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

Governor Sanders Announces Appointments

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the following appointments:

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

Andrew Berner, Jonesboro, to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Term to expire January 14, 2027. Replaces Steven Smith. 

Arkansas Economic Development Council

Jerry Holder, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Economic Development Council. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Replaces Tracy Rancifer.

Molly Shepherd, El Dorado, to the Arkansas Economic Development Council. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Reappointment.

Arkansas Public Service Commission

Lawrence “Justin” Tate, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2031. Reappointment. 

Arkansas Racing Commission

Michael “Denny” East, Marion, to the Arkansas Racing Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2030. Reappointment. 

John Schmelzle, Rogers, to the Arkansas Racing Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2030. Replaces Kent ‘Bo” Hunter. 

Arkansas Real Estate Commission

Eugene Post, Fort Smith, to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. Term to expire December 31, 2027. Reappointment. 

Arkansas State Police Commission

Jeffery Teague, Fayetteville, to the Arkansas State Police Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2032. Reappointment. 

Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas

Roger Polston, Cave City, to the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas. Term to expire June 15, 2027. Reappointment
 
Contractors Licensing Board

Donald Weaver, Conway, to the Contractors Licensing Board. Term to expire December 31, 2027. Reappointment. 

Post-Prison Transfer Board

William Shock, Conway, to the Post-Prison Transfer Board. Term to January 14, 2032. Reappointment. 

State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors

Jared Wiley, Benton, to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors. Term to expire July 1, 2027. Replaces Lorie Tudor. 

Jefferson County Quorum Court
 
Richard Victorino, Pine Bluff, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 11, for Jefferson County.  Term expires December 31, 2026.  Fulfills the remaining term of Danny Holcomb.
 
Independence County Quorum Court

Boyce C. Barnett, Cave City, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 5, for Independence County. Term expires December 31, 2026.  Fulfills the remaining term of Bill Lindsey.

Ouachita County Quorum Court

Michael Tyler, Camden, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 3, for Ouachita County.  Term expires December 31, 2026. Fulfills the remaining term of Carl Edward Pickett, Jr.

Poinsett County Quorum Court

Diane Jones, Harrisburg, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 1, for Poinsett County. Term expires December 31, 2026.  Fulfills the remaining term of Randy Jones.

Union County Quorum Court

Thad Mason, Norphlet, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 6, for Union County. Term expires December 31, 2026.  Currently vacant position. 

Van Buren County Quorum Court

Robbia Mays, Clinton, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 1, for Van Buren County. Term expires December 31, 2026. Fulfills the remaining term of David Holcomb.

Alice L. Walton Foundation purchases 100 acres for specialty care facility

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The Alice L. Walton Foundation said Tuesday (Feb. 18) it has purchased 100 acres near downtown Bentonville for a cardiac care specialty facility. The foundation declined to provide financial details of the purchase but said there were multiple sellers.

The site is located 2 miles east of downtown Bentonville off of exit 88 and Central Boulevard in Bentonville near Interstate 49. The foundation planning and design for the health care center is underway, with the intent to open in late 2028.

The announcement is part of the $700 million, 30-year affiliation announced in September between Mercy, Heartland Whole Health Institute, and Alice L. Walton Foundation. The partnership calls for $350 million in funding from the foundation to develop an outpatient center of care for specialty services in Bentonville and $350 million from Mercy to build a new cardiac care center at its hospital in Rogers.

Alice L. Walton Foundation purchases 100 acres for specialty care facility

Attorney General Griffin Joins 37 AGs in Letter Asking FDA to Fight Distribution of Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drugs

Griffin: ‘Consumers Should Be Able To Seek Legitimate Treatment Without Fear Of The Drugs They Purchase Being Ineffective, Or Worse, Outright Harmful’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin released the following statement after he joined a bipartisan coalition of state and territory attorneys general calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action against bad actors who are endangering consumers with counterfeit forms of weight-loss and diabetes drugs:

“Legitimate weight-loss and diabetes treatments such as Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy, known as GLP-1 drugs, have risen in popularity in recent years. Unfortunately, where legitimate and useful goods and services arise, fraudulent actors are likely to follow. In this case, counterfeit drugs, often originating from overseas in places like China, are being sold online to unsuspecting American consumers, including Arkansans.

