This week marks the 4th week of the 89th General Assembly. The last few weeks have been busy ones with 244 bills being filed in the House and 232 in the Senate. During a typical session about 2,500 bills are filed and a little more than half actually get passed into law.
Here is a list of the committees with the most bills.
Public Health - 34 bills
State Agencies - 31 bills
Judiciary - 21 bills
Education - 17 bills
Insurance & Commerce - 7 bills
Transportation - 5 bills
City, County, Local - 5 bills
Agri & Econ Development - 4 bills
Revenue & Tax - 4 bills
Aging, Children & Youth - 3 bills
Public Health is an obvious choice with healthcare representing such an important if not THE important issue of the 89th General Assembly. The most prominent issue relating to health is the expansion of Medicaid under Health Care Reform. This is a very hotly contested debate with many Republicans squarely against the expansion with the Hospital Association in favor of the expansion. The committee also reviews topics as diverse as abortion, unemployment insurance and wage law.
Remember there are a number of unemployment laws that have been filed and described in a previous blog post. There is also the issue of guns in church. Gun control is a major debate.
If you feel strongly about an issue, now is the time to contact your legislator and let them know your stance on an issue. Their contact information is listed below.
State Senators: 501-682-2902
State Representatives: 501-682-6211
To view schedules, calendars, bill information and legislator information, visit: www.arkleg.state.ar.us.
To view live stream video and audio from the Arkansas House of Representatives, visit www.arkansashouse.org.
*This information is compiled from information provided by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Rogers Chamber of Commerce, Springdale Chamber of Commerce and your State SHRM reprentatives.
“Seven Deadly Sins
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice.”
― Mahatma Gandhi