Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks with Republican Reps. DeAnn Vaught of Horatio and Blake Johnson of Corning following a press conference announcing an anti-China legislation package on Feb. 26, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)
Arkansas lawmakers continued advancing some of the governor’s legislative priorities during the seventh week of the 95th General Assembly.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders this week signed into law a bill that supports the development of lift-access downhill mountain bike parks, and unveiled a legislative package that will restrict certain interactions with China.
Legislators are working through amendments to the governor’s higher education bill, Arkansas ACCESS, which House Speaker Rep. Brian Evans, R-Cabot, told reporters Thursday could debut in committee late next week.
A few other education bills met some resistance this week. A highly-debated bill that would require public students be shown a fetal development video developed by an anti-abortion group was rejected in committee Wednesday. Meanwhile, legislation requiring a bill of religious rights to be distributed to public school families was met with skepticism, but ultimately advanced out of the Senate.
On Thursday, the Arkansas Senate paused to honor one of their own, former Democratic Sen. Joyce Elliott. Sen. Jamie Scott, D-North Little Rock, was emotional while presenting a resolution to honor her former colleague and mentor during Black History Month for her service to the state.
“Sen. Joyce Elliott embodies the very essence of what it means to be a public servant, a trailblazer and a force of good despite our political differences,” Scott said. “I am beyond grateful that God placed her in my life when I needed her the most.”
After leaving the Legislature in 2023, Elliott became the executive director of Get Loud Arkansas, a nonprofit focused on voter registration and engagement. She suffered a stroke last summer.
1) Death penalty
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday gave initial approval to legislation that would allow nitrogen gas to be used in the execution of death row inmates. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, said it could address the challenges Arkansas faces in acquiring the necessary drugs for lethal injection.
Five people spoke against House Bill 1489, including Rev. Jeff Hood, a spiritual adviser who witnessed the nation’s first nitrogen gas execution in Alabama last year, which he said “was by far the most horrific thing I have ever seen.”
House Speaker Brian Evans said during his weekly press conference that he expects there to be a close vote on the bill, but it will pass.
“While not a pleasant topic, it is one that has to be addressed, and in doing so with the method that is presented by the bill today… this seems to be a new pathway to get that back to where it’s being enacted in our corrections systems,” he said.
If the bill is approved by the Legislature, Arkansas would join four other states that have approved this method of execution.
2) Energy infrastructure
A bill that would streamline the process for utility providers to build new electricity-generating plants to meet expected demand was filed late Tuesday and passed through a Senate committee Thursday.
Though he voted for Senate Bill 307, Sen. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, voiced concern that constituents’ questions might go unanswered with such a quick process. Lead sponsor Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said there would be ample time to answer questions and noted thorough discussions occurred as the bill was drafted.
Sanders issued a statement in support of the bill, which proponents have said will make Arkansas more competitive in attracting new industry and creating jobs.
“I meet with companies all the time and one of the number one topics they bring up is the need for affordable, reliable energy,” Sanders said. “This legislation helps us keep the Natural State competitive by investing in our energy infrastructure and maintaining our reputation as a national leader in energy reliability and affordability while still maintaining the [Arkansas Public Service Commission’s] regulatory authority.”
3) Ballot measures
Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, continued shepherding his bills to regulate the ballot initiative process through the Legislature this week, including a pair that had been held up in the Senate because they lacked sufficient votes to allow them to be effective immediately.
Hammer was generally successful at advancing his legislation. The one exception was Senate Bill 212, which was rejected for a second time in committee Thursday. The bill would have allowed the creation of an enforcement agency within the secretary of state’s office that could investigate the validity of submitted documents related to elections and ballot initiatives.
Hammer in 2026 is running for secretary of state, the elected official who oversees the state’s elections.
The Benton Republican appears to have more plans for amending Arkansas’ electoral process. He filed several more election-related bills this week.
4) New Bills
Lawmakers this week filed more than 150 new bills as of Friday morning, including:
Senate Bill 282 by Sen. Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, would give public water system customers the option to hold an election to determine whether the system shall fluoridate the water. A Senate committee earlier this month rejected another bill by Penzo that would have repealed state law requiring fluoride in drinking water.
Senate Bill 299 by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, would require someone assisting voters with disabilities to present a photo ID, and require a staff member to witness an administrator assisting a long-term residential care facility resident with absentee voting.
House Bill 1602 by Rep. Lee Johnson, R-Greenwood, would establish fees under the Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Manager Licensure Act and require reporting of certain information by a PBM.
House Bill 1610 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, seeks to clarify abortion laws by defining what constitutes a “medical emergency” during which a pregnancy may be terminated to save the life of the mother.
The 2025 legislative session will continue Monday, which is the deadline for lawmakers to file appropriation bills. Meeting schedules, agendas and livestream videos are available on the Arkansas Legislature’s website.
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