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In the 10th week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed several bills focusing on improved education.Once enacted, these bills would increase funding for our public schools, raise teacher salaries, and require every high school student to complete a computer science course. HB1677 raises the foundation funding amount for public schools from the current […]

On Thursday, the House passed a bill requiring students entering the ninth grade class of 2022-2023 to earn one credit in a computer science course before the student graduates. SB107 states that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, a public school district shall employ a computer science teacher at each high school. The House passed […]

On Wednesday, the House voted to raise teacher salaries and increase public school funding. HB1614 seeks to raise the average salary of public school teachers by the Teacher Salary Equalization Fund. For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, the statewide target average annual salary will be $51,822. The current average is $49,822. HB1677 raises the […]

More than 370 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.The House passed the following bills Tuesday afternoon: HB1451-This bill allows a public school district to adopt a bilingual program or a dual-immersion program approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. HB1594-This bill allows the Division of Elementary […]

House members began the 10th week of the 2021 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed more than 30 bills Monday afternoon, including the following: HB1470-This bill prohibits a juvenile who has been placed in a juvenile detention facility from beingplaced in solitary confinement if the juvenile is pregnant, has had a baby in the previous […]

More than 320 bills have been signed into law during the 2021 Regular Session. There are several hundred bills still making their way through the legislative process. This week, House members voted on legislation impacting education, healthcare, voting, and much more. The following bills passed the House during the 9th week of the session: HB1633-This […]

The House wrapped up the 9th week of the 2021 Regular Session. Members passed the following bills Thursday afternoon: HB1633-This bill requires a city of first-class to establish a city police department and provide the department with proper resources. SB383-This bill states that the maximum campaign contribution level shall be established by rule of the […]

Thursday will mark the 60th day of the 2021 Regular Session. The House passed 18 bills on Wednesday, including the following: HB1517-This bill states that the Secretary of State shall prepare and administer electronic voter registration application forms. Electronic voter registration application forms may serve for purposes of initial applications to register and may serve […]

More than 300 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session. The House passed more than 20 bills today including the following: HB1429-This bill reduces the waiting period from after a parent or guardian withdraws his or her child from a school district to enroll to begin home-school. The waiting […]

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee began hearing proposed constitutional amendments this afternoon. You can watch the presentations at www.arkansashouse.org.Meanwhile, the House took up several public health and education bills this afternoon.Members passed the following bills:HB1258-This bill authorizes full independent practice authority for certified nurse practitioners who meet certain requirements. Currently, nurse practitioners […]

As we wind down the 8th week of the 2021 Regular Session, more than 270 bills have been signed into law. Next week, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin hearing proposals for constitutional amendments. According to Joint Rules, the House and Senate can each recommend one amendment but it must be […]

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin reviewing proposed constitutional amendments next week. The committee will begin meeting on Monday mornings to hear bills and on Monday afternoons to hear proposed amendments. The committee will meet again on Wednesday afternoons to proposed amendments and possibly more bills. Members will not be voting […]