Whether the Arkansas Capitol is bustling with legislation or moving at a slower pace, the sheer number of bills passed or rejected doesn’t necessarily indicate how well lawmakers are doing their jobs. What truly matters is whether good laws are enacted—and bad ones are stopped in their tracks.
During the 95th General Assembly, lawmakers passed a mix of legislation—some commendable, some controversial. We’ve previously covered both the highlights and the low points of what made it through the legislative process.
Now, we turn our attention to the bills that didn’t survive—and that’s good news. Several proposals that would have expanded government power, increased regulatory burdens, or raised new concerns were ultimately rejected. Their failure represents a legislative victory for those who value individual liberty and responsible governance.
As the dust settles on this session, one thing is clear: sometimes, the best bill is the one that never makes it to the governor’s desk.
❌ SB212 by Sen. K. Hammer: New Government Department with New Law Enforcement Officers
Again, unbelievably, this government growth, freedom-repressing bill is filed by a Republican! To make it worse, the sponsor of the bill has declared his candidacy for the election of Secretary of State in 2026! This bill would create a new government department to administer new government regulations under SB207-211 (if passed) within the office of the Secretary of State. It would allow/create a type of law enforcement officer within the Secretary of State’s office. Named the “Document Validity Division,” this Orwellian-named division would oversee the process of working to disqualify citizen petitions to place items on the ballot for a vote of the people for changes in their government. Broad government powers are granted to these “document validators,” including issuing subpoenas, compelling witness attendance, collecting evidence, and requiring the production of documents and correspondence that the government deems relevant to their inquiry. This bill grows the government and reduces the freedoms of the people to make changes to their government, and is an example that legislators can stay focused on the government as the answer, for too long! https://www.kait8.com/2025/01/07/arkansas-senator-hammer-announces-campaign-secretary-state/
❌ SB354 by Sen. Dismang: New Prison in Franklin County Funding Bill
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.
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❌ SB605 by Sen. J. Dismang: New 50% Tax on Delta THC Products
This bill would create a new tax on delta THC-type products (the part of the cannabinoid responsible for the “high”), typically sold in vape/tobacco shops as an alternative to marijuana. A 50% excise tax on the gross receipts of 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 by 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.
❌ HB1009 by Rep. A. Collins: To Allow Pregnancy to Be a Qualifying Event for Automatic Enrollment in Medicaid
This bill would create “presumptive eligibility” for Medicaid for any pregnant woman in Arkansas and immediately enroll them in Medicaid and cover services for prenatal care. This would increase the Medicaid rolls without prior proper screening to ensure the Medicaid program is limited to those who are truly needy and not based on a specific class of people (pregnant women). Medicaid would potentially foot the initial bills of any medical services provided to any pregnant woman in Arkansas.
❌ HB1012 by Rep. A. Collins: To Establish a New Population of Persons Eligible for Medicaid Coverage for “Family Planning” Services (Code – ABORTION Services)
This bill would create a new population of eligible persons for Medicaid coverage not otherwise eligible based solely on income (no work requirements or other criteria to be eligible are included) of 200% of the federal poverty level to receive taxpayer-funded “family planning services”. Family Planning Services are not defined but have long been used as code for “Abortion Services” – see Planned Parenthood. The bill would also force the state Department of Human Services to seek additional taxpayer funding at the federal level for additional support of this new government program within Medicaid.
❌ HB1015 by Rep. D. Garner: New $300 Per Child State Income Tax Credit
We are not supportive of increasing the child credit to $300 under the terms as written. This bill would make the credit refundable, meaning it would give cash directly to persons who do not pay taxes. We are supportive of this tax credit if this bill is amended to remove the refundability aspect to ensure the credit only goes towards offsetting taxes owed by those who actually pay taxes in at least that amount. Also, as written, the credit would be limited to single persons making up to $100K, or couples making up to $200K.
❌ HB1024 by Rep. A. Collins: Repeal of Collective Bargaining Ban for Taxpayer Funded Government Employees
This bill would repeal the current ban on collective bargaining for taxpayer-funded government employees. Collective bargaining is basically legalized unionization protections to allow them to negotiate contracts or other terms of employment between an employer and employee. This is generally accepted in the private sector. However, many states have banned this for taxpayer-funded government employees to avoid collusion between elected officials, government workers, and taxpayer-funded unions to result in the taxpayers paying inflated wages or benefits outside what the market may otherwise provide through forced collective bargaining protections for the government employees. This repeal would lead to higher costs to taxpayers without any recognizable benefits in return.
