Republican Platform Hero
Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville) is running for re-election to the Arkansas State House of Representatives. First elected in 2022, Duffield is seeking his third term and has drawn a Republican primary opponent, David J. Howell.
What should Arkansas voters expect if Rep. Duffield is re-elected? The best way to answer that question is by examining his voting record.
Based on his votes and the legislation he has filed while serving in Little Rock, Rep. Duffield has been a leading limited-government conservative. He ranked near the top of the 2025 Conduit for Commerce legislative scorecard (#6 overall) and was recognized as a Conduit Calvin Coolidge Hero of Freedom.
We hope readers find this information helpful when comparing the principles outlined in the Arkansas Republican Platform with Rep. Duffield’s actual voting record. The Arkansas Republican Platform was updated at the 2024 Republican State Convention and can be found HERE.[i]
(You may check our work recited below by going to the home page of the Arkansas Legislature: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Search )
Taxes / Spending
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Lower taxes to produce economic growth”
- RPA Platform: “We recognize the importance of lower taxes to preserve economic freedom, spur economic growth, and to ensure that individuals reap more of the benefits of their hard work.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “We strongly believe Arkansans are best able to spend the money they earn and deserve to be free from the hassle of burdensome taxes and fees.”
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted to prohibit local income taxes – HB1026 of 2023
- Voted to cut property taxes on primary residences – HB1032 of 2023
- Voted to repeal the bad throwback tax rule – HB1045 of 2023
- Voted to increase tax deduction for teacher classroom expenses – HB1345 of 2023
- Voted for income tax cuts ($124 million annually) – SB549 of 2023
- Voted against the expansion of taxpayer-funded paid time off for government workers – HB1017 of 2025
- Voted to cut property taxes on primary residences – HB1534 of 2025
- Voted against extra taxpayer funding to government tv capital projects – HB1612 of 2025
- Voted to phase out sales tax on soda – HB1636 of 2025
- Voted for the elimination of the remaining state sales tax on groceries – HB1685 of 2025
- Voted to prevent levying of taxes on a person who already decided they do not owe the tax – HB1716 of 2025
- Voted against a new sales tax exemption for a specific entity – HB1828 of 2025
- Voted against a new government commission to study celebrating the government’s birthday – HB1846 of 2025
- Voted against a new $500 million future tax increase taxpayer bond issue – SB421 of 2025
- Voted against a new student loan forgiveness government program for mental health professionals – SB554 of 2025
- Voted against the state government working to keep local sales taxes from expiring to ensure high tax rates – SB577 of 2025
Education
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: Every opportunity for every family to enroll each child in the school of his/her choice should be secured by government and offered to Arkansas families.
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted for school choice and education freedom accounts (LEARNS Act) – SB294 of 2023
- Voted for transparency in government teaching & parental rights in children’s education – HB1684 & HB1919 of 2025
- Voted for increased public input at school board meetings – SB90 of 2025
- Voted against increasing per student funding for government schools – HB1312 of 2025
Welfare / Government Dependency
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual responsibility and initiative”
- RPA Platform: “Our primary belief for a strong economy for our state is this: PEOPLE CREATE BUSINESSES; BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS; GOVERNMENT DOES NOT!”
- RPA Platform: “. . . strong belief in being individually responsible for his/her place in society and our compassion by helping our neighbors obtain and secure the rewards of hard work to provide for themselves, their families and those unable to care for themselves.
- RPA Platform: “We are created equally with Individual freedoms and liberties that, through our own exercise of individual responsibility and initiative, can result in great outcomes independent of government.”
- RPA Platform: “We are against Socialism, Communism, and Marxism and the inevitable decline and poverty each has caused in the world. Individual initiative and choice, rather than governmental control, is the key to the success of a free market.”
In 2024, the State Convention of the Arkansas Republican Party specifically removed from the Republican Party platform references to support government corporate welfare programs commonly referred to as “economic development” incentives or efforts.
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted for housing welfare reform to reduce dependency – HB1196 of 2023
- Voted for cash welfare reform for able-bodied adults to reduce dependency – HB1401 of 2023
- Voted to prevent local government basic universal income programs – HB1681 of 2023
- Voted to stop fraudsters in unemployment insurance claims – HB1840 of 2023
- Voted against taxpayers subsidizing insurance companies – HB1204 of 2025
- Voted to require welfare recipients to upload resumes and search for work – HB1582 of 2025
- Voted against the expansion of welfare benefits eligibility to non-poor people with large assets – HB1915 of 2025
- Voted against a new government program to subsidize certain food – HB1965 of 2025
- Voted to prohibit food stamps for candy/soda – SB217 of 2025
Freedom / Regulation
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”
- RPA Platform: “We support Arkansans’ rights to use their land in the way they see fit, including the use of diverse production methods and technologies free from burdensome federal regulations.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “Without the personal right to own private property, individual rights are diminished.”
