Each legislative session brings its own bag of mixed goods, and the Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly was no different. While we were concerned about the constant push for legislation that punishes poor people, there were definitely...
The passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the U.S. House of Representatives will have a devastating impact on health care for Arkansas children and families. Congress rushed this through before getting an independent analysis from the nonpartisan...
Today, lawmakers voted to make more changes to Arkansas Works, the state’s Medicaid expansion program that provides coverage for over 300,000 Arkansans, during a special session. With few consumer protections and details on the implementation of these policy changes,...
Although the general legislative session recently ended, the debate on health care in Arkansas is far from over. Lawmakers are expected to come back together for a special session on health in early May to make some key decisions...
We want to thank Governor Hutchinson, members of the General Assembly, and our partners for their hard work this legislative session on issues of critical importance to Arkansas’s children and families. In the session that wrapped up Monday, we...
As this legislative session draws to a close, the State Capitol is a busy place! We have quite a few victories to celebrate, some of which are detailed below: EDUCATION: It was a busy week at the Capitol for education! AACF and...
The following is a statement from Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families: This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that would repeal...
Now in the home stretch of the legislative session, it was a busy week at the Arkansas State Capitol. Here are some of the week’s big developments. HEALTH: Both chambers overwhelmingly passed a resolution this week that encourages Governor Hutchinson...
Twenty years ago today, on March 10, 1997, then-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee signed ARKids First into law. ARKids was Arkansas’s state-funded health insurance program, and bringing it to life was a monumental moment for kids and families in our...
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...