Ballot measure, school phone ban, maternal health bills go to governor

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday gave final legislative approval to several bills, all of which are likely to be signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The proposals approved by lawmakers could have wide-ranging effects on maternal health, education and the ballot initiative process in Arkansas.

Ballot titles 

Senators gave final approval to a pair of bills adding new restrictions to the ballot initiative process.

House Bill 1221 prevents signatures collected by petitioners from being carried over to another election cycle. House Bill 1222 requires the attorney general to reject initiatives which conflict with federal law, or which cover similar topics.

Ballot measure, school phone ban, maternal health bills go to governor

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Bills to ban phones in schools, boost maternal health and impose new restrictions on the ballot initiative process all gained final legislative approval Tuesday. 

Members of the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday gave final legislative approval to

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

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

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.

Analysis of ACCESS Act for higher ed details funding changes, indoctrination restrictions

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ proposed ACCESS Act for higher education could make funding available for college noncredit certificate programs, while potentially withholding funding for institutions that don’t comply with the bill’s racial preference and student indoctrination provisions.

Senate Bill 246 by Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, and Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, would change the higher education funding formula. Beginning in 2026-27, the model would incorporate a return on investment metric that is aligned with state economic and workforce needs.

The omnibus 122-page bill also says the Division of Higher Education “may promulgate rules” to implement a funding formula supporting noncredit programs at higher education institutions. Funding would come from Educational Excellence Trust Fund revenues, general revenues, and other funds provided by law.

Analysis of ACCESS Act for higher ed details funding changes, indoctrination restrictions

Bill to abolish library, Arkansas PBS oversight boards advances

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

An effort to disband the independent oversight boards for the state’s libraries and public television network advanced in an Arkansas legislative committee Thursday.

Senate Bill 184 would abolish the State Library Board and the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, transferring their power and duties to the state Education Department.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, told members of the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee the bill seeks to boost efficiency.

“These boards and commissions meet once a quarter. They have a set agenda, they meet for about an hour, hour-and-a-half or so, and rarely do they come up with things that are consequential,” Sullivan said, adding the entities the boards oversee are “very consequential to the State of Arkansas.”

Bill to abolish library, Arkansas PBS oversight boards advances

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, leads a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Higher Education subcommittee on Sept. 3, 2024 on Arkansas State University’s Jonesboro campus.

Committee halts public comment, approves bill to require reports from Arkansas disability nonprofit

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Legislation to require a disability advocacy group to supply reports to the Legislature earned initial approval from Arkansas lawmakers Tuesday.

Separately, the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor also sent the governor’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act on to the full House for consideration.

Under Rep. Jack Ladyman’s House Bill 1382, Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA) would be mandated to provide reports to subcommittees of the Arkansas Legislative Council for review, even though the independent nonprofit doesn’t receive state funding.

Committee halts public comment, approves bill to require reports from Arkansas disability nonprofit

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, presents a bill to the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor on Feb. 11, 2025. The bill would require Disability Rights Arkansas, a federally funded nonprofit, to provide reports to the Legislature.

Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A controversial bill to ban all state-sponsored affirmative action programs gained final legislative approval on Wednesday.

Members of the state Senate passed Senate Bill 3 on a vote of 24 to 6 with no debate. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan. R-Jonesboro, prohibits any programs which discriminate or provide preferential treatment because of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

While no lawmakers spoke against it Wednesday, Senate Bill 3 has faced scrutiny over its potential to do away with several state-run programs, like the Arkansas Minority Health Commission and scholarships. Lawmakers in favor of the bill have said the programs will still exist, but will consider applicants based on merit rather than race, sex or other characteristics.

Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

UAMS, AR Children’s brace for Trump administration cuts to medical research funding

KUAR | By Lara Farrar

From the Arkansas Times:

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s are preparing for the Trump administration’s cuts to the National Institutes of Health, a policy change that would upend grant-funded research at universities, medical schools and other scientific institutions in Arkansas and across the United States.

On Friday, the NIH announced that it would set a cap of 15% on payments for “indirect costs” related to research. Those costs include “general administration and general expenses such as the director’s office, accounting, personnel” and other expenditures. The change in indirect cost coverage applies to existing grants and for any new grants issued, NIH’s Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration said Friday.

