Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, lawmakers lean into education legislation
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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs bills into law Thursday. Screenshot courtesy the Sanders administration.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday signed two bills into law focused on the mental and physical well-being of nearly 475,000 public school students.
State of play: Today closes week six of the 95th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature, where lawmakers negotiate changes to the management of state government, infrastructure, education, public safety and more.
Driving the news: One of the bills signed Thursday will provide one free breakfast to every public school student regardless of their eligibility for a federally funded free or reduced meal.
- Sales and special privilege taxes on medical marijuana will be used to pay for the meals.
- The program will begin with the 2025-2026 school year.
The other bill, called the "Bell to Bell, no Cell Act," will require public schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cellphones and other devices during the school day.
- Exceptions are made for emergencies and in cases where the device is allowed per a student's education plan regarding their disability.
- The move follows a pilot program during the current school year where more than 100 of the state's 237 school districts banned phones.
What she's saying: Sanders said at a news conference that the bills are "just the beginning of my pro-family agenda."
- Also, "we're going to eliminate Arkansas' most regressive tax, the grocery tax, and ease the burden on families trying to put food on their tables," she said. Groceries are taxed at 0.125%.
- "And my top priority this session is for Arkansas ACCESS, our plan to make higher education accessible to any Arkansan who wants it right after they graduate high school or many years down the line." Read the bill.
Sanders also introduced legislation known as the Health Moms, Healthy Babies Act earlier this month aimed at improving maternal health care, especially for low-income mothers.
More bills filed in the past week we're watching:
🚌 HB1541 would require private schools that accept state funding to provide transportation to students who live within 35 miles of the school.
🏫 HB1542 would require private schools that accept state funding to administer annual statewide assessments required at public schools. Private schools would also have to admit any student whose tuition is being covered with public funds.
🚨 HB1523 would establish a "purple alert system" for adults with mental, emotional, developmental or intellectual disabilities who are reported missing, similar to the amber alert system for missing children or silver alert system for missing elderly adults. The bill also seeks to codify those alert systems.
💻 HB1494 would require state agencies to publish federal guidance documents online.
🚔 HB1492 would require public schools to provide all employees wearable panic alert system devices that allow them to call 911 or initiate campus lockdowns.
HB1489 would allow Arkansas to execute prisoners using nitrogen gas. Read more.