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By the end of the 13th week of the 2021 Regular Session, more than 600 bills were signed into law. This week, the House voted in favor of a bill temporarily changing the deadline for filing and paying state income tax. SB593 extends the deadline this year to May 17, aligning the date with the recent extension issued for filing federal income tax...

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, sports embodied the optimism we all shared for better days ahead. Now, unfortunately, we are seeing just how eager some are to use them as a tool to advance agendas and narratives that should stay in the realm of politics and as far removed as possible from the places we go to for entertainment, camaraderie and inspiration. ...

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, sports embodied the optimism we all shared for better days ahead. Now, unfortunately, we are seeing just how eager some are to use them as a tool to advance agendas and narratives that should stay in the realm of politics and as far removed as possible from the places we go to for entertainment, camaraderie and inspiration. ...

Arkansas became the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors, either through surgery or hormone therapy. Sponsors of the bill said that children needed protection from experimentation. They said that minors are too young to make such important decisions as choosing a sex change, which has long-term health effects that can be irreversible...

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and our attention rightly turns to ways we can support children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Each year, over 650,000 children are determined to have experienced abuse or neglect, ushering many of them into the dependency court and foster care system...

The legislature has approved a broad reform of the laws governing water providers, a measure that sponsors have been working on for the past four years. Many of the provisions in Senate Bill 386 are the result of a task force that looked into the financial status of water systems in Arkansas, as well as the condition of their infrastructure...

Congress took aggressive action last year to respond to the public health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of days, Republicans and Democrats came together to unanimously pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. ...

Close to 500 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.   There are still several hundred bills making their way through the legislative process.   In the 12th week of the session, the House passed the following bills regarding economic development, education, and elections:...

Washington Democrats have lost their minds. If there is one thing Washington Democrats have shown this year, it’s that they are willing to embrace a disturbing appetite for spending. It turns out that last month, when they decided to spend nearly $2 trillion on bailouts and political rewards for their allies, they were just getting warmed up. ...

We had another busy week at the Missouri State Capitol, but I must confess that my mind was, at least in part, focused on the Easter holiday festivities ahead. Easter is a big deal at my house, with my kids and grandkids coming to visit. I always plan a big meal and, every year, I bake a special bunny cake for the children to decorate. ...

This week, the House voted to fulfill our most important constitutional responsibility — we voted to approve thirteen appropriation bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2022 State Operating Budget. I’m proud to announce that I voted in favor of a conservative, fiscally responsible spending plan...

The General Assembly returned from spring recess this week and quickly got to work with a full slate of committee hearings and floor debate. In headline-making action early in the week, the Senate debated a public safety bill for nearly six hours before finally coming to a consensus. ...

Although the mid-session break was a nice change of pace, I’m glad to be back in the Capitol! This week, we voted on important legislation to protect children from abuse, and we passed a bill that keeps our elections secure. I also attended an education roundtable with area superintendents, visited with small business owners in the district, and I welcomed more special guests to our beautiful state capitol...

Former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was famous for saying, “Never let a crisis go to waste.”  Washington Democrats and their allies in the media have internalized this advice so well that their playbook is completely predictable. Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen tragic shootings in Atlanta and in Boulder, Colorado. My heart breaks for the victims of these shootings, and the criminals who committed these acts deserve to face the maximum punishment available. ...

By Mr. Jherrithan Dukes Principal, Friendship Aspire Academy, Pine Bluff It’s all about the children. Adults can debate education policy endlessly, but at the end of the day, we need to remember that learning institutions share the same purpose: to educate children and make sure their needs are met...

The 11th week of the session was an abbreviated one as the General Assembly took a recess for Spring Break. Before members left the Capitol, the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee advanced a new version of the Medicaid expansion program...

The urgency for expanded broadband deployment is unmistakable. High-speed internet has become a necessity that has kept Arkansans connected throughout the COVID-19 emergency. Telework, distance learning and expanded telehealth opportunities exposed the pronounced need communities in Arkansas and across the country have for reliable broadband services. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, I’m working to build on this momentum...

The legislature voted to extend the 2021 session until April 30, and then to recess for an extended period rather than to adjourn. There are several reasons the legislature chose to go into extended recess, rather than adjourn sine die. The legislature has a duty to redraw the boundaries of the state’s four Congressional districts every 10 years. ...

