The deadline for candidate filing for the early 2020 primary election is fast approaching.
Your vote counts. Election results in a recent Arkansas Democrat-Gazette issue indicated that in one county, the election of a JP resulted in a tie with each candidate receiving 2 votes!
2019
The 2019 general session has ended. Legislators will now be preparing for the fiscal session in 2020.
2018
The 2018 fiscal session has ended. Legislators will now be preparing for the next general session in 2019.
2/12/18 - The Fiscal Session of the 91st General Assembly convenes on Monday, February 12, 2018. Bill filing begins on Monday, January 8, 2018. The Arkansas Legislature web site is at http://www.arkansas.gov/government/agency-category/category/legislative
2017
2017 Legislative session has ended.
2016 Private Option Special Session starts April 6.
2016 Fiscal Session starts April 13.
2015 Information:
7/7/15 deadline - School Board Elections - If you are interested in being a candidate in your local Sept. 15 school board election, the filing period begins June 30 and ends at noon July 7.
State Legislature - The 90th General Assembly
Bill filing started on November 17, 2014
Regular session began January 12, 2015
Regular session ended April 2, 2015 (82 days)
Regular session adjourned April 22, 2015.
This was the shortest session since 1991 (73 days). The 2013 session lasted 101 days.
During this 2015 regular session, 2063 bills were introduced, 1289 passed.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
Refer to the following for recent happenings:
Arkansas Citizens First Congress - http://citizensfirst.org - Local news about Arkansas legislative issues
Arkansas Public Policy Panel - arpanel.org [Citizens First Congress]
2015 - Common Core - PARCC Test
One action resulting from the legislative session: A Governor's Council on Common Core Review (chaired by the Lt. Governor) held a series of hearings and listening tours in the following cities:
Hearings:
Th 4/23 - Little Rock (Old Supreme Court at the State Capitol)
W 4/29 - Little Rock (Bureau of Legislative Research - State Capitol)
W 5/6 - Little Rock (Old Supreme Court at the State Capitol)
W 5/13 - Little Rock (Old Supreme Court at the State Capitol)
W 5/20 - Little Rock (Old Supreme Court at the State Capitol)
Listening Tours:
Th 4/23 - Pulaski Tech South (Little Rock)
Th 4/30 - El Dorado
Tu 5/5 - Texarkana
Th 5/14 - Bentonville
Tu 5/19 - Jonesboro
Tu 5/26 - Hot Springs
Tu 6/9 - Batesville
Tu 6/16 - Pine Bluff
Th 6/18 - Fort Smith
During June, the Council recommended replacing the PARCC test with the ACT test. By the end of July, the Council anticipates completing recommendations on state education standards.