Most students in Arkansas public schools head back to the classroom the second week of August. From recess to reading, there are several pieces of legislation passed in the most recent session which will impact the upcoming school year. Below are some, but not all, of the acts taking effect this year. Act 641 ensures [...]
Arkansas is approaching the centennial of a historic vote in the House chamber. On July 28, 1919, then Governor Charles Brough called a special session for the purpose of ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment. The House Journal records a letter Brough sent to our chamber 100 years ago. In it he states, “Eleven states have already [...]
It has been a privilege and honor to serve the people of district 60. Since the beginning of my campaign in 2015, I have promised to fight for the people of our great state, and I plan to continue delivering on that promise. We’ve made progress but we still have much work to do. I [...]
The number of Arkansas children in foster care has fallen by more than 700 since reaching an all-time high in 2016. That information was part of an annual report presented a legislative committee this week. On Tuesday, the Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) presented its annual Family Preservation Report [...]
Arkansas had one of the most productive, if not most productive, legislative sessions in the country with regard to addressing occupational regulations. Occupational regulations are licensures, certifications, or registrations required for workers in certain occupations. A few examples of licensed occupations include real estate agents, cosmetologists, and veterinarians. The success during the legislative session is [...]
Arkansas is home to more than 600,000 acres of lakes and more than 90,000 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks. As this is a popular time of the year for Arkansans to enjoy the waterways, we wanted to highlight boating safety in the state. Last year, Arkansas saw a 9% decrease in boating accidents and [...]
From guided hikes to kayak outings, there are over 50,000 family-friendly programs available at our Arkansas State Parks. If you are still looking for a summer getaway, consider the options in our own backyard. In 1996, Arkansas voters pass a constitutionally dedicated conservation sales tax benefitting Arkansas State Parks and three sister conservation agencies. We [...]
I received notification from ARDOT that on May, 15, 2019 they awarded a project in District 60. Barring unforseen circumstances, work should begin within 2 months. The project is 100907 Highway 34 - Randolph County Line (S). The purpose of this project is to resurface 5.2 miles of Highway 67 in the vicinity of Walnut [...]
There are now more than 460,000 students enrolled in Arkansas public schools. And an additional 18,000 attend an open enrollment charter school. School districts range in size from less than 300 students to nearly 22,000 students. Charter schools range from about 60 students to more than 3,000. How we fund education in our ever growing [...]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 4 of adults in the United States have some type of disability. In Arkansas, that number climbs to 1 in 3. In the most recent legislative session, there were a number of acts passed to help better ensure that everybody has the same [...]