missy irvin

Sen. Clarke Tucker, Sen. Breanne Davis

Arkansas lawmakers send sweeping education bill to governor’s desk

BY: - March 7, 2023

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will sign her signature education package into law Wednesday, two weeks after the bill was filed.  The Arkansas Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, on Tuesday. “I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our […]

Rural emergency hospital proposal passes Arkansas Senate unanimously

BY: - February 10, 2023

A proposed state law that could bolster federal funding for rural hospitals as an incentive to specialize in emergency and outpatient care passed the Arkansas Senate and was sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk Thursday. House Bill 1127 received “yes” votes from all 34 senators, with one senator absent. The bill passed the House […]

Sen. Tyler Dees

Proposed bill would require age verification on pornography websites

BY: - January 31, 2023

A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a bill to require age verification for online material that’s harmful to minors, such as pornography.  Adult-oriented businesses are typically regulated with an age verification process, and that same standard must be applied to online materials, Senate Bill 66 sponsor Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) told Senate Committee on […]

Arkansas state Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Melbourne) talks with another House member during a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council Friday morning, Dec. 16, 2022, in the Big MAC Building on the grounds of the state Capitol.(Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate-12.16.2022)

Arkansas Legislative Council approves rural hospital aid, court system funds

BY: - December 16, 2022

Arkansas legislators gave final approval on Friday for a new Southwest Arkansas hospital to receive $6.25 million in federal relief funds and voted down an attempt to take up several more federal aid requests. The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review subcommittee green-lit the American Rescue Plan Act funds for Sevier County Medical […]

The Sevier County Medical Center under construction. (Photo from https://www.seviercountymedical.com/about)

New Sevier County hospital wins $6.25 million grant after legislative panel debate

BY: - December 14, 2022

State lawmakers approved $6.25 million in federal recovery funds for a rural Southwest Arkansas hospital on Tuesday, but not before a couple of senators complained about last-minute funding requests that seemed to bypass legislative procedures. Not receiving the funds “would really put us in a financial bind,” hospital CEO Lori House told the Arkansas Legislative […]

Sen. Missy Irvin speaks into a microphone in the Arkansas Senate chambers

Arkansas Senate panel recommends plan to increase teacher pay, create task force

BY: - October 18, 2022

The Arkansas Senate education committee on Tuesday approved recommendations that include additional money for increased teacher salaries and merit-based pay.  The proposal also includes a recommendation to create a legislative task force to study education funding outside of the adequacy review process. “Overall, the report is focused on moving from adequacy to excellence by focusing […]

Arkansas Senate suspends Clark for “frivolous” complaint, changes rules for future ethics filings

BY: - September 27, 2022

The Arkansas Senate voted to sanction Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale), who was not present at Tuesday’s Senate meeting, for filing a “spurious, frivolous and retaliatory” ethics complaint against Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff). The 26-4 vote came after three Senate Ethics Committee meetings and two full Senate meetings, bringing an end to several weeks of […]

Sen. Jonathan Dismang

Arkansas lawmakers pass over pandemic relief projects, cite lack of priorities

BY: - September 13, 2022

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 […]

$50M set aside for school security grant program

BY: - August 16, 2022

Arkansas legislators last week set aside $50 million for a school-safety grant program for which the rules have yet to be written. At least one legislator said the size of the grant program could grow during next year’s General Assembly. “I don’t think $50 million is the final price tag,” Rep. Lane Jean, co-chair of […]