Expanding Food Stamps to Individuals With Significant Assets

Sen. Dismang & Rep. Vaught

The original version of SB306 would have expanded food stamps to individuals with up to $12,500 in cash assets in the bank. The House version that ultimately became law, if approved by the federal government, will still expand food stamps by allowing households to temporarily exceed the food stamp asset limit without being disenrolled.

Adopting Universal Licensing Recognition

Sen. Hill & Rep. McCollum

This bill creates a smooth pathway for workers from other states to transfer their occupational licenses and work experience to Arkansas. This is a significant boost to Arkansas’s overall workforce competitiveness and will greatly decrease the difficulty of recruiting licensed workers to the Natural State.

Reducing the Cash Welfare Time Limit

Rep. Burkes & Sen. Penzo

This legislation reduces the cash welfare time limit from 24 months to 12 months (the federally-required minimum) for households with work-eligible adults, encouraging them to reenter the workforce. This ties Arkansas with only one other state (Arizona) for the lowest cash welfare time limit in the country.

Unleashing Universal Education Freedom (The LEARNS Act)

Sen. Davis & Rep. Brooks

The LEARNS Act dramatically expands educational freedom in Arkansas through education freedom accounts (EFAs), while also making other improvements to Arkansas's education system via investments in teacher salaries, reforms to school safety, and more. It is without a doubt one of the broadest, boldest, most comprehensive education reforms in United States history.

Curbing Special Election Abuse

Rep. Ray & Sen. Payton

This legislation limits towns and counties from scheduling special elections during low-turnout times, ensuring more Arkansans have a voice on important issues like local tax hikes. Cities and counties have notoriously hid these issues at poorly-advertised special elections, resulting in higher taxes on Arkansans.

Prohibiting Local Income Taxes

Rep. Ray & Sen. Payton

This bill will prohibit Arkansas cities and counties from imposing a local-level income tax on their citizens, preempting the ability of overzealous localities to claw away earnings from hardworking Arkansans.

Requiring Work for Able-Bodied Housing Recipients

Rep. Underwood & Sen. Gilmore

This bill requires able-bodied adults in Arkansas's public housing programs to participate in work activities or volunteer at least part-time, helping reduce welfare dependency. This legislation is contingent upon a federal waiver.

Expanding Food Stamps for Certain Veterans

Rep. Tosh & Sen. Wallace

This legislation requires the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver to exclude veterans' disability income from counting for purposes of eligibility for food stamps. If approved, it will expand welfare to individuals who did not previously qualify. Even worse, the legislation included no fiscal note, so tax-payers have no indication of how much additional money it will cost.

Expanding Free Lunches Welfare Expansion

Sen. Dismang & Rep. Vaught

This legislation unnecessarily qualifies all families who currently receive reduced-price school meals for free school meals, even if the family's income is well above the federal poverty level. Previously, households from 130% to 185% of the federal poverty level qualified for reduced-price lunches. In real dollars, 185% FPL is $55,500 per year for a family of four, or more than the median Arkansas household income. They paid less than 50 cents per school meal. Now, these costs will be borne by taxpayers.

Enhancing Sex Offender Disclosure Requirements

Rep. Ray & Sen. M. Johnson

This legislation enhances public information with respect to sex offender registration and disclosure requirements. It will enhance public safety by increasing public awareness of sex offenders’ presence in local communities.