“I have joined a bipartisan group of attorneys general calling on the FDA to curtail the distribution of counterfeit drugs being distributed online. Consumers should be able to seek legitimate treatment without fear of the drugs they purchase being ineffective, or worse, outright harmful.

“The FDA has the expertise and resources to go after these counterfeit drug manufacturers. Our letter urges them to exercise their ability to shut these operations down and to work with state pharmacy boards to ensure that GLP-1 drugs are compounded safely.”

Joining Arkansas on the letter co-led by South Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, and Tennessee is Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

To read the full letter, click here.

Coalition Suing Against Unlawful Biden Administration Rule Files Report with Court Clarifying That Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is Not Being Challenged

Griffin: ‘Threatening Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in its entirety was never our goal nor was it something we sought, despite what some have said in the media and online’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and the coalition of 16 other attorneys general who last year sued the Biden administration over an unlawful federal rule clarified their position with a filing in court:

“As I have reiterated over the past week, from the beginning, our lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s rule categorizing gender dysphoria as a disability was about just that: challenging that specific rule. Threatening Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in its entirety was never our goal, nor was it something we sought, despite what some have said in the media and online. But to ensure all stakeholders involved are comfortable and are clear about the 17 states’ intent, we have filed a status report with the court with the following language:

Plaintiffs clarify that they have never moved—and do not plan to move—the Court to declare or enjoin Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, as unconstitutional on its face. Plaintiffs have not sought and do not seek to enjoin the disbursement of funds from the Department on the basis that the statute is unconstitutional.

The context of the entire Complaint, ECF No. 1, shows that the meaning and scope of Count 3 asserting a claim under the Spending Clause—and the declaratory and injunctive relief sought in the demand—is an as-applied challenge to any purported application of Section 504 to funds that are not authorized by the Rehabilitation Act. Such alleged unconstitutional applications include the requirements the Final Rule imposes on recipients to adopt the “most integrated setting” and the “at serious risk of institutionalization” standards of care. 89 Fed. Reg. 40,066, 40,183, 40,120–21, 40,192 (May 9, 2024).

Nothing in Plaintiffs’ Complaint seeks to restrain the disbursement of federal funds from the Department on the basis that the statute is unconstitutional, or to otherwise prevent the Federal Government from allocating spending or applying the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act to any recipients of such funds.

“Also, it deserves mention that the lawsuit is stayed pending review of the rule by the Trump administration. I am confident the administration will soon abandon Biden’s blatantly unlawful interpretation of Section 504, which was the basis of our lawsuit in the first place.”

To read the full status report filed with the United States District Court Northern District of Texas, click here.

Boozman, Scott, Rosen introduce Bipartisan Legislation to combat Antisemitism on college campuses

WASHINGTON––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Tim Scott (R-SC) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would direct the U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus. 

This bill ensures the Education Department has a clear definition of antisemitism when determining whether an antisemitic incident on campus crosses the line from free speech into harassing, unlawful or discriminatory conduct. 

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“Disturbing acts of antisemitism and violence increased on college campuses in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, it is more important than ever for universities to fulfill their responsibility to provide students with a safe learning environment,” said Boozman. “University leaders should move swiftly to hold individuals who take part in abhorrent, antisemitic behavior accountable and I am proud to support this commonsense legislation that gives them clear guidance and federal support.”

“In the continued aftermath of the October 7th attacks on Israel by Hamas and Iran, we have seen college campuses across our nation become hotbeds of antisemitism where Jewish students’ rights are being threatened,” said Scott. “It’s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism and root out this vile hatred wherever it rears its ugly head. There can be no equivocating when it comes to the issue of anti-Jewish violence and harassment.” 

“Antisemitism is on the rise across the nation, particularly on college campuses, and Congress has a responsibility to do everything in its power to fight back against this hate,” said Rosen. “I’ll keep working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill passed and signed into law.” 

The Antisemitism Awareness Act is also cosponsored by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

Further, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is endorsed by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Christians for United Israel Action Fund, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Federations of North America. Here’s what they are saying: 

“Since Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, there has been a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses. We continue to see university administrators show they have little understanding of how to identify antisemitism. The Conference of Presidents urges swift passage of AntisemitismAwareness Act,” said COO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Stephanie Hausner.

“Advancing this legislation is important in making American campuses safe and welcoming for all. We must defeat the vile cancer of antisemitism and defining it under US law is a critical step in that righteous effort,” said Christians for United Israel Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Hagee Parker.

“As Anti-Defamation League data shows, antisemitism is at crisis levels in the United States, creating the urgent need for decisive action. The AntisemitismAwareness Act makes clear that antisemitism, including anti-Zionist harassment, has no place in our schools or society and, importantly, reinforces the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a critical tool for the U.S. Department of Education,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

 “According to American Jewish Committee's upcoming State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, three in ten American adults are either unsure of what antisemitism means or never heard the term. This number jumps for young Americans (ages 18-29): 41% of young Americans are unsure of what antisemitism means or never heard the term, while, at the same time, young American Jews (ages 18-29) are more likely to have experienced antisemitismin the past year than Jews ages 30 and older. These numbers show why it is critical to have a clear understanding of what antisemitism is and why it matters for American society because to even begin to solve the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what it is and what it isn’t. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is a clear and concise description of antisemitism in its various forms. AJC has supported efforts by both Republican and Democratic Administrations to use this definition at the Department of Education when investigating Title VI complaints,” said CEO of American Jewish Committee Ted Deutch.

“This bill provides a clear framework for identifying antisemitism, offering concrete examples to help distinguish between constitutionally protected speech and targeted attacks against Jewish individuals. Congress must act now to send a strong message that antisemitism has no place in our society,” said Jewish Federations of North America Vice President of Government Relations Karen Paikin Barall.

Congressmen Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) are leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Click here for full text of the legislation.

Winter Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service in Little Rock

• [WHAT] Winter weather conditions, including accumulating snow, mixed sleet and snow, and some freezing rain is forecast to spread across the state today through Wednesday, resulting in widespread travel impacts.

• [WHEN] Winter precipitation will begin across northwest Arkansas later this morning, and expand towards central to southern Arkansas by this afternoon to evening, and persist through Wednesday morning (February 19).

• [WHERE] Significant accumulating snowfall is expected across the northern third of the state, with mixed precipitation including sleet/snow and freezing rain over the southern two-thirds of the state.

• [ADDITIONAL INFO]

• Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for portions of northern and central Arkansas due to heavy snow and sleet. This is where forecast confidence is highest for impactful accumulations.

• Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the remainder of the state where lesser snow, sleet, and freezing rain totals are expected.

• Hazardous cold is forecast by Wednesday morning with single digit to negative morning wind chill values forecast through Friday morning. Cold Weather Advisories are in effect for a large portion of the state tonight, and additional cold weather headlines will likely be needed through Friday morning.

Electric Cooperatives CEO eyeing new policies at state, federal levels

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Federal energy policy is shifting with a new presidential administration and with the Arkansas legislature in session, state energy legislation is also poised to reshape the landscape.

President Donald Trump campaigned on a muscular energy policy that centered on more oil and gas drilling as well as a loosening of regulatory hurdles on energy and retreat from the climate change policies of the Biden years. State lawmakers have introduced legislation to change how electricity companies can structure their rates to better benefit economic development opportunities.

Buddy Hasten, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, sat down recently with Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock to discuss the current and future energy landscape. ECA and its 17 member-owners are electric distribution cooperatives serving approximately 1.2 million Arkansans.

Electric Cooperatives CEO eyeing new policies at state, federal levels

Machine learning maps animal feeding operations to improve sustainability

By Maddie Johnson
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Understanding where farm animals are raised is crucial for managing their environmental impacts and developing technological solutions, but gaps in data often make it challenging to get the full picture.

Becca Muenich, biological and agricultural engineering researcher, set out to fill the gap with a new technique for mapping animal feeding operations.

MAPPING IT OUT — Becca Muenich, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering and a researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, used machine learning tools to model the locations of animal feeding operations in the U.S. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson)

Without proper control strategies, the waste generated by these operations can pose significant ecological harm, Muenich said, such as surface water contamination with excess phosphorus and nitrogen. Animal feeding operations are defined as facilities that feed animals for at least 45 days per year in a confined area that does not grow grass or forage. For Muenich, a water quality engineer who focuses on how water moves through landscapes and how it can pollute areas by picking up and moving toxic materials, this issue piqued her interest.

“We can’t really address something if we don’t know where the problem is,” said Muenich, an associate professor with the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas and researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“We don’t have a good nationwide — even at many state levels — understanding of where livestock are in the landscape, which really hinders our ability to do some of the studies that I was interested in,” she said.

Muenich said there has been a rise in these feeding operations in response to increasing population size and global demand for livestock products.

Considering key predictors of feeding operation presence such as surface temperature, phosphorus levels and surrounding vegetation, Muenich’s team built a machine learning model that can predict the location of feeding operation locations without using aerial images. Machine learning models are a type of computer program that can use algorithms to make predictions based on data patterns.

The model was developed using data encompassing 18 U.S. states. The data was broken up into individual parcels based on ownership. Testing against a dataset of known animal feeding operations, the model predicted their location with 87 percent accuracy.

The study, “Machine learning-based identification of animal feeding operations in the United States on a parcel-scale,” was published in Science of the Total Environment in January.

Filling in the gaps

Previous attempts at identifying animal feeding operations have often relied on aerial images, Muenich said, but livestock facilities often look different between states and by animal, so she and her team aimed to employ further strategies.

MACHINE LEARNING — Muenich and her collaborators published their study in the Total Environment journal, outlining the development and results of their machine learning-based modeling. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson)

She explained the lack of understanding surrounding livestock locations often comes from differences in how states interpret the Clean Water Act, which requires farms classified as “concentrated animal feeding operations” to get permits through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. These facilities are a type of animal feeding operation with more than 1,000 animal units.

Despite the national regulation, states administer this permitting differently, leading to differences in available data.

For example, Muenich built a watershed model in an area with of Michigan and Ohio that included multiple feeding operations. Data was readily available through the pollutant elimination system for Michigan due to the state’s permitting requirements. The same data, however, wasn’t available for the same operations in Ohio, which set Muenich down this path of investigation.

Advancing towards a better accounting of livestock can help with developing strategies that can improve environmental outcomes of livestock management while creating economic opportunities for farmers through the scaling up of technologies aimed at combating animal waste, Muenich said. Scaling these technologies in economically feasible ways requires knowledge of where livestock are most prevalent and spatially connected, she explained.

Co-authors of the study included Arghajeet Saha, formerly a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arkansas and currently an assistant scientist with the Kansas Geological Survey; Barira Rashid, Ph.D. student at the University of Arkansas; Ting Liu, a research associate with the University of Arkansas biological and agricultural engineering department; and Lorrayne Miralha, an assistant professor with The Ohio State University’s department of food, agricultural and biological engineering.

The research was supported by the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability Center under National Science Foundation award number CBET-2019435. The Data with Purpose program from Regrid, a source for nationwide land parcel data, provided data used in the research.

​To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

Cotton, Boozman, Thune reintroduce legislation to repeal the Federal Death Tax

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and 45 of their Senate Republican colleagues today to reintroduce legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this purely punitive tax that can hit family-run farms, ranches, and businesses as the result of the owner’s death.

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The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa).

“Families shouldn’t have to sell major portions of their businesses or farms after the death of a parent just to afford the estate tax. Breaking apart a family’s livelihood is neither fair nor good for the economy. This legislation would end the federal death tax, making it much easier to preserve a family’s legacy and way of life,” said Senator Cotton. 

“Arkansas’s farm families and small businesses should have the opportunity to preserve their legacies for the next generation instead of getting hit with a penalty that jeopardizes their livelihoods,” said Senator Boozman. “They need certainty and relief from this counterproductive burden. Repealing the death tax supports our agriculture producers and entrepreneurs so they can continue to grow their operations and benefit their local economy.”

“Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota,” said Senator Thune. “Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability.”

Text of the bill can be found here.

Background on the Death Tax Repeal Act:

• Fully repeals the Estate Tax.

• Repeals the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) for when a grandparent transfers assets to a grandchild.  

• Maintains step-up basis.

