A bill to give the Arkansas Department of Education oversight over the State Library Board and the Arkansas Educational Television Commission cleared another hurdle Monday.

It's unclear how this bill will impact libraries in the state or Arkansas PBS, which are overseen by the independent boards, but the plan comes out of ongoing frustration from state Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, with both organizations.

Libraries

In the 2023 legislative session, Sullivan passed a law that would criminalize librarians for furnishing materials to minors that are “harmful.” Every library is already banned from offering obscenity, but harmful to minors is a lower and more vague standard that could be interpreted to mean many things.

Bill to change Arkansas PBS and state library board oversight passes Senate

*Chris Hickey/Little Rock Public Radio*
The Arkansas Senate chamber is seen in this file photo.

KUAR | By Josie Lenora,

Maggie Ryan

Former Sen. Jason Rapert has joined the state library board. Friday, the Arkansas Senate confirmed his nomination in a vote of 22-10. The vote was held without discussion.

The seven person library board has authority over how money is distributed in the state's libraries.

In November, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Jason Rapert to the State Library Board. He formerly served in the state senate from January 2011 to January 2023. Rapert is also the founder and president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.

Jason Rapert confirmed to the State Library Board