News

On Monday, the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council met at the Capitol to continue its important work under Act 391 of 2021. The council is tasked with examining the needs of Arkansans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the services available to them and their caregivers, and how our healthcare system can meet both […]

This week, several legislative interim committees continued their work examining key issues facing our state. On Tuesday, the Joint Performance Review Committee met to discuss citizen concerns regarding the proposed Franklin County Prison. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House and Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committees held joint meetings in Texarkana. Lawmakers received updates […]

This week, the House and Senate Education Committees took a deep look at how Arkansas schools are preparing students not just for tests, but for life after graduation. On Tuesday, members reviewed statewide assessment results and updates on the new school accountability system. After two years of consistent testing, Arkansas students are showing steady gains. […]

Each September, our nation pauses to honor the contributions of working men and women. Labor Day is more than just a long weekend or the unofficial end of summer; it is a time to recognize the people who keep our communities strong and our economy moving forward. In Arkansas, hard work is part of our […]

This week, members of the ALC Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee received a presentation on a new approach that could reshape how Arkansas delivers both workforce and social services. During the 2025 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed Act 145, which directs the subcommittee to examine reforms to the state’s workforce and social […]

The Arkansas Legislature had a full schedule this week, as the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and its subcommittees met, as well as the House and Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committees. The ALC approved the recommendations from the Employee Benefits Division for 2026 health insurance rates for state and school employees. Rates will remain […]

As the new school year begins, thousands of school buses will once again be on the roads across Arkansas, transporting more than 350,000 children safely to and from school each day. That’s more than 350,000 reasons for all of us to stay alert and follow the law. Each stop a bus makes, whether in a […]

This week, members of the Arkansas House and Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committees received an important update from the director of Arkansas Workforce Connections on potential changes at the federal level that could impact how workforce development programs are administered in our state. Arkansas Workforce Connections, formerly known as the Arkansas Division of […]

The deadline to file a Arkansas state income tax return was initially extended from April 15, 2025 to July 31, 2025 due to severe weather. DFA announced recently that taxpayers can extend the filing date to December 3. However, they must print the IRS form linked below and include it with their return or check […]

As families across Arkansas prepare for the upcoming school year, the Arkansas House of Representatives is reminding residents to take advantage of the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday—set for Saturday, August 2, through Sunday, August 3, 2025. This two-day event allows shoppers to purchase eligible items free of state and local sales tax. The tax break […]

During the 2025 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed several new laws aimed at strengthening election procedures. One significant change comes through Act 978. This act requires county boards of election commissioners to provide early voting in every city with a population over 15,000 if the county clerk is not already doing so. Act 282 further […]

This week at the Capitol, legislative committees continued their interim work, focusing on public health, judicial reform, and corrections oversight. On Monday, the House and Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committees convened to review interim study proposals aimed at improving the health and safety of Arkansans. The committees adopted a proposal to explore requiring […]