Gov. Sanders signs Arkansas red tape reform order
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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order Monday calling for state agencies to overhaul Arkansas' business permitting and licensing processes.
Why it matters: The order is aimed at fostering economic development and attracting businesses by speeding up approvals and reducing regulatory delays, while preserving environmental and public health protections.
The big picture: The order is part of the Arkansas Forward initiative Sanders launched in 2024, intending to save or avoid spending $300 million over six years.
State of play: The order requires all cabinet-level agencies and boards that issue permits or licenses to review their processes within 120 days, looking for:
- Unnecessary steps and legal barriers that slow approvals
- Opportunities to align with other agencies
- Ways to digitize or use AI to speed processing
- Predictable decision timelines and ways to reduce compliance costs
What they're saying: "This Executive Order puts people before paperwork, adding transparency and speed to our permitting process to ensure major economic development projects aren't held up by unnecessary red tape," Sanders said in a news release.
- "Whether it's for a barber getting a license, a city building new water lines, or an international corporation setting up a new supply chain, we want Arkansas to be the best place in America to do business."
What's next: Within 180 days, the agencies are to submit a written improvement plan to Sanders focused on performance metrics and proposed improvements.