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted for occupational licensure compact deregulation – HB1082 of 2023
- Voted for increased access to childcare services – HB1155 of 2023
- Voted for fast-track permitting in local governments – HB1207 of 2023
- Voted for decreased regulations for electricians to work – HB1360 of 2023
- Voted for increased access and providers for counseling and family therapy – SB42 of 2023
- Voted for increased free speech protections on college campuses – SB125 of 2023
- Voted to prohibit regulations locally on the fuel/gas industry – HB1572 of 2023
- Voted to criminalize unlawful squatting – HB1049 of 2025
- Voted against new excessive regulations on tiny homes – HB1503 of 2025
- Voted to protect private property owners in unincorporated areas from government with no jurisdiction over them – HB1510 of 2025
- Voted to return private property during criminal investigations when not necessary for the government to seize it – HB1780 of 2025
- Voted against increased regulations on alcohol sales and deliveries – SB447 of 2025
- Voted to allow veterinary telemedicine – SB61 of 2025
- Voted to allow vet techs to respond to emergency calls – SB68 of 2025
- Voted against favoritism for new businesses moving to Arkansas over existing Arkansas businesses – HB1374 of 2025
- Voted against abolishing all tobacco and vaping products in Arkansas through regulation and bureaucracy – SB252 of 2025
- Voted to protect private property owners from local government rental control regulations – SB91 of 2025
Transparency / Integrity
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “We firmly support transparency and openness at every level of government.”
- RPA Platform: “Those elected, appointed, and employed in government work for the taxpayers of this state and must provide public information when requested, in line with Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act.
- RPA Platform: “We support the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act as signed on February 14, 1967.” (Added in 2024)
- RPA Platform: “We believe in strong legislative oversight of state government spending and support continued openness and transparency in the spending of appropriated money. Arkansas Republicans recognize the importance of such funding for local projects but believe that all those seeking state funds for special projects should be subject to examination and oversight of the people’s elected representatives through the appropriations process.”
- RPA Platform: “Reform of government begins with the election of trustworthy and qualified Arkansas Republicans to office at every level of government. This will ensure responsible and effective management of our state’s fiscal and natural resources and honor hardworking taxpayers.”
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted for increased transparency for public meeting notices – HB1823 of 2023
- Voted for increased transparency in finances in local elections – HB1243 of 2025
- Voted to ban lobbying for China and Russia – HB1662 of 2025
- Voted for video recordings of city council and county quorum court meetings – HB1879 of 2025
- Voted for DOGE for Arkansas – HB1934 of 2025
- Voted against diverting Medicaid funds and max payment rates for hospitals with blanket authority to bureaucrats and a new special interests Medicaid lobbying committee – HB1969 of 2025
- Voted for learning materials in government schools be subject to the freedom of information law disclosure – SB572 of 2025
- Voted for increased transparency in school boards – SB89 of 2025
- Voted for increased input at school board meetings – SB90 of 2025
- Voted to allow public comment and increased transparency in municipal improvement districts – SB424 of 2025
- Voted for increased oversight over procurement of government contracts – SB565 of 2025
- Voted against the removal of transparency and oversight in the Arkansas Development Finance Authority – HB1797 of 2025
Elections / Term Limits
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “Honest elections are the foundation of our republican form of limited government”
- RPA Platform: “EVERY TIME THAT A FRAUDULENT VOTE IS CAST, IT EFFECTIVELY CANCELS OUT THE VOTE OF A LEGITIMATE VOTER!”
- RPA Platform: “We support the efforts of county election commissioners to protect against voter fraud and implement voting methods that ensure accuracy and increase voter confidence.” (Added 2024)
- RPA Platform: “Regnat Populus: the People Rule”
- RPA Platform: “We are opposed to any effort by special interests who would thwart the will of the people. . .”
Rep. Matt Duffield’s Votes 2023-2025:
- Voted to require a vote for local government to increase A&P taxes – HB1027 of 2023
- Voted for election integrity reform – updating voter registrations – HB1407 of 2023
- Voted for special election reform – HB1510 of 2023
- Voted to prevent outside funding to government elections to prevent fraud and special interests controlling elections – SB255 of 2023
- Voted to prohibit the use of absentee ballot drop boxes – SB258 of 2023
- Voted to prohibit ranked choice voting – HB1706 of 2025
- Voted to prohibit pre-filled information on voter registration applications – SB272 of 2025
- Voted for better election integrity for voter assistance to disabled persons – SB479 of 2025
- Voted against making it harder to pass citizen initiatives and ballot measures – SB207-211 of 2025.
No commentary is offered regarding whether Rep. Matt Duffield will be the better candidate. It is assumed that this is sufficient information for voters to draw their own conclusions.
The Republican primary election for 2026 will be held on March 3, with early voting beginning on February 17. Now is the time to start learning about candidates—and to share that information with others.
