Legislative panels pass ACCESS bill with student political activity amendment

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

The House and Senate Education Committees passed Gov. Sarah Sanders’ far-reaching Arkansas ACCESS Act on March 10 with an amendment granting excused absences to students engaged in political and public advocacy activities.

In separate voice votes, a majority of House and Senate members approved the two identical bills, Senate Bill 246 by Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, and House Bill 1512 by Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado.

The full House and Senate will vote on their own chamber’s bills Tuesday, March 11. Then they will vote on the other chamber’s bill on Thursday. With no more committee meetings necessary, the bills could be headed to the governor’s desk by the end of the week.

ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships, and standardization.

Legislative panels pass ACCESS bill with student political activity amendment

Arkansas Senate advances two stalled bills that would change citizen-led ballot initiative process

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

In a reversal, the Arkansas Senate allowed two proposed changes to the state’s citizen-led ballot measure process to advance to the House on Tuesday after failing to pass the bills’ emergency clauses earlier this month.

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, is sponsoring a slew of legislation he has said would deter fraudulent behavior and protect the integrity of the signature collection process for proposed ballot measures.

Opponents of the bills have called them a threat to the public’s right to change laws and the state Constitution, which fewer than half of states allow, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Arkansas Senate advances two stalled bills that would change citizen-led ballot initiative process

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Kim Hammer (left), R-Benton, and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (right), R-Searcy, listen to the votes on the emergency clauses of two bills Hammer is sponsoring that would change Arkansas’ ballot initiative petition process on the Senate floor on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

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

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Achieves $30 Million Fundraising Goal for NCI Designation

By Andrew Vogler

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) met its $30 million fundraising goal for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s campaign to achieve National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designation.

The fundraising milestone was achieved with a $5 million gift from the Chris Fowler family of Jonesboro. In total, 8,700 philanthropic gifts have been received from Arkansans and donors across the U.S. to support this campaign.

“Reaching our fundraising goal is exciting news, and I know it will embolden UAMS to work harder in achieving our overall goal of NCI Designation, which will have a profound impact on UAMS and Arkansas,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Huge credit for this achievement of course goes to the many donors who have championed this campaign. I would especially like to thank the Chris Fowler family, who made significant contributions that realized this goal.”

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Achieves $30 Million Fundraising Goal for NCI Designation

From left: Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Chris Fowler, Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., and Kevin Crass.