On Saturday, UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson sent a memo to research faculty and staff, warning the NIH policy change “would have a significant effect on UAMS and other research institutions across our state and country.”

UAMS, AR Children’s brace for Trump administration cuts to medical research funding

UAMS

Arkansas House passes government funding, ballot initiative bills

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill to end a government shutdown in Jefferson County, and another to give the attorney general more power over the direct democracy process.

County employees have worked without pay since the start of the year as quorum court members have repeatedly been unable to pass a budget in a slate of meetings. Rep. Glenn Barnes, D-Pine Bluff, spoke in favor of legislation he co-sponsored to end the shutdown on the House Monday.

"We have some 300 people who have gone a month and almost two weeks without pay," he said. "They are now losing their insurance, many are struggling to paying water, light, gas, house notes and rent, and they're in dire need of some legislation to act quickly."

Arkansas House passes government funding, ballot initiative bills

Arkansas House

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill to end the Jefferson County government shutdown that's lasted since the beginning of the year.

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Arkansas lawmakers are nearing final approval of an effort to ban cell phone use in all public schools in the state.

Members of the House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 142, also called the “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act,” in a meeting Thursday. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, said schools which piloted the program have reported positive results.

“Attendance records are improving, disciplinary issues are going down, drug-related offenses are going down, bullying cases are going down, student engagement is going up,” Dees said.

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

A bill to ban state-run affirmative action programs has advanced through another legislative hurdle. Senate Bill 3 received approval from the House Thursday with a vote of 64-27.

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville. It now returns to the Senate to approve an amendment before heading to the governor’s desk.

Bentley discussed a brief history of affirmative action as she presented the bill on the House floor. She referenced a 1965 executive order from then-President Lyndon B. Johnson which required the government to expand hiring practices and prevent discrimination in government jobs.

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

Bill to prohibit discrimination passes split Arkansas House panel after much public opposition

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

A bill that a slew of critics say would impede minorities’ opportunities for success in Arkansas passed a legislative panel on a split voice vote Wednesday after nearly three hours of debate.

Senate Bill 3 would “prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment” by public entities and eliminate required minority recruitment and retention plans and reports from public school districts and higher education institutions.

The bill would also repeal language in state procurement proposals that encourage minority participation or require bidders to adopt an equal opportunity hiring program designed to increase the percentage of minority employees.

Bill to prohibit discrimination passes split Arkansas House panel after much public opposition

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Rep. Denise Ennett, D-Little Rock, criticizes Senate Bill 3, which would “prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment” by public entities during a House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Local activists join nationwide '50501' protest movement

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

Local activists filled the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol at noon Wednesday protesting actions taken by the Trump administration within its first three weeks.

Cynthia Coen is a native Arkansan who returned home to care for her mother. Like many others there, she said it was hard to pin down just one issue that brought her out to make her voice heard.

"It's so difficult to list everything, to list everything that's happening," said Coen. "Back to wasting water in California, over 90 million gallons of water that just went into nowhere, to defying the FEMA organization. This whole DEI situation, it’s insane.”

Local activists join nationwide '50501' protest movement

Carlos Bonilla/Little Rock Public Radio

Activists line the steps to the Arkansas Capitol grounds for the '50501' protests

Arkansas committee passes free school breakfast bill

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A law to make school breakfast free for all Arkansas students has cleared its first hurdle in a Senate committee.

School Breakfast - Flickr Image

On Wednesday, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, presented the bill which has bipartisan co-sponsors and support. The bill passed with unanimous approval after some discussion.

The free breakfast bill was brought up by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in her State of the State address. She listed it as a policy she supported in combating food insecurity along with eliminating the grocery tax and giving EBT money to needy families over the summer.

The legislature is relying on revenue from medical marijuana sales, which was initially spent on hospital programs, to support the free breakfast initiative.

Arkansas committee passes free school breakfast bill

Arkansas’ Buffalo River watershed squabble a ‘long, hard battle,’ advocate says

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Marti Olesen has now driven the five-hour round trip from Ponca to Little Rock three times in recent weeks with the intention to learn about lawmakers’ plans for the Buffalo River watershed.

Once when the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy and Environment brought a pair of rules regarding permit moratoriums through the promulgation process to a legislative committee meeting. And twice during the 95th General Assembly when she expected Sen. Blake Johnson, R-Corning, to introduce Senate Bill 84 to the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Lawmakers have yet to consider the bill during the current session.

