News

It is estimated that more than 20 percent of Arkansas households are food insecure. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance also estimates that 1 in 3 children in the state are facing food insecurity. Food insecurity describes a household’s inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. September is Hunger […]

Labor Day is a time to reflect on the social and economic achievements of American workers. The labor force in Arkansas and its forecasted potential is worth celebrating.The most recent report from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) shows unemployment in our state at 3.2 percent. The jobless rate nationwide stands at 3.5 percent.According […]

The State Capitol Offices and all State Buildings will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022, to observe Labor Day. A legal holiday by authority of Act 304 of 2001 and amended by Act 561 of 2017.

September is National Recovery Month. It is a national observance held every year to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices.In 2021, more than 200 Arkansans died from opioid-related causes. And 37% of inmates admitted to the Division of Correction had a drug offense.Medical researchers now consider dependence on alcohol or drugs to […]

As Arkansas students head back to school, we want to take this week to remind drivers to be mindful of student safety when approaching school buses.It is estimated that close to 350,000 students in our state ride a bus to school. Those buses make stops in every community.It is illegal to pass a stopped school […]

After passing legislation to accelerate tax cuts and provide funding for school safety, the 93rd General Assembly adjourned from a special session on Thursday.In December of 2021, the General Assembly passed legislation outlining the largest tax cut in state history. That legislation lowered the state income tax from what was then 5.9% to 4.9% incrementally […]

Legislation to accelerate tax cuts and legislation to fund school safety measures have now been signed into law. On Thursday morning, the House passed SB2with a vote of 94-0.  This legislation sets aside $50 million from the revenue surplus for the purpose of funding a school safety grant program. The grants will help districts fund […]

With a vote of 81-14, the House passed HB1002. HB1002 accelerates the implementation of income and corporate tax cuts which were scheduled to become effective incrementally over the next three years. If enacted, the top income tax rate would drop from 5.5% to 4.9% and make the reduction retroactive to January 1, 2022.  Corporate income […]

On the first day of the special session, committees advanced two pieces of legislation. The Joint Budget Committee advanced SB2. This sets aside $50 million from the revenue surplus for the purpose of funding a school safety grant program. The grants will help districts fund the recommendations of the School Safety Commission.   The House […]

The Governor is expected to call the General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session next week to address the use of surplus funds to provide tax relief and funding for school safety measures.The Arkansas School Safety Commission was reinstated in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.Members of the original commission created in March […]

The catfish industry is the largest component of aquaculture in the United States and a significant industry in Arkansas.  In fact, Arkansas catfish farmers contributed $19.5 million to Arkansas’s agricultural economy in 2021. That’s up 17% from the previous year.The month of August has been proclaimed as Arkansas Catfish Month.  This designation recognizes the impact […]

It is estimated that on average families will spend more than $600 per child on back-to-school shopping this year. This time of year can bring a financial burden to many families across Arkansas. That is why we want to remind you about the upcoming Arkansas Sales Tax holiday. This year, the event will begin at […]