Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed over 1,000 bills into law during the 2025 biennial regular legislative session, which is set to conclude on May 5. These newly enacted laws encompass a wide range of areas, including state taxation, voting procedures, and public administration. (axios.com)
In line with her political stance, Governor Sanders issued four vetoes, citing concerns such as "woke nonsense" and advocating for student-specific needs. Among the vetoed proposals were:
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SB451: Aimed to provide school districts with resources to assist students exhibiting behaviors likely to cause injury to themselves or others. The bill proposed that the Department of Human Services establish regional behavioral health programs to develop health plans for referred students.
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HB1889: Intended to amend Arkansas’ medical marijuana law to allow deliveries by a dispensary’s vehicle or a drive-through window.
- HB1961: Sought to permit medical providers to withhold certain sensitive medical information from patient records temporarily.
Additionally, Governor Sanders approved HB1265, which authorizes salary guidelines for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, now known as Act 660. (axios.com)
The legislative session has been marked by significant activity, with lawmakers working late into Wednesday night as they approached the April 16 General Assembly recess. A major setback occurred when a $750 million appropriations bill for a proposed Franklin County prison failed to secure the required three-fourths majority vote after five attempts in the Senate, making it unlikely to be revisited during this session. (axios.com)
As the session nears its end, the General Assembly still faces the task of approving the $6.49 billion general revenue budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which was proposed by Governor Sanders back in November. (axios.com)
Arkansas Legislative Session Updates:
- Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs 1,000+ bills, vetoes four
- Gov. Sanders touts legislative wins, Dems cite power grabs
- Arkansas Capitol roundup: Prison punt and education moves
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