With a vote of 81-14, the House passed HB1002. HB1002 accelerates the implementation of income and corporate tax cuts which were scheduled to become effective incrementally over the next three years. If enacted, the top income tax rate would drop from 5.5% to 4.9%. HB1002 would make the reduction retroactive to January 1, 2022. Corporate [...]
On the first day of the special session, committees advanced two pieces of legislation. The Joint Budget Committee advanced SB2. This sets aside $50 million from the revenue surplus for the purpose of funding a school safety grant program. The grants will help districts fund the recommendations of the School Safety Commission. The House Revenue [...]
The Governor is calling the General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session next week to address the use of surplus funds to provide tax relief and funding for school safety measures. The Arkansas School Safety Commission was reinstated in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Members of the original commission created in March [...]
Many have ask what the action means that was taken by ALC Thursday. Here is an explanation of it. To clarify further this is not in place of the Legislature looking at raising Minimum Teacher Salary during General Session. The Education Committee is doing their Adequacy Study at this time and will make a recommendation [...]
The House began the 4th week of the 2021 Regular Session on Monday. This morning, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HB1112. This bill eliminates the option for individuals to complete a sworn statement in order to cast a provisional ballot if they did not have the required photo identification. With a [...]
With a vote of 94-0, the House passed legislation to expand broadband access in Arkansas. SB74 allows cities, counties, and improvement districts to partner with established providers to expand broadband services for those who currently do not have service or those who are underserved. The House passed HB1113, which amends the Commission of State Lands [...]
On Wednesday, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HB1211 which states the Governor shall not prohibit or limit a religious organization from continuing to operate religious services during a declared emergency. The bill does not prevent the Governor from requiring religious organizations to comply with neutral health, safety, or occupancy requirements that [...]
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee advanced HB1151 which suspends the public school rating system for the 2020-2021 school year due to the disruption to education caused by the pandemic. The House Education Committee also advanced HB1009 which allows a public school or an open-enrollment public charter school to distribute excess food to students for [...]
The third week of the 2021 Regular Session is now underway. This morning, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HB1202. This requires counties to post sample ballots on the Secretary of State website at least 20 days before each preferential primary and general election and at least 10 days before each general [...]
In the second week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House voted on bills addressing everything from car tags to jury duty pay. The bills now advancing to the Senate include: HB1028-This bill changes the length of time a consumer has to tag their vehicle. Current law gives car buyers 30 days to pay the [...]
