After what were described as a couple of slower weeks, business seemed to pick up during the third week of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly at the State Capitol in Little Rock. District 4 State Representative Jason Nazarenko of Cotter, one of the newest faces in the House of Representatives, says the week concluded with a lot of activity in the chamber.
Nazarenko says one of the major bills passed was House Bill 1204, also known as tort reform.
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In addition, the State Senate passed a bill to ban affirmative action and another allowing nonprofit hospitals in Arkansas to hold a retail pharmacy permit. Nazarenko says he expects the House to take up both bills this coming week.
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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders also held a press conference this past week about the potential of work requirements for Medicaid. At the last update, a bill had not been filed, but Nazarenko says he is looking forward to working on the possible legislation.
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Nazarenko has a bill he has filed. He says his bill is planned to provide help to massage therapists.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Sanders announced the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act, legislation to ban smartphones and other personal electronic devices, including smart watches, from every single public school in Arkansas, beginning in the next school year. Nazarenko says the ultimate goal is to keep children safe in the classrooms.
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The week ended with 300 bills being filed in the House and more than 140 in the Senate.
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