News

  According to the FCC’s  2015 Broadband Availability in America Report, 59% of Arkansans are now living in an area where there is no access to highspeed broadband internet. Arkansas House Speaker Jeremy Gillam and Senate President Pro-Tem Jonathon Dismang have asked the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology to find a way […]

  Breast cancer is the number one cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Arkansas.  However, mortality rates are on the decline.  We know that screening makes early detection and treatment possible and successful. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the […]

As Arkansas students prepare to return to the classroom, members of the 90th General Assembly are reaching out to their local school districts in an effort to build better communication between educators and legislators.  In the 2015 Regular Session the Arkansas General Assembly passed HCR1008, a resolution designating September as annual “Take Your Legislator to […]

The 90th General Assembly will convene Tuesday, May 26, 2015.  The Governor has announced all items on the special session agenda below.  Agenda items are as follows:   To consider an Amendment 82 “super project” at Highland Industrial Park in Calhoun County. To consider reorganization of state agencies:   Ø  Merging the Arkansas Department of […]

On April 14th our state celebrated the 150th anniversary of the day Arkansas voted to ratify the 13th amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery. On that day in 1865, the Arkansas General Assembly convened for a special session in the Old State House The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission asked churches, public buildings, educational […]

As the economy and technology rapidly evolve, many workers find the need to learn new skills.   Industries and businesses that are looking to call Arkansas home want assurances that well trained and highly skilled employees are available.  This is why Arkansans witnessed a bi-partisan effort in the 90th General Assembly to address workforce training. […]

Joint Budget – 9 am – MAC A  Public Health – 10 am – Rm 130  Education – 10 am – Rm 138  Judiciary – 10 am – Rm 149  Revenue & Tax – 10 am – Rm 151  Transportation – 10 am – MAC B 

In accordance with the provisions for Act 46, Regular Session, 2015, Section 2, the listed members are hereby appointed to the Arkansas Health Reform Legislative Task Force: Kim Hammer Michell Gray Deborah Ferguson Charlie Collins David Meeks Reginald Murdock Joe Farrer Justin Boyd See full memorandum: Health Care Reform Task Force Appointments

On February 6, Governor Hutchinson signed a bill to lower income tax in our state by 1%.  This will amount to a savings of around $300 a year for a family making $50,000.  It directly affects 600,000 taxpayers making between $21,000 and $75,000 a year.  The other big development last week came when the House […]

Below is a link to the governor’s balanced budget proposal. Executive Recommendations for the 2015-2017 biennium

Governor Hutchinson announced his goal for healthcare this session will be to broaden the debate. In a speech delivered at UAMS, Governor Hutchinson asked the legislature to fund the Private Option through the end of 2016.  He will also be creating a health reform task force to make recommendations for the future of health care […]

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee was briefed on the status of the General Revenue Budget Tuesday morning. Members were told the state is $84 million ahead of where we were this time last year. $5.7 billion is expected to be available for the next General Revenue Budget. Members were also given a presentation on […]