Legislative Case Study:
During Arkansas’s regular legislative sessions starting every other January, watchdogs and special interests track bills that could become state laws. Most groups tracking the legislature are lobbyists who push their own agendas and those of their clients. Conduit is one of the few groups advocating economic freedom and smaller government. This article will examine how Conduit, the Arkansas Association of Counties, and the State Chamber of Commerce manage their legislative tracking and lobbying, using examples from past sessions and the recent 2025 session.
Conduit for Action
Conduit for Action, Inc., is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of Arkansans by increasing economic freedom and reducing the size and scope of state government, with a focus on improving conditions for small businesses. Conduit does not receive anything from the government and has no special interests to represent or advocate for at the State Capitol. They utilize their Economic Freedom Filter to determine which legislation will improve the economic freedom of Arkansans by considering: (1) does it increase or decrease the size of government; (2) does it increase or decrease dependency on government; (3) whether it increases or decreases government spending; and (4) does it provide a more transparent and efficient government.
Each session Conduit flags filed bills for potential scoring on their legislative scorecard that fall within the scope of the Economic Freedom Filter. Typically, this will focus on legislation related to taxes, spending, government agency authority, occupational licensing/freedom, freedom of contract, private property rights, transparency/freedom of information, and general government spending/programs. Within this framework, there will also be bills reviewed that affect voting rights and citizens’ rights to initiate legislation. Conduit supports legislation of general applicability rather than favoring a specified industry or companies so that all Arkansans may see a benefit to their economic freedom, not just those who can afford to donate to legislators and hire lobbyists.
Conduit will soon be releasing its bi-annual legislative scorecard with an in-depth review of the 2025 session with legislation tracked and votes of legislators counted. Consider the following, as some of the legislation that Conduit supported/opposed and its impact on Arkansans this session:
❌ SJR15 – Oppose – Creation of Socialism/Corporate Welfare Districts
❌ HB1802 – Oppose – New Government Program to Subsidize Select People
✅ SB91 – Support – Protecting Private Property Rights from Local Government Rent Control
❌ SB577 – Oppose – Working to Keep Taxes from Expiring to Ensure High Tax Rates
✅ SB217 – Support – No Food Stamps for Candy/Soda
❌ SB421 – Oppose – New $500 million tax increase through issuing taxpayer debt
Arkansas Association of Counties
The Arkansas Association of Counties (AAC) is a private, nonprofit organization funded by taxpayers to advocate for the interest of local government actors such as county judges, assessors, clerks and similar government offices. Unfortunately, these taxpayers’ funds are used directly against the interest of taxpayers — by growing local government, opposing local government reforms to reduce taxes or protect private property rights, and increasing local government spending including ever increasing taxpayer funded employees’ salaries and benefits. The motto of the AAC itself is Orwellian in nature – 75 counties, one voice – proving that when governments unite with hundreds or thousands of elected government officials and millions of taxpayers’ dollars, their influence over state legislators is massive. AAC has its own headquarters building in the Little Rock area with a staff and board including highly paid attorneys and lobbyists. AAC advocates against the interests of taxpayers with the taxpayers’ own money. But for the confiscation of money from the people of Arkansas, the AAC does not exist.
This past session, the AAC reported tracking 560 bills affecting county government. That is about one-third of all legislation filed in the session. Their “legislative package” to benefit county governments included 29 bills, of which 26 passed – a 90% success rate. They helped defeat legislation this session (and in past sessions) that would provide more local control for private property owners and taxpayers in the use of their private property. AAC is always pushing back against new laws that would help taxpayers against excessive regulations/permits/fees levied against the people of Arkansas.
The AAC is also busy indoctrinating the next generation of government bureaucrats, by providing scholarships to these government workers’ relatives. They provide information on getting automatic raises for government employees and conduct a salary survey to push an agenda for ever increasing government salaries.