❌ HB1025 by Rep. McGruder: Making It Nearly Impossible to Fire Bad Taxpayer-Funded Government Teachers — OPPOSE
This bill would make it even harder to fire bad taxpayer-funded government teachers, protecting their jobs and pay even if it is not in the best interests of the children being taught at that government school. It is already very difficult to fire a bad teacher “for cause” that is not arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory, and this new law would raise that standard to “just and reasonable cause” and would lower the requirement that teachers adhere with strict compliance to the school districts policies to a lower standard of “substantial compliance”. The bill states the law would not provide “tenure” to government teachers as it does not guarantee lifetime employment, but it effectively will do just that. This will lead to lower-quality teachers and lower-quality education for Arkansas children. It will also take away local control from local school districts to make their own determinations on personnel decisions. This bill only helps bad teachers and harms everyone else, including the taxpayers who pay for the bad teacher.
❌ HB1035 by Rep. A. Collins: Increasing Voter Fraud Through Online Voter Registration
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
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, preventing 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.
❌ HB1041 by R. Scott Richardson: Government Censorship of Free Speech Using Technology to Harm Politicians’ Reputations
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.
❌ HB1043 by Rep. A. Collins: Government Censorship of Free Speech in Judicial Elections
This bill would require government registration, disclosure of private people’s information, and create a target on people who engage in speech that discusses judicial candidates for the Arkansas Court of Appeals or the Arkansas Supreme Court. Specifically, it would create a new “non-candidate disclosure committee” requirement by anyone who engages in speech regarding candidates for office, even when that person is not advocating for or against either of the candidates but rather providing information on candidates’ positions, past rulings, financial support, or otherwise. This type of bill has previously been referred to as targeting “dark money” and has been run for several sessions now, since people are less likely to elect liberal judges.
❌ HB1073 by Rep. Ennett: Creation of New Task Force
This bill would create a new “advanced energy jobs” task force. No new task forces are needed in Arkansas. Standing committees of the legislature are already set up to address any issues or specific topics. In the past, the primary purpose of a task force was to provide cover for the predetermined plan of the executive branch. However, they also provide opportunities for legislators to get extra pay and per diem for traveling to the task force meetings, which usually seem unproductive and duplicative of the legislatures’ standing committees and subcommittees.
❌ HB1141 by Rep. J. Richardson: Prohibiting Free Speech in Elections if using Government-Defined “Deep Fakes”
This bill would attempt to ban speech that the government considers deceptive or injures a politician’s running for office, or otherwise influences the results of an election. Specifically, it would ban what the government would define as “deep fakes” that show something other than what actually occurred. This bill tries to exclude satirical items or changes to the brightness/contrast of a politician’s photo. The definition is overbroad and places a chilling effect on free speech. Political speech has traditionally and by law been the most protected speech in our land. The people should be able to engage in political speech, even if that speech makes fun of politicians and hurts their chances of being re-elected.
❌ HB1144 by Rep. Wooten: Government Overreach, Regulatory Requirements on Private Schools
This bill would place burdensome government regulations on private schools that accept payments from children’s educational freedom accounts. This bill seems designed to hurt private schools. It should be noted that the sponsor of the bill and its supporters are against school choice and want to force all kids into one-size-fits-all government schools, even if it is in the best interests of the child to go elsewhere.
❌ HB1159 by Rep. J. Richardson: Government-Mandated Employment and Security Measures for Convenience Stores
This bill would place government mandates on private businesses to require a certain number of employees working at specific times within a convenience store. It would also mandate types of security cameras the private businesses must use, types of safes, lighting outside the store, forced speech on signage of how much money is in their safe, regulations on how signs may be displayed in the store, install height measures at store entrances to measure people’s heights, mandate how much cash the store can have at a certain time, mandate employment training, mandate silent alarms installation, and force the businesses to be locked from 9 pm to 6 am and only transact business through a trapdoor or window. This is government overreach that would cost small businesses and overregulate free enterprise if passed.
❌ HB1168 by Rep. L. Johnson: Criminal Immunity for Healthcare Professionals Who Hurt or Kill Patients
This bill would provide criminal immunity for “healthcare professionals” who negligently hurt or kill their patients. It would extend to facilities including hospitals, rehab hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, outpatient clinics, surgical facilities, ambulances, hospice care facilities, home health agencies, and kidney dialysis centers. The sponsor of the bill is a hospital/ER doctor. Therefore, this bill should be considered a bill filed for the self-interest of the sponsor rather than the interest of the citizens of Arkansas. This sponsor is also a past supporter of transgender surgeries for children. This bill violates individual freedoms and decreases incentives for the healthcare industry to exercise prudent caution in caring for patients.
