It’s not just about coverage for adults. As Congress continues the debate about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and a replacement plan, a lot hangs in the balance for children, too. According to the Urban Institute, repealing the ACA will...
What a year 2016 was for AACF! We had not one, but three legislative sessions during the first half of 2016, including the regular fiscal session and two special sessions on health care reform and funding for highways and...
In case you missed it, here’s a recap of some of the big things that happened at the Arkansas State Capitol this week: TAX & BUDGET: What’s going on with all of those online sales tax bills? A bill...
Recently, two bills were filed that will impact the fluoridation of local water systems. Under current state law, municipalities with at least 5,000 citizens maintain fluoride levels in drinking water set by the Arkansas Department of Health to combat...
This was a fairly lively week at the State Capitol. In case you missed it, here are some of the highlights and a few things to look out for next week: FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY: On Thursday, Governor Asa Hutchinson...
A major con game threatens the future of this country, and Arkansas is at risk of becoming one of the players. Three resolutions (HJR1022, SJR2, and HJR1001) have been proposed in the Arkansas legislature this session to call a...
Amazon and lots of other online retailers don’t collect sales tax, and a flurry of bills this session have been filed to change that. Technically, consumers are supposed to remit those taxes on their own, but few do. These...
Today Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law a bill SB125 (now Act182) that expands access to paid maternity leave for Arkansas state employees. This monumental change puts Arkansas ahead of most other states, especially those in our region, in providing...
A significant victory for anti-hunger advocates (the defeat of HB1035) was tempered by the introduction of a new bill (HB1462), which could be even more damaging to families who rely on food assistance. HB1462 puts families at risk of...
Last month, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson vowed to make third-grade reading a top priority, building on the impressive work the state has already done to bring more children into early education programs. Now the federal push to scrap the...