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Here’s a rundown of some of the major movements in the state legislature this week. See below for a complete list of bills we’re tracking. Follow our News page for updates throughout the week. Here are the highlights:
HEALTH: The push to allow local municipalities to determine the fluoride levels of their water system moved forward this week with a House vote on HB1355. The bill establishes a maximum fluoride level set by the Department of Health. It does not set a minimum standard for local water systems. This is of note because it goes against regulations established in 2011 requiring water systems serving over 5,000 people to maintain a fluoride content set by the Department of Health to prevent tooth decay. This bill will now be presented to the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.
EDUCATION: AACF released a new report this week. It shows that if the state doesn’t make changes in education policy, students will continue to fall behind. Arkansas has made some much-needed progress since the now-famous Lake View case. But the state is failing to meet all the requirements placed on it by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The report, “Education in the Post Lake View Era,” looks at the steps the state has taken to reduce the achievement gap (the difference in academic performance between low-income students and their higher-income peers) since 2003. It includes a full list of legislative recommendations. AACF, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel (APPP), and the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign hosted a press conference at the Capitol yesterday to draw attention to the report.
JUVENILE JUSTICE: A bill that would end the practice of sentencing juvenile offenders to life without parole was tabled in the House Judiciary Committee this week. The bill is now being amended and will likely appear before the committee again next week. We are keeping an eye on the amendments and will provide further updates as we are able.
TAX AND BUDGET: A bill that would divert $2.8 billion in state general revenue funds to state highways over the next 10 years passed the House Transportation Committee yesterday. The health and education of Arkansas children are at risk because the bill would redirect billions of future state general revenue dollars that typically fund programs for children and families and put it towards highways and roads. This bill proposes to take a giant slice out of the main pool of money that gets distributed to state programs every year without any plan to replace these funds. Recent tax cuts that also reduce state general revenue make now a particularly dangerous time to take more funding away from the general fund. The end result will be major cuts to programs that help vulnerable children and families. It looks like some significant opposition to the bill is forming, so ultimate passage is not a foregone conclusion. More on this bill as it develops.
Other bills we are tracking: