Posts tagged “News Release”

I was heartbroken to learn of the passing of Rep. Stan Berry. To me, he wasn’t just a colleague—he was a true friend and someone I genuinely enjoyed being around. Stan loved Arkansas, and he loved the people of District 44. You could see that in the way he served and the way he treated […]

The Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and its subcommittees met this week at the Capitol, continuing their role of overseeing state agencies and reviewing key funding and policy decisions between legislative sessions.   State revenue collections remain strong. Gross General Revenues year-to-date total approximately $5.36 billion—an increase of $89 million, or 1.7%, compared to this time […]

Members of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee recently reviewed a report examining how Arkansas can better connect workforce development programs with social services that support families on their path to employment. The findings highlight a clear opportunity. Arkansas employers continue searching for workers while many Arkansans are looking for […]

Legislators spent much of this week at the Capitol participating in Pre-Fiscal Session Budget Hearings, an important step in preparing for the upcoming Fiscal Session of the Arkansas General Assembly. The hearings allow lawmakers to begin reviewing agency budgets, ask questions, and gain a clearer understanding of the state’s financial priorities before the formal budget […]

Arkansas is moving forward with a major investment in rural healthcare through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). In December, the state was awarded $208,779,396 for Fiscal Year 2026 as part of a nationwide, multi-year effort through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to strengthen healthcare access in rural communities. Over the next five […]

Beginning Monday, February 23, the House will start processing applications for media credentials. These credentials will provide members of the press access to designated areas within House committee rooms and the MAC building. Media Credential Policy 2026.pdf Application  FAQ Media Credentials 2026.pdf For questions regarding credentials, contact:  cecillea.pond-mayo@arkansashouse.org

The Arkansas House and Senate Insurance and Commerce Committees recently met to examine a growing threat impacting families across our state: financial fraud. The data presented to lawmakers was sobering. Seventy-three percent of adults have experienced an online scam or cyberattack. In 2024 alone, 4,238 fraud incidents were reported in Arkansas, totaling $51.8 million in […]

The Senate Committee on Children and Youth and the House Committee on Aging, Children & Youth, and Legislative Affairs convened on Wednesday to examine issues affecting Arkansas children and families, with much of the discussion focused on how Act 189 of 2019 is reshaping the state’s juvenile justice system. For years, Arkansas experienced high levels […]

This week, the House and Senate Education Committees took a wide-angle look at Arkansas education, examining issues ranging from early childhood access to the state’s constitutional funding obligations. Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacy Smith opened with an update on early childhood education, focusing on how Arkansas funds and delivers early […]

Arkansans are no strangers to winter weather, but the recent storm served as a strong reminder of how quickly hazardous conditions can disrupt daily life across our state. Ice-covered roads, lingering snow, and sustained freezing temperatures impacted families, businesses, schools, and essential services. State and local officials worked around the clock to keep communities safe, […]

Members of the Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council met this week to receive updates spanning wildlife management, public safety, and law enforcement coordination, offering a wide-ranging look at issues affecting Arkansas outdoors and communities. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Doug Schoenrock briefed legislators on an unusually dry waterfowl season. […]

Lawmakers convened this week at the Arkansas Legislative Council to review the state’s financial standing and address key policy priorities affecting Arkansans statewide. State budget officials reported encouraging revenue numbers. Collections of Gross General Revenues year-to-date totaled approximately $4.02 billion, an increase of $49.5 million—or 1.2 percent—over the same point last fiscal year. Net General […]