Mike Beebe Signs Lottery, Insurance, Prison Bills Into Law
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has signed into law measures approved during this week's special session addressing teacher health insurance premiums, new limits on the lottery and additional funding for state prisons. read more >
by Associated Press -
With Session Over, Lawmakers Look for Long-term Answers
With short-term fixes in place on teacher health insurance premiums, prison overcrowding and new limits on the lottery, Arkansas lawmakers shifted their attention Wednesday to finding longer term answers when they return for next year's legislative session. read more >
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Lawmakers Approve Electronic Lottery Game Moratorium
The Arkansas House and Senate have approved separate measures calling for a moratorium on electronic lottery games like keno, lining up the chambers to adjourn their special session in the early hours Wednesday. read more >
by Associated Press -
Senate Approves Teacher Insurance Plan
The Arkansas Senate has approved legislation that would prevent large premium increases for the state's public school employees. read more >
by Associated Press -
Arkansas Lawmakers Plan Midnight Session Votes
House and Senate leaders said they planned to meet at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday to hold what's expected to be the final votes on measures addressing teacher insurance premiums, prison overcrowding and new lottery restrictions. read more >
by Associated Press -
Arkansas Senate Panel Advances Keno Moratorium
The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday endorsed the proposal prohibiting the lottery from starting the games until March 13, 2015. A House panel advanced an identical proposal Monday. read more >
by Associated Press -
Lawmakers Convene for Special Session
Arkansas lawmakers opened a special legislative session Monday where they hope to tackle rising teacher health insurance premiums, prison overcrowding and an effort to prevent the state lottery from offering keno. read more >
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Short-Term Answers to Long-Term Problems (Andrew DeMillo Analysis)
The measures lawmakers are taking up this week to avert a looming increase in teacher health insurance premiums and ease an influx of state inmates crowding local jails won't completely solve either problem. read more >
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Mike Beebe Adds Lottery to Special Session Agenda
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says next week's special legislative session will also include a proposal to prohibit the lottery from adding monitor games such as keno. read more >
by Associated Press -
Special Session Highlights Arkansas’ Old Capitol
The last time Arkansas lawmakers took up significant legislation in the Old State House building, wireless meant the telegraph and the only tweets were what you heard outside. read more >
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The Best of #ARLEGValentines
Ah yes. It's that time of year again. Love -- and legislation -- is in the air. It's a heady mix sure to make you swoon. Without further ado, the best of this year's #ARLEGValentines read more >
by Lance Turner -
Arkansas Lawmakers Plan Refresher Course on Ethics
Arkansas House and Senate leaders say lawmakers will meet for a refresher course on the state's ethics laws after a state senator resigned over his campaign spending money on clothes, home theater equipment and other personal items. read more >
by Associated Press -
Arkansas House Approves Study of School Safety
Arkansas House lawmakers have authorized a study to explore how prepared the state's public schools are to prevent and respond to acts of violence in light of the Connecticut school massacre last year. read more >
by Associated Press -
Arkansas House Backs Bills Restricting Abortions
The Arkansas House has approved a bill that would ban abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy and another to prohibit insurers in the exchange created under the federal health care law from covering the procedure. read more >
by Associated Press -
Legislative Roundup: Gun, Abortion Issues Dominate Session
The 89th General Assembly is living up to its new Republican vibe, advancing legislation last week that would make it possible to carry guns into certain churches and ban abortions after 20 weeks. read more >
by Mark Carter -
Arkansas House Votes to Create Veterans Home Task Force
The House voted 94-0 on Friday to form a 22-member Arkansas Veterans Home Task Force. That group would be responsible for looking at the cost, funding sources and possible locations for a new veterans home. The facility would replace the veterans home in Little Rock that closed last year. read more >
by Associated Press -
State Human Services Department Concerned About ‘Tone’ of Medicaid Audit
The Arkansas Human Services Department is expressing concern about the tone of an audit that is to be released to legislators, saying it has unsupported conclusions about the Medicaid program and was developed by using flawed procedures. read more >
by Associated Press -
House Panel Advances Bill Banning Abortions After 20 Weeks
An Arkansas House panel has advanced a proposal that would ban abortions starting at the twentieth week of a woman's pregnancy based on the disputed notion that a fetus is capable of feeling pain at that point. read more >
by Associated Press -
Arkansas Legislature Enters Week 2 With Guns Blazing
Sen. Bryan King’s bill to allow concealed-carry permit holders to “carry” in churches that OK the practice advanced out of committee, as did a resolution urging the federal government not to mess with the Second Amendment. read more >
by Mark Carter -
Session’s First Week Done; Heavy Lifting Comes Next
Aside from the surreal moment when Gov. Mike Beebe walked into a House chamber comprised mostly of Republicans, the session's first week was light. The real heavy lifting is likely to begin next week. read more >
by Mark Carter -
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