Boozman, Daines Introduce Bill to Support Outdoor Recreation, Block Ban of Traditional Ammo & Tackle

WASHINGTON––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act to prohibit the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science.

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“Enjoying the outdoors through hunting and fishing is part of the fabric and culture of The Natural State,” said Boozman. “These cherished pastimes not only help Arkansans connect to the resources we are blessed to enjoy but also play an important role in wildlife management. I am proud to join my colleagues in working to ensure hunting and fishing can continue on public lands without unreasonable, unscientific restrictions.”

“The great outdoors is a staple of our Montana way of life. Montana hunters and anglers play an important role in wildlife management, and a ban on lead ammo and tackle would be unfair to our sportsmen. I’ll keep fighting with my colleagues to make sure decisions impacting outdoor recreation are guided by commonsense science, not anti-hunting groups,” said Daines.

Specifically, the legislation blocks a prohibition on the use of lead ammunition or tackle unless a decline in wildlife population in a specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act is cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Katie Britt (R-AL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Justice (R-WV), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).

Click here for full text of the legislation. 

Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Highlighted at Research Showcase

By Kev' Moye

The Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention took center stage in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Division of Research and Innovation’s latest Showcase of Medical Discoveries.

The center in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health aims to understand the causes of birth defects and to reduce the number of babies born with birth defects. Conducting extensive research and developing community partnerships is key to the center fulfilling its mission.

The Feb. 5 showcase spotlighted 16 of the center’s research projects.

Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Highlighted at Research Showcase

Lydia Famuyide (right), MPH, listens to a question about her research poster during the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Division of Research and Innovation’s Showcase of Medical Discoveries.

Back to the basics soil fertility training March 11 in Marianna

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Whether you’re new to soil science or been at it for years, there’s never a bad time to review the basics, and that’s what the March 11 soil fertility training workshop at Marianna is all about.

The workshop will be facilitated by Trent Roberts, professor of soil fertility, soil testing, and Bronc Finch, assistant professor and extension soil fertility specialist, and Chandler Arel, extension crop, soils and environmental sciences, all of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The March 11 soil workshop will include a tour of the state's soil test lab (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo).

The event will be held at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station, 3121 Highway 1 South, Marianna, and opens with on-site check-in at 8 a.m.

Lunch will be provided to participants who register by March 4. Participants may register online.

“This is the first soil fertility workshop that we have hosted in several years,” Roberts said. “We are going to get back to basics and cover some introductory topics so that we can build on them going forward.”

Finch called the workshop “an opportunity to refresh or gain new knowledge about some of the basics principles of soil fertility.” 

“We hope that this workshop will lay the groundwork for future educational activities,” Roberts said.

The event will include sessions on:

• Plant essential nutrients.

• Soil basics.

• Soil and water conservation.

• Soil testing philosophy/interpretation.

Additionally, the workshop will include a tour of the Division of Agriculture’s Soil Testing and Research Lab, located at the cotton station. Since it opened in 1976, the lab has tested an estimated 5.7 million soil samples. In 2023 alone, the lab tested a record 220,032 soil samples.

The workshop is being presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the Arkansas Plant Food Association and the Arkansas Soil Testing Board.

For more information on personal finance, visit uaex.uada.edu/money. To learn more about extension programs, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

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.

Gov. Sanders announces ACCESS higher ed details, seeks to remove DEI metrics

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders unveiled details of her Arkansas ACCESS higher education reform plan on Friday (Feb. 14). The roughly 110-page bill, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, and Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, is expected to be filed Feb. 17.

The acronym ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships and standardization. Sanders said higher education reform is her top priority this legislative session. She said she wants to reduce the system’s complexity so both high school seniors and middle-aged moms can access a college education.

“We all see the same issues,” she said. “The system has become too complicated, too woke, and far too often doesn’t fully prepare students for the jobs of the future. ACCESS will fix that.”

Gov. Sanders announces ACCESS higher ed details, seeks to remove DEI metrics

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Friday (Feb. 14) unveiled details of her Arkansas ACCESS higher education reform plan during a press conference at the State Capitol.

Winter Weather Briefing for Arkansas from the National Weather Service in Little Rock

Winter Storm Warning criteria is variable across the state, and now incorporates impact and vulnerability with regard to winter weather.

