This week, the House convened for an Extraordinary Session to address the urgent funding needs in our state created by the COVID-19 crisis.

I might not believe in psychics;  but one psychic lady once told me that I was the type to move and live in many places. Since I was a little boy, (after my Dad had passed away), that was my first time that I moved from my birth place and moved to live in with my big brother at the capital o…

An Arkansas success story that is attracting national attention is the expansion of computer science classes in public schools over the past five years.

When the news about the coronavirus emerged, the members of Arkansas’s health care and medical communities began putting in place the plans to fight the illness.

By law, Fiscal Sessions can only last 30 days (45 days with a ¾ vote to extend), so members work weeks in advance drafting appropriation measures in order to ensure our sessions are brief.

I think one of the toughest things that humans face in life is choosing what job or career to go into. It is a hard challenge that many college students face when going into their second or third year. In general, most of the high school seniors have made up their minds on what to major in w…

Early voting for the Arkansas Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election began this week. 

LITTLE ROCK – Last year the legislature voted to conduct an extensive review of the operations of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, to identify areas where improvements could be made.

In the past two years, the number of youths in state custody has declined by nearly thirty percent, and today I’d like to discuss some of the changes we have made to achieve that.

This week, the Department of Finance and Administration announced that effective February 3, 2020, all 134 State Revenue Offices will have the ability to issue a Real ID.

I’d like to honor an exceptional Arkansan, Forrest Wood, one of our preeminent outdoorsmen and entrepreneurs, who passed away last week.

In April the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on an Arkansas law that has potentially far-reaching implications for the health care, pharmaceutical and insurance industries.

People might think that humans cheat because they are just “human,” but I disagree. Cheaters come from religious and wealthy backgrounds. I believe people cheat because they either are not thinking straight or in desperate need. I am speaking of those who cheat for finances not those in rela…

Thanks to legislation enacted in 1993, Arkansas continues to experience a competitive market for workers’ compensation insurance.

Research tells us that 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate books in their homes. Middle-income homes have an average of 13 books per child.

I’d like to discuss my decision to allow a limited number of refugees to relocate legally in Arkansas after they have been vetted and cleared by agencies of the United States. The refugees are coming here after suffering violence and religious persecution. Others are allowed in because they …

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) said the signing of the phase one deal marks a “promising step in the right direction” toward better trade relations with China.

Waldron Nursing Center Residents often receive a “shower of Joy” and just one such resident was Dianne Brennan, who celebrated her birthday this week and received a wonderful surprise on her day from Roger Rich and Kim, whose mom, Johna Rich, was a great friend of Dianne’s before she passed …

Parents: we are far from perfect. Because we are human beings, we often make mistakes, however, there’s no doubt in my mind that we will do all that we possibly can to raise our own children so they can be the best. But even if we make mistakes, it is the responsibility of our children to fo…

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto…

When I was running for governor in 2014, I promised to cut our income taxes by $100 million. With the support of the General Assembly, we not only kept that promise, but over the course of the past five years, we have reduced our income taxes by over $250 million each year. 

Nowadays, not everyone can keep up with the new technology such as cell phones, computers, and cars. They now contain all kinds of automation.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released the following information regarding legislation, constituent services and more from 2019.

The Legislative Council endorsed a plan for two southeast Arkansas counties to contract with a private company to build and operate a 600-bed prison.

One of the new laws which took effect this week may reduce the number of uninsured motorists on Arkansas roads.

Late last year, Congress took a historic, critical step toward expanding access to higher education and supporting the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). In December, bipartisan legislation was approved and signed into law …

The holidays are a magical time at the State Capitol. Lights illuminate the exterior at night, the halls are draped with garland, and school choirs from across the state serenade us with carols throughout the day.

 Canada and Mexico continue to be the top destinations for Arkansas exports, according to the 2019 report by the World Trade Center of the University of Arkansas.

This week, I attended the memorial service for Fayetteville Police Officer Stephen Carr, who was killed in the line of duty last week.

More than 2,000 people attended a series of meetings that the legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Retirement held in 11 cities across Arkansas earlier this fall.

Monthly revenue reports help to give us a picture of the state’s economy.  The reports show us if Arkansans are making more, spending more, and if businesses are doing well. Recent reports have created an optimistic outlook.

The good news I announced at the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual convention this week comes after a difficult twelve months for Arkansas farmers.

Waldron Nursing Center is really looking festive especially with all of the Resident door decorating by different staff who are competing in the door decorating contest. We certainly have some very creative people. The residents are really enjoying seeing all of the different doors that have…

Life without foundation is like life without direction. Therefore, foundation is a must and an essential in life in order to reach our goal and be successful.

 Showing consideration is kindness and thoughtful regard for others, or an act of thoughtfulness. Treating others the way you want to be treated is one example of consideration. When we are considerate of others, it makes the person concerned feel loved and respected. It makes the world a be…

The legislature created the Arkansas Trauma System 10 years ago, with passage of Act 393 of 2009.

Typically when a bill is passed in the state legislature, if it does not have an emergency clause, it will take effect 90 days after we adjourn.  But there are occasions when a specific date is written into the bill.  This year, we passed several bills that will take effect January 1, 2020. …

An Arkansan you probably don’t know about was responsible for a lot of the turkey that made it to the Thanksgiving table a hundred-twenty years ago.

Arkansas has made a strong commitment to making sure that children learn to read at an early age, and the federal government has recognized our efforts with a grant of $38 million to improve literacy.

This week we want to remind you of an important deadline approaching all Arkansans.

The chance to renew the state’s half-cent sales tax to pay for highway upkeep will be the most important issue on the ballot next year, and today I’d like to talk about why I supported the legislation that will allow us to vote on Issue One.