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Rep. Watson Issues Statement Regarding Prescott School District

April 1, 2019
“My heart is breaking for the Prescott school district today. No child or teacher should be subject to violence in the classroom. I grieve for the injured and for all those whose lives will forever be changed by this tragedy. I have been in contact and will continue to be in contact with state police […]
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Week 11 of 2019 Regular Session

March 29, 2019
Legislation passing the House this week addressed everything from robocalls to property taxes.While illegal robocalls are frustrating for most, they are also costly and dangerous for far too many Arkansans.An alarming number of illegal robocalls originate from scammers using automatic telephone dialing systems to send out thousands of phone calls per minute with fictitious or […]
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Daily Summary for March 28, 2019

March 29, 2019
On Thursday, the House passed a measure to increase homestead property tax credit. SB447 increases the credit from $350 to $375. It also diverts $8.2 million from the property tax relief fund to the county voting systems grant fund.  It also directs excess funds to the state’s long-term reserve fund. The House passed HB1773. This […]
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Daily Summary for March 27, 2019

March 28, 2019
The House Insurance and Commerce Committee advanced SB514. This bill makes illegal robocalls originating from scammers using automatic telephone dialing systems a Class D felony and requires that a telecommunications service provider is held accountable for certain activities. The House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee advanced HB1778. This bill allows a judge to increases fines […]
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Daily Summary for March 26, 2019

March 26, 2019
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee advanced SB561. This bill requires The Assessment Coordination Department to establish mandatory guidelines for county assessors to follow in identifying property that is exempt from property tax. It also requires the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration to report to the Legislative Council and the Governor before […]
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Daily Summary for March 25, 2019

March 26, 2019
More than 550 bills have made it to the Governor’s desk during this legislative session.  We now begin the 11th week of the Regular Session.The House passed more than 50 bills today including the following: HB1634-This bill includes acts committed by a victim of human trafficking under the state’s rape shield law. Arkansas’s rape shield […]
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Week 10 of 2019 Regular Session

March 22, 2019
The House is now in the final weeks of the 2019 Regular Session. In recent days, the House has passed legislation increasing education funding, legislation increasing sales tax exemptions on used cars, and legislation creating a first of its kind response team to child abductions. With a vote of 91-0, the House passed HB1685. This […]
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Women’s History Month 2019

March 21, 2019
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures(NCSL), approximately 2,117 women serve in the 50 state legislatures in 2019.  Women make up 28.7 percent of all state legislators nationwide. This represents a significant increase from the 2018 session’s ratio of 25.3 percent and the most women elected at one time. The Arkansas House of Representatives […]
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Daily Summary for March 20, 2019

March 21, 2019
In a vote of 87-0, the House passed HB1674. This bill creates a statewide child abduction response team.  It states that the following agencies shall collaborate in an effort to rescue abducted or endangered children:•Arkansas Attorney General•Department of Arkansas State Police•Criminal Justice Institute•Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission•Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association•Arkansas Department of Emergency Management•Arkansas Association […]
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Daily Summary for March 19, 2019

March 20, 2019
With a vote of 91-0, the House passed HB1685. This bill increases the foundation funding for K-12 education from the current $6,713 per student to $6,899 per student for the 2019-2020 school year.  The bill increases funding to $7,018 per student in the following school year. The House passed HB1684. This bill ensures students receive […]
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Daily Summary for March 18, 2019

March 19, 2019
On Monday, House members began the 10th week of the Regular Session.With a vote of 87-0 and 4 members voting present, the House passed HB1754. This bill seeks to address the recent overdose-related deaths inside state prisons. In 2018, 22 inmates died in the Department of Correction as the result of illicit drugs.HB1754 states the […]