Arkansas Advocates staff have had a busy week. Our Race Equity Director Maricella Garcia testified for the second time against SB3, while our Economic Policy Director Pete Gess testified in support of SB50. Behind the scenes, our staff have had conversations with legislators about ways they can improve the bills they’ve filed or plan to file. And we continued our online campaign to defeat SB3.
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 Committee on Education at 10am on Tuesday, February 11.
Equity
Now Law: HB1046 is now Act 16 | Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Breanne Davis | House Committee on Public Transportation
Act 16 requires the Department of Finance and Administration to create a specific Blue Envelope that will become available to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by January 2026 that will 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.
Food Security
Progressed and 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. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday and the full Senate on Thursday. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Education at 10am on Tuesday, February 11. Find news coverage of the bill on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Arkansas Advocate.
Health
New: SB213 | Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Aaron Pilkington |Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
This Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies bill would change multiple policies relating to pregnancy and postpartum care. It would fast-track Medicaid coverage for pregnant women (presumptive eligibility), unbundle Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, and would authorize Medicaid reimbursement for prenatal and postpartum home visitation care by doulas and community health workers. It would also provide coverage for blood pressure monitors and remote ultrasounds. Find news coverage on this bill on KTHV, KATV, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Arkansas Advocate, and Talk Business and Politics.
New: HB1427 | Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Missy Irvin | House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
This is the House bill companion Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies bill. It is identical to SB213 summarized above.
New: HB1252 | Rep. Lee Johnson | House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
This bill would create a certification process for community-based doulas in Arkansas and describes their scope of practice. It outlines requirements for certification, including training, privacy, and application procedures. It would require that the Department of Health maintain a public registry of certified community-based doulas. It would authorize certified community-based doulas to be reimbursed for certain services under Medicaid.
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 and scheduled: 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. The bill passed the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs on Thursday. It is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate at 1:30pm on Monday, February 10.
Education, Higher Ed
Now Law: HB1005 is now Act 14. | Rep. David Ray and Sen. Ricky Hill | House Education Committee
This new law will 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 will expand their options to occupational and technical programs, such as welding technology and hospitality management.
Education, K-12
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 10.
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 10.
Progressed 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. This bill passed the Senate Education Committee on Monday, the full Senate on Tuesday, and the House Education Committee on Thursday. It is scheduled to be heard by the full House at 1:30pm on Monday, February 10. Find news coverage on this bill on KTHV, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Arkansas Advocate.
Scheduled: HB1283 | Rep. Julie Mayberry and Sen. Jane English
This bill would require the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education at the state Department of Education to add digital media standards for grades K-12 into existing English language arts and library media standards by the 2026-2027 school year. The Division would also be required to create or endorse a curriculum to implement the standards and parental resources for support. Standards would need to include instruction on digital wellness with the pros and cons of social media, internet safety, social media literacy, and the proper use of artificial intelligence. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Education at 10am on Tuesday, February 11.
Equity
Scheduled: 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. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Management Committee 15 minutes upon the adjournment of the House on Monday, February 10.
Adopted: SR9 | Sen. Fred Love
This resolution has the Senate celebrate Black History Month during February 2025 and recognize the contributions made by African Americans throughout the history of our state and nation. The resolution was adopted on the Senate Floor on Tuesday.
Health
Progressed: SB77 | Sen. Mark Johnson | Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee
The bill would require Medicaid to reimburse for physical therapy provided in clinic-based settings. It would direct the Department of Human Services to seek federal approval to implement this change. It passed the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee on Tuesday and the full Senate on Wednesday. It is now assigned to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.
New: HB1255 | Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge and Sen. Breanne Davis | House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
This bill would amend Medicaid’s coverage of continuous glucose monitors, allowing beneficiaries to obtain these devices either through a pharmacy with a prescription or via a verified provider with a written order.
New: HB1258 | Rep. Lee Johnson | House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
This bill would establish the definition of a community health worker for certification purposes and would authorize services to be covered under the Medicaid program.
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
Progressed and scheduled: 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. It passed the House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs on Wednesday and is scheduled to be heard by the full House at 1:30pm on Monday, February 10.
Education, K-12
Progressed 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 passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday and the full House on Thursday. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 10. Find news coverage on this bill on KARK, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Arkansas Advocate.
Progressed 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 passed the House Education Committee on Tuesday and the full House on Thursday. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 10am on Monday, February 10.
Equity
Progressed and Scheduled: 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 would also allow a person to bring a civil action if the person believes his or her rights have been impacted as it relates to discrimination or providing preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement. It picked up an amendment that resulted in the previous criminal penalties listed being removed from the bill and passed the House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs on Wednesday, then passed the full House on Thursday. Due to the amendment, it now must go back to the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee for another vote. It is scheduled to be heard by the committee at 10am on Tuesday, February 11. Find news coverage on this bill on KTHV, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Arkansas Advocate.
New: HB1422 | Rep. Wayne Long and Sen. Mark Johnson
This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration to prepare a monthly report with the names and identifying information of anyone who has a driver’s license and a valid nonimmigrant visa or entry into the United States and deliver it to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State would then verify if any person were listed in the voter rolls of the state, and that person would be removed from the voter rolls and their license would also be suspended. This bill would also require DFA to modify the driver’s license of a person with nonimmigrant status to be printed vertically and to clearly state on its face “Non-Citizen.” Find news coverage on this bill on the 40/29 website.
Health
Scheduled: SB141 | Sen. Bryan King | Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee
This bill would defund the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI). It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee at 10am on Tuesday, February 11.
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