Arkansas House Sends Amended Career And Technical Education Bill To Governor's Desk

The most contentious part of is how it changes the requirement for high school students to take a computer science course to graduate.

Pronoun Restrictions In Arkansas Schools Head To Sanders's Desk

The Senate approved the bill along party lines Wednesday. It would require written permission from a minor's parent or guardian.

Arkansas Parents' Bill Of Rights Legislation Pulled For Amendments

Sponsor Rep. Mindy McAlindon, R-Centerton, said there were multiple amendments because she worked with the governor's office to ensure it.

Arkansas Governor Requests Additional Assistance For Tornado Cleanup

Federal aid now covers 75 percent of costs, but additional funding is required to help Arkansans in need, Sanders said in a statement.

Amended Proposal To Increase Some Arkansans' Food Stamp Asset Limit Goes To Sanders's Desk

This initially would have raised the resource limit to $12,500 for Arkansans to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Arkansas House Advances Another Tax Cut, Phasing Out The ‘Throwback Rule'

The vote to phase out took place Tuesday.

Arkansas Freedom Of Information Act Obfuscation Mulled In Commentary

Thanks to the government transparency debate her legislation sparked, I've been thinking a lot lately about the ambiguity (in the act).

Arkansas Senator's Demotion After “Frivolous” Ethics Complaint Will End Next Year

A majority of senators agreed in a voice vote Wednesday that Clark was to the lowest level of seniority for the 94th General Assembly.

Arkansas Senate Votes For "Truth In Sentencing" Bill, Bucking National And International Trends

This occurs amid a growing body of research that reveals more incarceration does not lower violent crime rates.

Legislation Aimed At Religious Freedom Heads To Arkansas Senate

The report indicates this amends something known as the Conscience Protection Act or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Sanders Orders Paid Leave For State Employees, Extends Tax Deadline For Arkansans Affected By Tornadoes

One provides paid leave for affected state employees; the second extends respective state income tax deadlines to May 18 and July 31.

Arkansas Governor Signs Law Aimed At Holding Libraries Accountable For ‘Obscene' Material

Republican Sullivan was an early proponent of the legislation, designed to punish the LGBTQ+ community.

SESSION SNAPSHOT: With A Week To Go, The Arkansas Legislature Kicks It Into High Gear

What follows is a compendium of highlights, tidbits, and notable happenings from the most recent legislative session.

Lawmakers Begin Deciding How To Address Arkansas Scrap Tire Problem

Lawmakers Friday took the first step in addressing the issue, the report states.

Tornados Kill At Least 5 In Arkansas, Damage Hundreds Of Homes And Businesses

Sanders and Scott toured damaged neighborhoods, the report states.

Hutchinson Running For President, Believes Trump Should Drop Out Of Race

Hutchinson made the announcement Sunday.

Three Arkansas Counties Hit By Tornadoes Declared Major Disaster Zones

Sanders thanked President Biden for his "speedy approval" of the disaster declaration, the report states.

Arkansas Lawmakers To Again Consider Cutting Top Individual, Corporate Income Taxes

Sanders said a campaign promise was to cut taxes "responsibly," but this appears to more seriously hit the middle class ($24,300).

Lawmakers Reject Two Proposed Exceptions To Arkansas's Abortion Ban

Sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hudson, D-Little Rock, one proposal would have added an exception in cases of incest.

Short-Term Rental Bill Rejected By House Panel

This proposes prohibiting local municipalities from enacting ordinances to prohibit or limit the use of a property as a short-term rental.

Arkansas Senate Panel OKs Tweaked Bill Barring Implicit Bias Training In Schools

It prohibits schools from taking “adverse employment action” against an employee who refuses to participate in implicit bias training.

Proposed Restrictions On Transgender Pronouns In Schools Head To Arkansas Senate

It would require permission from a minor's parent or guardian for school employees to use any “pronoun or title that is inconsistent."

Lawmakers Advance Bills Softening School District Consolidation Law

Both bills seek to amend the 20-year-old act, which requires the Arkansas Department of Education to publish an annual consolidation list.

Arkansas Committee Votes To Expand NIL To College-Bound Athletes

“This is a very important bill for us,” Yurachek said. “It keeps us in the forefront. It keeps us competitive."

Access To Information Is A Continuous Issue In Arkansas

The nearly three hours of testimony came from citizens who identified themselves as Republicans, then a proposal was rejected.

House Panel Dismisses Bill That Opponents Argue Would Undo State's Computer Science Progress

Sen. Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville) told the House Education Committee this is the result of conversations with constituents.

What Is The Protect Arkansas Act? So-Called "Party Of Law And Order" (GOP) Seeks Overhaul

Sanders would like to revise the parole system, the report states.

Hutchinson, Mulling Presidential Run, Calls For Even More Guns In Wake Of Nashville Massacre

Hutchinson avoids the concerns of real people -- as is the Republicans' wont -- and calls for more guns in the GOP "Wild West" quest.

Continuing To Dodge Real-Life Issues, GOP Instead Looks To Gut Freedom Of Information Act

A law professor and FOIA expert said, “This is a 100 percent an effort to disembowel the FOIA.”

Governor-Backed Bill To Change Arkansas's Parole And Criminal Justice System Introduced

The Republican governor, press secretary for the twice-impeached Trump, also announced the state would try to build a new, 3,000-bed prison.

"Where Is The Right For The Folks Who Are Trans?” GOP Continues Battering Of LGBTQ+ Community

The transgender community also has its First Amendment rights, Avanzino said.

Arkansas Lawmakers To Again Consider Extending Special Tax On Medical Marijuana

The four percent excise tax generates millions for the University of Arkansas, for medical sciences and for the pursuit of recognition.

Representative Asks: Should Local Boards Be Like The State Legislature?

The Perryville Republican points to the ease with which she can get together with or call other lawmakers to talk about legislation.

City Court Case Against Little Rock Residences With Code Violations Nears Completion

Big Country Chateau on Colonel Glenn Road has new citations against it after a February inspection.

Some Arkansas High School Athletes Would Profit From Fame Under Proposed Legislation

The bill by House Speaker Matthew Shepherd of El Dorado and Rep. RJ Hawk would allow high school athletes to profit off their image.

Arkansas Medicaid Recipients Seek DHS Response To Feedback, More Time To Confirm Eligibility

Three attendees carried umbrellas with the message “Don't leave us waiting in the rain” painted on them. The small crowd also chanted.

Dozens Of Contested Arkansas School Board Races Set For May 9

This was amended and re-referred to the Senate Education Committee in February, and would allow school board elections to be partisan.

Arkansas Legislators File Two Bills Related To Abortion, "All But Illegal" In The State

Arkansas has one of the nation's strictest abortion bans, Act 180 of 2019, with a sole exception related to a woman's medical emergency.

Arkansas Seeks Federal Disaster Relief After Winter Storm Earlier This Year

The request for federal assistance covers 11 counties in Sou. Arkansas — Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, others.

SESSION SNAPSHOT: The Arkansas Legislature Takes A Break

Included are some of the unique happenings and tidbits from the latest legislative session in Arkansas.