Arkansas State Senator Ricky Hill (R – Cabot) reflected on the 2025 legislative session as one of the most active during his time in office. Representing District 29, Hill acknowledged the fast pace and high volume of bills but focused on the significant gains made for rural Arkansans, including expanded veterinary services and protections for agricultural businesses. Emphasizing a return to limited government and conservative values, Hill called for smarter, more deliberate lawmaking in the future.
🎙️ Interview Breakdown and Topics
Grueling Legislative Session (00:00:50:15 – 00:01:54:16)
Hill labeled the session the “hardest” and “most grueling,” making a thorough review of all pieces of legislation nearly impossible. He advocated for fewer bills, aligning with conservative principles of limited government.
Support for Fewer Laws (00:01:54:18 – 00:02:37:09)
Hill stressed reducing laws over adding new ones, noting Arkansas’s existing laws are sufficient and bad laws should be repealed.
Veterinary Modernization Bills (00:04:26:20 – 00:07:34:16)
Hill championed Senate Bill 61 (vet telemedicine) and the “victim specialist bill,” addressing the shortage of large-animal veterinarians (fewer than 50 statewide) and supporting rural Arkansas’s agricultural community.
Protecting Agriculture (00:07:59:05 – 00:08:39:10)
Senate Bill 409 prevents financial institutions from discriminating against agricultural producers, safeguarding Arkansas’s largest industry against ESG policies. Hill emphasized, “We feed the world.”
Concerns Over Pharmacy Bill (00:09:21:07 – 00:10:28:09)
Hill criticized a pharmacy bill targeting CVS, (HB1150 now Act 624) which Hill said could cost 600 jobs, comparing it to authoritarian government overreach.
Support for Fluoride Mandate Repeal (00:16:43:19 – 00:20:57:00)
Hill supported Senate Bill 2 to repeal mandatory fluoride in drinking water, citing its toxicity and advocating for consumer choice.
Failed Crypto-Mining Bill (00:13:51:17 – 00:16:28:20)
Hill’s bill to restrict crypto-mining facilities within 30 miles of military bases for national security failed, with opponents citing property rights over military safety—a concern for a “red state.”
Fiscal Responsibility on Prison Funding (00:23:58:21 – 00:26:25:17)
Hill opposed a $825 million prison funding proposal without detailed plans, voting “no” four times and “present” once. He urged using the allocated $75 million for due diligence.
