Author: Steve Brawner

House votes for voter ID bill

The Arkansas House of Representatives voted 74-21 Tuesday (Jan. 31) to advance a bill requiring voters to present a photo identification when voting. House Bill 1047 by Rep. Mark Lowery,…

Higher ed funding, healthy food bills advance

Bills advanced in the Arkansas House Monday that would create a “productivity-based” higher education funding formula and would prohibit government food program recipients from using their benefits for unhealthy food….

Governor signs bill banning abortion procedure; measure fails to make March primary permanent

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law Thursday (Jan. 26) a bill that would ban the most common procedure for second-term abortions. The Arkansas Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act,…

Hutchinson: Trump’s protectionist talk a concern; opposes school choice bill

Gov. Asa Hutchinson is concerned about how President Donald Trump’s trade protectionist talk could affect Arkansas’ economy. He also opposes a bill creating education savings accounts from tax-deductible donations because…

Bill would delay medical marijuana until legal nationwide

A bill filed by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, would make medical marijuana illegal in Arkansas until it’s legal in the United States. Senate Bill 238 would delay the law’s effective…

Bill would give donors tax credits for funding school choice accounts

Parents sending children to private school or educating them at home would be eligible for funding from nonprofits fueled by donors given tax credits under a bill being considered by…

Voter ID bill passes committee, will need two-thirds vote in the Arkansas House

A bill requiring voters to present a photo identification at the polls passed a House committee Wednesday. House Bill 1047 by Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, was approved by the House…

Rep. Collins files campus concealed carry bill, UA System boss opposes bill

A bill requiring Arkansas’ public colleges and universities to allow staff members to carry concealed weapons on campus was filed Monday, but certain institutions, such as the University of Arkansas…

Bill would create private alternative to foster care

A bill allowing parents in a crisis to use a private placement agency to find caregivers for their children will be considered Wednesday by the House Aging, Children and Youth,…

Arkansas House panel OKs new higher ed funding formula

A new “productivity-based” funding formula for the state’s higher education institutions, a priority of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s, passed the House Education Committee Tuesday (Jan. 24). Under House Bill 1209 by…

Governor signs two medical marijuana bills into law

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the first two medical marijuana bills into law Monday. House Bill 1026 by Rep. Doug House, R-North Little Rock, extends the deadline for rule making from…

At March for Life, Gov. Hutchinson says he’ll sign abortion-banning bill

Forty-four years to the day after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told a couple of thousand marchers at the annual March for Life…

Women’s March for Arkansas draws thousands to Little Rock

Thousands marched in Little Rock Saturday (Jan. 21) to show solidarity with a simultaneous Women’s March on Washington along with marches across the globe. Galvanized by the election of President…

Tobacco funds would go to disability services under bill, Senate OKs medical marijuana rule change

The Arkansas House of Representatives on Thursday (Jan. 19) passed a bill that would redirect unused tobacco settlement funds to provide services to waiting individuals with developmental disabilities. House Bill…

Ban on abortion procedure passes Arkansas House panel

A bill outlawing the most common second trimester abortion procedure passed the Arkansas House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee Thursday (Jan. 19). A representative of the state chapter of…

Senate panel passes marijuana bills; higher ed funding bill filed

Two bills related to medicinal marijuana passed the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee Wednesday (Jan. 18), a day after both passed the full House of Representatives. Also, bills…

Governor raises $800,000 for re-election so far

Gov. Asa Hutchinson raised more than $800,000 for his re-election campaign during his first event Jan. 5, his chief political strategist said Wednesday. That event was a casual reception at…

Bills would expand advanced practice nurses’ authority

Legislators filed four bills Tuesday that would give advanced practice registered nurses in Arkansas more authority to serve as primary care providers. The bills were discussed in a press conference…

Arkansas House passes two medical marijuana bills, one narrowly

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed two bills changing the state’s medical marijuana amendment Tuesday, including narrowly passing one change the bills’ sponsor said was necessary to ensure physicians would…

Committee votes to make SNAP benefits for healthy food only

A bill requiring what formerly was the food stamp program to be used only for nutritious foods advanced through the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee Tuesday, as did…