Members of the Arkansas Legislative Council approved two controversial rule changes in a meeting Friday: the first had to do with elections, while the second had to do with gender-neutral driver's licenses.

Driver's licenses

The Department of Finance and Administration recently implemented a rule requiring the letter “M” or “F” to be listed under “sex” on all driver’s licenses or state-issued IDs. Right now, a few hundred Arkansans have “X” listed instead of "M" or "F".

Democratic lawmakers protested the rule change, saying it was harmful to transgender and nonbinary Arkansans. Rep. Andrew Collins, D- Little Rock, said the rule change goes beyond the purview of what the Department of Finance and Administration is allowed to do.

Legislative committee approves rules on electronic signatures, gender-neutral IDs

*Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate*
The Arkansas Legislature approved two controversial rules at a legislative meeting Friday.

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas lawmakers gathered Thursday to discuss the recent legislative session. At a summit held by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Democratic Reps. Andrew Collins and Ashley Hudson and Republican Rep. Julie Mayberry were critical of the pace at which the legislature moves.

“We have too many bills too fast,” Mayberry said. “We don't spend enough time in the interim working on those bills before they come forward."

After studying it, Mayberry says 41% of bills were sent to the governor's desk in the last three days of session.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-16/arkansas-lawmakers-reflect-on-recent-session