News

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 97 women serve as speaker of the House, president of the Senate, speaker pro tem, Senate president pro tem, majority leader, or minority leader for the 2023 legislative session.  This is the highest number of women serving in leadership to date. Currently, 26 women are serving in […]

On Monday, the House passed several bills regarding elections including the following: HB1457-This bill directs the State Board of Election Commissioners to develop an online training program for poll watchers. HB1457 also identifies who can serve as a poll watcher, requires all poll watchers to wear an identification badge, and outlines the process for poll […]

In the 9th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed several bills addressing education, elections, healthcare, and a bill to increase the property tax credit for Arkansas families. With a vote of 99-0, the House voted in favor of increasing the homestead property tax credit from $375 a year to $425 a year. […]

On Thursday, the House passed HB1462. This bill clarifies the definition of “unaccompanied homeless youth” to mean an individual between the ages of 16 and 22 who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. This includes a young person who has either run away from home, is forced to leave his […]

On Wednesday, the House passed HB1035. This bill requires a healthcare insurer that offers, issues, or renews a health benefit plan in this state to provide coverage for screening for depression of the birth mother by a healthcare professional within the first 6  weeks of the birth mother’s having given birth on or after January […]

EDUCATION The LEARNS Act provides for reading coaches statewide, offers high schoolers a career ready diploma, creates the Education Freedom Account offering universal choice in 3 years, and raises the minimum teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000. JUDICIARY Act 61 creates the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court Act.  This bill addresses a critical need for […]

On Tuesday, the House Education Committee advanced several bills including HB1511. This bill states that by January 1, 2029, every school bus owned or operated by a school shall have an electronic child safety alarm system installed. The full House passed HB1452. This bill requires hospitals to comply with federal hospital pricing regulations and directs […]

House members began the 9th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday. The House passed several bills addressing elections including HB1487. This bill creates the Ballot Security Act of 2023. The bill allows for the tracking of ballots and proper delivery and creates a process to preserve spoiled ballots. The House passed HB1510. This […]

In the 8th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed SB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Act and outlines several educational reforms. SB294raises the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year and raises current teacher salaries by $2,000. It requires that students be reading at a 3rd-grade level before advancing to the 4th […]

With a vote of 78-21 and one member voting present, the House passed SB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Act and outlines several educational reforms including raising the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year. It would also raise current teacher salaries by $2,000. SB294 requires that students be reading at a 3rd-grade level before […]

On Wednesday, the House passed HB1486. This bill amends the law concerning distracted driving. It states if a distracted driver causes an accident that results in serious physical injury or death of another person, the driver upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and could face a fine of up to $2,500 and […]

On Tuesday, the House Education Committee began hearing testimony regarding SB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Act. This bill outlines several educational reforms including raising the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year and raising current teacher salaries by $2,000. SB294 requires that students be reading at a 3rd-grade level before advancing to the 4th […]