Arkansas lawmakers approved a proposed $6.2 billion budget and an overhaul of the state’s sentencing laws on Friday as they wrapped up an 89-day legislative session.
Category: State News
Arkansas House OKs bill allowing permitless concealed carry
A permit would not be required to carry a concealed handgun in Arkansas under a bill lawmakers sent Thursday to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Arkansas lawmakers OK restrictions on trans student pronouns
A bill that would require parental approval for Arkansas teachers to address transgender students by the pronouns and names that they use is now headed to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk
Arkansas lawmakers approve $124 million income tax cut plan
Arkansas lawmakers on Wednesday approved a plan to cut individual and corporate income taxes by $124 million a year.
Arkansas Senate OKs sentencing overhaul backed by Sanders
The Arkansas Senate approved legislation Monday ending parole eligibility for people convicted of certain violent crimes, a sentencing overhaul being pushed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as she seeks nearly half a billion dollars for more prison space.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he’s running for president in 2024
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he’s running for president in 2024, offering himself as an alternative for Republicans ready to turn the party away from Donald Trump.
At least 26 dead after tornadoes rake US Midwest, South
Storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 26 people in small towns and big cities across the South and Midwest.
Arkansas Gov. Sanders, lawmakers call for $124M tax cut plan
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and legislative leaders on Thursday called for cutting income taxes by $124 million as they near the end of this year’s legislative session.
Arkansas bathroom bill condemned as too extreme is revamped
An Arkansas bathroom bill that went further than a 2016 North Carolina law that was repealed after widespread boycotts was revamped Tuesday following complaints from members of the transgender community and their families.
Arkansas sues TikTok, Meta over privacy, child safety claims
The state of Arkansas sued TikTok and Facebook parent Meta on Tuesday, claiming the social media companies were misleading consumers about the safety of children on their platforms and protections of users’ private data.
Arkansas governor proposes $470M for 3,000 new prison beds
Governor Sanders on Monday called for setting aside $470 million for new prison beds and imposing sentencing changes to keep violent offenders incarcerated longer.
Other states, including Arkansas, are copying Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ efforts
Two other states — Alabama and Arkansas — have enacted laws similar to Florida’s since last year.
Arkansas restricts school bathroom use by transgender people
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday signed a law prohibiting transgender people at public schools from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.
Sanders signs new law allowing anti-abortion monument at Arkansas Capitol
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed a new law that will allow a monument near the state Capitol marking the number of abortions performed in Arkansas before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
Arkansas lawmakers send Gov. Sanders school bathroom bill
Transgender people at Arkansas public schools would not be able to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity under a bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday.