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Daily Summary for December 7, 2021

December 8, 2021
The Second Extraordinary Session of the 93rd General Assembly began at the Capitol Tuesday morning. The House Revenue and Taxation committee advanced HB1001. This bill aims to lower the top tax rate for individuals from 5.9% to 4.9% over the next four years as long as specific parameters in the budget are met. The bill […]
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2nd Extraordinary Session of the 93rd General Assembly

December 3, 2021
The General Assembly is scheduled to convene for an Extraordinary Session on Tuesday, December 7. The Arkansas Constitution says Extraordinary Sessions, often referred to as special sessions, can only be called by the Governor. The Governor announced this week he is calling the session to address tax cuts and several miscellaneous items of legislation. The […]
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Small Business in Arkansas

November 23, 2021
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and the lifeblood of our local economy. In Arkansas, small businesses make up the majority of the business landscape, at 99.3% of all businesses in the state. This equates to 258,552 businesses. Small businesses can be found in every corner of our state. Small Business Saturday is […]
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Thanksgiving 2021

November 22, 2021
The State Capitol Offices and all State Buildings will be closed to observe Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 25, 2021(A legal holiday by authority of Act 304 of 2001 and amended by Act 561 of 2017),and Friday, November 26, 2021 (by Governor’s Proclamation). Official State Holiday Bulletin
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Thanking Arkansas Farmers

November 18, 2021
Next week, most of us will gather around a table with family and friends and think about the things we are most thankful for. This year, we encourage you to think about the men and women who helped bring your meal to the table. Arkansas farmers made not only your meal but countless meals across […]
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National Adoption Month

November 12, 2021
Right now, there are about 349 children and teens in Arkansas whose parents’ parental rights have been terminated and are currently seeking a forever family. November is National Adoption Month. It is a time to encourage others to learn about adoption and recognize the many children who are still waiting. Recently, the Division of Children […]
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Veterans Day 2021

November 10, 2021
The State Capitol Offices and all  State Buildings will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, to observe Veterans Day. A legal holiday by authority of Act 304 of 2001 and amended by Act 561 of 2017. Official State Holiday Bulletin
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Thanking Arkansas Veterans

November 3, 2021
Arkansas is home to more than 200,000 veterans. They live and work in every community throughout our state. As we approach Veterans Day, we would like to thank our veterans for their sacrifice, their bravery, and the example they set for us all. The majority of Arkansas veterans served in Vietnam. We are home to […]
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SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS CLARK SMITH TO INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COMMISSION

November 3, 2021
SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS CLARK SMITH TO INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COMMISSION    Little Rock, Arkansas (November 3, 2021) – Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd has named Clark Smith of El Dorado to serve on the Arkansas Independent Citizens Commission. Mr. Smith will serve the remainder of Nathan Evers four-year term which is set to expire in January […]
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Preventing Diabetes

October 29, 2021
According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 363,781 people in Arkansas, or 14.8% of the adult population, have diabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness. In the last 20 years, the number of adults nationwide diagnosed […]
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General Revenue Forecast

October 21, 2021
There are two big developments this week regarding our state’s economy. Unemployment in Arkansas continues to decline, and our budget forecast was adjusted to reflect an increase in revenue. The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services says Arkansas’ unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from 4.2% in August to 4.0% in September. This is […]