Thursday, April 10th
House Education: 
SB402 by Sen. Penzo: Protection Against Teacher Union Coercion — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit the coercion of employees to attend meetings, events, training, or otherwise interact with teachers’ unions or other similar groups. These groups usually use peer pressure to get donations, dues, or other involvement and actions to be taken by public school employees to appease their bosses and administrators who are aligned with the unions and groups. The bill would expressly prohibit the use of school facilities, mailing lists, supplies, equipment, and other taxpayer-funded resources to engage in the coercion or teacher union activities.
HB1139 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Protection of Religious Moral Education Courses without Hurting Students’ Attendance — SUPPORT
This bill would allow courses to be taught in religious and moral instruction by independent entities of a government school, and such attendance at the course cannot be counted against the student. This protects the religious freedom of students and parents who wish to learn such content without being treated poorly by the government school through the docking of their attendance.
HB1747 by Rep. Vaught: Allowing Teachers to Bring Newborns to Work— OPPOSE
Similar to HB1720, this is a bad–lack of common sense bill– while, no doubt, well-intentioned, is misguided. It would allow a teacher-parent to bring a newborn to work (any child, including foster kids) up until they are 6 months old. This could inhibit the ability of teachers to fulfill their job duties while at work if necessary to care for the newborn. All newborns need care during work hours. This could also restrict the learning ability or environment of some children if a newborn is present. This bill also provides for allowing teachers to bring their children over 6 months of age to work. (See comments under HB1720.)
SB504 by Sen. Irvin: New Government Program in Healthcare — OPPOSE
This is yet one more bill providing an opportunity for taxpayer money to be given to a new government-private partnership, such as we hear about daily in the news from the DOGE’s discovery of waste, fraud, and abuse. This bill, sponsored by one of healthcare’s senators, would create a new government program to provide funding for special interests in healthcare for medical students, funded by state taxes. (These bills seen this session continue to state that funding is from federal, state, or private funding as though we should delight in the idea of the private funds aspect when reviewing these bills. It is not necessary to pass a law to create an entity to do these things with private funds, only when using taxpayer dollars.)
Senate State Agencies: SB579 by Sen. McKee: No Tax Dollars to Pay for Union Dues — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit the deduction from government workers’ paychecks amounts sent to unions or other similar organizations. Most, if not all, of these government unions advocate against the interests of taxpayers and solely in the financial interests of government workers. This would not apply to public safety employees and their unions/organizations.
HB1706 by Rep. McCollum: Prohibition on Ranked Choice Voting — SUPPORT
This bill would prohibit ranked-choice voting for any government-elected positions in Arkansas. Ranked choice voting is used for big government politicians to ensure that the establishment choice always wins by ensuring all second and third choices of the other establishment candidates count towards (and against) any non-establishment candidates. This form of voting has been used to stop conservative candidates in Alaska and Maine.
HB1846 BY Rep. S. Meeks: New Government Commission With Per Diem for Meetings to Study Celebrating a Birthday for Government — OPPOSE
This really bad bill would create yet another new government commission to spend money, have meetings, give away per diem for meetings, and other activities to study celebrating a birthdate for state government. This spends money we do not have, increases the size and scope of government, and increases dependency on government — violating every element of the Conduit economic freedom filter. For a reminder of the vast number of agencies, commissions, etc, already financed with taxpayer dollars currently assigned by the legislature to celebrate AR history (and birthday), review the following: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/strategic-plan, https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/department-of-arkansas-heritage-4327/, https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/mission
HB1879 by Rep. Lundstrum: Video Recordings of City Council and County Quorum Courts — SUPPORT
This bill is a good transparency bill that would require video recordings of all public meetings of city councils and county quorum courts and that they be publicly posted.
House Public Health: SB554 by Sen. C. Tucker: New Government Program for Student Loan Forgiveness for Mental Health Professionals — OPPOSE
This new government program would create a student loan forgiveness fund for mental health professionals to help forgive their student loans.
SB121 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physician Assistants to Automatic Out-of-State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
This bill would add physician assistants to the automatic out-of-state licensure act. This will make it easier for out-of-state physicians to conduct business and provide healthcare services to consumers in Arkansas, thus increasing the supply and creating more competition for services, providing lower prices, and/or higher quality services.
SB122 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physicians to Automatic Out-of-State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
This bill would add physicians to the automatic out-of-state licensure act. This will make it easier for out-of-state physicians to conduct business and provide healthcare services to consumers in Arkansas, thus increasing the supply and creating more competition for services, providing lower prices, and/or higher quality services.
SB217 by Sen. Penzo: No Food Stamps for Candy/Soda — SUPPORT
This bill would prohibit the use of food stamps for candy and soft drinks. This will ensure proper use of taxpayer money towards nutritional food products, which is the intent of food stamps. Specifically, it would require DHS to seek a waiver to implement this change.
House Revenue and Tax: HB1670 by Rep. L. Johnson: Refundable Tax Credit for Mentoring Health Professionals — OPPOSE
This bad bill is the second time it has been run by its physician sponsor. It would allow those effectively engaging in the mentoring of health professionals early in their careers to get refundable income tax credits in exchange for their mentoring of these health professionals. No labor industry gets a refundable income tax credit for training, mentoring, or otherwise preparing new and future workers in their field. Healthcare professionals should not be given special government treatment just because they have their special interest legislator who continues to file bills to personally benefit himself, his donors, and friends in the healthcare industry.
SB605 by Sen. J. Dismang: New 50% Tax on Delta THC Products — OPPOSE
This bill would create a new tax on delta THC-type products (the part of cannabinoid responsible for the “high”), typically sold in vape/tobacco shops as an alternative to marijuana. A 50% excise tax from the gross receipts on each sale of a delta THC product would be owed. There are no tax cuts in the bill to offset or overcome the new revenues produced with this new tax. It simply appears to be a state tax on what some may consider a vice and others may consider a tax on a legal product that they choose for recreational activities.
HB1828 Rep. Breaux: Sales Tax Exemption for a Specific Entity — OPPOSE
This bill would provide a special sales tax exemption for a named specific entity – Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, Inc. Not only does this likely violate the constitutional restriction against special and local legislation, but it is also generally bad tax policy to give specific persons special tax breaks rather than consistent tax laws applied equally to all.
House floor: HB1930 by Rep. Wardlaw: Price Controls for Healthcare Services — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place an anti-free market price control on healthcare services. A minimum reimbursement level would be set based on the provider’s contract level (whatever they want mentality) and would be paid out based on this amount up to 100% by 2028. The minimum reimbursements would take into account levels in adjoining states. Although we may agree in theory with the stated intent of this bill (paying our healthcare providers a competitive fee for services), we prefer to re-vamp the current system to give the medical providers a larger piece of the current pie rather than serving up a larger pie. The changes to our healthcare system since Medicaid Expansion have caused the providers closest to the patient to now “practice a checklist” for payment rather than “practicing medicine.” The pie needs to be re-cut and a larger slice served to the providers. But this bill will not do that.
HB1919 Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would make public records under FOIA the government school learning materials. This increase in transparency will allow parents and the public to know what the government is teaching children while at school.
HB1806 by Rep. Vaught: Educational Transparency in Government Schools — SUPPORT
This really good bill would require transparency in government schools by allowing parents to know what the government is teaching their children and an opportunity to opt out of specific government education topics. An online portal to review teacher lesson plans, textbook or other material content, and video content would be put in place by 2026.
HB1312 by Rep. Brooks: Increased Per-Student Funding of Government Schools — OPPOSE
This bill would increase the per-student funding of government schools to $8,162 for the 2025-2026 school year and then to $8,371 for the 2026-2027 school year. Additional special funding for non-English speaking students, or those in alternative learning, are also increased. Throwing more money at government education in Arkansas has not worked so far and is less likely to work today.
HB1933 by Rep. McCollum: Allowing for Recall of Elected School Board Members — SUPPORT
This good bill would allow a mechanism to recall elected school board members.
HB1625 by Rep. Barnett: Government Review of All Home Inspector Insurance Policies — OPPOSE
This bad bill would increase government red tape and grow the insurance commission department by requiring all home inspectors submit to the insurance commissioner their insurance policies for liability and then require the insurance commissioners to determine if their policy meets the legal requirements. This grows government and would spend money we do not have by needing a new workforce to oversee this new regulatory scheme.
SB90 by Sen. English: Increased Public Input at School Board Meetings— SUPPORT
This bill would require school boards to provide opportunities for the public to comment for at least three minutes per meeting. This will increase public input and transparency in local school boards, assisting both sides in improved communications.
SB168 by Sen. Rice: Adds New Barriers to Get Massage Therapy License – Government Test — OPPOSE
This bill adds unwanted regulations except by those wanting to eliminate competition! It would add a government-mandated, created, and administered test for those seeking a massage therapy license. It would require 100 questions, and people must get a 70% to pass and receive their license. This is an added regulation to make it harder for people to work as massage therapists and is but another law that would deprive the consumer of making their own choices regarding their health or use of personal services.
SB447 by Sen. J. Petty: Extra Regulations on Alcohol Sales and Deliveries — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place new regulations on alcohol deliveries, giving a listing to the government of sensitive information regarding consumers’ names, business addresses, and other information. It would require new reporting of sizes, types, name brands, tracking information, and recipients’ zip codes. Blanket authority is also granted to the Department of Finance and Administration for rulemaking to enforce this. This will increase costs and reduce freedom for consumers because of these added new regulations.
Senate floor:
SB354 by Sen. Dismang: New Prison in Franklin County Funding Bill — OPPOSE
Provides new appropriations for spending up to $750 million for a new prison in Franklin County. Although we are in favor of expanding prisons as needed, we need to first pursue other options to reform our prison system before throwing more money at a system that appears not to be working. Continuing more of the same with more money is mindful of giving more money to a failing education system rather than addressing fundamental issues first.
HB1845 by Rep. Holcomb: Allowing for Digital Vehicle Titles and Liens— SUPPORT
This good bill will allow the utilization of technology to provide electronic vehicle titles, liens, and odometer disclosures. This could help save money and time and increase transparency.
HB1662 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Prohibiting Lobbying for China & Russia— SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit lobbying on behalf of China or Russia. However, the cost of violating this act does not seem large enough to be an effective deterrent.
HB1809 by Rep. Warren: Allowing Homesteads to All Persons — SUPPORT
This bill would clarify language regarding the homestead property tax credit so that the principal place of residence of a disabled veteran, which is titled in the name of his or her revocable or irrevocable trust or his or her LLC, is eligible for the tax credit.
HB1898 by Rep. Painter: New Regulatory Division in DFA — OPPOSE
This bill would create a new government regulatory division framework and staff in the Department of Finance and Administration (the state’s version of the “IRS”). It would create a new government position of regulatory administrator to maintain oversight over the alcohol beverage control division, Arkansas Tobacco Control, the racing commission, and the newly created regulatory enforcement division of DFA. It would authorize new government staff positions to conduct investigations related to tobacco, alcohol, medical marijuana, and gambling. These staff positions would be newly authorized law enforcement officers. When not monitoring legislation, the author of this analysis has had no small amount of professional dealings with the DFA and has done so for decades. When DFA shows it can handle its current responsibilities in a vastly improved manner, then, and only then, should that department be burdened with the work of such important matters as this bill would impose on it. Making it larger with added responsibilities will not suddenly turn DFA into a different creature.
HB1954 by Rep. Andrews: New Government Registration & Hurting People’s Right to Work as Behavior Analyst — OPPOSE
This bill is a continuation of the previously passed HB1245 by a Democrat sponsor to establish a new government registration process for behavior analysts. This bill takes things even further by requiring any person who is a behavior analyst to first register with the government before providing their services. If they do not do so, they can be fined between $500 and $1,000. Additional regulations will be authorized by the Arkansas Psychology Board. This all increases the costs and ultimately decreases the access to the public.
HB1965 Rep. McCullough: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain Food — OPPOSE
This Democrat-sponsored bill would create a new government program within the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to send money to government-selected food retailers in government-defined underserved communities. The government would “partner” with a nonprofit organization to funnel the money to pay staff to oversee the program. Administrative costs are similar to the costly administrative costs the federal Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered under Elon Musk. The money could also be used for “equity investments,” which is code for DEI initiatives, a top project of the left that President Trump, Governor Sanders, and other top Republican officials have peeled back in new administrations. This convoluted legislation would legalize corruption and the funneling of taxpayer monies to Democrat pet projects, donors, and leftist activists under the guise of “healthy living” for “poor people”. This is a scam. Do not pass.
Wednesday, April 9th:
Senate Education:
🟢 HB1684 by Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
This good bill would increase transparency in government teaching and protect the parental rights in their child’s education. Parents would be allowed to access teaching materials, instructional materials required textbooks, lesson plans, and other teaching aids used in the government’s teaching of their children. The bill would also allow parents to temporarily remove their child from classes that are engaged in teaching critical race theory or similar indoctrination curriculum. Today, with the internet, online portals, and virtual schools used in teaching, this bill could be improved by requiring teachers to provide parents with all materials intended to be taught to their students before teaching rather than waiting for a request for the same by parents.
House Insurance & Commerce:
❌ HB1868 by Rep. L. Johnson: New Tax on Firefighter Services — OPPOSE
This bad bill would create a new tax on insurance providers to pay a tax for the amount of time firefighting services are provided at a property. This will increase costs and premiums for those with homeowners insurance that covers fires. Most firefighter agencies are already funded with taxpayer dollars to operate and provide public services, so creating a new additional tax for these existing services is double taxation, violating the economic freedom of Arkansans.
❌ HB1625 by Rep. Barnett: Government Review of All Home Inspector Insurance Policies — OPPOSE
This bad bill would increase government red tape and grow the insurance commission department by requiring all home inspectors submit to the insurance commissioner their insurance policies for liability and then requires the insurance commissioners to determine if their policy meets the legal requirements. This grows government and would spend money we do no have by needing a new workforce to oversee this new regulatory scheme.
Senate Revenue & Tax:
🟢 HB1685 by Rep. Underwood: Elimination of Remaining State Sales Tax on Groceries — SUPPORT
This good bill would eliminate the remaining 1/8% sales tax on groceries. This current tax goes to the Game and Fish Commission for parks and tourism. The bill would still allow local governments at the city and county level to tax groceries. Conduit for Action has been advocating the full repeal (including to local governments) of the grocery tax for over a decade. See: https://conduitnews.com/exempting-groceries-the-way-forward/
🟢 HB1809 by Rep. Warren: Allowing Homesteads to All Persons — SUPPORT
This bill would clarify language regarding the homestead property tax credit so the principal place of residence of a disabled veteran which is titled in the name of his or her revocable or irrevocable trust or his or her LLC is eligible for the tax credit.
House State Agencies:
❌ HB1041 by Rep. A. Collins: Government Censorship of Free Speech Using Technology to Harm Politicians’ Reputations — OPPOSE
This bill would violate a person’s Right to Free Speech protected under the First Amendment. It would ban free people from engaging in speech that would harm the reputation of politicians if the politicians did not agree with how they are being portrayed. Specifically, it would apply to speech made using technology, such as artificial intelligence, to create memes, videos, or other items in which someone says something the government does not like. This would harm the rights of people to engage in political speech against their government and protect political incumbents and governments against speech with which they disagree.
🟢 HB1883 by Rep. Long: 4th Amendment Protections Against State Governments Supporting Federal Government Investigations — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit state entities from assisting, participating with, or providing material support or materials to federal government agencies in the collection or use of a person’s electronic data or metadata unless that person gave informed consent or it is subject to a valid search warrant. This will protect those interests and rights to privacy of information that may be required to be given to a state agency but that a federal agency may otherwise not be allowed to access or have without due process protections subject to the 4th Amendment.
🟢 SB565 by Sen. Flippo: Increased Oversight over Procurement of Government Contracts — SUPPORT
This good bill would provide additional oversight over the spending of taxpayer money through the solicitation and awarding of government contracts through the procurement process. Additional restrictions on eligible persons for government contracts include not hiring illegal immigrants, no contingency fee arrangements based on awarding of the contract, the contractor not employing a government worker who would benefit from the government contract, termination of contracts if the general assembly refuses to appropriate funds, disqualification for those who boycott Israel or energy, fossil fuel, firearms, and ammunition industries, disqualification for those owned in whole or with a majority interest by CCP (government of communist China). This would apply to solicitations for government contracts above $75,000. (This bill could be improved by excluding “any” ownership by CCP rather than more than 50% and including a provision that would combine contracts to avoid multiple contracts used to avoid the $75K threshold.)
Senate Judiciary:
🟢 SB549 by Sen. G. Leding: Refund of Government Costs and Fees In Criminal Cases When Defendant Acquitted, Case Dismissed, or Decline to Prosecute — SUPPORT
This good bill would require that court costs and fees in criminal cases be refunded to a defendant if that defendant is eventually acquitted, their case is dismissed, or the prosecutor declines to prosecute the case. This would protect the economic freedom of innocent Arkansans, protecting them from having to pay and lose their money when they are adjudicated and not found guilty of a crime.
🟢 HB1662 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Prohibiting Lobbying for China & Russia — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit lobbying on behalf of China or Russia. However, the cost of violating this act does not seem large enough to be an effective deterrent.
Senate Public Health:
🟢 HB1682 by Rep. Puryear: Limited Liability for Food Donations — SUPPORT
Called “The Good Neighbor Act,” this good bill would provide for limited liability, for those donating in good faith, food to the needy.
❌ HB1841 by Rep. L. Johnson: New Non-Necessary Government Program/Fund Diverting Tax Revenue — OPPOSE
This is yet another special interest bill from the medical community’s personal legislator which could benefit him and his donors. It adds another layer to government health care, adding a new government program/fund that will divert tax revenue to emergency medical services agencies. It is bad policy to pass laws that benefit a small group of special people rather than general laws of general applicability. It will hurt the economic freedom of Arkansans as they will have to pay more or receive fewer services to allow the diversion of tax revenue to this new program.
❌ HB1954 by Rep. Andrews: New Government Registration & Hurting People’s Right to Work as Behavior Analyst — OPPOSE
This bill is a continuation of the previously passed HB1245 by a Democrat sponsor to establish a new government registration process for behavior analysts. This bill takes things even further by requiring any person who is a behavior analyst to first register with the government before providing their services. If they do not do so they can be fined between $500 and $1,000. Additional regulations will be authorized by the Arkansas Psychology Board. This all increases the costs and ultimately decreases the access to the public.
❌ HB1965 Rep. McCullough: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain Food — OPPOSE
This Democrat-sponsored bill would create a new government program within the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to send money to government-selected food retailers in government-defined underserved communities. The government would “partner” with a nonprofit organization to funnel the money to pay staff to oversee the program. Administrative costs are similar to the costly administrative costs the federal Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered under Elon Musk. The money could also be used for “equity investments” which is code for DEI initiatives, a top project of the left that President Trump, Governor Sanders, and other top Republican officials have peeled back in new administrations. This convoluted legislation would legalize corruption and funneling of taxpayer monies to Democrat pet projects, donors, and leftist activists under the guise of “healthy living” for “poor people”. This is a scam. Do not pass.
House Rules
❌ HB1192 by Rep. Pilkington: Prohibiting Tobacco Products by Any Person on Government School Property – OPPOSE
This bill would prohibit and potentially criminalize the possession or use of any tobacco products in or on real property, personal property, or otherwise of a government school. It would also levy fines against parents whose children are caught with tobacco products while at school up to $1,000, and give the money to the local police department. This bill not only discriminates against student violators vs adults but prohibits the otherwise legal possession of a legal product by free people on government property, thus diminishing the individual freedoms of Arkansans. These fines not only increase revenues flowing to the government but also increase government bureaucracy needed to enforce this bill. This is a simple example of how an increase in the size and scope of government proportionately reduces individual freedoms.
❌ HB1626 by Rep. Duffield: Ban on Sale of Disposable Vape Products — OPPOSE
Although Arkansas already has many laws restricting the use of disposable vaping products, this bill would impose a ban on the sale of any disposable vape products, limiting options for consumers and possibly forcing them to choose more expensive products or go to other states to purchase the products they want, proving Arkansas is moving more and more toward a state which prefers restricting individual freedoms. Although the writer of this summary may detest vaping products and the consequences of their use, there are many things that others are free to buy and sell in this state and country which is detestable to more sensitive natures. Although it may be against the greater safety or greater good which we may imagine, we should stay conscious of the fact that bills like this move us closer and closer to the left-leaning states which prefer to control the freedoms of their citizens. It is our belief that the market alone will soon eliminate the threat of disposable vaping without using the force of government. https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review/ar
❌ SB447 by Sen. J. Petty: Extra Regulations on Alcohol Sales and Deliveries — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place new regulations on alcohol deliveries giving a listing to the government of sensitive information regarding consumers’ names, business address, and other information. It would require new reporting of sizes, types, name brands, tracking information, recipients zip codes. Blanket authority to the Department of Finance and Administration for rule making to enforce this is also granted. This will increase costs and reduce freedom for consumers for these added new regulations.
House Floor:
❌ HB1930 by Rep. Wardlaw: Price Controls for Healthcare Services — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place an anti-free market price control on healthcare services. A minimum reimbursement level would be set based on the provider’s contract level (whatever they want mentality) and would be paid out based on this amount up to 100% by 2028. The minimum reimbursements would take into account levels in adjoining states. Although we may agree in theory with the stated intent of this bill (paying our healthcare providers a competitive fee for services), we prefer to re-vamp the current system to give the medical providers a larger piece of the current pie rather than serving up a larger pie. The changes to our healthcare system since Medicaid Expansion have caused the providers closest to the patient to now “practice a checklist” for payment rather than “practicing medicine.” The pie needs to be re-cut and a larger slice served to the providers. But this bill will not do that.
❌ HB1915 by Rep. Eubanks: Expansion of Welfare Benefits Eligibility to Non-Poor People With Large Assets — OPPOSE
This bad bill would grow government and increase dependency on government by allowing more people to be eligible for welfare benefits by not counting certain assets, and increasing how much a person may own and still be eligible for welfare benefits.
❌ HB1017 by Rep. A. Collins: Expansion of Taxpayer-Funded Paid Time Off for School Employees with New Babies — OPPOSE
This bill would increase government spending by expanding paid maternity leave to 12 weeks off for women who have a child, adopt a child under one, or become a foster parent of a child under one. This would be for ANY school employee, not just education personnel, as is currently the standard. It would cover 100% of that person’s paid leave through the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
❌ SB577 by Sen. Petty: Working to Keep Local Sales & Use Taxes From Expiring to Ensure High Tax Rates — OPPOSE
This bad bill (filed by Legislators elected to represent taxpayers, not lobbyist groups for cities, counties, and economic development projects) would work against the interests of taxpayers by having state government employees (DFA) track and advise all local governments 120 days in advance before their sales and use taxes expire (along with giving them the specific requirement to extend same). This bill increases the size and workforce of DFA while assuming that these local governments, which have no problem passing these taxes, may not be qualified to keep up with them adequately to maintain the tax burdens imposed. The outcome of this bill will help ensure higher tax rates stay in place.
🟢 SB572 by Sen. Dotson: Learning Materials of Government Schools Subject to Freedom of Information Disclosure — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would make public record under FOIA the government school learning materials. This increase in transparency will allow parents and the public to know what the government is teaching children while at school.
Senate floor:
🟢 HB1243 by Rep. Underwood: Increased Transparency in Financial Disclosure of Local Elections— SUPPORT
This bill would increase transparency in local elections by requiring candidates for school district, city council, mayor, etc. to file with the county clerk financial disclosure reports similar to those required for state legislative candidates. This will increase the information to the public as to who is funding candidates’ campaigns for office and provide it in a more timely manner, including a pre-election 10-day report.
❌ HB1416 by Rep. L. Johnson: Allowing Municipal & “Volunteer” Fire Departments to Levy Taxes on Persons Who do Not Live in their Municipality — OPPOSE
This bill would allow municipal fire departments to levy a tax (called “dues”) on people who do not live in their municipality or an area with a volunteer fire department. However, AR Code Sec 14-284-406(b)(2) allows the municipality to not respond to the fire outside their municipality when in the opinion of the proper municipal authorities, its municipal property or fire classification rating would be jeopardized. There is no provision in this bill for a refund of dues when the municipal fire department does not respond to a fire outside its city limits.
❌ HB1440 by Rep. Bentley: Increased Regulation on Massage Therapist Establishments — OPPOSE
This bill would require all massage therapy establishments to register with the state government Department of Health to be able to operate. It would also require registration and disclosure to the government of the principals – ownership/other interest – in the massage therapy establishments. It would require a copy of a business license from a local government. If any changes occur, the massage therapy establishment must update them with the government within ten business days. These increased regulations increase costs to consumers and reduce the supply of massage therapists providing services in Arkansas. In the recent past Republicans were making a concerted effort to remove burdens and licensing from small businesses in Arkansas. This bill expands the role of government and bureaucracy in the marketplace.
🟢HB1582 by Rep. McAlindon: Welfare Recipients Required to Upload Resumes & Search for Work —SUPPORT
This good bill would require welfare recipients, such as those able-bodied working age adults on the Arkansas Medicaid expansion program, to upload their resumes to the state workforce services portal. They would also be required to respond to requests for interviews and seek relevant work options as part of their requirement to seek work. If they do not do so, they may lose their eligibility for welfare programs.
🟢 HB1751 by Rep. Underwood: Requiring Job Search While Waiting on Welfare Benefits Application Processing — SUPPORT
This bill would require the Department of Human Services to require welfare program applicants to engage in job search requirements while they are awaiting the processing and determination of their welfare benefits. This will ensure people do not stop looking for work as an alternative to getting welfare. This would apply to the Arkansas Work Pays Program and the cash welfare program TANF.
🟢 HB1782 by Rep. Hudson: Banning Consumer Choice In Over the CounterWeight Loss Supplements — SUPPORT
Arkansas and the Federal government have passed many laws meant to protect consumers by placing age requirements on the purchaser of certain products–such as tobacco, alcohol, and even transgender surgeries. In 2005, the Feds placed certain over-the-counter decongestants behind the counter in an attempt to protect public health. The support or opposition to this bill will likely be best determined by what one believes about “over-the-counter diet pills”. No doubt this bill would limit consumer choices by banning the sale of OTC diet pills to anyone under 18 years old. It would require ID verification to sell OTC supplements. The Department of Health is given authority to write rules to determine which OTC supplements they want to ban. Violations are deceptive trade practices violations with additional penalties of $2,000 for a violation. Though it is hoped the DOH will be limiting its use of this law, Conduit supports this bill strictly based on what it believes about the safety of these specific products and therefore is against the OTC sale of diet pills to those under 18 years of age.
🟢 HB1845 by Rep. Holcomb: Allowing for Digital Vehicle Titles and Liens — SUPPORT
This good bill will allow utilization of technology to provide electronic vehicle titles, liens, and odometer disclosures. This could help save money, time, and increase transparency.
🟢 HB1934 by Rep. McAlindon: DOGE for Arkansas — SUPPORT
This bill would create a “DOGE” type working group to create a report to give to the Legislature no later than July 1, 2026, which makes recommendations to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the Arkansas government. While Conduit routinely opposes any new committees, task forces, commissions, or other special or new groups of government actors, this new group would not be allowed any per diem, mileage, or other payments for meetings and working. As a word of caution, it appears that this group (made up mostly of Agency heads,) operates at the leisure of the Governor with the four-member Legislators having no vote. It is unclear why legislation is required to accomplish this task. Also as a word of instruction, the Bureau of Legislative Audit annually does much of this type of work, much of which goes ignored by the Legislature as well as government agencies and is rarely brought to the attention of the public. Therefore, it is not clear what difference any findings would make that are discovered by this group. And if anything of value (such as tax dollars saved or better service for taxpayers) comes from this new DOGE working group — the Governor should get the credit.
House Education:
❌ HB1710 by Rep. Vaught: Prohibiting Schools from Publishing Government School Ratings — Oppose
This unconstitutional bill denies private schools their right to Free Speech guaranteed them under the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It is also a move to reduce competition between two options for education granted to children in Arkansas under the Learns Act. This bill clearly supports government schools over private schools. Its intent seems to prevent parents from making informed choices between government schools and private schools. It specifically prohibits all schools (including private schools) from publishing the legally required school grade ratings of government schools — reports found at https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov/SRC. These complicated reports are explained by the Division of Elementary & Secondary Education: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance-and-monitoring/reporting. On its face, the purpose of this bad bill is to protect government schools more than educate children. It also appears to assume government schools are inferior; and their legally required report cards should not be used as a legitimate reason by parents to change schools.
❌ HB1017 by Rep. A. Collins: Expansion of Taxpayer-Funded Paid Time Off for School Employees with New Babies — OPPOSE
This bill would increase government spending by expanding paid maternity leave to 12 weeks off for women who have a child, adopt a child under one, or become a foster parent of a child under one. This would be for ANY school employee, not just education personnel, as is currently the standard. It would cover 100% of that person’s paid leave through the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
🟢 SB402 by Sen. Penzo: Protection Against Teacher Union Coercion — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit the coercion on employees to attend meetings, events, trainings, or otherwise interact with teachers unions or other similar groups. These groups usually use peer pressure to get donations, dues, or other involvement and actions to be taken by public school employees to appease their bosses and administrators who are aligned with the unions and groups. The bill would specifically prohibit the use of school facilities, mailing lists, supplies, equipment, and other taxpayer-funded resources to engage in coercion or teacher union activities.
🟢 HB1081 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Repeal of Increased Funding for Professional Learning Communities — SUPPORT
This bill would decrease the additional funding for the development and administration of professional learning communities. This would cut $16.5 million and allow those funds to be better used for core functions of government.
🟢 HB1139 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Protection of Religious Moral Education Courses without Hurting Students Attendance — SUPPORT
This bill would allow courses to be taught in religious, and moral instruction by independent entities of a government school, and such attendance at the course cannot be counted against the the student. This protects the religious freedom of students and parents who wish to learn such content without being treated poorly by the government school through the docking of their attendance.
❌ HB1761 by Rep. D. Garner: Targeting Families and Kids to Make Ineligible or Reduce Funding of Education Freedman Accounts — OPPOSE
This bad bill is an attempt to thwart the overall intent of Educational Freedom Accounts. It would exclude students from full funding whose taxpaying parents earn more than 250% of the federal poverty level (which could be as low as $53,000 annually for a single parent). It would allow for partial eligibility for reduced funds for those making between 250%-400% of the federal poverty level. This bill is simply an attack on kids and families to limit their access to school choice options. This is effectively forcing DEI onto the education freedom account program.
🟢 HB1806 by Rep. Vaught: Educational Transparency in Government Schools — SUPPORT
This really good bill would require transparency in government schools by allowing parents to know what the government is teaching their children and an opportunity to opt out of specific government education topics. An online portal to review teacher lesson plans, textbook or other material content, and video content would be put in place by 2026.
🟢 SB90 by Sen. English: Increased Public Input at School Board Meetings — SUPPORT
This bill would require school boards to provide opportunities for the public to give comment for at least three minutes per meeting. This will increase public input and transparency in local school boards, assisting both sides in improved communications.
❌ HB1492 by Rep. Gramlich: New Devices for All School Employees — OPPOSE
This bad bill is an example of “spare no expense or bureaucracy growth” in an attempt to make life safer. It would require a panic alert device for every individual employed by a government school. The device would send alerts to law enforcement and send a lockdown notification. Hundreds of thousands of these devices would have to be purchased and maintained, and every local law enforcement group would have to grow to coordinate and work with these. All records related to the use of the devices would be exempt from the freedom of information law.
❌ SB504 by Sen. Irvin: New Government Program in Healthcare — OPPOSE
This is yet one more bill providing an opportunity for taxpayer money to be given to a new government-private partnership, such as we hear about daily in the news from the DOGE’s discovery of waste, fraud, and abuse. This bill, sponsored by one of healthcare’s own senators, would create a new government program to provide funding for special interests in healthcare for medical students, funded by state taxes. (These bills seen this session continue to state that funding is from federal, state, or private funding as though we should delight in the idea of the private funds aspect when reviewing these bills. It is not necessary to pass a law in order to create an entity to do these things with private funds, only when using taxpayer dollars.)
🟢 HB1919 Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would make public records under FOIA the government school learning materials. This increase in transparency will allow parents and the public to know what the government is teaching children while at school.
❌ HB1312 by Rep. Brooks: Increased Per-Student Funding of Government Schools — OPPOSE
This bill would increase the per-student funding of government schools to $8,162 for the 2025-2026 school year and then to $8,371 for the 2026-2027 school year. Additional special funding for non-English speaking students, or those in alternative learning are also increased. Throwing more money at government education in Arkansas has not worked so far and is less likely to work today.
🟢 SB572 by Sen. Dotson: Learning Materials of Government Schools Subject to Freedom of Information Disclosure — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would make public record under FOIA the government school learning materials. This increase in transparency will allow parents and the public to know what the government is teaching children while at school.
Senate State Agencies:
🟢 SB579 by Sen. McKee: No Tax Dollars to Pay for Union Dues — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit the deduction from government workers’ paychecks amounts sent to unions or other similar organizations. Most, if not all, of these government unions, advocate against the interests of taxpayers and solely in the financial interests of government workers. This would not apply to public safety employees and their unions/organizations.
🟢 HB1706 by Rep. McCollum: Prohibition on Ranked Choice Voting — SUPPORT
This bill would prohibit ranked choice voting for any government elected positions in Arkansas. Ranked choice voting is used for big government politicians to ensure that the establishment choice always wins by ensuring all second and third choices of the other establishment candidates count towards (and against) any non-establishment candidates. This form of voting has been used to stop conservative candidates in Alaska and Maine.
❌ HB1898 by Rep. Painter: New Regulatory Division in DFA — OPPOSE
This bill would create a new government regulatory division framework and staff in the Department of Finance and Administration (the state’s version of the “IRS”). It would create a new government position of regulatory administrator to maintain oversight over the alcohol beverage control division, Arkansas Tobacco Control, the racing commission, and the newly created regulatory enforcement division of DFA. It would authorize new government staff positions to conduct investigations related to tobacco, alcohol, medical marijuana, and gambling. These staff positions would be newly authorized law enforcement officers. When not monitoring legislation, the author of this analysis has no small amount of professional dealings with DFA and has done so for decades. When DFA shows it can handle its current responsibilities in a vastly improved manner, then, and only then, should that department be burdened with the work of such important matters as this bill would impose on it. Making it larger with added responsibilities will not suddenly turn DFA into a different creature.
🟢 HB1934 by Rep. McAlindon: DOGE for Arkansas — SUPPORT
This bill would create a “DOGE” type working group to create a report to give to the Legislature no later than July 1, 2026, which makes recommendations to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the Arkansas government. While Conduit routinely opposes any new committees, task forces, commissions, or other special or new groups of government actors, this new group would not be allowed any per diem, mileage, or other payments for meetings and working. As a word of caution, it appears that this group (made up mostly of Agency heads,) operates at the leisure of the Governor with the four-member Legislators having no vote. It is unclear why legislation is required to accomplish this task. Also as a word of instruction, the Bureau of Legislative Audit annually does much of this type of work, much of which goes ignored by the Legislature as well as government agencies and is rarely brought to the attention of the public. Therefore, it is not clear what difference any findings would make that are discovered by this group. And if anything of value (such as tax dollars saved or better service for taxpayers) comes from this new DOGE working group — the Governor should get the credit.
❌ HB1846 BY Rep. S. Meeks: New Government Commission With Per Diem for Meetings to Study Celebrating a Birthday for Government —OPPOSE
This really bad bill would create yet another new government commission to spend money, have meetings, give away per diem for meetings and other activities to study celebrating a birthdate for state government. This spends money we do not have, increases the size and scope of government, and increases dependency on government — violating every element of the Conduit economic freedom filter. For a reminder of the vast number of agencies, commissions, etc already financed with taxpayer dollars currently assigned by the legislature to celebrate AR history (and birthday), review the following: See: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/strategic-plan See: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/department-of-arkansas-heritage-4327/ See: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/mission
🟢 HB1879 by Rep. Lundstrum: Video Recordings of City Council and County Quorum Courts — SUPPORT
This bill is a good transparency bill that would require video recordings of all public meetings of city councils and county quorum courts and that they be publicly posted.
🟢 SJR9 by Sen. King: Ending Qualified Government Immunity – You Can Sue the Government For Hurting You — SUPPORT
This proposed constitutional amendment would remove the constitutional prohibition on the government being sued within our court system. Known as qualified government immunity, the state has little to no incentive to avoid lawsuits if they can always dismiss them for simply being the government. This bill would increase the incentive for government actors to follow the Constitution, be more cautious in their actions toward citizens–by giving citizens the opportunity to sue the government if the government causes them harm.
❌ SJR12 by Sen. C. Tucker: Rigging Primary Elections to Ensure Big Government Politicians Are Elected — OPPOSE
This proposed constitutional amendment has been filed for many years now by Sen. Clark Tucker. The change would overhaul the election system in Arkansas by replacing our current primary and general election systems with a single jungle primary, similar to California’s. This jungle primary (or ranked choice voting) would pit all candidates from all parties against one another. The two top vote-getters would advance to a runoff, with the candidate with the most votes winning the seat. It would allow for Democrat and liberal voters to have an oversized influence over picking candidates and ultimately representatives of our government. It is a bad bill that would grow government and silence opposition. (see https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/ranked-choice-voting-bad-choice )
🟢 SJR13 by Sen. J. Dotson: Allowing Judicial Candidates to Declare a Political Party Affiliation — SUPPORT
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow, but not require, judicial candidates to affiliate with a political party. This would provide greater transparency into what a candidate’s political philosophy and judicial philosophy may be. It would also expose or force liberal activist judges to affiliate with the Democrats and potentially lose their seats in super majority Republican areas in most of Arkansas.
❌ SJR15/HJR1014 by Sen. J. Dismang/Rep. Beaty Jr: Creation of Socialism – Corporate Welfare Districts — OPPOSE
When you see the words “economic development” used in legislation, brace for a tax increase. At a time when the rest of the country is moving away from socialism, this amendment would increase Arkansas’ current welfare state by creating corporate welfare districts, taking taxpayer money, and redistributing it to government favorites….not only is the government acting in the place of a friendly bank to corporate welfare friends, this amendment hands out permanent tax-exempt status to their chosen participates! This practice has continued to be tried and failed in Arkansas and continues ripe with corruption. Previously, the legislature created this same framework with “general improvement districts.” In that scenario legislators picked which special groups or projects they would direct taxpayer money. Former state legislators still sit in prison today for their abuse of that program. Passage of this amendment would lead to tax increases, more corruption, a growing government, and a socialist corporate welfare program with no limits or guardrails. DOGE to the rescue!?! No help there! Best Advice: Do not allow this on the ballot! See: https://uca.edu/acre/targeted-economic-development-incentives/ and https://www.heritage.org/budget/pages/recommendations/1.370.85.html
❌ SJR17 by Sen. Dotson: Requiring 3/4 Vote by Both Chambers of Arkansas Legislature to Pass Tax Increases — OPPOSE
Currently (and deleted in this SJR17) the AR Const Art 5 §38 states: “None of the rates for property, excise, privilege or personal taxes, now levied shall be increased by the General Assembly except after the approval of the qualified electors voting thereon at an election, or in case of emergency, by the votes of three-fourths of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly. [As added to Art. 5 by Const. Amend. 19.].” The proposed SJR17 would delete the current requirement that (except in an emergency) the people vote on a tax increase. This taxpayer bill of rights (which moves closer to a cap on government growth) is laudable but fails to go far enough in slowing the growth of government. Conduit has held a consistent position through the years that an ideal Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Arkansas should require that: 1) Growth in government expenditures should be limited to inflation plus population growth; 2) Any revenue collected over the limit goes immediately back to the taxpayers, and all tax increases have to be approved by a vote of the people; 3) When transferring government programs the overall limit must be reduced down accordingly; and 4) Supermajority vote of legislature or popular vote of the people to change the limit or raise/change any taxes. See comments on HJR1005 and https://conduitforcommerce.org/containing-government-growth/
House Public Health:
🟢HB1588 by Rep. McAlindon: Legislative Approval Required Before Incurring Additional Costs for State Medicaid Program — SUPPORT
This good bill would require that the legislature approve any changes within the state Medicaid program if those changes would result in any increase in costs to the taxpayer to make those changes. This would include any increases to reimbursement rates, and any change in rules or amendments or seeking of a waiver that would expand coverage to any individuals or increase any cost to the state. These changes must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the Legislative Council, or if in Session, a 2/3 majority of the Joint Budget Committee. This helps ensure taxpayers’ voices are better heard if their legislators must vote to increase spending rather than a bureaucrat imposing an effective tax increase on Arkansans.
❌ HB1816 by Rep. L. Johnson: Restricting AI Technology Use in Medical Services and Records Management — OPPOSE
This bill would prohibit healthcare providers and healthcare insurers from using “Artificial Intelligence” technology to increase efficiency and save time and money in providing healthcare services or managing medical records. It is our opinion that AI has its place and beneficial uses in most industries, including healthcare. It is also our opinion that healthcare has already gone in the direction of the checklist and one treatment-fits-all-all system through government controls. As a result, we agree with this bill that AI should not be used at this time as outlined in this bill. However, we do not believe that the FDA (which is subject to the whims of a current administration) should be the final arbiter as to when its use is appropriate. More time and uses in other industries should clarify AI’s usefulness in the healthcare field.
❌ HB1882 by Rep. Pilkington: Allowing Governor to Create New Medicaid Beneficiary Populations — OPPOSE
This bad bill would allow for the discretionary growth of government by allowing an Arkansas governor to create and approve a new enrollable Medicaid beneficiary population, with the approval of the legislative council (certain select legislative members). Depending on who the Governor is and the makeup of the legislative council at the time, new and costly Medicaid beneficiaries could be approved against the will of the majority of Arkansans and their elected representatives.
🟢 HB1908 by Rep. Long: Proof of Residency to Receive Welfare Benefits — SUPPORT
This good bill would require those applying for or receiving welfare benefits to prove they are residents of Arkansas. This will prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure tax dollars are only used for the truly needy.
🟢 HB1909 by Rep. Long: Proof of Citizenship to Receive Welfare Benefits — SUPPORT
This good bill would require those applying for or receiving welfare benefits to prove they are citizens.
❌ HB1915 by Rep. Eubanks: Expansion of Welfare Benefits Eligibility to Non-Poor People With Large Assets — OPPOSE
This bad bill would grow the government and increase dependency on government by allowing more people to be eligible for welfare benefits by not counting certain assets, and increasing how much a person may own and still be eligible for welfare benefits.
❌ SB554 by Sen. C. Tucker: New Government Program for Student Loan Forgiveness for Mental Health Professionals — OPPOSE
This new government program would create a student loan forgiveness fund for mental health professionals to help forgive their student loans.
House Judiciary:
🟢 HB1754 by Rep. Gonzales: Protection of Private Property Against Excessive Government Regulations — SUPPORT
This good bill protects property rights. It would restrict local government to only implementing property use restrictions that are demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to fulfill a compelling government interest with the least restrictive means (applying strict scrutiny) with no reasonable alternatives. It provides a private right of action to enjoin or recover damages for violations of these property rights under the legislation, with a 5-year statute of limitations to bring an action. This protects the economic freedom of Arkansans and the use of their property against overzealous local government regulators
House Revenue & Tax:
🟢 HB1698 by Rep. Torres: No Income Tax on Healthcare Sharing Ministry Contributions — SUPPORT
This bill would extend income tax exemptions to healthcare-sharing ministry contributions similar to how contributions to traditional health insurance premiums are treated. This provides equal tax treatment under the law for those who choose alternatives to traditional health insurance policies, such as a healthcare sharing ministry, to cover healthcare costs.
🟢 HB1750 by Rep. Cavenaugh: Repeal of Franchise Tax on Businesses — SUPPORT
This good bill has been championed by Conduit for many years. It would repeal the annual franchise tax on all businesses incorporated in Arkansas ($150+ per entity). This would save businesses or entities money, especially those who may not operate or receive revenue/profits but still must pay a tax for the pleasure of operating in Arkansas. The franchise tax is referred to by many small business owners as a “nuisance tax” but more correctly as a deterrent to “doing business in Arkansas”.
❌ HB1828 Rep. Breaux: Sales Tax Exemption for a Specific Entity — OPPOSE
This bill would provide a special sales tax exemption for a named specific entity – Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, Inc. Not only does this likely violate the constitutional restriction against special and local legislation, it is generally bad tax policy to give specific persons special tax breaks rather than consistent tax laws applied equally to all.
🟢 HB1904 by Rep. Lundstrum: Decreasing Government Penalties for Tax Mistakes — SUPPORT
This good bill would reduce penalties for those who do not timely file/pay their taxes, capping the penalty at 10%, down from the current cap of 35%. This bill has been needed for years and would make a great stride toward making the Arkansas tax system more fair to the taxpayer. As a tax professional, I have become extremely frustrated at the enormous penalties imposed on taxpayers under the current law. At one point I filed a FOIA request to determine the amount of penalties collected by DFA in specific tax years. I was told that they do not keep up with those numbers. This fact begs the question–why do we not even know this number, and why do we impose such enormous penalties on those trying to pay their tax burdens?
🟢 HB1910 by Rep. Lundstrum: Tax Deductions for Qualified Business Expenses for All Businesses Equally — SUPPORT
This good bill would adopt federal tax law for state income tax law purposes for defining and utilizing a deduction for qualified business income.
🟢 HB1932 by Rep. McCollum: Repeal of Corporate Franchise Tax — SUPPORT
This good bill would repeal the annual corporate franchise tax which is currently a minimum of $150 paid annually by all for-profit entities (such as corporations and LLCs) for the legal right to do business in Arkansas. Under this bill, these business entities would still be required to register annually with the Secretary of State, but the franchise tax would be eliminated. This will allow Arkansas to take a step closer to becoming a business-friendly state by repealing this nuisance tax. A strong word of correction is offered to improve this bill and its effectiveness for Arkansas as a business-friendly state. This bill says that members of an LLC collected under these filings should not be disclosed to the public. That is not sufficient. It should include language that specifically states that the names of members (other than officers and registered agents) of LLCs are not to be required nor collected by the SOS.
❌ SB577 by Sen. Petty: Working to Keep Local Sales & Use Taxes From Expiring to Ensure High Tax Rates — OPPOSE
This bad bill (filed by Legislators elected to represent taxpayers, not lobbyist groups for cities, counties, and economic development projects) would work against the interests of taxpayers by having state government employees (DFA) track and advise all local governments 120 days in advance before their sales and use taxes expire (along with giving them the specific requirement to extend same). This bill increases the size and workforce of DFA while assuming that these local governments, which have no problem passing these taxes, may not be qualified to keep up with them adequately to maintain the tax burdens imposed. The outcome of this bill will help ensure higher tax rates stay in place.
❌ SB605 by Sen. J. Dismang: New 50% Tax on Delta THC Products — OPPOSE
This bill would create a new tax on delta THC-type products (the part of cannabinoid responsible for the “high”), typically sold in vape/tobacco shops as an alternative to marijuana. A 50% excise tax from the gross receipts on each sale of a delta THC product would be owed. There are no tax cuts in the bill to offset or overcome the new revenues produced with this new tax. It simply appears to be a state tax on what some may consider a vice and others may consider a tax on a legal product that they choose for recreational activities.
Senate City County Local:
❌ HB1416 by Rep. L. Johnson: Allowing Municipal & “Volunteer” Fire Departments to Levy Taxes on Persons Who do Not Live in their Municipality — OPPOSE
This bill would allow municipal fire departments to levy a tax (called “dues”) on people who do not live in their municipality or an area with a volunteer fire department. However, AR Code Sec 14-284-406(b)(2) allows the city to not respond to the fire outside their municipality when in the opinion of the proper municipal authorities, its municipal property or fire classification rating would be jeopardized. There is no provision in this bill for a refund of dues when the municipal fire department does not respond to a fire outside its city limits.
House floor:
🟢 HB1732 by Rep. Vaught: Increase in Tax Deduction for Teachers Classroom Expenses — SUPPORT
This bill would increase the existing tax deduction for teachers for any money they spend on classroom expenses from $500 to $1,000 or from $1,000 to $2,000 for those married, and filing jointly. This will ensure teachers are effectively reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses used for their classrooms. Although schools provide teachers with all the necessary items for their classrooms, some teachers wish to go above and beyond for their students. This law further incentivizes this and ensures those teachers are not fully out of pocket for those costs.
Senate floor:
🟢 SB121 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physician Assistants to Automatic Out of State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
This bill would add physician assistants to the automatic out-of-state licensure act. This will make it easier for out-of-state physicians to conduct business and provide healthcare services to consumers in Arkansas, thus increasing the supply and creating more competition for services, providing lower prices, and/or higher quality services.
🟢 SB122 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physicians to Automatic Out of State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
This bill would add physicians to the automatic out of state licensure act. This will make it easier for out of state physicians to conduct business and provide healthcare services to consumers in Arkansas, thus increasing the supply and creating more competition for services, providing lower prices, and/or higher quality services.
🟢 SB217 by Sen. Penzo: No Food Stamps for Candy/Soda — SUPPORT
This bill would prohibit the use of food stamps for candy and soft drinks. This will ensure proper use of taxpayer money towards nutritional food products, which is the intent of food stamps. Specifically it would require DHS to seek a waiver to implement this change.
❌ HB1802 by Rep. Warren: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain People — OPPOSE
This bad bill provides a means by which up to $500,000 per year of Arkansas tax dollars may be given to entities who will attempt to recruit people to move to Arkansas (who supposedly already have a job). This new government giveaway of tax dollars seems to be in line with many new socialist ideas from this General Session. We repeat the waste, fraud, and abuse exposed by DOGE at the federal level only seems to have given many the idea that they need to get in on the money grab of government dollars. The government calls these programs “economic development,” but will only spend money we do not have, increase dependency on government, and increase the size and scope of government. This is another bad bill disguised as “economic development” and nothing more than an economic welfare program. See: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7425335 and https://arkansaseconomicregions.org/districts/capdd/
❌ SB354 by Sen. Dismang: New Prison in Franklin County Funding Bill — OPPOSE
Provides new appropriations for spending up to $750 million for a new prison in Franklin County. Although we are in favor of expanding prisons as needed, we need to first pursue other options to reform our prison system before throwing more money at a system that appears to not be working. Continuing more of the same with more money is mindful of giving more money to a failing education system rather than addressing fundamental issues first.
🟢 HB1243 by Rep. Underwood: Increased Transparency in Financial Disclosure of Local Elections— SUPPORT
This bill would increase transparency in local elections by requiring candidates for school district, city council, mayor, etc. to file with the county clerk financial disclosure reports similar to those required for state legislative candidates. This will increase the information to the public as to who is funding candidates’ campaigns for office and provide it in a more timely manner, including a pre-election 10-day report.
🟢 HB1694 by Rep. Hawk: Better Transparency in Campaign Finance Filings – No More Paper Filings — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would repeal the option for candidates to file paper filings. Paper filings shield candidates for office from the easy filtering and review of donations by the public online. Electronic filing has been in place since 2017 in Arkansas (one of the last states to update its system to online filing. In 2023, its system was improved by the SOS (for history on electronic filing in AR see https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/20/arkansas-launches-new-more-friendly-campaign/ ) This bill would ensure that all campaign finance reports are filed electronically and thus easier to review by the public. An argument by a candidate or entity that they do not have access to online filing should now be a red flag to voters.
❌ HB1713 by Rep. Rose: Government Controlled Ballot Titles for Citizen Initiatives — OPPOSE
This bill would require the ballot titles of initiated measures by the people to be at or under an 8th-grade reading level. While well-intended to avoid confusion by the public about what a proposed measure may do, this bill effectively creates a chilling effect on free speech and gives the government one more tool to control what the people may ultimately place on the ballot. Ironically, the same regulation would not apply to ballot titles referred by the legislature and ballot titles from legislative proposed amendments to the state constitution even though in the past some of these titles could pass for fraudulent in their successful efforts to mislead the public.
❌ HB1797 by Rep. Beaty Jr.: Removal of Transparency and Oversight in Arkansas Development Finance Authority — OPPOSE
This bad bill would decrease transparency by removing oversight of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and allowing them to act independently, including loaning taxpayer money, issuing public debt paid for by future tax increases on the people, purchasing loans, and other powers granted by the legislature. Any rules are exempt from the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act thus ensuring no accountability to the public or allowing public comment periods before rule changes are made. The bill would allow a troubled agency to work secretly, loaning out taxpayer money issuing public debt in the taxpayers’ name, and pledging payment for their future obligations. ADFA is also exempted from required disclosures of state agencies–similar to standing granted to the Governor, Supreme Court, and the General Assembly– further shielding them from oversight and public input. This bill would also exempt them under the procurement laws of the state. They would be allowed to buy and sell property in their name. They would be exempt from oversight when purchasing vehicles for the ADFA. They would also be exempt from having the Attorney General be the attorney of record for the ADFA, essentially allowing them to do whatever they want with outside legal counsel and legal actions. They would be exempt from any rules over outside counsel. The bill includes an emergency clause. This bill is a disaster waiting to happen to allow a bloated, unregulated, and unchecked group of government workers and appointees to act without public oversight or input by the taxpayer-funded government and representatives. The potential for money laundering and corruption is limitless with the passage of this bill–using history as our guide. Take a lesson from today’s federal government and the outcry from Arkansans for our implementation of DOGE — DO NOT TAKE THE OPPOSITE APPROACH — DO NOT PASS THIS BAD BILL.
Monday, April 7, 2025:
Senate Education:
🟢 HB1684 by Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
This good bill would increase transparency in government teaching and protect the parental rights in their child’s education. Parents would be allowed to access teaching materials, instructional materials, required textbooks, lesson plans, and other teaching aids used in the government’s teaching of their children. The bill would also allow parents to temporarily remove their child from classes that are engaged in teaching critical race theory or similar indoctrination curriculum. Today, with the internet, online portals, and virtual schools used in teaching, this bill could be improved by requiring teachers to provide parents all actual materials intended to be taught to their students in advance of teaching rather than waiting for a request of the same by parents.
House Insurance & Commerce:
❌ HB1868 by Rep. L. Johnson: New Tax on Firefighter Services — OPPOSE
This bad bill would create a new tax on insurance providers to pay a tax for the amount of time firefighting services are provided at a property. This will increase costs and premiums for those with homeowner’s insurance that covers fires. Most firefighter agencies are already funded with taxpayer dollars to operate and provide public services, so creating a new additional tax for these existing services is double taxation, violating the economic freedom of Arkansans.
❌ HB1930 by Rep. Wardlaw: Price Controls for Healthcare Services — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place an anti-free market price control on healthcare services. A minimum reimbursement level would be set based on the provider’s contract level (whatever they want mentality) and would be paid out based on this amount up to 100% by 2028. The minimum reimbursements would take into account levels in adjoining states. Although we may agree in theory with the stated intent of this bill (paying our healthcare providers a competitive fee for services), we prefer to revamp the current system to give the medical providers a larger piece of the current pie rather than serving up a larger pie. The changes to our healthcare system since Medicaid Expansion have caused the providers closest to the patient to now “practice a checklist” for payment rather than “practicing medicine.” The pie needs to be re-cut and a larger slice served to the providers. But this bill will not do that.
House Revenue & Tax:
🟢 HB1698 by Rep. Torres: No Income Tax on Healthcare Sharing Ministry Contributions — SUPPORT
This bill would extend income tax exemptions to healthcare sharing ministry contributions similar to how contributions to traditional health insurance premiums are treated. This provides equal tax treatment under the law for those who choose alternatives to traditional health insurance policies, such as a healthcare sharing ministry, to cover healthcare costs.
🟢 HB1750 by Rep. Cavenaugh: Repeal of Franchise Tax on Businesses — SUPPORT
This good bill is one that has been championed by Conduit for many years. It would repeal the annual franchise tax on all businesses incorporated in Arkansas ($150+ per entity). This would save businesses or entities money, especially those who may not operate or receive revenue/profits but still must pay a tax for the pleasure of operating in Arkansas. The franchise tax is referred to by many small business owners as a “nuisance tax” but more correctly as a deterrent to “doing business in Arkansas”.
❌ HB1828 Rep. Breaux: Sales Tax Exemption for a Specific Entity — OPPOSE
This bill would provide a special sales tax exemption for a named specific entity – Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, Inc. Not only does this likely violate the constitutional restriction against special and local legislation, but it is also generally bad tax policy to give specific persons special tax breaks rather than consistent tax laws applied equally to all.
🟢 HB1904 by Rep. Lundstrum: Decreasing Government Penalties for Tax Mistakes — SUPPORT
This good bill would reduce penalties for those who do not timely file/pay their taxes, capping the penalty at 10%, down from the current cap of 35%. This bill has been needed for years and would make a great stride toward making the Arkansas tax system more fair to the taxpayer. As a tax professional, I have become extremely frustrated at the enormous penalties imposed on taxpayers under the current law. At one point, I filed a FOIA request to determine the number of penalties collected by the DFA in specific tax years. I was told that they do not keep up with those numbers. This fact begs the question: Why do we not even know this number, and why do we impose such enormous penalties on those trying to pay their tax burdens?
🟢 HB1910 by Rep. Lundstrum: Tax Deductions for Qualified Business Expenses for All Businesses Equally — SUPPORT
This good bill would adopt federal tax law for state income tax law purposes for defining and utilizing a deduction for qualified business income.
🟢 HB1932 by Rep. McCollum: Repeal of Corporate Franchise Tax — SUPPORT
This good bill would repeal the annual corporate franchise tax which is currently a minimum of $150 paid annually by all for-profit entities (such as corporations and LLCs) for the legal right to do business in Arkansas. Under this bill, these business entities would still be required to register annually with the Secretary of State, but the franchise tax would be eliminated. This will allow Arkansas to take a step closer to becoming a business-friendly state by repealing this nuisance tax. A strong word of correction is offered to improve this bill and its effectiveness for Arkansas as a business-friendly state. This bill says that members of an LLC collected under these filings should not be disclosed to the public. That is not sufficient. It should include language that specifically states that the names of members (other than officers and registered agents) of LLCs are not to be required nor collected by the SOS.
Senate Judiciary:
🟢 SB549 by Sen. G. Leding: Refund of Government Costs and Fees In Criminal Cases When Defendant Acquitted, Case Dismissed, or Decline to Prosecute — SUPPORT
This good bill would require that the court costs and fees in criminal cases must be refunded to a defendant if that defendant is eventually acquitted, their case is dismissed, or the prosecutor declines to prosecute the case. This protects the economic freedom of innocent Arkansans, protecting them from having to pay and lose their money when they are adjudicated and not found guilty of a crime.
🟢 HB1662 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Prohibiting Lobbying for China & Russia — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit lobbying on behalf of China or Russia. However, the cost of violating this act does not seem large enough to be an effective deterrent.
🟢 HB1780 by Rep. Gazaway: Return of Private Property During Criminal Investigations When Not Necessary the Government Seize It — SUPPORT
This bill would ensure that people’s private property is not seized and kept during the pendency of a felony investigation if released by a court order, by the prosecuting attorney who decides not to prosecute, or determines the item is not needed for prosecution. This will allow a person to keep their private property before they are ever convicted of a felony. This is a type of civil asset forfeiture reform that helps protect the economic freedom of Arkansans.
Senate Public Health:
🟢 SB587 by Sen. G. Leding: Allowing Residents of Nursing Homes to Have Recording Devices in Their Room — SUPPORT
This good bill would allow residents of a nursing home or similar facility to have a recording device in their private room. This will allow better transparency and accountability to prevent elder abuse.
❌ HB1440 by Rep. Bentley: Increased Regulation on Massage Therapist Establishments — OPPOSE
This bill would require all massage therapy establishments to register with the state government Department of Health to be able to operate. It would also require registration and disclosure to the government of the principals ‘ ownership/other interest in the massage therapy establishments. It would require a copy of a business license from a local government. If any changes occur, the massage therapy establishment must update them with the government within ten business days. These regulations increase costs to consumers and reduce the supply of massage therapists providing services in Arkansas. In the recent past Republicans were making a concerted effort to remove burdens and licensing from small businesses in Arkansas. This bill expands the role of government and bureaucracy in the marketplace.
🟢 HB1682 by Rep. Puryear: Limited Liability for Food Donations — SUPPORT
Called “The Good Neighbor Act,” this good bill would provide for limited liability for those donating in good faith, food to the needy.
🟢HB1582 by Rep. McAlindon: Welfare Recipients Required to Upload Resumes & Search for Work—SUPPORT
This good bill would require welfare recipients, such as those able-bodied working age adults on the Arkansas Medicaid expansion program, to upload their resumes to the state workforce services portal. They would also be required to respond to requests for interviews and seek relevant work options as part of their requirement to seek work. If they do not do so, they may lose their eligibility for welfare programs.
🟢 HB1782 by Rep. Hudson: Banning Consumer Choice In Over the Counter Weight Loss Supplements — SUPPORT
Arkansas and the Federal government have passed many laws meant to protect consumers by placing age requirements on the purchaser of certain products–such as tobacco, alcohol, and even transgender surgeries. In 2005, the Feds placed certain over-the-counter decongestants behind the counter in an attempt to protect public health. The support or opposition to this bill will likely be best determined by what one believes about “over the counter diet pills”. No doubt this bill would limit consumer choices by banning the sale of OTC diet pills to anyone under 18 years old. It would require ID verification to sell OTC supplements. The Department of Health is given authority to write rules to determine which OTC supplements they want to ban. Violations are deceptive trade practices violations with additional penalties of $2,000 for a violation. Though it is hoped the DOH will be limiting in its use of this law, Conduit supports this bill strictly based on what it believes about the safety of these specific products and, therefore, is against the OTC sale of diet pills to those under 18 years of age.
❌ HB1841 by Rep. L. Johnson: New Non-Necessary Government Program/Fund Diverting Tax Revenue — OPPOSE
This is yet another special interest bill from the medical community’s legislator, which could benefit him and his donors. It adds another layer to government health care, adding a new government program/fund that will divert tax revenue to emergency medical services agencies. It is bad policy to pass laws that benefit a small group of special people rather than general laws of general applicability. It will hurt the economic freedom of Arkansans as they will have to pay more or receive fewer services to allow the diversion of tax revenue to this new program.
🟢 HB1751 by Rep. Underwood: Requiring Job Search While Waiting on Welfare Benefits Application Processing — SUPPORT
This bill would require the Department of Human Services to require welfare program applicants to engage in job search requirements while they are awaiting the processing and determination of their welfare benefits. This will ensure that people do not stop looking for work as an alternative to getting welfare. This would apply to the Arkansas Work Pays Program and the cash welfare program TANF.
House Education:
❌ HB1710 by Rep. Vaught: Prohibiting Schools from Publishing Government School Ratings — Oppose
This unconstitutional bill denies private schools their right to Free Speech guaranteed under the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It is also a move to reduce competition between two options for education granted to children in Arkansas under the Learns Act. This bill supports government schools over private schools. Its intent seems to be to prevent parents from making informed choices between government schools and private schools. It specifically prohibits all schools (including private schools) from publishing the legally required school grade ratings of government schools — reports found at https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov/SRC. These complicated reports are explained by the Division of Elementary & Secondary Education: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance-and-monitoring/reporting. On its face, the purpose of this bad bill is to protect government schools more than educate children. It also appears to assume government schools are inferior; and their legally required report cards should not be used as a legitimate reason by parents to change schools.
❌ HB1017 by Rep. A. Collins: Expansion of Taxpayer-Funded Paid Time Off for School Employees with New Babies — OPPOSE
This bill would increase government spending by expanding paid maternity leave to 12 weeks for women who have a child, adopt a child under one, or become a foster parent of a child under one. This would be for ANY school employee, not just education personnel, as is currently the standard. It would cover 100% of that person’s paid leave through the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
🟢 SB402 by Sen. Penzo: Protection Against Teacher Union Coercion — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit the coercion of employees to attend meetings, events, training, or otherwise interact with teachers’ unions or other similar groups. These groups usually use peer pressure to get donations, dues, or other involvement and actions to be taken by public school employees to appease their bosses and administrators who are aligned with the unions and groups. The bill would specifically prohibit the use of school facilities, mailing lists, supplies, equipment, and other taxpayer-funded resources to engage in coercion or teacher union activities.
🟢 HB1081 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Repeal of Increased Funding for Professional Learning Communities — SUPPORT
This bill would decrease the additional funding for the development and administration of professional learning communities. This would cut $16.5 million and allow those funds to be better used for core functions of government.
🟢 HB1139 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Protection of Religious Moral Education Courses without Hurting Students Attendance — SUPPORT
This bill would allow courses to be taught in religious, moral instruction by independent entities of a government school, and such attendance at the course cannot be counted against the student. This protects the religious freedom of students and parents who wish to learn such content without being treated poorly by the government school through the docking of their attendance.
❌ HB1747 by Rep. Vaught: Allowing Teacher to Bring Newborns to Work — OPPOSE
Similar to HB1720, this is a bad–lack of common sense bill– while, no doubt, well intentioned is misguided. It would allow a teacher-parent to bring a newborn to work (any child, including foster kids) up until they are 6 months old. This could inhibit the ability of teachers to fulfill their job duties while at work if necessary to care for the newborn. All newborns need care during work hours. This could also restrict the learning ability or environment for some children if a newborn is present. This bill also provides for allowing teachers to bring their children over 6 months of age to work. (See comments under HB1720.)
❌ HB1761 by Rep. D. Garner: Targeting Families and Kids to Make Ineligible or Reduce Funding of Education Freedman Accounts — OPPOSE
This bad bill is an attempt to thwart the overall intent of Educational Freedom Accounts. It would exclude from full funding those taxpayers who earn more than 250% of the federal poverty level (which could be as low as $53,000 annually for a single parent). It would allow for partial eligibility for reduced funds for those making between 250%-400% of the federal poverty level. This bill is simply an attack on kids and families to limit their access to school choice options. This is effectively forcing DEI onto the education freedom account program.
🟢 HB1806 by Rep. Vaught: Educational Transparency in Government Schools — SUPPORT
This really good bill would require transparency in government schools by allowing parents to know what the government is teaching their children and an opportunity to opt out of specific government education topics. An online portal to review teacher lesson plans, textbook or other material content, and video content will be put in place by 2026.
🟢 SB90 by Sen. English: Increased Public Input at School Board Meetings — SUPPORT
This bill would require school boards to provide opportunities for the public to give comments for at least three minutes per meeting. This will increase public input and transparency in local school boards, assisting both sides in improved communications.
❌ HB1492 by Rep. Gramlich: New Devices for All School Employees — OPPOSE
This bad bill is an example of “spare no expense or bureaucracy growth” in an attempt to make life safer. It would require a panic alert device for every individual employed by a government school. The device would send alerts to law enforcement and send a lockdown notification. Hundreds of thousands of these devices would have to be purchased and maintained, and every local law enforcement group would have to grow to coordinate and work with these. All records related to the use of the devices would be exempt from the freedom of information law.
🟢 HB1933 by Rep. McCollum: Allowing for Recall of Elected School Board Members — SUPPORT
This good bill would allow a mechanism to recall elected school board members.
❌ SB504 by Sen. Irvin: New Government Program in Healthcare — OPPOSE
This is yet one more bill providing an opportunity for taxpayer money to be given to a new government-private partnership, such as we hear about daily in the news from the DOGE’s discovery of waste, fraud, and abuse. This bill, sponsored by one of healthcare’s senators, would create a new government program to provide funding for special interests in healthcare for medical students, funded by state taxes. (These bills seen this session continue to state that funding is from federal, state, or private funding as though we should delight in the idea of the private funds aspect when reviewing these bills. It is not necessary to pass a law to create an entity to do these things with private funds, only when using taxpayer dollars.)
🟢 HB1919 Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
This good transparency bill would make public records under FOIA the government school learning materials. This increase in transparency will allow parents and the public to know what the government is teaching children while at school.
Senate Transportation:
🟢 HB1845 by Rep. Holcomb: Allowing for Digital Vehicle Titles and Liens — SUPPORT
This good bill will allow the utilization of technology to provide electronic vehicle titles, liens, and odometer disclosures. This could help save money and time and increase transparency.
House State Agencies:
❌ HB1041 by Rep. A. Collins: Government Censorship of Free Speech Using Technology to Harm Politicians’ Reputations — OPPOSE
This bill would violate a person’s Right to Free Speech protected under the First Amendment. It would ban free people from engaging in speech that would harm the reputation of politicians if the politician did not agree with how they are being portrayed. Specifically, it would apply to speech made using technology, such as artificial intelligence, to create memes, videos, or other items in which someone says something the government does not like. This would harm the rights of people to engage in political speech against their government and protect political incumbents and governments against speech with which they disagree.
🟢 HB1883 by Rep. Long: 4th Amendment Protections Against State Governments Supporting Federal Government Investigations — SUPPORT
This good bill would prohibit state entities from assisting, participating with, or providing material support or materials to federal government agencies in the collection or use of a person’s electronic data or metadata unless that person gave informed consent or it is subject to a valid search warrant. This will protect those interests and rights to privacy of information that may be required to be given to a state agency but that a federal agency may otherwise not be allowed to access or have without due process protections subject to the 4th Amendment.
❌ HB1035 by Rep. A. Collins: Increasing Voter Fraud Through Online Voter Registration — OPPOSE
This bill would increase voter fraud through a new online voter registration program. The law would FORCE election officials to register anyone who signs up online if they submit the form within 30 days of an election and they provide a current driver‘s license number or the last four digits of a social security number. No additional screening or security is provided in the text of the bill. When big government politicians keep losing elections, instead of changing their policies to reflect what the people want, they try to change the rules to cheat and win elections, which is what this bill does.
❌ HB1038 by Rep. A. Collins: Increasing Voter Fraud Through No-Excuse Absentee Voting — OPPOSE
This bill would increase voter fraud by allowing any person’s ballot to be cast by absentee vote for any reason or no reason at all. This will allow ballot harvesters and ballot thieves to prevent the actual voter from potentially voting in person later in the election period, such as waiting until the actual election day. This appears to be a change in the rules to provide a better opportunity to cheat and steal elections.
House City County Local:
🟢 HB1936 by Rep. R. Burkes: Primary Elections for Municipal Offices — SUPPORT
This good bill will provide transparency in the political ideologies of municipal candidates for elected office by having partisan primaries unless the municipality specifically passes a resolution to avoid them. Too many big government politicians are elected at the local level with no primary to vet candidates and their political positions.
Senate floor:
❌ SB437 by Sen. Hester: New Regulations, Fees, and Corporate Welfare for Wind Energy Projects — OPPOSE
This bill sets up a new regulatory framework for wind energy projects, such as a wind farm, including requiring permits and an application fee of $2,500. The Arkansas Public Service Commission is granted oversight and rulemaking authority to implement this new permitting framework. Several other government commissions/actors will also be involved, creating a complex and costly regulatory process for new wind energy projects. Environmental impact studies, wildlife impact assessments, fishery impact assessments, nursery impact, and other costly studies would be required. This framework would seem to make it cost prohibitive for alternative energy wind projects, keeping traditional energy options only for consumerism, therefore, keeping prices high. Rather than growing government with a new layer of government bureaucracy, why not let the new fresh air of competition and capitalism play out within the wind energy arena in Arkansas, as we enter this new federal administration of less bureaucracy, clearly voiced by the voters? Passing this bill seems again — like its supporters are slow to read preferences of the voters.
❌ SB447 by Sen. J. Petty: Extra Regulations on Alcohol Sales and Deliveries — OPPOSE
This bad bill would place new regulations on alcohol deliveries, giving a listing to the government of sensitive information regarding consumers’ names, business addresses, and other information. It would require new reporting of sizes, types, name brands, tracking information, and recipients’ zip codes. Blanket authority is also granted to the Department of Finance and Administration for rulemaking to enforce this. This will increase costs and reduce freedom for consumers because of these added new regulations.
🟢 SB565 by Sen. Flippo: Increased Oversight over Procurement of Government Contracts — SUPPORT
This good bill would provide additional oversight over the spending of taxpayer money through the solicitation and awarding of government contracts through the procurement process. Additional restrictions on eligible persons for government contracts include not hiring illegal immigrants, no contingency fee arrangements based on awarding of the contract, the contractor not employing a government worker who would benefit from the government contract, termination of contracts if the general assembly refuses to appropriate funds, disqualification for those who boycott Israel or energy, fossil fuel, firearms, and ammunition industries, disqualification for those owned in whole or with a majority interest by CCP (government of communist China). This would apply to solicitations for government contracts above $75,000. (This bill could be improved by excluding “any” ownership by CCP rather than more than 50% and including a provision that would combine contracts to avoid multiple contracts used to avoid the $75K threshold.)
❌ SB577 by Sen. Petty: Working to Keep Local Sales & Use Taxes From Expiring to Ensure High Tax Rates — OPPOSE
This bad bill (filed by Legislators elected to represent taxpayers, not lobbyist groups for cities, counties, and economic development projects) would work against the interests of taxpayers by having state government employees (DFA) track and advise all local governments 120 days in advance before their sales and use taxes expire (along with giving them the specific requirement to extend same). This bill increases the size and workforce of the DFA while assuming that these local governments, which have no problem passing these taxes, may not be qualified to keep up with them adequately to maintain the tax burdens imposed. The outcome of this bill will help ensure that higher tax rates stay in place.
❌ HB1802 by Rep. Warren: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain People — OPPOSE
This bad bill provides a means by which up to $500,000 per year of Arkansas tax dollars may be given to entities who will attempt to recruit people to move to Arkansas (who supposedly already have a job). This new government’s giving away of tax dollars seems to be in line with many new socialist ideas from this General Session. We repeat, the waste, fraud, and abuse exposed by DOGE at the federal level only seems to have given many the idea that they need to get in on the money grab of government dollars. The government calls these programs “economic development,” but they will only spend money we do not have, increase dependency on government, and increase the size and scope of government. This is another bad bill disguised as “economic development” and nothing more than an economic welfare program. See: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7425335 and https://arkansaseconomicregions.org/districts/capdd/
❌ SB354 by Sen. Dismang: New Prison in Franklin County Funding Bill — OPPOSE
Provides new appropriations for spending up to $750 million for a new prison in Franklin County. Although we are in favor of expanding prisons as needed, we need to first pursue other options to reform our prison system before throwing more money at a system that appears not to be working. Continuing more of the same with more money is mindful of giving more money to a failing education system rather than addressing fundamental issues first.
House floor:
🟢 HB1879 by Rep. Lundstrum: Video Recordings of City Council and County Quorum Courts — SUPPORT
This bill is a good transparency bill that would require video recordings of all public meetings of city councils and county quorum courts and that they be publicly posted.
❌ HB1846 BY Rep. S. Meeks: New Government Commission With Per Diem for Meetings to Study Celebrating a Birthday for Government — OPPOSE
This really bad bill would create yet another new government commission to spend money, have meetings, give away per diem for meetings, and other activities to study celebrating a birthdate for state government. This spends money we do not have, increases the size and scope of government, and increases dependency on government — violating every element of the Conduit economic freedom filter. For a reminder of the vast number of agencies, commissions, etc, already financed with taxpayer dollars currently assigned by the legislature to celebrate AR history (and birthday), review the following: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/strategic-planSee: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/department-of-arkansas-heritage-4327/,: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/about-us/mission
🟢 HB1809 by Rep. Warren: Allowing Homesteads to All Persons — SUPPORT
This bill would clarify language regarding the homestead property tax credit so that the principal place of residence of a disabled veteran, which is titled in the name of his or her revocable or irrevocable trust or his or her LLC, is eligible for the tax credit.
🟢 HB1685 by Rep. Underwood: Elimination of Remaining State Sales Tax on Groceries — SUPPORT
This good bill would eliminate the remaining 1/8% sales tax on groceries. This current tax goes to the Game and Fish Commission for parks and tourism. The bill would still allow local governments at the city and county level to tax groceries. Conduit for Action has been advocating the full repeal (including to local governments) of the grocery tax for over a decade. See: https://conduitnews.com/exempting-groceries-the-way-forward/
🟢 HB1636 by Rep. Ray: Phase Out of Sales Tax on Soda — SUPPORT
This good bill would implement a reduction and phasing out of the sales tax on soda. After hitting certain revenue, the overall rate of the sales tax on soda would be reduced over time until it is eliminated. The new sales tax on soda was passed under Gov. Asa Hutchinson as part of the “offset” to fund income tax exemptions for military retirees instead of just cutting taxes without raising them elsewhere. The eventual elimination would bring the law back in line with the reduction and elimination of the sales tax on grocery items.
❌ HB1954 by Rep. Andrews: New Government Registration & Hurting People’s Right to Work as Behavior Analyst — OPPOSE
This bill is a continuation of the previously passed HB1245 by a Democrat sponsor to establish a new government registration process for behavior analysts. This bill takes things even further by requiring any person who is a behavior analyst to first register with the government before providing their services. If they do not do so, they can be fined between $500 and $1,000. Additional regulations will be authorized by the Arkansas Psychology Board. This all increases the costs and ultimately decreases the access to the public.
❌ HB1965 Rep. McCullough: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain Food — OPPOSE
This Democrat-sponsored bill would create a new government program within the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to send money to government-selected food retailers in government-defined underserved communities. The government would “partner” with a nonprofit organization to funnel the money to pay staff to oversee the program. Administrative costs are similar to the costly administrative costs the federal Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered under Elon Musk. The money could also be used for “equity investments,” which is code for DEI initiatives, a top project of the left that President Trump, Governor Sanders, and other top Republican officials have peeled back in new administrations. This convoluted legislation would legalize corruption and the funneling of taxpayer monies to Democrat pet projects, donors, and leftist activists under the guise of “healthy living” for “poor people”. This is a scam. Do not pass.
❌ HB1969 by Rep. L. Johnson: Diverting Medicaid Funds To Pay Hospital Staff, Incentives to Providers; Max Payment Rates for Hospitals; Blanket Authority to Bureaucrats; New Special Interests Medicaid Lobbying Committee — OPPOSE
Rep. L. Johnson continues his advocacy for his donors and the special interests in the healthcare field with this bill specifically benefiting hospitals with taxpayer money. This 20-page bill has several major changes to the Medicaid system, including diverting Medicaid money away from paying for the truly needy’s direct medical care, and using it to pay for hospital fellowships/staff, incentives to Medicaid providers, setting payment rates to hospitals to be the maximum amounts allowed, creates a new special interests Medicaid lobbying committee, and gives out blanket authority to bureaucrats to make exemptions and implement these changes via rulemaking that can be controlled by special interests and lobbyists.
❌ SB421 by Sen. Hester: New $500 Million Future Tax Increases Through Issuing Public Debt through Bonds — OPPOSE
This bad bill would allow the state to borrow $500 million by allowing the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) to issue that amount in debt through bonds that taxpayers guarantee. The Governor will have final approval over the bonds being issued, with review by the Joint Budget Committee or Legislative Council of the Legislature. If we ever intend to reduce the size of government (or even its growth), existing revenue (without the state borrowing) should be used to fund projects by prioritizing existing tax dollars. This is double dipping, grows government, and ultimately results in increased taxes. Also, note that since 2019 (Asa administration), the Department of Agriculture has greatly expanded its reach and powers by the consolidation of agriculture under the Governor. Since 2023, this ANRC has eliminated three separate commissions, placing their activities now under its authority. See https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-natural-resources-commission/.
For a list of the various agri-related boards (usually issuing grants — the gifting of taxpayer dollars) and commissions (usually issuing bonds — the borrowing and lending of taxpayer dollars), see: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/ )
❌ SB361 Sen. Dees: New Corporate Welfare Program with Future Tax Increases / Public Debt Authority — OPPOSE
This bad bill is filled with approximately 20 pages of new law to create a new “industrial development authority” to create corporate welfare programs within the industrial industry. It will allow local government to saddle taxpayers with the issuance of public debt and future tax increases. Under the guise of “economic development,” this is a stealth method of growing government, passing tax increases, and issuing public debt through bonds.
🟢 SB479 by Sen. K. Hammer: Voter Integrity for Voter Assistance to Disabled Voters — SUPPORT
This voter integrity bill would require that persons helping disabled people to vote be someone over 18 and have a valid voter ID. The name of the person assisting would also have to be disclosed.
❌ SB252 by Sen. Dismang: Abolishing Tobacco and Vaping Products in Arkansas Through Regulation & Bureaucracy — OPPOSE
This omnibus bill would regulate the tobacco and vaping industry to death and could result in abolishing all tobacco and vaping products in Arkansas. This decreases economic freedom and freedom of choice for Arkansas consumers. The bill is also being used to push for abolishing the tobacco industry by using school children as examples of those engaging in the already illegal use of vape or tobacco products. New fees would create a slush fund from which money would be directed/to politicians’ favorite projects. The government would dictate specific packaging, unlimited warrantless inspections of tobacco products sold at retail stores, prohibitions on specific locations for any possession of tobacco products even if they are not illegally possessed (in possession of those over 21), violating free speech rights in advertising products, new directory systems to track all tobacco products, and new fees charged per product. Competition will be limited, and consumers will pay more. This “nanny state” bill violates the individual and economic freedoms of Arkansans. It is an example of why Arkansas is ranked #44 out of 50 by The Cato Institute for individual freedoms: https://www.freedominthe50states.org/personal/arkansas
❌ SB498 by Sen. J. Petty: Repeal of Transparency in Driver Services Public Records — OPPOSE
This bill would provide a new freedom of information exemption regarding driver and vehicle public records. It would also repeal a requirement for those who request such, to furnish a certified abstract of the operating record of drivers including listing of any motor vehicle accidents and any convictions for driving violations and record of any vehicles registered in a person’s name. Driving and operation of a specific vehicle on the roads is a public license granted by the state and unless declared confidential by law, should continue to be a matter of public record.
❌ SB440 by Sen. D. Wallace: Restrictive Residency Requirements to Operate a Funeral Home — OPPOSE
Most of this bill is related to the regulation of alternative cremation known as alkaline hydrolysis, or water cremation, regarding which we have no objection. However, the bill changes the law so that each establishment must have a full-time manager who is a funeral director in good standing and resides within fifty (50) miles of the funeral establishment. This requirement may restrict the operation of funeral home establishments to only the population of people within a fifty-mile (50) radius. This could increase costs for consumers and cause the potential closure of existing funeral homes.