I want to encourage all residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. I know there are side effects from the vaccination and these vary for each individual. However, controlling this virus is similar to fighting the flu. People must be immunized to reduce the chances of contacting the virus and provide your body the opportunity to build up anti-bodies against the virus as we do with the flu vaccine. ...

The Missouri Legislature meets from early January through mid-May. It’s a busy five months for elected officials, as we travel each week from our homes around the state to Jefferson City for four days of committee hearings, floor debate and other legislative activities. ...

By Phill Brooks The Missouri legislature’s week-long break that began March 15 is a good time to assess where the General Assembly may head in the second half of it’s annual session. This year taxes, school choice, voter rights and COVID-19 promise to be dominating issues...

In the 10th week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed several bills focusing on improved education. Once enacted, these bills would increase funding for our public schools, raise teacher salaries, and require every high school student to complete a computer science course...

Water infrastructure plays a critical role in supporting the agriculture industry, providing protection from floods and increasing access to clean drinking water in communities across Arkansas. Water and wastewater systems are an essential part of our everyday lives, but we are facing challenges to ensuring they continue to meet our needs. As discussions ramp up about ways for Congress to address our nation’s infrastructure shortfalls, improvements to aging water systems must be part of that plan.. ...

The Senate has approved legislation to grant to certified nurse practitioners full and independent practice authority. The nurses would need about three years, or 6,240 hours, of practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician in order to earn the right to practice independently...

The first half of the 2021 legislative session has flown by. This week, I attended a meeting of the South Central County Commissioners Association, where I met with officials from 17 different counties in our region. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Salem R-80 superintendent Lynne Reed to discuss education legislative priorities, as well as the Wayfair internet sales tax, the Department of Conservation, and other issues important to our region...

We’ve reached the half-way mark in the 2021 legislative session this week, and the Senate advanced several important pieces of legislation before leaving for our mid-term recess. Two bills perfected in the Senate chamber relate to taxation. Nobody likes paying taxes, but I believe addressing obvious shortcomings in our taxation system is the fiscally sound course of action. In my opinion, the Senate moved in that direction this week...

This week we saw Washington Democrats charge ahead and pass the Biden Bailout Bill, the largest spending package in our nation’s history. As the Republican Leader of the Budget Committee, who had a front row seat to what was included, I can assure you this was the most partisan package we’ve ever seen. Not a single Republican voted for this bailout bill, and in fact, the only bipartisan thing about it was the vote against it...

“White supremacy” is a term we hear frequently these days. Following are my personal experiences. Growing up in Kansas City and attending an integrated high school, our student body voted on members of our cheerleading squads. When the votes were counted, a white girl and a black girl were tied for the sixth cheerleader. Our all-white administration decided that the white girl won. After calm but strong dissention from many students, the black girl was added to the team as a seventh cheerleader...

More than 320 bills have been signed into law during the 2021 Regular Session. There are several hundred bills still making their way through the legislative process. This week, House members voted on legislation impacting education, healthcare, voting, and much more...

One year after COVID-19 was first identified within the United States and our states and cities were forced to dramatically restrict routine activities, we are now all much more aware of how a transmissible disease like the coronavirus is capable of bringing our society and economic activity to a grinding halt...

The Senate passed a new version of the Medicaid expansion program, which is one of the most important bills of this year’s session because of the number of people it benefits and the amount of money that it generates in Arkansas. About 311,000 people receive services under the program. The current number is higher than usual because the Covid-19 pandemic caused many people to lose their jobs or businesses. Before the pandemic, about 250,000 people were eligible...

Monday, March 1, was the last day Senate bills could be filed for the 2021 session. Amendments and bill substitutes can still be introduced until the session ends on May 14, but the last new bill numbers have been assigned. Among the deluge of bills on Monday were five measures I sponsored...

Last November, America experienced an election that was anything but normal. In several states voting rules for electing the president were changed without the consent of state legislatures, as prescribed by the Constitution. This left millions of Americans confused and unsure of whether their vote even counted...

Both chambers of the legislature have approved a bill that prohibits abortions, except if necessary to save the mother’s life in a medical emergency. Several legislators said they had concerns about the bill because it does not have an exception for rape or incest...

