weekly UpdatesAs the Arkansas tourism industry recovers from the economic impacts of the pandemic, the governor announced the creation of a new Office of Outdoor Recreation. It will be in the state Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and over the summer the department will hire a director for the office to coordinate and promote stewardship of the outdoors in Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesThe 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 state will commit $17 million to extending a runway at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith. The Air Force announced it would locate a new training center for pilots who fly F-35 Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.
Weekly UpdatesThe state is on pace to have a record surplus of more than $1 billion, which is a strong indicator that the Arkansas economy is recovering from the negative effects of the pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesState and local governments are preparing to receive a large infusion of federal aid, under the American Rescue Plan of 2021. Schools and universities in Arkansas also are receiving federal funds. The amount of federal funding is unprecedented. State government will get $1.57 billion. The 75 counties in Arkansas will get $586 million. Arkansas cities will get about $425 million. Each city’s allocation will depend on its population. Arkansas schools are set to receive $1.25 billion. Universities and colleges will receive $363 million.
Weekly UpdatesThe state is now offering help to low-income families who have fallen behind on their rent because of financial problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesThe Arkansas legislature enacted several new pro-life laws during the 2021 regular session.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature referred three proposed constitutional amendments to Arkansas voters. In next year’s statewide general election in November, voters will decide whether or not the three amendments are written into the state Constitution.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature brought the 2021 regular session to a close with a dramatic midnight meeting to approve a Sovereignty Act, which declares new federal laws invalid if they infringe on the right to bear arms.
Weekly UpdatesLawmakers completed work on tax cuts and prioritized spending by state agencies.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has enacted numerous reforms to Arkansas election laws. The Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs reviews all proposed legislation that address elections. So far this session, the committee has received 49 bills specifically affecting polling places, absentee ballots, voter fraud and the handling of elections.
Weekly UpdatesArkansas became the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors, either through surgery or hormone therapy.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has approved a broad reform of the laws governing water providers, a measure that sponsors have been working on for the past four years.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature voted to extend the 2021 session until April 30, and then to recess for an extended period rather than to adjourn.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate has approved legislation to grant to certified nurse practitioners full and independent practice authority. The nurses would need about three years, or 6,240 hours, of practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician in order to earn the right to practice independently.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate passed a new version of the Medicaid expansion program, which is one of the most important bills of this year’s session because of the number of people it benefits and the amount of money that it generates in Arkansas.
Weekly UpdatesBoth chambers of the legislature have approved a bill that prohibits abortions, except if necessary to save the mother’s life in a medical emergency.
Weekly UpdatesThe legislature has approved a broad tax relief measure for businesses that were affected by the pandemic.
House Bill 1361 exempts income that people and businesses received through numerous disaster relief programs, such as the popular Paycheck Protection Program.
Weekly Updateshe deadline for legislators to file proposed constitutional amendments has passed, and the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs will begin narrowing the list that will be placed on the next general election ballot.
Weekly UpdatesBusinesses would not be penalized by state regulators for violating Covid-19 restrictions because of the behavior of their customers, under legislation passed by the Arkansas Senate.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate has voted to exempt last year’s unemployment benefits from state income taxes, to help people who lost their jobs because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Weekly UpdatesA Senate committee advanced legislation that protects the rights of people with disabilities who need an organ transplant. Senate Bill 155 also is known as Lila’s Law, after a girl with Down syndrome who in 2018 was denied a potential heart transplant.
Weekly UpdatesThe Senate passed legislation known as the “Stand Your Ground” bill, which would allow someone to use deadly force to defend themselves against an aggressor.
Weekly UpdatesThe 93rd General Assembly convened with a traditional day of swearing in ceremonies for new members, followed by the governor’s speech in a joint session of the legislature. Then lawmakers immediately got down to business.
Weekly UpdatesWhen the Arkansas legislature convenes the 2021 regular session, the first major challenge on the agenda will be ensuring that the public can still safely participate in the democratic process.
Weekly UpdatesWhen the legislature convenes in regular session at noon on Monday, January 11, the individuals in the Senate will bring a wide variety of real-world experience to the task.
Weekly UpdatesDownload 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 UpdatesDownload 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 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 UpdatesThe 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 UpdatesArkansas 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 UpdatesWhen 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 Updates