LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An active week for the Arkansas legislature during the fourth week of its current session.
Legislators considered cell phones in classrooms, limits on insurance settlements, the primary election process, keeping state boards in place and access to animal dewormer.
CELL PHONES IN CLASSROOM
The “Bell to Bell, No Cell” bill has made its trip through the Senate and the biggest part of the House process. One more reading on the House floor and we can expect it to land on the governor’s desk.
This is legislation the governor called for, and it will undoubtedly be signed. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is motivated to put this in play—meaning public and public charter school students can not have their phones while class is in session—as a mental health-promoting action.
INSURANCE LIMITS
A bill placing restrictions on insurance settlements has made it to the governor’s desk for signature. The one-sentence-long bill would change how repayments for medical treatment after an accident are covered, changing law coming from a 1998 Supreme Court case.
The bill passed narrowly, despite many cosponsors, and faced a lot of opposition testimony as it made it through the committee process.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS
A joint resolution filed in the Senate Thursday would change the Arkansas party-primary system to a single primary for both parties. The resolution asks the legislature to draw up the required laws and then places the issue before voters for a pass-fail.
It has made it off the Senate floor and into committee, where it will meet its initial hearing in the coming week.
STATE BOARDS
A Senate bill filed Monday would end the AETN Commission and state library board, turning both over to the state’s Department of Education, including the budget for both bodies.
The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) and Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford). It is cosponsored by Rep. Stephen Meeks (R-Greenbrier) and entering the Senate committee debate in the coming week.
DEWORMING
A Senate bill was filed Tuesday to make the dewormer ivermectin available over the counter in Arkansas. Ivermectin first came to the public eye when it gained support during the coronavirus pandemic and has been mentioned favorably in the past by President Donald Trump and Health Secretary nominee Robert Kennedy Jr.
ALSO….
This week also saw multiple filings impacting how ballot initiatives are approved and signatures gathered. Late Thursday, the last day of this week’s session, bills were filed regarding how the courts should handle domestic violence offenders.
The bill for the Baby Olivia fetus development video in classrooms has passed the House, alongside a bill removing affirmative action for state agencies
#takeaways #fourth #week #Arkansas #95th #General #Assembly
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