Bill to regulate libraries passes Arkansas House

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill to regulate libraries passed a final vote in the Arkansas House of Representatives Wednesday.

Senate Bill 81 will create an identical book challenge policy for all libraries which can be appealed up to city and county government entities. The bill would criminalize librarians who furnish books deemed to be obscene.

Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okolona, presented the bill. He said the criticisms he had gotten on the bill were based on misunderstandings.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-16/bill-to-regulate-libraries-passes-arkansas-house

Sarah Kellogg/KUAR News

Senate Bill 81, a bill to regulate libraries in Arkansas, moved through its final legislative hurdle Wednesday.

Arkansas House Fails Bill To Eliminating Early Voting On Mondays Before Election Days

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would have eliminated early voting on the day before an Election Day in Arkansas failed in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, the final full day of the legislative session.

The chamber ultimately did not pass Senate Bill 485, with 39 representatives  voting for it and 43 members voting against it. The bill would have eliminated early voting on the day before either a primary or general election. 

The bill failed three times in a Senate committee and one time in a House committee before ultimately advancing through the legislature and being brought up for a vote in the House Tuesday, where if it had passed, would have gone to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-house-fails-bill-eliminating-early-voting-mondays-election-days

Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okalona, presents Senate Bill 485 to the House.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE