by - March 29, 2017 7:30 pm
Senate votes for medical marijuana tax
The Arkansas Senate voted Wednesday for a bill imposing a special privilege tax on medical marijuana. House Bill 1580 by Rep. Doug House, R-North Little Rock, imposes a 4% special…
Author: Steve Brawner
by - March 29, 2017 3:19 pm
Panel says no to bill requiring pricing in bids
The House State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee said no Wednesday to a bill that would require government agencies and higher education institutions to consider price when accepting bids for…
by - March 28, 2017 7:05 pm
Bill restricting guns at sporting events advances after SEC expresses concern
A bill that would restrict the ability of individuals to carry a concealed weapon into college sporting events, UAMS and the Arkansas State Hospital passed the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday,…
by - March 28, 2017 7:01 pm
House committee advances school choice bill
The House Education Committee advanced a bill to the full House that would allow tax-credited donations for education savings accounts that would pay for students to attend alternatives to public…
by - March 27, 2017 9:48 pm
Legislators get look at state general revenue budget
Legislators Monday received an outline of the state’s general revenue budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year as the session began what is expected to be its final week. The $5.5…
by - March 27, 2017 9:46 pm
House advances amendment amending amendment process
The Arkansas House of Representatives voted to advance a third constitutional amendment for the voters to consider – one that would change the amendment process itself. The proposed amendment would…
by - March 24, 2017 3:50 pm
Obamacare repeal pulled for lack of votes; unclear if or how soon Congress will tackle healthcare
Lacking the votes for passage, Republican U.S. House leaders pulled the bill that would repeal and replace Obamacare shortly before it was scheduled for a Friday (March 24) vote. Republican…
by - March 22, 2017 6:34 pm
House sends bill banning sex selection abortions to governor
The Arkansas House of Representatives sent to the governor a bill that bans abortions performed for sex selection. It also advanced a bill requiring physicians to check with the state’s…
by - March 22, 2017 2:34 pm
Bill regulating pipelines fails in committee
The House Insurance and Commerce Committee said no Wednesday to a bill that would have increased regulatory hurdles and reporting requirements for pipeline companies wishing to use eminent domain. House…
by - March 21, 2017 5:40 pm
Legislators vote against bills limiting, ending death penalty, and blocking death penalty for mentally ill
Less than a month before the state of Arkansas is to begin executing eight men over an 11-day period, legislators Tuesday rejected bills that would prevent executions of mentally ill…
by - March 21, 2017 3:30 pm
Governor signs bill giving King own holiday, praised floor speech of Fort Smith legislator
Arkansans will honor Dr. Martin Luther King – and only King – the third Monday of January next year after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law Tuesday (March…
by - March 20, 2017 5:48 pm
House says no to banning marijuana edibles, yes to March primaries
The Arkansas House voted against banning manufactured edible medical marijuana products, voted to move party primaries permanently to March, and concurred in Senate amendments on a bill requiring voters to…
by - March 20, 2017 1:56 pm
Senate committee passes four-strikes bill
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Monday that would require offenders sentenced three times previously to the Department of Correction to serve at least 80% of their sentences on…
by - March 17, 2017 5:16 pm
Legislators vote for separate King holiday, support change to marijuana amendment
Arkansans will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday alone next January and remember General Robert E. Lee in October after House members passed a bill giving King his own day…
by - March 16, 2017 5:26 pm
School choice bill fails in House, sponsor to try again
A bill that would create a pilot program allowing tax-credited donations for education savings accounts failed to pass the Arkansas House Thursday (March 16). The vote on the Arkansas Parental…
by - March 16, 2017 12:45 pm
U.S. House Budget Committee advances Obamacare repeal bill, tough path expected in Senate
The U.S. House Budget Committee on Thursday (March 16) advanced the American Health Care Act, with the two Arkansas members on the committee, U.S. Reps. Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman,…
by - March 15, 2017 7:41 pm
Committee votes to ban marijuana edibles, some smoking
The House Rules Committee voted Wednesday (March 15) to ban the sale of marijuana edibles and to ban marijuana smoking in certain places and situations. House Bill 1392 by Robin…
by - March 15, 2017 6:33 pm
Arkansas bathroom bill debated, temporarily pulled
The sponsor of a bill that would require public facilities to designate single gender bathrooms and allow them to be sued after intrusions temporarily pulled her bill Wednesday because a…
by - March 15, 2017 6:04 pm
Bill would join Craighead County’s judicial districts
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would combine Craighead County’s two judicial districts into one. Senate Bill 535 by Sen. John Cooper, R-Jonesboro, passed on a voice vote. The…
by - March 15, 2017 4:11 pm
Guns on campus bill passes House; Gov. Hutchinson to sign
Concealed carry permit holders with eight additional hours of training will be able to carry a weapon on college campuses after a vote Wednesday (March 15) by the Arkansas House…