Arkansas 95th General Assembly concludes in Little Rock

The Arkansas 95th General Assembly concluded its 94-day session, passing hundreds of bills that addressed vital issues such as education, food security, and state taxation. Speaker of the House Brian Evans praised the session's achievements, particularly the elimination of the state grocery tax and increased educational funding, stating it was a session focused on hard work rather than headlines. However, Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding expressed concerns that the grocery tax cut would only yield minimal savings for residents, highlighting a significant gap between policy intentions and tangible impacts. While there was bipartisan collaboration, especially regarding food insecurity, partisan divides resurfaced over a contentious $750 million prison funding request that was ultimately blocked. House Minority Leader Andrew Collins criticized perceived excessive spending on controversial policies, such as private school vouchers, which he argued detract from essential services like higher education and maternal health insurance.

The assembly approved a $6. 5 billion budget, allocating $2. 5 billion to education, while the prison funding issue is expected to be revisited in the next session. The session's conclusion on May 5 provides lawmakers a chance to address any unforeseen issues. Overall, the session reflects ongoing tensions in Arkansas's fiscal policy and priorities.