Bill to expand voucher program clears House
A bill that would expand a special-needs education voucher program to include foster children passed in a 82-3 vote in the House Monday.
Bill to allow ‘conscience’ exemption for health care providers, insurers fails in committee
The House Public Health Committee on Thursday rejected a bill from Rep. Brandt Smith (R-Jonesboro) that would have created an avenue for health care workers, institutions and insurers to opt out of administering or paying for health care services on the basis of “religious, moral or ethical principles.” Smith did not rule out reviving the bill for a second vote at a later date.
Education savings accounts bill advances in House committee
A bill that would establish education savings accounts to be used at parents' discretion to fund private school and other education costs passed in the House Education Committee Thursday.
Bill that would give charter schools rights to public school buildings passes in House after vote to reconsider
A bill that would grant Arkansas charter schools the right to buy or lease unused or underutilized public school buildings passed in the House 53-32 Thursday.
Bid to keep minors from beings sentenced to life without parole clears House committee
A bill that would prevent minors from being sentenced to life without parole passed the state House Judiciary Committee Thursday. The legislation would also allow parole board hearings for those currently in prison that were sentenced as minors to life without parole for homicide offenses.
Bill that would give charter schools rights to public school buildings fails in House
A bill that would grant Arkansas charter schools the right to buy or lease unused or underutilized public school buildings failed in the House in a 50-32 vote Wednesday. Had it passed, it would have been sent to Governor Hutchinson to be signed into law.
Legislation to expand voucher program clears panel
A bill that would expand a special-needs education voucher program to include foster children passed on a voice vote with some dissent in the House Education Committee Wednesday.
Bill that would give charter schools rights to public school buildings advances
A bill that would grant Arkansas charter schools the right to use “unused or underutilized” public school buildings advanced out of the House Education Committee late Monday afternoon on a voice vote with some dissent, drawing criticism from some opponents of the bill who cried foul at the unusual timing of the committee's action.
Bill that would require colleges to create a sexual assault action plan advances
A bill that would require the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create an action plan for addressing sexual assault on college campuses advanced out of the House Education committee on Thursday on a voice vote with no dissent.
Bill to ease restrictions on voucher program clears the House
A bill that would allow superintendents to waive the requirement that a student attend public school for a year before being eligible to participate in a special-needs education voucher program passed 69-7 in the House Wednesday.
Bill would require racial impact statement on criminal justice bills
A bill filed in the Arkansas Senate would require racial impact assessments for certain criminal justice bills.
Sanctuary campus bill dies again in committee
For the second time, a bill that would render colleges and universities ineligible for state funding if they "formally enacted or informally adopted" policies that did not comply with federal immigration laws -- so-called "sanctuary policies" for undocumented immigrants -- failed in committee.