News

House members will now be taking an extended recess. When the House reconvenes on March 27, members will be addressing public safety legislation, constitutional amendments, and the budget. In the days leading up to the recess, the House passed a number of bills addressing human trafficking, elections, and employment.  Bills passed this week that amend […]

On Thursday, the House passed HB1496. This bill amends the law concerning abuse of an athletic contest official by making the offense a felony if serious physical injury occurs. The House also passed the following: HB1479-This bill would prohibit the purchase of or acquisition of title to agricultural land by a governmental entity of the […]

On Wednesday, the House passed HB1207. This bill creates the Fast-Track Permits Act. It states that a local government official shall act by approval, denial, or request for revision of an applicant’s request for a permit within 60 days of the request. The House also passed the following: HB1575-This bill requires an individual to make […]

On Tuesday, the House passed SB66. This bill states that a commercial entity shall use a reasonable age verification method before allowing access to a website that contains a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors. The House also passed the following bills: HB1562-This bill amends the Naloxone Access Act by increasing the […]

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 […]