KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas’ 2024 fiscal session, which was initially projected to end this week, is now expected to end May 2 or possibly the following week, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said Thursday.

During the final days of the session, the Legislature will pass the fiscal year 2025 budget, also known as the Revenue Stabilization Act. The Joint Budget Committee started considering the legislation Thursday morning.

The documents on lawmakers’ desks are similar to what Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed in March for the $6.3 billion general revenue budget, with a projected surplus of nearly $377 million. The proposed 1.76% increase of $109 million compared to the current fiscal year would be a significantly smaller increase than previous years’ budgets.

Arkansas lawmakers propose amendments as passage of fiscal 2025 budget nears

*Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate*
The Arkansas State Capitol.

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll shows about one-quarter of voters are still undecided on three amendment proposals to be considered this fall.

In the latest survey of 974 likely Arkansas voters, which was conducted Oct. 17-18, 2022, Issue 1 has an 11-point lead, Issue 2 is a dead-heat, and Issue 3 is slightly opposed by just three points.

Respondents were asked:

Q: Issue 1, would give the legislature the authority to convene in extraordinary session (special session) by joint proclamation of House and Senate leadership or by written proclamation containing the signatures of at least two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against Issue 1?

44.5% For
33.5% Against
22% Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/poll-voters-suggest-a-mixed-bag-for-issues-1-2-and-3/