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ARKANSAS HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF ROY RAGLAND ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

ARKANSAS HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF ROY RAGLAND ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT ARKANSAS HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF ROY RAGLAND ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Little Rock, Arkansas (March 1, 2024) – The Chief of Staff for the Arkansas House of Representatives, Roy Ragland, recently announced he will retire later this year. His last day will be June 28, “It has been […]
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Budget Hearings to Begin March 6

From classrooms to healthcare, the state budget has a direct impact on our daily lives. Weeks before the legislative session begins, the General Assembly reviews the state’s current fiscal position and budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year. Budget hearings this year will begin on March 6 and are expected to continue through March 8. […]
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Improving Maternal Health in Arkansas

This week, several members attended a Maternal Health Roundtable at UAMS. The roundtable included Arkansas medical professionals discussing maternal health alongside Governor Sanders, Senator John Boozman, and Congressman French Hill. Arkansas faces one of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates, prompting discussions on improving access to maternal care in rural areas, especially with only 35 […]
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ALC Approves Funding for Enhanced Behavioral Health Services

In a recent report to Arkansas lawmakers, it was revealed that behavioral health cases at a pediatric hospital surged by 25% since the pandemic’s onset, with pediatricians noting that a significant portion of their workload now revolves around such cases. This trend mirrors national statistics cited by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), indicating that […]
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American Heart Month

February marks the beginning of American Heart Month, a crucial period dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and the prevalence of heart disease. In the United States and in Arkansas, heart disease stands as the leading cause of death. Statistics paint a stark picture: every 33 seconds, a life is claimed by cardiovascular disease […]
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Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Now Accepting Nominations

Food traditions often serve as cultural landmarks, preserving culinary heritage and connecting generations. Long-standing food establishments carry the flavors and techniques passed down through time, offering a taste of history on each plate. That is why in 2016, the Division of Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.  The Arkansas Food Hall of […]
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Arkansas Legislative Council Update

The Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and the council’s subcommittees met this week at the Capitol. These meetings were previously scheduled for the week of January 15 but were postponed due to the winter weather across the state. ALC members were presented with an update from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) regarding damage from […]
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Education Committee Begins Adequacy Study

Public education stands as the primary expenditure within state government. This month, the House and Senate Education Committees began working on the Educational Adequacy Study. This study will serve as a recommendation to the legislature to determine funding for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. This in-depth process involves assessing the entirety of public education […]
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WINTER WEATHER UPDATE

Due to the winter weather, House Offices will be closed today. All ALC meetings scheduled for this week have been rescheduled for next week. You can find the schedule at https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
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Legislative Study of Arkansas Firearms & Concealed Carry

This week, the Arkansas Legislative Council Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee held a meeting to discuss concealed carry laws in Arkansas. This meeting was part of a series of meetings held as part of the Arkansas Firearms and Concealed Carry Laws Study. The purpose of the study is to ultimately simplify gun laws in the […]
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday 2024

The State of Arkansas will observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday as an official state holiday on Monday, January 15, 2024. State Capitol offices and state buildings will be closed.  The State Capitol building will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Official Holiday Bulletin