arkansas general assembly
SESSION SNAPSHOT: Arkansas LEARNS marches through the Arkansas House
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ first legislative priority took the next big step toward becoming law this week. The sprawling, divisive education bill moved through the Arkansas House of Representatives, passing on the House floor Thursday by a vote of 78-21. There is great passion on both sides of the debate, which has really become about […]
SESSION SNAPSHOT: Drag queens, snow, masks and education at the Arkansas State Capitol
The third week of Arkansas’ 94th General Assembly began with the Senate’s passage of a bill to restrict drag shows the same as strip clubs and porn shops, and it ended with a long, tense hearing over a school bathroom bill. Between the culture war battles, the state House and Senate have started passing legislation […]
SESSION SNAPSHOT: Culture wars and the first bills of the Arkansas legislative session
Week two of the Arkansas General Assembly has come to an end, and it feels like the session is now actually underway. Thursday had it all: a tense committee hearing on a divisive social issue, a school choice rally, a rally in support of drag performers and action on dozens of bills destined to become […]
A record-setting number of women will serve in state legislatures in 2023
WASHINGTON — A record number of women will soon serve in state legislatures, breaking the previous cap of female lawmakers by at least 69 seats and bringing total representation to more than 32%, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. States will have at least 2,376 female lawmakers in 2023, including both women […]
Arkansas House, Senate incumbents enjoy strong showing in general election
The 94th General Assembly will feature mostly familiar faces after the majority of incumbents won reelection Tuesday night. If unofficial returns hold, Republicans strengthened their supermajorities in both chambers, gaining two seats in each. As it stands, the state Senate will be comprised of 29 Republicans and six Democrats. The state House will include 82 […]
Arkansas lawmakers pass over pandemic relief projects, cite lack of priorities
Arkansas legislators on Tuesday approved just one of seven federal funding requests from state universities and colleges after expressing frustration that the state lacks a plan for appropriating dwindling American Rescue Plan Act funds. Black River Technical College received approval for $4.6 million in ARPA funds to construct a facility that would provide short-term housing […]
Arkansas state senator agrees to repay salary for public defender work, agency head says
State Sen. Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, has offered to repay salary he was improperly paid for work during his short stint as public defender in Union County earlier this year, the head of the state Public Defender Commission said Tuesday. Commission Executive Director Gregg Parrish told a legislative committee that Garner had reached out to […]