The Arkansas State Legislature recessed Wednesday before they return next month to formally adjourn their session. District 3 State Rep. Stetson Painter of Mountain Home recently spoke with KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News about what he considers an unusual session.
Painter says some of the most important legislation passed was in the field of education, especially the law providing free breakfast to every public school student in the state.
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Painter says the legislature also passed a number of tax-relief bills.
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Painter reiterated the importance of the issue of the Buffalo National River. He was a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 290, designed to prohibit moratoriums on the issuance of permits in watersheds and other bodies of water in Arkansas. The bill was later amended to maintain a permit moratorium for hog farms in the Buffalo River watershed before it passed. Painter says there have been tense conversations with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the matter.
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Painter also says he got several calls from constituents about the rural hospital bill. He says he was in favor of the legislation initially, but some things happened leading him to reverse course.
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Painter’s entire interview can be heard below. The session will officially be adjourned May 5.
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