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On April 8, Governor Asa Hutchinson signed HB1001 and SB1 into law.  These identical bills establish the guidelines for Arkansas Works.  Arkansas Works would replace the program currently referred to as the Private Option which uses federal Medicaid funding to provide private insurance plans for the state’s lowest income residents.  Arkansas Works makes changes to […]

Typically when a bill is passed in the state legislature, if it doesn’t have an emergency clause, it will take effect 90 days after we adjourn.  But there are occasions when a specific date is written into the bill.  This year, we passed several bills that will take effect January 1, 2016.  These impact everything […]

As you begin to shop for your Thanksgiving feast this year, we encourage you to think for a minute about the journey your food has taken.   You will find much of the traditional Thanksgiving meal began its journey on a farm right here in Arkansas.  Arkansas is number three in the nation in turkey production.  […]

                                                    LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ENDORSES SPEAKER’S CHALLENGE FOR STATEWIDE BROADBAND.   LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (October 27, 2015) – Arkansas House Speaker Jeremy Gillam and Senate President Pro-Tem Jonathan Dismang issued a […]

  According to the FCC’s  2015 Broadband Availability in America Report, 59% of Arkansans are now living in an area where there is no access to highspeed broadband internet. Arkansas House Speaker Jeremy Gillam and Senate President Pro-Tem Jonathon Dismang have asked the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology to find a way […]

  Breast cancer is the number one cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Arkansas.  However, mortality rates are on the decline.  We know that screening makes early detection and treatment possible and successful. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the […]

As Arkansas students prepare to return to the classroom, members of the 90th General Assembly are reaching out to their local school districts in an effort to build better communication between educators and legislators.  In the 2015 Regular Session the Arkansas General Assembly passed HCR1008, a resolution designating September as annual “Take Your Legislator to […]

The 90th General Assembly will convene Tuesday, May 26, 2015.  The Governor has announced all items on the special session agenda below.  Agenda items are as follows:   To consider an Amendment 82 “super project” at Highland Industrial Park in Calhoun County. To consider reorganization of state agencies:   Ø  Merging the Arkansas Department of […]

On April 14th our state celebrated the 150th anniversary of the day Arkansas voted to ratify the 13th amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery. On that day in 1865, the Arkansas General Assembly convened for a special session in the Old State House The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission asked churches, public buildings, educational […]

As the economy and technology rapidly evolve, many workers find the need to learn new skills.   Industries and businesses that are looking to call Arkansas home want assurances that well trained and highly skilled employees are available.  This is why Arkansans witnessed a bi-partisan effort in the 90th General Assembly to address workforce training. […]

Joint Budget – 9 am – MAC A  Public Health – 10 am – Rm 130  Education – 10 am – Rm 138  Judiciary – 10 am – Rm 149  Revenue & Tax – 10 am – Rm 151  Transportation – 10 am – MAC B 

In accordance with the provisions for Act 46, Regular Session, 2015, Section 2, the listed members are hereby appointed to the Arkansas Health Reform Legislative Task Force: Kim Hammer Michell Gray Deborah Ferguson Charlie Collins David Meeks Reginald Murdock Joe Farrer Justin Boyd See full memorandum: Health Care Reform Task Force Appointments