With attacks on affirmative action, solar energy and quality public education, there are plenty of issues we need to take action on this week and moving forward during this legislative session.
Read more below and join us Wednesday for Lobby Day to talk directly with your legislators about issues that matter to you!
Also, our 2023 Legislative Directory is now available on our website here. What makes our directory unique, is the committee maps that allow you to quickly locate your legislator and their contact info.
Discussion Against SB71
SB71 would ban Affirmative Action in Arkansas and is an attack on equal opportunity that could end minority scholarships, support for women owned businesses, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Friday, Racial Equity Coordinator Osyrus Bolly spoke with guest panelists Ryan D. Davis and Rosa Velázquez about the dangers of this bill.
This discussion was the first in a series of Noon Friday Webinars the Arkansas Public Policy Panel is hosting each Friday during the 94th General Legislative Assembly via Facebook Live. Next week's will be on Why Black History Matters. Follow the Panel on Facebook for more information.
Further Reading: "13 Myths About Affirmative Action: A Special Series on a Public Policy Under Siege"
Call to Action: Please call your legislators and ask them to vote NO on SB71.
House of Representative Message Board: 501-682-6211
Senate Message Board: 501-682-2902
Arkansas Solar Future in Danger
HB1370: To Amend The Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act Of 2001; To Prevent Cost-Shifting And Ensure Fairness To All Ratepayers; And To Declare An Emergency
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Lanny Fite [R]
CFC Stance: Against
Summary: This would move Arkansas away from 1:1 reimbursement – where utility customers with solar panels who generate excess power get to sell it back to the utility at the full retail rate – to only reimbursing solar customers for “the avoided cost” to the utility for the excess power a solar customer produces. Parts of the bill are retroactive, changing the rules for Arkansans who have already installed solar under net-metering. It would also reduce the maximum size for systems, among even more measures that would wreck net-metering as we know it.
Why It Matters: Arkansas’s solar current policies are now regarded as an economic development model for our region and nation. Passage of this bill will have a severe negative impact on solar jobs and the electric rates for Arkansas families, businesses, local governments, and houses of worship.
Current status: Referred to Insurance & Commerce House Committee
Related reading: "Here comes a big showdown over Arkansas’s solar future" by Arkansas Times
Call to Action: Call the Arkansas House of Representative's Message Board at 501-682-6211 and ask them to protect Arkansas solar policy.Easily send a letter to your legislators through Audubon's Action Center here.
Educational Malpractice
Arkansas Times Op-Ed by Arkansas Public Policy Executive Director Bill Kopsky
Gov. Sarah Sanders and many legislative leaders tell us that Arkansas schools are sick and not performing as well as they ought to. I agree. We have many amazing schools and educators, but we have a lot of room for improvement, especially for our most vulnerable kids.
The good news is that there are proven things we can do to make the patient — our kids’ education — healthy and help our students learn. But what the governor and some legislative leaders have proposed is a complete misdiagnosis of the problem, and their recommendations will cause greater gaps in learning.
If Arkansas schools have a primary affliction, it’s malnourishment. A majority of our students come from low-income households with high needs that must be met to cultivate learning. And we come nowhere close to investing what we should to meet those needs.
Details of the Governor's plan are still emerging and we'll send out more analysis next week.
Call to Action: Call your legislators and ask them to protect public education.
House of Representative Message Board: 501-682-6211
Senate Message Board: 501-682-2902
4 DAYS 'TIL LOBBY DAY!
2023 Lobby Day is THIS Wednesday, February 15th! Don't forget to RSVP so we can get a head count for breakfast & Lunch. Our Rally Around Public Education will be held at 3 p.m. on the Capitol steps.