Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, prepares to present Senate Bill 520 to his fellow senators on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)
Arkansas senators on Tuesday approved a proposed ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) “offices, officers, policies or practices” in local government entities.
Senate Bill 520 would prohibit local governments from promoting:
– “Preferences based upon race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
– Differential treatment on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin; or
– Political or social activism to consider race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin as factors in decision-making, except when required by federal or state law.”
The bill would allow Arkansans to sue local governments for injunctive relief if the government does not cease violating the mandate within 30 days of being notified.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro is the lead sponsor of SB 520 and earlier this year sponsored Act 116 of 2025. The law repealed requirements that state procurement proposals include language that encourages minority participation or to adopt an equal opportunity hiring program designed to increase the percentage of minority employees.
Sullivan claimed Act 116 would force public entities to prioritize “merit” over “preferential treatment” in contracting and hiring practices.
with any institutional accreditation requirement related to DEI.”
Sullivan told both the committee and the full Senate that Arkansas should align itself with the federal government’s stance on DEI. President Donald Trump’s January executive order declared an end to all DEI “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities” in federal agencies.
Arnessa Bennett, North Little Rock’s DEI officer, told the committee that she and the city oppose SB 520. She said it would discourage local governments from holding events in partnership with organizations that have DEI policies.
“We feel like you’re violating our First Amendment rights in telling us that we cannot say anything about DEI,” Bennett said. “…It’s almost like we’re being censored.”
The all-Republican committee passed the bill with no audible dissent. The committee also approved the addition of an amendment to the bill, stating: “This section does not prevent compliance with any state or federal civil rights laws or any agreement related to the receipt of state or federal funding.”
Bills usually are not heard by the full House or Senate until at least a day after passing committees, but Sullivan asked the Senate to suspend the rules so SB 520 could receive a vote Tuesday evening.
Twenty-two of the 29 Republican senators voted for SB 520. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, joined the six Senate Democrats in voting against the bill. GOP Sens. Tyler Dees of Siloam Springs and Jim Petty of Van Buren voted present, and four more Republicans did not vote.
Sen. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, was the only senator to speak on the bill before the vote. He also spoke against Act 116 in January, and he said Tuesday that the state should not “bring this craziness all the way to the local level.”
“Let’s allow local control to make their decisions on how they want to deal with their communities,” Murdock said.
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