Arkansas’ Buffalo River watershed squabble a ‘long, hard battle,’ advocate says

Courtesy Photo/National Park Service

A person paddles a canoe on the Buffalo River as trees display fall colors.

Arkansas Supreme Court justice accuses chief justice of spreading untruths

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Nicholas Bronni has accused Chief Justice Karen Baker of spreading untruths during a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee.

On Thursday, Baker made a customary appearance in front of the committee. She addressed recent tension at the Supreme Court between her and her colleagues. She told committee members that issues stemmed from newly appointed Justice Bronni recusing “from all our criminal cases.”

In a letter to Rep. Carol Dalby, the chairwoman of the committee, Bronni called this statement “not accurate.” This comes amid other dubious comments made during Baker’s Thursday's testimony, and ongoing tension over how Baker is legally allowed to conduct her duties on the court.

Arkansas Supreme Court justice accuses chief justice of spreading untruths

Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Nicholas Bronni disputes claims made by Chief Justice Karen Baker at a legislative meeting.

Affirmative action ban advances through Arkansas Senate

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas Senate have approved a bill that would ban state-supported affirmative action programs.

Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, would prohibit “discrimination or preferential treatment” in state entities. Senators voted on the proposal Wednesday, following more than two hours of debate in committee Tuesday.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Sullivan said the bill wouldn’t impact hiring practices in the private sector.

“Preferential treatment and discrimination have always existed… but to say that we’re trying to get rid of that nationwide and statewide is just a straw man and not true,” he said. “This bill only affects procurement, hiring and higher [education].”

Affirmative action ban advances through Arkansas Senate

Image by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Uncertainty circulates after executive order stopping federal spending

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

On Monday, President Donald Trump issued a memo halting about $10 trillion in federal spending.

The memo said “Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.” Trump said he wanted to pause funds temporarily to investigate the fundings connection to programs he opposes such as: “DEI, woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal.”

A judge halted the order later in the week, and on Wednesday, the Trump administration rescinded the order altogether.

In the days after the order was handed down, agencies across Arkansas were confused.

Uncertainty circulates after executive order stopping federal spending

Wikimedia Image

Bill to ban affirmative action passes Arkansas Senate committee

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

A bill to end affirmative action programs in the state has passed its first hurdle to becoming law Tuesday.

Senate Bill 3 to “prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment” in state entities is sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro. The bill strikes terms such as “equity,” “civil rights,” “minority,” and “diversity” from Arkansas law and repeals sections creating scholarships, support services, and retention programs for minorities.

The bill says “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement,” and creates a pathway for people who believe their rights have been impacted under the legislation to sue.

Bill to ban affirmative action passes Arkansas Senate committee

Free school breakfast up for debate in Arkansas Legislature

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

On Monday, a legislative committee plans to discuss a bill to make breakfast free for all public school students in Arkansas.

Flickr Image

Perhaps the largest restaurant in the state of Arkansas is the Little Rock School District. Serving thousands of kids, breakfast and lunch, five days a week, nutritionist Stephanie Walker-Hynes says a lot of work goes into meal planning, because children, she says, “eat with their eyes.” The food has to look appealing.

“Because you don't want your tray to be bland,” she said. “You don't want to serve starchy vegetables all the time. And so we also want to make sure we have a variety and we are advancing the palate.”

Free school breakfast up for debate in Arkansas Legislature

Arkansas refugee resettlement disrupted as Trump administration suspends program

Dozens of refugees scheduled to travel to Northwest Arkansas over the next two months had their flights cancelled a week before an executive order was set to go in effect. “We weren’t expecting it–that’s not what the executive order said,” said Joanna Krause. “The impact has been devastating.”

Flickr Image

Joanna Krause is the Executive Director of Canopy NWA, a refugee resettlement agency based in Fayetteville. She spoke with Little Rock Public Radio Friday, at the end of a week she described as “incredibly difficult.”

President Donald Trump halted refugee resettlement in the U.S. with an executive order last Monday, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of refugees recently approved to come to the United States. 11 families assigned to Northwest Arkansas now have no clear path to resettlement.

Arkansas refugee resettlement disrupted as Trump administration suspends program