Arkansas Governor Signs First Appropriations Bills for $6.3 Billion State Budget
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been busy signing appropriations bills for her proposed $6.3 billion state budget, with the first bill already on her desk. The bill includes funding for the judicial branch, legislative branch, state auditor, and the House of Representatives.
In addition to budgetary matters, lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give executive branch employees a 3% cost-of-living pay raise and increase the maximum salary of all employees’ pay grades by 10%. This has sparked discussions among lawmakers about government spending and employee compensation.
One of the hot topics of discussion in the recent fiscal session is the controversial purchase of a lectern by Sanders’ staff last year. The Arkansas Legislative Audit report highlighted potential breaches of state law in the purchase, leading to a three-hour meeting where representatives from Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin defended the purchase. Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about the findings of the audit report and the explanations provided by Sanders’ staff.
Another key issue being debated is the regulation of cryptocurrency mining operations in Arkansas. The Senate passed resolutions to introduce bills regulating crypto mines, but only two bills made it through both chambers. Some lawmakers have expressed regrets and concerns about the regulations, especially as crypto businesses have set up shop in the state.
Lastly, there is a proposal to double the funding for pregnancy resource centers in Arkansas, which are required to encourage birth and oppose abortion. This has sparked debate among lawmakers, with some expressing concerns about clients mistaking the centers for medical offices.
The House and Senate are scheduled to convene on Tuesday to continue discussions on these and other important issues facing the state. Stay tuned for more updates on Arkansas Advocate, a nonprofit news operation dedicated to providing high-quality journalism without advertising or subscription fees.