They have been one of the loudest voices in recent sessions for a new internet sales tax, increased gas taxes, and fighting any efforts that may impact their use of special elections to pass tax increases at the local level.
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
When people think of the Chamber of Commerce they typically think of their local chamber, usually headed by local business leaders. Many local chambers do valuable community improvement work to foster a pro-business environment and support the local workforce. However, the far removed and Little Rock based State Chamber of Commerce focuses almost all of its time and money on lobbying the state government on behalf of their high paying clients and special interests. They do not advocate a broad-based, general application of laws to benefit all Arkansans. They directly advocate the interests of their dues paying “members” and sponsors — usually meaning the largest companies in Arkansas and around the nation who have a presence in Arkansas. Unfortunately, this also means that far too many times the State Chamber stands on the opposite side of the people of Arkansas, including Arkansas small businesses.
In past sessions, the State Chamber was the largest supporter of the new internet sales tax, gas tax increases, and was a deciding factor in the largest expansion of government in Arkansas history with the passage of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion program. That program is now the largest and fastest growing welfare program in the state. They also previously supported the “Jobs” constitutional amendment to allow unlimited issuing of taxpayer debt (bonds) at the state and local government level and to help funnel this money to chambers of commerce – all in the name of “economic development” for the state.
To their shame, in July of 2021, the State Chamber led the way with a Chamber sponsored seminar (given by highly paid attorneys) advising employers (after incentives had failed), how to legally force their workforce to take the Covid vaccine — or be terminated. It was after this Arkansas Chamber sponsored mandate that Biden gave his famous — “Our patience is wearing thin….” speech on September 9, which seemed to directly support the Chamber’s position already implemented by Arkansas employers such as Tyson, Walmart, and hospitals across the state.
While the State Chamber may support generally favorable legislation like income tax cuts, unemployment insurance reforms, and opposing unlawful squatting, too many times they act against the interests of most Arkansans.
This session highlighted the disconnect from the assumed pro-business mission of a chamber of commerce and the actions they take under the dome. Their recent legislative report for 2025 tells everyone where they stand. They highlight how they support and will spend money to implement new taxpayer-funded corporate welfare districts to funnel this taxpayer money to special interests and their preferred companies who have the money and time to lobby for it. This highlights their rampant use and support for targeted special incentives and tax breaks for specific industries and companies.
They also brag about finally “privatizing” the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) through a new law passed this session (HB1797). This bill now allows this shady government organization with a history ripe with abuse, corruption, and cronyism to now operate free from oversight on how they give away taxpayer money. They are no longer subject to transparency laws that allow the people to know how they are operating or spending taxpayer money. Again – all in the name of “economic development” for special interests.
The State Chamber reports that they monitored 618 bills (nearly 40% of all legislation filed) for the 2025 regular session. This shows just how wide they cast their net. They included in their report how they even focused on legislation for “government employees” and against “property rights and zoning conflicts” – seemingly far outside the scope of what a person would consider for their local chambers mission. They bragged about defeating “anti-business” legislation including the reform of the aforementioned largest state government welfare program (Medicaid Expansion). This reform effort would have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. But it would also cost Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and other potential insurance providers millions of dollars in premiums collected. So – Arkansas will remain the only state with a corrupt Medicaid expansion model rather than the direct fee for service model – all for free healthcare for able-bodied, working age adults who do not work full time. The State Chamber went even further this session by opposing and lobbying against legislation to protect people against vaccine harm (SB6) and to allow the people locally to decide on water fluoridation (SB2).
Conclusion
So – as you can see – many groups are working hard towards their missions during the legislative sessions. When we read their scorecards or advertisements supporting candidates or ballot issues, it is important that we know and remember their mission and their clients.
For these three groups identified, it can be wrapped up as follows:
Conduit = Economic Freedom for All Arkansans
Arkansas Association of Counties = County Government Only
State Chamber of Commerce = Special Interests & Clients (most often large companies)