• [WHAT] Winter weather conditions, including accumulating snow, mixed sleet and snow, and some freezing rain is forecast over most of the state Tuesday through Wednesday, and will likely result in travel impacts across the state Tuesday through Wednesday.

• [WHEN] Winter precipitation is expected to expand in coverage over the state from west to east Tuesday morning (February 18), and persist through Wednesday morning (February 19).

• [WHERE] Accumulating snowfall is expected across the northern third of the state, with a transition zone of mixed precipitation and freezing rain more likely through the event over the southern two-thirds of the state.

• [ADDITIONAL INFO] Portions of the Winter Storm Watch have been upgraded to a Warning as of Monday morning, highlighting where forecast confidence is highest for impactful snowfall. Changes to the watch area and forecast snowfall amounts are still possible.

• Winter Weather Advisories should also be expected where lesser snow amounts and higher ice accruals are forecast.

• Hazardous cold is forecast through the latter half of this week, with single digit to negative morning wind chill values possible Wednesday through Friday mornings. Cold Weather Advisories will likely be needed by Wednesday morning.

Weekly update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

As we move through the 2025 Regular Session, the Arkansas House of Representatives has passed several bills that will impact our communities, focusing on education, healthcare, and food security. Here’s a summary of the key measures approved during the fifth week of the session:

SB59: An Act to Provide Each Public School Student with Breakfast at No Cost

This bill ensures that every student in Arkansas public schools will be entitled to one free breakfast per school day, regardless of their eligibility for federally funded meals. Funded through medical marijuana tax revenue, the bill was passed with the goal of addressing food insecurity among students. Arkansas ranked as the hungriest state in the nation in 2023 with 18.9% of households experiencing food insecurity.

SB142: Bell to Bell, No Cell Act

The House also passed SB142, which addresses the growing concern over cell phone use in schools. Known as the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act, this bill mandates that public and charter schools prohibit students from using cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day. There are exceptions, including emergency situations, and schools will be required to create policies in compliance with the guidelines set by the bill. These include allowing for the use of phones for special events, medical reasons, or for students accessing college coursework through two-factor authentication.

 HB1427: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act

HB1427 represents a major step forward in supporting maternal health in Arkansas. The bill, which is a $45.3 million investment, expands access to healthcare for pregnant women. It establishes presumptive Medicaid eligibility for expectant mothers, creates reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers, and broadens Medicaid coverage to include remote monitoring services like ultrasounds, blood pressure checks, and continuous glucose monitoring. The bill also improves access to prenatal and postnatal care by unbundling Medicaid payments, ensuring coverage for up to 14 visits.

 These bills represent a commitment to improving the well-being of Arkansas’ families, from ensuring children have access to a healthy breakfast to expanding access to critical healthcare services. As always, we encourage all Arkansans to stay informed about the legislative process. You can watch all committee meetings and House floor proceedings live at arkansashouse.org

What They are Saying: Statements of Support for Arkansas ACCESS

Jacob Oliva, Arkansas Department of Education Secretary – “Now that the early childhood and K-12 education systems have been aligned, I am excited to focus our attention toward higher education reform. For far too long, Arkansas’ higher education system has not been standardized. Through ACCESS and a heavy focus on acceleration, the system will be standardized. Not only will higher education be held accountable, but the system also will be streamlined to focus on enrollment, enlistment, and employment to ensure students have high-quality affordable options to enhance their education and training.”

Dr. Ken Warden, Commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education – “Governor Sanders’ overhaul of the higher education system is a welcomed igniter of change. From streamlining the application process and making college credits more accessible for high school students, to expanding scholarship opportunities and standardizing the course code numbering system, the legislation makes our system more user friendly and places students at the center. I look forward to working with our higher education institutions to implement the changes approved by the legislature.”

Representative Matthew Shepherd – “Arkansas students should graduate with more than just a degree—they should have the education, skills, and training necessary to thrive in the real world. I thank the Governor for her leadership with the ACCESS initiative. It will help create stronger career pathways, grow our economy, and ensure a brighter future for the next generation.”  

Senator Jonathan Dismang – “One of the things I am most excited about is the slashing of bureaucratic red tape and arbitrary roadblocks that have long hindered student achievement in our state’s higher education system. Much like the LEARNS Act, ACCESS is squarely focused on the student and prioritizes their individual success.”