❌ HB1190 by Rep. Vaught: Income Tax Exemption for Government Teachers
This bill would exempt from AR income tax the first $50,000 of teacher pay earned by government school teachers (K-12). Although the bill may result in an AR revenue loss of approximately $60 million ($1558 per taxpayer times < 40K teachers), it remains a carve-out for a specific class of taxpayers, which is usually bad income tax policy. This bill is especially bad in that it does not include all Arkansas teachers (excluding private school teachers). Most tax cuts are good. But this one would be an attempt to place government school teachers in an even greater economic advantage than those who choose to teach in private school, which also causes this bill to resemble one that is an attempt to undermine and weaken “school choice” in Arkansas.
❌ HB1192 by Rep. Pilkington: Prohibiting Tobacco Products by Any Person on Government School Property
This bill would prohibit and potentially criminalize the possession or use of any tobacco products in or on real property, personal property, or otherwise on 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 reduced individual freedoms.
❌ HB1216 by Rep. Long: Tax Exemptions for Businesses in Opportunity Zones
Though an admirable idea, this is a government (taxpayer) sponsored Economic Development plan which has proven ineffective at best. The bill provides tax exemptions to businesses located in opportunity zones, including income tax, corporate franchise tax, and the elective pass-through entity tax. Though it will result in less money flowing to the state government, it would forgo the most effective economic growth plan of providing tax incentives across the board rather than to an ineffective group. See “WHY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OPPORTUNITY ZONES NEVER WORK!”
❌ HB1237 by Rep. J. Richardson: Prohibiting Free Speech of Medical Professionals to Help Prospective Patients
This bill would violate the free speech rights of medical professionals to provide information to the public, including people recently injured, about medical services they may provide to benefit people. This violates the individual rights of Arkansans from both free speech and from the government censoring what information they may receive that could benefit them.
❌ HB1372 – HB1376 by Rep. Pilkington: Government Favoritism for New Businesses Over Existing Arkansas Businesses
Economic Development is taking tax dollars from profitable businesses, which pay taxes, and giving them to businesses that the government favors and decides should receive the profits of their competition. This is redistribution of wealth to a favored government business. The purpose of these bills on their face may seem noble unless we already expect economic development dollars to go to “new business” by definition. When we realize that is not the case, these bills disclose additional concerns. Also, for the legislature to use the term “encourage” rather than “shall” seems to make these bills merely show and expose a timid legislature when it comes to the powerful Economic Development Commission, created with taxpayer dollars.
❌ HB1436 by Rep. Steele: Government Prohibitions & Slaughterhouses & Food Processing Plant in Certain Locations
This bill would prohibit companies that operate a slaughterhouse together with their food processing plant from being located in certain areas within a city. This will create fewer opportunities for these companies to find locations to open/operate, thus increasing costs for them, which will be passed along to consumers of the food. This decreases economic freedom and increases government regulations.
❌ HB1492 by Rep. Gramlich: New Devices for All School Employees
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.
❌ HB1541 -1542 by Rep. Wooten: Attacks on School Choice & Government Control of Private Schools
These bad bills continue a series of proposed legislation by Rep. Wooten, growing out of his opposition to parents choosing how to spend tax dollars to educate their own children. Mr. Wooten seems to greatly favor government schools and government education only. He continues trying to impose onerous regulations and costs on non-government schools. These bills would require private schools to maintain transportation to and from the school, as well as cause private school students to be under the government school testing. Mr. Wooten, a Republican from Beebe, seems emboldened to keep running these bills as he continues to be re-elected without a primary challenger.
❌ HB1621 by Rep. Wardlaw: FOIA Exemption to Shield Politicians from the Public
This bad bill would provide for an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act for politicians, government workers, and their family members, so that information regarding the names, emails, phone numbers (including taxpayer-funded phones), addresses, and other information is shielded from the public. This decreases transparency and attempts to place those working in the government above others, granting them special privileges to shield them from the public eye and input. This type of measure would only serve to further divide the public from its public officials and further foster distrust of the government by the public.
❌ HB1626 by Rep. Duffield: Ban on Sale of Disposable Vape Products
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 that are 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
❌ HB1660 by Rep. S. Meeks: New Government Auditing Rights over Property Owners Association
This bad bill would expand the government and reduce individual freedoms. It creates a new government authority of auditing rights over private property owners’ associations who perform “services traditionally performed by a local government.” This infringes upon the private contracting and organizational rights of property owners who may not want to invite government auditing authority. This also creates a narrative that the government alone should be providing services like trash services or local/shared maintenance of shared private property areas.
