Photo: Courtesy Arkansas House of Representatives
Close to 500 bills have been signed into law so far this session.
On Wednesday, the House passed several bills, including the following:
HB1765 – States that by July 1, 2021, the Director of the Division of Workforce Services shall adopt and implement internal administrative policies to pursue recovery of improper overpayments of unemployment benefits.
This bill would also direct a percentage of proceeds of the unemployment stabilization tax to the Division of Workforce Services Unemployment Administration Fund to be used solely for the purpose of modernizing the information technology systems and hardware utilized in the administration of the unemployment insurance program.
SB204 – Establishes a legislative study to the best practices for reducing the number of children in foster care.
SB389 – Would require public schools to provide parents prior written notification and an opportunity to inspect materials related to sex education, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
SB349 – Would adjust funding for public schools that offer curriculum not aligned with the Science of Reading. This bill also directs the Secretary of the Department of Education to hire an Education Ombudsman to assist the division in enforcement.
On Tuesday, by a vote of 64-34 and one member voting present, the House passed SB410.
This bill establishes the framework for a new Medicaid expansion program called ARHOME which stands for Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me.
ARHOME would replace the current Arkansas Works program. It would continue to offer low-income families private insurance, with incentives for taking advantage of work opportunities, education, and skill development.
The House also passed the following:
HB1788 – Would allow a municipal improvement district to enter a partnership with a private sector company to provide broadband internet service.
SB161 – Would allow public schools to offer a hunting safety course as part of their curriculum.
HB1750 – States that a medical marijuana dispensary shall post signage at the check-in station of the dispensary notifying the qualifying patient of the availability of a pharmacist consultant. It also requires that information be posted on the dispensary website.
SB163 – Creates the Arkansas Military Affairs Council Act and establishes the Military Affairs Grant Program. The council will work with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to promote and support military installations for state and local economic development.
SB397 – Directs the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create a Higher Education Consumer Guide for prospective students and parents.
The guide would include the following information on each state-supported higher education institution:
• Retention and graduation rates.
• The cost of tuition.
• The average amount borrowed and loan default rate.
• Percentage of students who applied for first-time undergraduate admission and were offered admission.
• Average composite test scores of students enrolled.
• Job placement of students within the first three years of graduation.
• Income of college alumni over the first 20 years after graduation.
Monday afternoon, the House passed several bills, including the following:
HB1237 – States that at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, a public school district board of directors may elect to implement an alternate school calendar. An alternate school calendar shall consist of at least 1,068 hours of instructional time. Currently, state law requires 178 days of instructional time. This law gives schools more flexibility on a start date and length of a school day.
HB1264 – Creates the Small Town Economic Development Act. This bill amends the exemptions to the licensing requirements for architects to buildings whose fair market value does not exceed $250,000. The current exemption is for buildings under $100,000.
HB1642 – States that a public housing authority shall require compliance by a custodial parent or noncustodial parent as a condition of eligibility for housing benefits and assistance.
SB18 – States in cases concerning child custody, there is a rebuttable presumption that joint custody is in the child’s best interest.
HB1702 – States that a person operating a bicycle upon a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
HB1671 – Establishes the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act. It allows student-athletes in higher education to enter into a contract and receive compensation for the commercial use of the student athlete’s name, image, and likeness.
HB1446 – Allows children of military families to be eligible for succeed scholarship.
SB470 – Establishes the Online Marketplace Consumer Inform Act. It would require an online market facilitator to collect information, including business name, address, email, and phone number. High volume sellers would be required to have this information accessible to consumers on their website.
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