Senator Breanne Davis -“ACCESS is the plan we need to take Arkansas’ higher education system to the next level. I’m confident this bill will benefit Arkansas Tech University and U of A-Community College Morrilton, as they’ve been meeting demands of the work force for years, adding value to our communities and making generational change for families. I look forward to working with the Governor on getting this bill over the finish line.”

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay B. Silveria, President, University of Arkansas System – “We appreciate the Governor and General Assembly making a commitment to prioritize higher education in this legislative session, highlighting the key role our institutions play in the educational and economic advancement of our state and its citizens. We understand our obligation to provide the state with a strong return on its investment in our programs. Governor Sanders and her team have approached Arkansas ACCESS with a spirit of open dialogue, and we are looking forward to continuing that conversation as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.”

Dr. Charles F. Robinson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville – “We greatly appreciate Governor Sanders and her team engaging us on ways to improve educational outcomes for both our state’s high school and college students. We all recognize that better-educated students make for a stronger Arkansas, and we will continue to engage with the Governor on this legislation to help achieve that outcome.”

Dr. Brendan Kelly, Arkansas State University System President – “The Governor took time to personally engage with our system leadership about her vision for higher education. The Arkansas State University System is more interested in the future of higher education than in the way we’ve always done things. We look forward to advancing the conversation about deploying and implementing initiatives that result in positive outcomes and returns on investment for Arkansas.”

Dr. Russ Jones, Arkansas Tech University President – “Arkansas Tech University looks forward to working with the Governor and other institutions of higher learning on the Arkansas ACCESS plan. I commend the Governor for her strong commitment to strengthening higher education.”

Dr. Summer DeProw, Chancellor, University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College – “Governor Sanders is showing that she and her team clearly understand student success and the importance of postsecondary education. The Arkansas ACCESS bill provides structural encouragement for students to stretch themselves through weighted high school GPAs, opportunities for alternative funding models for workforce training and concurrent courses and calls for collaboration to streamline the process for applying to college. UA-PTC looks forward to learning more about the Arkansas ACCESS bill over the next few weeks.”

Chris Heigle, President, Arkansas Northeastern College – “The Arkansas Access bill is a big step forward for students in our state. It expands options for high-achieving students, makes the process of getting into college smoother, and strengthens scholarships for veterans and first responders. One of the most important aspects of the legislation is how it elevates career and technical education, recognizing these programs as both valuable and academically rigorous. A common application will help remove unnecessary hurdles, making it easier for students to access higher education. This legislation also provides the foundation to begin adjusting the productivity formula to better reflect the real impact of workforce-focused education, ensuring institutions are measured in a way that truly captures their value. Governor Sanders’ focus on workforce-aligned education will have a lasting effect, helping students succeed and strengthening Arkansas’ economy. This bill puts students and institutions in a better position to contribute to the state’s future.”

Dr. Bentley Wallace, Chancellor of Arkansas State University, Mountain Home – “We value the Governor’s focus on and interest in advancing effective higher education with meaningful results. Ultimately, we all have a common interest in doing what’s best for educating and training students who will contribute to the growing Arkansas economy.” 

Dr. Jennifer Methvin, Chancellor of Arkansas State University-Beebe – “We share the Governor’s focus on accessibility to higher education at every level. We look forward to seeing the proposed legislation to understand how the ideas develop into programs and solutions.”

Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of ExcelinEd in Action – “Following the passage of the LEARNS Act in 2023, leaders in Arkansas continue to make education a top priority. The Arkansas ACCESS Act is another seminal piece of legislation designed to transform the K-12 and higher education systems to better serve students as they look to enter the workforce. By raising expectations, creating accelerated pathways to college and career, expanding access to higher education and industry-valued credentials, and aligning the K-12 and higher education systems to better serve students, Arkansas is poised to reap the benefits for generations to come.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker dies at 81

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker died in Little Rock on Thursday (Feb. 13) at the age of 81 after battling an illness.

