Author: Steve Brawner

Steve Brawner

Gov. Sanders signs PBM prompt pay bill; other PBM bill soon before committee

Legislation signed by Gov. Sarah Sanders requires pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse pharmacists for prescription drugs within 7-14 days after receiving an electronic claim. Another bill, likely to get much…

Legislative panels pass ACCESS bill with student political activity amendment

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…

Sen. Sullivan bill could instead replace PBS board

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, is considering amending his bill that would abolish the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and move Arkansas PBS to full control by the Department of Education. Instead,…

Gov. Sanders announces plan to eliminate grocery tax

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced the filing of a bill that would repeal the remaining 1/8th-cent sales tax on groceries in a press conference Tuesday (March 4). The Grocery Tax Relief…

Bill would let utilities raise rates annually to build power plants

Legislative sponsors have introduced a bill they say will allow electric utilities to increase rates sooner and annually to build power plants, ultimately creating lower rates long term. Senate Bill…

AG Griffin files suit against GM for OnStar services

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed suit against General Motors and its OnStar service Wednesday (Feb. 26), alleging GM did not tell customers their driving data would be sold to…

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

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…

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

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…

Fluoridation repeal measure stalls in Senate committee

A bill that would repeal Arkansas’ statewide fluoridation program and remove the requirement that water systems maintain a fluoride content failed in the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday (Feb….

Arkansas-Asian business group will hire full-time executive director

Seven years after its creation, the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses (AAAB) is looking to raise $25,000 by March and hire a full-time executive director by May. Founder and President…

Then & Now: Former reporter advocates for lower-income Arkansans

Laura Kellams went from writing about the news to shaping it when she left the newspaper profession to become Northwest Arkansas director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in…

State of the State 2025: Banking officials are optimistic about the sector

Arkansas’ banks are financially strong, and some could be seeking to acquire out-of-state properties. A recent survey showed that bankers across the country are hopeful the regulatory environment will improve…

Jefferson County stalemate inspires bill to revert local budgets

Lawmakers planned to file a bill Monday (Feb. 3) that would require cities and counties to revert to the previous year’s budget if they haven’t written one by Feb. 7…

State of the State 2025: Two years after LEARNS, focus is on higher ed

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ 2023 LEARNS Act changed K-12 education. Her focus now is on changing higher education. In her Jan. 14 State of the State address, Sanders introduced the Arkansas…

Senate panel advances anti-affirmative action bill

A controversial bill that the sponsor said would prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment by Arkansas state agencies and public entities passed the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs…

Then and Now: Toni Lindsey is passionate about politics, Razorbacks

Toni Lindsey is called “Mama T” by business leaders thanks to her work with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Arkansas program. She calls former Arkansas Razorbacks coaches Houston…

Georgetown study says half of Arkansas children in rural counties covered by Medicaid or CHIP

More than half of the Arkansas children living in rural counties were covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 2023, a new study has found, ranking…

Bill would prevent PBMs from dispensing drugs via retail, mail

A bill filed Thursday (Jan. 16) in the Arkansas Legislature would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies from obtaining retail permits and operating pharmacies and mail order services in…

Sen. King: Instead of one big prison, partner with counties

A bill being drafted by Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, would appropriate $600 million in fiscal year 2025 to expand county jails, particularly those in areas of the state where…

Ground broken for expanded Clinton Airport canopy

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport officials and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott broke ground Wednesday (Dec. 18) on a $5.24 million project that will expand the airport’s curbside canopy….