News

On February 6, Governor Hutchinson signed a bill to lower income tax in our state by 1%.  This will amount to a savings of around $300 a year for a family making $50,000.  It directly affects 600,000 taxpayers making between $21,000 and $75,000 a year.  The other big development last week came when the House […]

Below is a link to the governor’s balanced budget proposal. Executive Recommendations for the 2015-2017 biennium

Governor Hutchinson announced his goal for healthcare this session will be to broaden the debate. In a speech delivered at UAMS, Governor Hutchinson asked the legislature to fund the Private Option through the end of 2016.  He will also be creating a health reform task force to make recommendations for the future of health care […]

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee was briefed on the status of the General Revenue Budget Tuesday morning. Members were told the state is $84 million ahead of where we were this time last year. $5.7 billion is expected to be available for the next General Revenue Budget. Members were also given a presentation on […]

House Members of the 90th General Assembly will be sworn into office at noon on Monday, Jan 12.  The agenda can be found here. Below are links to helpful documents: Standing Committees for the 90th General Assembly Select Committees Arkansas Legislative Council, Joint Budget, and Joint Audit Committees for the 90th Seating Chart for the […]

I started my term as Speaker with a commitment to the people of Arkansas that we would take care of the business at hand and not turn into Washington D.C.  I had to make difficult decisions at times that weren’t always popular, but I leave here with the comfort in knowing that we honored that […]

Standing Committees for 90th General Assembly Legislative Council, Joint Audit, and Joint Budget Committees Seniority List Members-elect of the 90th General Assembly Seating Chart

Issue #1 Issue number 1 makes changes in the relationship between the legislature and state agencies. Currently, when a state agency changes a rule or regulation they go before the Arkansas Legislative Council during the interim. ALC only reviews the rules made by state agencies.  Their approval is not necessary for an agency to proceed […]

The Joint Committee for Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development passed a non-binding resolution on Friday, August 22 requesting that the Farm Service Agency offer Arkansas farmers who have been impacted by breached commodity contracts be allowed a payment extension until the dispute is resolved. The resolution also requests assistance from the state’s congressional delegation. You […]

The State Task Force for the Prevention of Human Trafficking presented its final report before the Judiciary Committee this week.  Click here to read the full report and recommendations.

SOUTHERN LEGISLATORS TO HELP PACKAGE 50,000 MEALS   LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (July 26, 2014) –             Members and guests of the Southern Legislative Conference will help to package 50,000 meals for the hungry and food insecure on Sunday, July 27 at 9:30am.              The SLC/Mark Norris Campaign Against Hunger will take place at the Governor’s […]

Ideas inspire change.  And what better way to move our state forward than sharing ideas and working together with other states. There have been many times where legislators from other states craft laws very similar to bills we have already passed.  And conversely, we have patterned many of our laws after we see successful results […]