Tucker, a Democrat, was a former Arkansas governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, U.S. Congressman, and prosecuting attorney. He was a major player in Arkansas politics from the 1970’s through the 1990’s and was nearly elected U.S. Senator in an epic race against the late David Pryor in 1978.

Tucker served as the 43rd governor of Arkansas from 1992-1996. He was elected Lt. Governor in 1990 and elevated to governor when then-Gov. Bill Clinton was elected U.S. President. Tucker won re-election in 1994, but was snared in the Whitewater scandal and resigned from office in 1996.

Former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker dies at 81

Griffin and 16 other AGs fight to stop Biden Era attempt to categorize gender dysphoria as a disability

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following update explaining a lawsuit he joined in September 2024 challenging an unlawful Biden administration rule that categorized gender dysphoria as a disability and allowed the federal government to withhold funds for those with disabilities from anyone who disagrees with the rule. Recent reporting has erroneously implied that the lawsuit seeks to repeal Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

What is Section 504?
•    Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (1) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federally funded programs and (2) requires employers to reasonably accommodate disabilities.
•    States have to comply with Section 504 or the federal government can withdraw federal funds—like K-12 school funds, Medicaid dollars, etc.  
•    Federal law says that “gender identity disorders” are not disabilities under Section 504 or under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  
 
What prompted the lawsuit?
•    In May 2024, the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a rule that—contrary to federal law—includes “gender dysphoria” as a disability under HHS regulations.
•    The rule’s gender mandate could require schools and universities to allow boys to use girls’ bathrooms and showers, even to live in girls’ dormitories; require schools and universities to allow males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports; and require teachers and students to use wrong-sex pronouns. 
•    If states do not comply with the HHS rule’s gender mandate, the Biden administration’s rule would jeopardize their federal funding. 
 
What is the lawsuit trying to do?
•    17 state attorneys general, including our office, sued to block Biden’s illegal HHS rule.  
•    The lawsuit does NOT seek to end Section 504’s disability protection for anyone covered under that statute. It simply seeks to overturn Biden’s unlawful gender mandate.
•    The lawsuit states that Section 504 did not allow the Biden administration to impose this gender mandate on the threat of taking away states’ federal funding.
•    If the states win this lawsuit, no one’s disability accommodations would be taken away—the regulations would go back to what they were before May 2024.

What is the current status of the lawsuit?
•    The lawsuit has been stayed while the Trump administration reconsiders the rule.

What about the claims that Count 3 of the lawsuit seeks to repeal Section 504?
•    The Biden administration says that Section 504 not only gives HHS the power to impose the gender mandate, but that this 52-year-old statute required the gender mandate all along.
•    We argue that the Biden administration is wrong about this. Federal law is clear that gender dysphoria is not a disability, and states cannot be forced to treat it as such in order to comply with Section 504. 
•    If Section 504 did somehow impose these gender-mandate obligations on states 50 years down the line, then the whole law wouldn’t be constitutional under the Spending Clause (which requires states be given clear conditions on federal funding). A ruling “declaring Section 504 unconstitutional”—in the context of this lawsuit—means that HHS could not revoke state funds it oversees (e.g. Medicaid funds) for the states’ failure to comply with the gender mandate. 
•    Again, the states DO NOT argue that Section 504 is actually unconstitutional, because we say that Section 504 DOES NOT allow for this gender mandate and CANNOT be interpreted the way the Biden administration tried to interpret it.
•    This statute has been on the books for 52 years. If we wanted to try and get rid of it like some people have claimed, we could have sued anytime. But we didn’t do that. We sued only after the May 2024 rule with the gender mandate.
•    When President Trump took office, we agreed to stay the case while the administration reassesses the rule. Why would we have done that if our goal was to have the entire statute struck down? It makes no sense.

What relief is the lawsuit seeking?
•    The requested relief was to enjoin federal government officials from withholding money from states for failure to comply with the unlawful gender dysphoria rule.
•    The lawsuit does not seek to repeal Section 504.

Conclusion
The Biden administration’s unlawful rule poses a legal threat to Section 504, and if enforced, it would potentially harm truly disabled students by punishing schools that refuse to conform to the unlawful final rule regarding gender dysphoria. It is the final rule classifying gender dysphoria as a disability that is being challenged by the lawsuit, NOT Section 504 itself.