Arkansas Education

The complaint seeks an injunction against further construction of the new campus.

Legislation that would overhaul the state’s higher education system awaits the governor’s signature following the approval of identical bills by the Arkansas Legislature on Monday.

Arkansas lawmakers on Monday advanced legislation that would overhaul the state’s higher education system.

At a meeting of the Legislative Black Caucus Monday, former State Sen. Linda Chesterfield offered notes on the positives and pitfalls of the sweeping higher education bill.

The proposal passed both legislative chambers almost two years after stalling in a Senate committee.

Bills to ban phones in schools, boost maternal health and impose new restrictions on the ballot initiative process all gained final legislative approval Tuesday.

The legislation, called Arkansas ACCESS, intends to reform “acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships, and standardization” in higher education policy.

Since Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, introduced House Bill 1180 last week, the legislation has received pushback from critics who’ve questioned its age appropriateness, medical accuracy and limitation to a single 3-minute video developed by anti-abortion group Live Action.

A bill to prohibit smartphone usage in Arkansas public schools is nearing final approval in the state legislature.

The bill passed an Arkansas Senate committee with unanimous support Wednesday.