As we wind down the 8th week of the 2021 Regular Session, more than 270 bills have been signed into law. Next week, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin hearing proposals for constitutional amendments. According to Joint Rules, the House and Senate can each recommend one amendment, but it must be approved by a majority in both chambers. A 2/3 vote is required by both chambers to introduce a third proposed constitutional amendment...

Congress passed five bipartisan COVID-19 bills last year to help Arkansas families, small businesses and health care providers as we were facing unprecedented times during the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans and Democrats came together to deliver a total of $4 trillion in emergency relief to support medical workers treating patients, research and develop a vaccine, help small business operations continue to pay employees and safely reopen schools. ...

Washington Democrats are charging full speed ahead on a hastily-crafted, nearly $2 trillion bailout package. Simply put: this is the wrong plan, at the wrong time, and for all the wrong reasons. The goal wasn’t to put shots in people’s arms, nor was it to offer relief to working class Americans. Instead, their goal was to bail out their friends and special interest allies. ...

This week, the House voted on HB 349. This bill would create scholarships for certain students to attend private schools. However, this bill would only apply to students who live in populated areas — class one counties, or cities with populations of 30,000 or higher. ...

We had a busy week at the State Capitol. I’m pleased to share that I passed my first bill out of the upper chamber of the Legislature. Senate Bill 72, which designates the first full week of September as “Fox Trotter Week in Missouri,” is now in the hands of the House of Representatives. ...

In the seventh week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed bills addressing taxes, medical care, scholarships, the duty to retreat, and more. The following tax measures were advanced by the House: · HB1023-This bill excludes certain school fundraisers from the sales tax laws regulation special events...

The legislature has approved a broad tax relief measure for businesses that were affected by the pandemic. House Bill 1361 exempts income that people and businesses received through numerous disaster relief programs, such as the popular Paycheck Protection Program. More than 43,000 Arkansas businesses received more than $3.3 billion through PPP loans...

The pandemic has shown once again the resiliency, generosity and creativity of Arkansans. Despite coronavirus-imposed physical separation, we know we are stronger together. This has been clearly revealed in the amazing partnerships throughout the state between neighbors, churches, non-profits, businesses and community leaders to reach people in need of healthy, nutritious food...

Don’t let your guard down about COVID-19. Although, our active case count in the city has declined during the past two weeks, the virus is still present and the local ER continues to treat COVID patients. We must still adhere to social distancing, wearing masks where required and practicing appropriate hygiene. ...

By Phill Brooks Missouri history provides a fascinating contrast to the US House vote to remove Rep. Marjorie Greene, R-Georgia, from committee assignments. Unlike Greene, similar disciplinary actions in Missouri against members have avoided a partisan split and required a simple action by the leader of the legislator’s own party...

Missouri has lost one of its favorite sons, and the country has lost a hero. For over three decades, Rush Limbaugh inspired millions of people and was a leader of the conservative movement. He guided generations of us towards a deeper love of America and enduring respect for the Constitution and the liberties and freedoms we enjoy...

Prescription benzodiazepines can treat several conditions, including epilepsy, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. However, professionals continue to debate as to whether long-term use of these drugs are medically acceptable. As more information has surfaced regarding these drugs’ addictive potential, medical professionals have shied away from prescribing them. ...

From the workers clearing our roads to the utility employees doing their best to keep houses warm, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to our essential workers this week. The General Assembly took an extended recess due to the winter weather across our state. However, House members plan to be back at the Capitol on Feb. 22...

February is Black History Month—a time to reflect on the influence of African Americans in our history and celebrate their achievements and contributions to the fabric of our nation. We honor the sacrifices of such brave men and women who persevered through countless challenges and we celebrate these champions of equality for all Americans. One such trailblazer, Anna Mae Wilson Robertson, was a member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion...

The deadline for legislators to file proposed constitutional amendments has passed, and the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs will begin narrowing the list that will be placed on the next general election ballot...

The 93rd General Assembly now prepares to enter the 5th week of the 2021 Regular Session. The House passed a resolution to extend this session, if necessary, to May 3. The resolution provides for a recess on April 9. The deadline for members to file proposed Constitutional Amendments is February 10. ...