Activity has begun to pick up at the Arkansas Capitol, as the legislature had its first full week of committee hearings and chamber meetings. Arkansas Advocates staff attends committee hearings whenever possible and testifies on bills on our agenda. Our Race Equity Director Maricella Garcia testified this week before committee against SB3, which would do away with, among other things, programs and policies meant to recruit and retain Black, Indigenous and other People of Color into certain professions, such as teaching. You can read her testimony on our website.
Below you will find an overview of bills on AACF’s legislative agenda and that AACF generally either supports or opposes. We are monitoring more bills, listed and frequently updated on our website.
Bills on AACF’s Legislative Agenda
Through conversations with partners, advocates and young Arkansans, and through our own policy research, AACF has identified a series of policies that will improve the well-being of Arkansans. The following bills are in support of our 2025 legislative agenda.
Education, K-12
Scheduled: HB1144 | Rep. Jim Wooten | House Education Committee
This bill would require a private school that accepts a LEARNS Act voucher to be responsible for the same reporting requirements as public schools and public charter schools in Arkansas. This would add an accountability measure to private schools receiving public funds. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
Equity
Progressed and scheduled: HB1046 | Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Breanne Davis | House Committee on Public Transportation
This bill would require the Department of Finance and Administration to create a specific Blue Envelope that would become available to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by January 2026 that would provide law enforcement with specific information about how to adapt their response when interacting with an individual with ASD during a motor-vehicle related interaction. It passed the House Committee on Public Transportation on Tuesday and the full House on Wednesday. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the Senate (in the afternoon) on Monday, February 3.
Food Security
Scheduled: SB59 | Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Zack Gramlich | Senate Education Committee
This bill would require public schools to provide a free breakfast to any student who requests it, even if the student does not qualify for free meals under any federal, state, or local program. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 3.
Bills AACF Also Supports
The following bills are not formally on AACF’s legislative agenda, but AACF recognizes they could have a positive impact on Arkansas’s children and families.
Democracy and Voting Rights
Progressed: SB12 | Sen. Bryan King | Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs
If this bill passes, the communications of the Board of Apportionment (the committee that draws legislative districts) will be included specifically as subject to Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act. It passed the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs on Thursday.
Education, Higher Ed
Passed: HB1005 | Rep. David Ray and Sen. Ricky Hill | House Education Committee
This bill would provide members of the Arkansas National Guard with free tuition for postsecondary certificate programs, expanding the current program that allows free tuition for undergraduate degrees. This would expand their options to occupational and technical programs, such as welding technology and hospitality management. The bill passed the House on Monday, passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday and the full Senate on Thursday. It has been sent to the Governor’s office to be signed into law. Read news coverage on this bill on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette website.
Education, K-12
New and scheduled: SB89 | Sen. Jane English | Senate Education Committee
This bill would require school districts to publicly post on their website the names and email addresses of members of the school board, agendas of regular and special board meetings at least 24 hours before the meeting, and minutes of regular and special board meetings within 24 hours of the meeting. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 3.
New and scheduled: SB90 | Sen. Jane English | Senate Education Committee
This bill would require the board of directors of a public school district to allow public comment at the beginning of school board meetings. Members of the public who choose to provide comment will be given a minimum of three minutes. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 3.
New and scheduled: SB142 | Sen. Tyler Dees and Rep. Jon S. Eubanks | Senate Education Committee
This bill would require every public school district and open-enrollment public charter school to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones by students during the school day, except during an emergency. The policy would be required to allow exceptions for students with disabilities, if the use of a personal electronic device is included on their IEP or 504 Plan. It would require the districts to post their policies on their websites and submit them to the Arkansas Department of Education for approval. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 3.
Equity
New: HR1024 | Rep. Tracy Steele | House Management Committee
This resolution would recognize support from the House of Representatives to celebrate Black History Month in February 2025 and the contributions made by African Americans in Arkansas throughout history.
Family Economic Security
Scheduled: HB1018 | Rep. Ashley Hudson | House Committee on Revenue & Taxation
This bill would provide an income tax credit for an employer who provides paid family and medical leave to a qualified employee who has been employed for at least 12 consecutive months. The tax credit would be equal to 25% of the wages paid to a qualified employee during the period the employee is on family and medical leave. However, it would be limited to a maximum of 12 weeks of leave and $4,000 per qualified employee per year. The credit would not be allowed to exceed the employer’s tax liability, and any unused amounts could not be carried forward to subsequent tax years. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
Health
Scheduled: HB1063 | Rep. Julie Mayberry and Sen. Steve Crowell | House Committee on Revenue & Taxation
This bill would expand the disability certification criteria for the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program (tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities) by increasing the qualifying age at which the onset of blindness or other disability occurs from 26 to 46. If enacted, it would not go into effect until 2026. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
New: HB1333 | Rep. Ashley Hudson and Sen. Jamie Scott | House Committee on Insurance & Commerce
This bill would require healthcare insurers to cover breastfeeding and lactation consultant services. If enacted, the coverage would begin on January 1, 2026.
Tax and Budget
Scheduled: HB1076 | Rep. Ashley Hudson | House Committee on Revenue & Taxation
This bill would provide a nonrefundable tax credit of up to 50% of qualifying expenses associated with caregiving for a family member. The caregiver must have an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000, and the credit is limited to $2,000 per year ($3,000 if the family member receiving the care is a veteran or has a diagnosis of dementia). The total amount of the income tax credits allowed is $1.5 million in a calendar year. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
Bills AACF Opposes
The following are bills we believe would be harmful to our state, our state’s children and their families, and our state’s most vulnerable individuals.
Democracy and Voting Rights
New: HB1222 | Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer | House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs
This bill would allow the Arkansas Attorney General to reject a proposed ballot measure based on whether he or she determined the proposed measure would violate the United States Constitution or federal law. Historically, the AG has only provided opinions and guidance on the topic.
Education, K-12
New and scheduled: HB1180 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Clint Penzo | House Education Committee
This bill would require public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools to teach, beginning in 5th grade, human growth and development as it relates to pregnancy and human development inside the womb, to include a three-minute-minimum, high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” animated video, developed by Live Action. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
New and Scheduled: HB1215 | Rep. Mary Bentley | House Education Committee
This bill would change the 2023 school bathroom bill that targeted transgender youth. This bill would allow a coach to visit student athletes in a locker room, changing room, shower room, or restroom that is designated for a sex different from the coach’s, provided other parameters are met. Instead of adding more exceptions to this law, we maintain that the whole section, ACA 6-21-120, should be repealed. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee at 10am on Tuesday, February 4.
Equity
Progressed: SB3 | Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Bentley | Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee
This bill would prohibit state agencies from providing programs targeted toward historically excluded groups, including on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin but specifically excludes veteran status in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement. This could result in the elimination of scholarships to Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans who commit to teaching in the Delta; as well as university retention programs for Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students, faculty, and staff. It would also prevent programs designed to recruit more diverse staff in state government. This bill also creates a civil action and a criminal penalty for an individual if they are found guilty of “knowingly” violating the restriction against discriminating or providing preferential treatment to an individual or a group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement. They may be found guilty of a class A misdemeanor ($2,500 fine and up to one year in jail) and civilly may be required to pay reasonable court costs and attorney’s fees. It passed the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday and the full Senate on Wednesday. It is now assigned to the House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs. Read news coverage on this bill on Talk Business and Politics, the Arkansas Advocate and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Health
New: SB141 | Sen. Bryan King | Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee
This bill would defund the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI).
How You Can Help
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