Arkansas lawmakers reflect on recent session

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

Josie Lenora/KUAR News

Democratic Reps. Andrew Collins and Ashley Hudson join Rep. Julie Mayberry to talk about the highs and lows of the recent legislative session in a summit on Thursday.

Farm bills seek to steer younger Arkansans into agriculture

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, and Rep. Denise Garner, D-Fayetteville, have introduced a bill aimed at addressing the challenges young farmers face entering the profession.

According to House Bill 1003, an income tax credit would be available for farmers who sell or rent agricultural assets to a beginning farmer. Agricultural assets include land, livestock, facilities, buildings and machinery.

In an interview, Mayberry said the bill was sponsored in the previous legislative session by former Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success, but failed to make it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/farm-bills-seek-to-steer-younger-arkansans-into-agriculture/

Bill That Amends Arkansas Mask Mandate Ban Stalls In House Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would allow Arkansas school districts to implement mask mandates if they meet a COVID-19 case threshold is being reworked to address the concerns of some lawmakers. Members of the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee spent just under three hours Wednesday discussing and listening to public comments on the proposed legislation.

According to the bill, a school district must have a 14-day COVID-19 infection rate of at least 50 new infections per 10,000 residents based on data published by either the Arkansas Department of Health or the Arkansas Center for Health improvement.

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, is the bill’s sponsor and said she was open to whatever suggestions lawmakers had if it helped pass the legislation.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-amends-arkansas-mask-mandate-ban-stalls-house-committee

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, presents House Bill 1003 to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on the first day of the special legislative session.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE