It’s been a rough legislative session, wouldn’t you agree? Some conservative legislators have veered off course, pushing spending we can’t afford and expanding government—disappointing, to say the least. With just three days left, we’re almost done, but we can’t ease up now. Your vigilance is vital to hold lawmakers accountable until the end. Here are the bills we’re tracking today. Scroll down a bit further for a full analysis of each bill.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
House Public Health:
❌ SB554 by Sen. C. Tucker: New Government Program for Student Loan Forgiveness for Mental Health Professionals — OPPOSE
🟢 SB121 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physician Assistants to Automatic Out-of-State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
🟢 SB122 by Sen. Penzo: Adds Physicians to Automatic Out-of-State Licensure Act — SUPPORT
🟢 SB217 by Sen. Penzo: No Food Stamps for Candy/Soda — SUPPORT
House Rev + Tax:
❌ HB1670 by Rep. L. Johnson: Refundable Tax Credit for Mentoring Health Professionals — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1715 by Rep. Lundstrum: Cap on Increase in Residential Property Tax Assessments After Sale/Conveyance — SUPPORT
❌ SB605 by Sen. J. Dismang: New 50% Tax on Delta THC Products — OPPOSE
Senate Education:
❌HB1017 by Rep. A. Collins: Expansion of Taxpayer-Funded Paid Time Off for School Employees with New Babies — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1919 Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
House State Agencies:
❌HB1041 by Rep. A. Collins: Government Censorship of Free Speech Using Technology to Harm Politicians’ Reputations — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1883 by Rep. Long: 4th Amendment Protections Against State Governments Supporting Federal Government Investigations — SUPPORT
Senate floor:
❌ HB1312 by Rep. Brooks: Increased Per-Student Funding of Government Schools — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1662 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Prohibiting Lobbying for China & Russia — SUPPORT
🟢 HB1682 by Rep. Puryear: Limited Liability for Food Donations — SUPPORT
🟢 HB1933 by Rep. McCollum: Allowing for Recall of Elected School Board Members — SUPPORT
House floor:
❌ SB437 by Sen. Hester: New Regulations, Fees, and Corporate Welfare for Wind Energy Projects — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1445 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Protection of Short-Term Rental Property Rights — SUPPORT
❌ HB1747 by Rep. Vaught: Allowing Teachers to Bring Newborns to Work — OPPOSE
🟢 SB565 by Sen. Flippo: Increased Oversight over Procurement of Government Contracts — SUPPORT
Bill Analysis:
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 & Tax:
❌ HB1670 by Rep. L. Johnson: Refundable Tax Credit for Mentoring Health Professionals — OPPOSE
This bad bill is the second time its physician sponsor has run it. 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 own special interest legislator who continues to file bills to personally benefit himself, his donors, and friends in the healthcare industry.
🟢 HB1708 by Rep. Underwood: No Tax on Bonuses — SUPPORT
This good bill would provide that there is no state income tax paid on bonuses. This bill does not pick winners and losers but favors all workers. It will increase the economic freedom of Arkansans and encourage the work ethic in Arkansas by allowing employees to keep bonuses earned. This bill could be improved by also exempting from state income tax, all overtime wages.
🟢 HB1715 by Rep. Lundstrum: Cap on Increase in Residential Property Tax Assessments After Sale/Conveyance — SUPPORT
This bill would provide a cap on the increase of the assessed value of residential property after it is sold/transferred. The cap would be five percent (5%) for principal place of residence homestead and ten percent (10%) for principal place of residence non-homestead residential properties. This will save taxpayers money and prohibit excessive increases in assessed values when homes are sold. Please note that Conduit is in favor of reducing these real property taxes rather than simply capping their growth.
❌ 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 Education:
❌ 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.
🟢 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.
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.
Senate floor:
❌ 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.
🟢 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.
🟢 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.
🟢 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.
House 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 impacts, nursery impacts, 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 competion 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.
🟢 HB1445 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Protection of Short-Term Rental Property Rights — SUPPORT
This bill is an effort to protect the private property rights of Arkansans who wish to use their property for short-term rentals, such as renting out single rooms in their homes or having a property listed on Airbnb or VRBO-type platforms. This bill is designed to prevent local government from imposing onerous regulations, fees, and fines on people for utilizing their private property for profit. It should also increase the supply of lodging for people visiting Arkansas and reduce the costs for consumers. See “Arkansas Property Owners Face Opposition in Short-Term Rental Battle”
❌ 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 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.
🟢 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.)
Monday, April 14, 2025
Senate Education:
❌ HB1017 by Rep. A. Collins: Expansion of Taxpayer Funded Paid Time Off for School Employees with New Babies — OPPOSE
❌ HB1312 by Rep. Brooks: Increased Per-Student Funding of Government Schools — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1806 by Rep. Vaught: Educational Transparency in Government Schools — SUPPORT
🟢 HB1919 Rep. McAlindon: Transparency in Government Teaching & Parental Rights in Children’s Education — SUPPORT
🟢 HB1933 by Rep. McCollum: Allowing for Recall of Elected School Board Members — SUPPORT
House Revenue and Tax:
❌HB1670 by Rep. L. Johnson: Refundable Tax Credit for Mentoring Health Professionals — OPPOSE
🟢HB1708 by Rep. Underwood: No Tax on Bonuses — SUPPORT
🟢HB1715 by Rep. Lundstrum: Cap on Increase in Residential Property Tax Assessments After Sale/Conveyance — SUPPORT
❌SB605 by Sen. J. Dismang: New 50% Tax on Delta THC Products — OPPOSE
House Insurance & Commerce:
❌SB437 by Sen. Hester: New Regulations, Fees, and Corporate Welfare for Wind Energy Projects — OPPOSE
House State Agencies:
❌HB1041 by Rep. R. Scott Richardson: Government Censorship of Free Speech Using Technology to Harm Politicians’ Reputations — OPPOSE
🟢HB1883 by Rep. Long: 4th Amendment Protections Against State Governments Supporting Federal Government Investigations — SUPPORT
🟢SB565 by Sen. Flippo: Increased Oversight over Procurement of Government Contracts — SUPPORT
Senate Judiciary:
🟢SB549 by Sen. G. Leding: Refund of Government Costs and Fees In Criminal Cases When Defendant Acquitted, Case Dismissed, or Declined to Prosecute — SUPPORT
Senate Public Health:
❌HB1915 by Rep. Eubanks: Expansion of Welfare Benefits Eligibility to Non-Poor People With Large Assets — OPPOSE
Senate State Agencies:
🟢SB579 by Sen. McKee: No Tax Dollars to Pay for Union Dues — SUPPORT
🟢HB1879 by Rep. Lundstrum: Video Recordings of City Council and County Quorum Courts — SUPPORT
Senate floor:
❌ SB354 by Sen. Dismang: New Prison in Franklin County Funding Bill — OPPOSE
🟢HB1662 by Rep. B. McKenzie: Prohibiting Lobbying for China & Russia — SUPPORT
🟢HB1682 by Rep. Puryear: Limited Liability for Food Donations — SUPPORT
🟢HB1809 by Rep. Warren: Allowing Homesteads to All Persons — SUPPORT
❌HB1965 Rep. McCullough: New Government Program to Subsidize Certain Food — OPPOSE
🟢 HB1685 by Rep. Underwood: Elimination of Remaining State Sales Tax on Groceries — SUPPORT
🟢HB1706 by Rep. McCollum: Prohibition on Ranked Choice Voting — SUPPORT
🟢HB1732 by Rep. Vaught: Increase in Tax Deduction for Teachers’ Classroom Expenses — SUPPORT
House floor:
❌SJR15/HJR1014/HB1114 by Sen. J. Dismang/Rep. Beaty Jr: Creation of Socialism – Corporate Welfare Districts — OPPOSE
❌HB1828 Rep. Breaux: Sales Tax Exemption for a Specific Entity — OPPOSE
🟢SB90 by Sen. English: Increased Public Input at School Board Meetings — SUPPORT
❌SB168 by Sen. Rice: Adds New Barriers to Get Massage Therapy License – Government Test — OPPOSE
❌SB447 by Sen. J. Petty: Extra Regulations on Alcohol Sales and Deliveries — OPPOSE
❌SB504 by Sen. Irvin: New Government Program in Healthcare — OPPOSE
🟢SB402 by Sen. Penzo: Protection Against Teacher Union Coercion — SUPPORT
Senate Education:
❌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.
❌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.
🟢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.
🟢 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.
🟢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.
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.
🟢 HB1708 by Rep. Underwood: No Tax on Bonuses — SUPPORT
This good bill would provide that there is no state income tax paid on bonuses. This bill does not pick winners and losers but favors all workers. It will increase the economic freedom of Arkansans and encourage the work ethic in Arkansas by allowing employees to keep bonuses earned. This bill could be improved by also exempting from state income tax all overtime wages.
🟢 HB1715 by Rep. Lundstrum: Cap on Increase in Residential Property Tax Assessments After Sale/Conveyance — SUPPORT
This bill would provide a cap on the increase of the assessed value of residential property after it is sold/transferred. The cap would be five percent (5%) for principal place of residence homestead and ten percent (10%) for principal place of residence non-homestead residential properties. This will save taxpayers money and prohibit excessive increases in assessed values when homes are sold. Please note that Conduit is in favor of reducing these real property taxes rather than simply capping their growth.
❌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.
House Insurance & Commerce:
❌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 assessments, 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.
House State Agencies:
❌HB1041 by Rep. R. Scott Richardson: 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.
🟢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 Declined 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.
Senate Public Health:
❌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 the 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.
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.
🟢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.
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.
🟢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.
🟢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.
🟢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.
🟢 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/
🟢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.
🟢 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 for classroom expenses from $500 to $1,000 or from $1,000 to $2,000 for those married 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.
House floor:
❌ SJR15/HJR1014/HB1114 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 to be 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, growing government, and a socialist-corporate welfare program with no limits or guard rails. 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
❌ 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.
🟢 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.
❌ 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 a massage therapist 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.
❌ 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.)
🟢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.