❌ HB1670 by Rep. L. Johnson: Refundable Tax Credit for Mentoring Health Professionals
This bad bill is its second time it has been run by its physician sponsor. It would allow those effectively engaging the mentor 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 the 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.
❌ HB1674 by Rep. L. Johnson: Income Tax Credit for Government-Favored Hospital Donations
This bad tax bill would allow an income tax credit for donations made to government-favored hospitals. Hospitals are flush with cash from the ever-expanding and growing insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other benefits paying for healthcare services. Already, most healthcare hospitals are organized as non-profit companies, further double dipping on the tax system by not paying income taxes and a constant gravy train of government program payments for services. No additional tax breaks are needed, especially for hand-picked groups that the government favors.
❌ HB1710 by Rep. Vaught: Prohibiting Schools from Publishing Government School Ratings
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 the 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.
❌ HB1711 by Rep. Unger: Growing Government With New Police Forces in Municipal Port Authorities
This bill would grow the government and spend money we do not have by allowing the creation of new police forces within Municipal Port Authorities. (MPAs are created by ordinances of the governing body of the city or town and shall be an instrumentality of the city or town creating the authority.) This bill states that this new police force shall be paid by MPA fees and grants. It does not say what happens if these fees fall short of the funds needed. As currently exposed by Elon Musk and his work with DOGE, our current federal and state governments are now bloated to the point of bankruptcy, using “grant” money. In our current environment and economy, grant money should be considered a new term for “tax dollars” and ultimately “tax increases”. This bill defines these law enforcement officers under AR Code §12-9-101 et al. Therefore, it should be assumed that pay and benefits of these officers shall be guided by these statutes as well. See https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-12/subtitle-2/chapter-9/subchapter-1/section-12-9-105/
❌ HB1720 by Rep. Vaught: Allowing Government Employees to Bring Newborns to Work
Similar to HB1747, this very bad bill is well-intentioned but misguided. It would make it permissible for supervisors to allow a government employee-parent to bring a newborn to work (any child, including foster kids) up until they are 6 months old. And the bill adds that it does not prohibit an agency from allowing state employees to bring children older than 6 months. If this work ethic mentality is the norm among our legislators and government agencies toward the effective work product expected from state employees, it is time to call Elon Musk to bring in the “sink’ (as he did when he bought X.) Infants and most all children under the age of 3 are a distraction to their parents at work to the point that the parent gets little done other than give their attention to the demands of their child. Of course, there may be the occasional exception, which we know should never make the rule. Those who do not believe this is the case do not have children or have never had to sign a paycheck as the payor. Bringing children to work not only distracts the parent but also co-workers, preventing both from focusing on their tasks.
❌ HB1731 by Rep. Vaught: Making it Harder for Teenagers to Work
This bill would hurt teenagers who would like to work by re-implementing a government-mandated permission slip before they are eligible to work. This was just repealed last session, allowing work-eligible teenagers to get a job without this permission slip. This decreases the economic freedom of these teenagers, and could hurt the supply of workers from which job creators may choose.
❌ HB1747 by Rep. Vaught: Allowing Teachers to Bring Newborns to Work
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 be brought 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
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.
❌ HB1816 by Rep. L. Johnson: Restricting AI Technology Use in Medical Services and Records Management
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 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 use in other industries should clarify AI’s usefulness in the healthcare field.
❌ HB1828 Rep. Breaux: Sales Tax Exemption for a Specific Entity
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 generally bad tax policy to give specific persons special tax breaks rather than consistent tax laws applied equally to all.
❌ HB1868 by Rep. L. Johnson: New Tax on Firefighter Services
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.
❌ HB1882 by Rep. Pilkington: Allowing Governor to Create New Medicaid Beneficiary Populations
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 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.
❌ HB1915 by Rep. Eubanks: Expansion of Welfare Benefits Eligibility to Non-Poor People With Large Assets
This bad bill would grow the 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.
❌ HB1930 by Rep. Wardlaw: Price Controls for Healthcare Services
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.
❌ 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
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.
❌ HB1999 by Rep. Garner: Promoting Welfare Dependency Programs
This bad bill would require the Department of Education to promote and send information to people who may be eligible for welfare programs, such as food stamps, to those completing the FAFSA form for college admissions/assistance. This is pushing people into considering becoming dependent on welfare programs, where they might not otherwise inquire about such. This is like a drug dealer giving the first hit for free and getting a person hooked, then following up with more and harder drugs. Here, the first hit may be food stamps, which would be followed by additional welfare programs like Medicaid expansion, housing, TANF, or other government dependency welfare programs. Preying on and marketing welfare programs to potentially vulnerable people is bad policy and could increase dependency on the government.
