We hope everyone stayed safe and warm during this week’s winter weather. It certainly did not stop our Arkansas Legislature from moving forward with some (mostly bad) bills.
NEW DATE FOR LOBBY DAY: The storm may have delayed Lobby Day, but it can't stop us from taking action! We hope you'll join us Wednesday, February 15th for a full day at the State Capitol and our Rally Around Public Education, which will be held at 3 p.m. on the Capitol steps.
If you haven't already, please RSVP here.
BILLS WE’RE WATCHING
Attempt to End Affirmative Action
SB71: To Prohibit Discrimination Or Preferential Treatment By The State Of Arkansas And Other Public Entities.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Dan Sullivan [R] & Rep. Marcus Richmond [R]
CFC Stance: Against
Summary: If passed, SB71 would ban the use of affirmative action in Arkansas, will prohibit state governmental institutions from considering race, sex, sexual orientation or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education. It would gut state and local protections against discrimination. This will have a major impact on enrollment in medical schools and graduate programs for underrepresented groups as well. Arkansas would become the 9th state to ban affirmative action if this bill is passed into law.
Why It Matters: Massive racial disparities still persist in Arkansas.This bill would eliminate state incentives and criminalize implementing the Minority and Women Owned Business Development Act in Arkansas. This act directs state agencies to “attempt to ensure” that at least 10% of spending goes toward minority-owned businesses and at least 5% of spending to women-owned businesses every year. SB71 is an attack on equal opportunity that could end minority scholarships, support for women owned businesses, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Current status: Passed out of Senate State committee
Related reading: “Dropping affirmative action had huge impact on California’s public universities” investigation, “Sullivan’s bill would remove laws that give minorities and women a fair chance”
Call to Action: Call your senator and ask them to vote NO on SB71.
Watch KNWA’s Friday coverage of SB71 and interview with our Racial Equity Coordinator Osyrus Bolly:
“Bathroom Bill” Passes in House
HB1156: Concerning A Public School District Or Open-enrollment Public Charter School Policy Relating To A Public School Student's Sex.
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Mary Bentley [R]
CFC Stance: Oppose
Summary: HB1156 would require students to use designated bathrooms and changing rooms based on their biological sex as determined by their original birth certificates. For students unwilling or unable to comply, a "reasonable accommodation" must be made, but there’s no indication of exactly what that means. It also requires students to share rooms on overnight trips with other students based on the same criteria.
Why It Matters: This bill directly targets transgender and intersex students, requiring them to use bathrooms that do not conform with their expressed gender identity. This would inadvertently cause the forced outing of transgender and intersex students by making them use a bathroom or changing room in front of their peers whom they may not want to know.
Current Status: Passed out of house, Y:80 N:10 NV:10. Sent to the Senate.
Related Reading: Arkansas Advocate’s write up “Arkansas House committee hears legislation restricting school bathroom use”
Conway Schools has been a focal point for the state’s culture wars’; read more here.
Call to Action: Call your senator and ask them to vote NO on HB1156
Another Legislative Power Grab
HJR1001: A Constitutional Amendment Concerning The Salaries Of Elected Constitutional Officers Of The Executive Department, Members Of The General Assembly, Supreme Court Justices, Court Of Appeals Judges, And Prosecuting Attorneys
Lead Sponsors: Rep. David Ray [R], Rep. Ben Gilmore [R], Wade Andrews [R]HJR1002: An Amendment To The Arkansas Constitution Concerning The Taxation Of Personal Property And Real Property In The State Of Arkansas
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Stephen Meeks [R]
CFC Stance: Oppose
Summary: These two house constitutional amendments seek to give the legislature more power to: (1) increase or decrease the salaries of state elected officials; (2) incrementally abolish property taxes; and (3) allow 100 or more citizens in any political subdivision to alter the way that public libraries are funded through property taxes.
Why It Matters: HJR1001 will give the legislature the power to regulate the salaries of state elected officials who, in this political climate, can only be assumed as a means to control them. HJR1002 will eradicate an important mechanism used to fund public schools while also creating a way to tamper with the funding of public libraries.
Current Status: Both referred to the House State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs Committee
Redrawing Legislative Districts
SJR1: A Constitutional Amendment To Amend Constitutional Provisions Concerning Apportionment; And To Create The Arkansas Apportionment Commission
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Bryan King [R]
CFC Stance: Support
Summary: This senate constitutional amendment seeks to create an apportionment commission made up of experts that will be charged with drawing legislative districts for the apportionment board.
Why It Matters: SJR1 will create a mechanism that can potentially lead to the drawing of fairer, more equitable, and more competitive legislative districts which could result in a tamer General Assembly.
Current Status: Referred to the Senate State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs Committee
Early Voting on County Holidays
HB1198: An Act to Amend the Law Concerning Early Voting on County Holidays
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Gramlich [R], Sen. Boyd [R]
CFC Stance: Support
Summary: This bill will allow counties that have official holidays that fall within the early voting period to conduct early voting on those holidays. State law currently prohibits early voting on state and county holidays, and this legislation would remove that provision. Some counties have specific holidays that are annual traditions or sometimes called by the county judge. Residents would be allowed to vote even when county offices are closed.
Why It Matters: While this would appear to not apply to a large number of Arkansas voters, it would still increase early voting availability. This would also prohibit a county judge from declaring holidays during early voting periods in an effort to limit early voting access.
Current Status: Passed out of the House State Agencies Committee
Possibility for Much-needed Study on Court System Finances
HB1245: To Require A Legislative Study Of Financial Matters Related To The Court System; And To Require Consideration Of Legislation Necessary To Address Issues Identified During The Study
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Carol Dalby [R]
CFC Stance: Support
Summary: This bill would create a task force to produce a report on revenue sharing and funding of court systems in Arkansas. This task force will meet quarterly to provide clarity on financial matters related to the court systems. A written report will be finished by the end of October 2024 and the task force study will expire by the end of 2024.
Why It Matters: This report could potentially be helpful in explaining the cycle of criminal justice debt from fines, fees, and installment payments that trap many low-income Arkansans in the justice system. The data should also give clarity for accountability of the court systems operational costs. A concise report should help strengthen future campaigns on eliminating juvenile fines and fees, amnesty courts programs, restitution fee reform, cash bail reforms, etc.
Current status: Passed in House and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.