Senator John Payton was elected to the Senate in 2022 and was sworn in on January 9, 2023. He represents District 22, which includes Independence and Sharp Counties and parts of Cleburne, Fulton, Lawrence and Izard Counties
Senator Payton is the vice chair of the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, the Joint Performance Review Committee, the Joint Budget Committee and the Arkansas Legislature Council.
Senator Payton served in the House of Representatives from 2013 through 2022. He was the House Majority Party Whip in 2017 and 2019.
In 2025 Senator Payton was the Senate sponsor for Act 798 of 2025, which allows the Racing Commission to maintain a statewide list of persons not allowed in a casino. It also allows the Racing Commission to share that list with other states.
He also co-sponsored Act 239 to require members of a public water authority to make public information on how to contact them.
Senator Payton was also the Senate sponsor for Act 637 of 2025, which authorizes alcohol and drug abuse treatments programs to have emergency medication kits in house.
In 2023, Senator Payton sponsored legislation to amend the used tire program and to strengthen offenses for theft of catalytic converters. He also sponsored legislation to protect a school district with less than 350 students from mandatory consolidation making it voluntary to consolidate or annex with another school district.
In 2021 he sponsored legislation to reduce sales and use taxes for certain used motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers. He also sponsored legislation to amend laws concerning a residential contractor’s lien notice requirement and to allow the operation of golf carts on certain county roads.
Senator Payton attended Missouri Auction School and became an auctioneer. He owns two auto auctions and two used auto dealerships. Senator Payton raises cattle on his family farm in Wilburn.
