Arkansas' capitol roundup: Primaries and prescriptions
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The Arkansas Legislature took the week off from the 95th General Assembly to enjoy spring break, but some lawmakers stayed busy.
The big picture: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed 35 bills into law on Tuesday, including an act authorizing over-the-counter ivermectin for human use, one creating religious rights at public schools and an act to streamline the permitting process of private clubs for restaurants, hotels and event venues.
State of play: Sanders also signed a bill to shuffle when the state's primary elections will be held and when the General Assembly will meet.
- In non-presidential election years, the state's preferential primary will be held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, instead of in May.
- The primary election will follow the preferential primary by four weeks, consistent with presidential election years.
The General Assembly, which convenes a fiscal session only in even-numbered years, will now meet at noon on the second Wednesday of April. Previously, they began the fiscal sessions in February.
Bills filed in the past week we're watching:
SB555 would amend the law to extend the statute of limitations for video voyeurism to one year after the offense was discovered, and eliminate the defense that a perpetrator was in a romantic relationship with the person who was secretly filmed or photographed without their consent.
SB566 would provide $250 million from the state's general revenue for the expansion, improvement or construction of state and county correctional facilities — including mental health facilities — to help address prison overcrowding.
- The bill's sponsor, Bryan King (R-Green Forest), has been a vocal opponent of the proposed Franklin County prison project.
- Bills he filed earlier in the session request $600 million for expansions and renovations, and propose that county jails collaborate on regional facilities.
- The money roughly matches the current estimate of $825 million for the Franklin County project.
SB569 would require ballot titles of proposed measures be "readable, clear and concise" and not exceed 500 words.
What's next: Lawmakers reconvene at 9:30am on Monday.