Arkansas statehouse week 4 review: School cellphone ban, video mandate
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Today closes the fourth week of the 95th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature.
Why it matters: Lawmakers hash out proposed changes to state law during the regular session.
- We're keeping an eye out for the most impactful potential changes — particularly in issues like education, health care and how national politics will influence Arkansas' Republican-dominated legislature.
Catch up quick: Key takeaways from this week include
- The Senate approved SB142 which would ban students from using cellphones and other devices during the school day at public schools. The House Education Committee also passed the bill Thursday.
- The Senate also approved SB59, which seeks to ensure all children at public schools receive free breakfast.
- HB1204, which would limit the recovery of damages for past necessary medical care, treatment or services to the costs actually paid by or on behalf of a plaintiff, cleared the Senate and will move to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' desk.
- The House approved SB3 on Thursday, which would end the state's affirmative action programs. It now advances to the governor's desk.
Of note: On Thursday, the House passed HB1180, "The Baby Olivia Bill," which would require public and open-enrollment public charter schools to include a 3-minute video produced by an anti-abortion organization to health and safety courses beginning in the fifth grade.
- Speaking against the bill, Rep. Ashley Hudson (D-Little Rock), called the video "propaganda."
- It now moves to the Senate.
A few bills from the past week:
SB189 would authorize Ivermectin for human use to be sold without a prescription.
SJR10 proposes a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the state's electorate to create the Department of Government Efficiency.
HB1424 would require state-funded health insurance programs including Medicaid to cover obesity treatments.