Home › News

News

20260116_ALC161.jpg

Arkansas Legislative Council Update

January 16, 2026
Lawmakers convened this week at the Arkansas Legislative Council to review the state’s financial standing and address key policy priorities affecting Arkansans statewide. State budget officials reported encouraging revenue numbers. Collections of Gross General Revenues year-to-date totaled approximately $4.02 billion, an increase of $49.5 million—or 1.2 percent—over the same point last fiscal year. Net General […]
20260106_ Education169.jpg

Committee Receives ACCESS Update

January 9, 2026
Members of the House and Senate Education Committees reviewed updates to the Arkansas ACCESS Act this week, underscoring its focus on strengthening the path students take from the classroom into college, careers, or service. ACCESS builds on the LEARNS Act with a common goal. By the time students graduate, they should be enrolled, employed, or […]
20251219_ Green and Blue Envelope 16.jpg

Blue and Green Envelope Programs

January 2, 2026
Beginning January 2, Arkansas drivers will have access to two new programs designed to make traffic stops safer, calmer, and more effective for individuals with mental illness or autism. The Green Envelope Program and the Blue Envelope Program, both passed during the 2025 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assembly, focus on improving communication between […]
Ceiling slide_1600px.jpg

2025 Legislation with January 1, 2026 Effective Date

December 23, 2025
ACT 16 (HB1046) establishes a Blue Envelope Program to ease communication between an individual with autism spectrum disorder and law enforcement during a motor vehicle-related interaction and directs the Department of Finance and Administration to develop and make available a specially designed blue envelope to hold essential documents. ACT 371 (HB1661) eliminates the obligation of […]
new year column graphic.jpg

Laws Taking Effect January 1st

December 22, 2025
As the new year approaches, Arkansans will soon see a number of laws passed by the House of Representatives and the General Assembly take effect. While the majority of legislation approved during the 2025 Regular Session became law 90 days after adjournment, many measures included a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026 to give […]
20251219_ALC229.jpg

Arkansas Legislative Council

December 19, 2025
The Arkansas Legislative Council spent much of the week examining state finances, agency oversight, and the challenge of setting priorities amid finite public resources. Members began with an update on state revenue, learning that year-to-date gross general revenue collections stand at approximately $3.31 billion. That total is about $58.9 million, or 1.8 percent, higher than […]
20251211_Christmas and Audit_192.jpg

Christmas at the Capitol

December 12, 2025
This week at the State Capitol, members of the Arkansas House of Representatives came together for an annual Christmas tradition that reflects the spirit of service at the heart of public office. During a holiday gathering, House members—joined by state senators and employees from across state government—donated gifts for children in Arkansas’s foster care system. […]
20251204_Agriculture-HotSprings_181.jpg

Legislative Committees Convene in Hot Springs

December 5, 2025
The House and Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committees met jointly this week at the Hot Springs Convention Center during the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual state convention. Lawmakers received updates on issues shaping the future of agriculture and rural communities across the state. Arkansas State University briefed members on the progress of its College […]

Legislative Committee Update

December 5, 2025
The House and Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committees met jointly this week at the Hot Springs Convention Center during the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual state convention. Lawmakers received updates on issues shaping the future of agriculture and rural communities across the state. Arkansas State University briefed members on the progress of its College […]

Supporting Small Businesses

November 30, 2025
As the holiday season approaches, many of us are beginning to think about our shopping lists and where we’ll spend our hard-earned money. There’s no better time to support the small businesses that help make Arkansas such a vibrant place to live. This year, Arkansas was ranked the 3rd best state in the nation to […]
20251119_Christmas Decorating_22.jpg

Supporting Small Businesses

November 25, 2025
As the holiday season approaches, many of us are beginning to think about our shopping lists and where we’ll spend our hard-earned money. There’s no better time to support the small businesses that help make Arkansas such a vibrant place to live. This year, Arkansas was ranked the 3rd best state in the nation to […]
20251121_ALC_752.jpg

Arkansas Legislative Council Week

November 21, 2025
The Arkansas Legislative Council convened this week to review key updates affecting state revenues, public assistance programs, healthcare initiatives, and workforce development. State fiscal officials reported that general revenue continues to remain steady. Arkansas has collected about $2.65 billion in Gross General Revenues so far this fiscal year, slightly above the same point last year […]