AACF Statement on the American Health Care Act (AHCA)
The following is a statement from Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families: This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that would repeal...
ICYMI: This Week at the Arkansas State Capitol, March 13-17
Now in the home stretch of the legislative session, it was a busy week at the Arkansas State Capitol. Here are some of the week’s big developments. HEALTH: Both chambers overwhelmingly passed a resolution this week that encourages Governor Hutchinson...
The SNAP Attack Continues at the AR State Capitol
SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is facing serious threats at the Arkansas Capitol this year. Despite all the good it does (keeping thousands of kids from going hungry, encouraging work, and acting as an economic safeguard to name...
ICYMI: This week at the Arkansas State Capitol, March 6-10
JUVENILE JUSTICE: The House Judiciary Committee approved, by a voice vote, a Do Pass recommendation for SB 294 to establish the Fair Sentencing of Minors Act. It prohibits sentencing youth to life without parole. It also creates a process for re-sentencing the...
ARKids First turns 20!
Twenty years ago today, on March 10, 1997, then-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee signed ARKids First into law. ARKids was Arkansas’s state-funded health insurance program, and bringing it to life was a monumental moment for kids and families in our...
ICYMI: Weekly Legislative Update Feb. 27-March 3
HEALTH: HB1465, a bill to freeze enrollment in the Medicaid expansion program for low-income adults, passed out of the House of Representatives this week. The bill, which prevents any newly eligible people from enrolling in the health coverage program...
New solution will open Medicaid to legally residing Marshallese children
Arkansas has long sought a solution to the lack of ARKids First eligibility for children who lawfully migrate here from the Marshall Islands. On Monday, a smart solution emerged in the Arkansas House of Representatives. House Concurrent Resolution 1012...
SNAP Bill Goes from Bad to Worse
A bad bill is coming back from the dead, and this time it is even worse. Despite failure in committee, a bill restricting SNAP (HB1035) purchases is returning with an amendment to make it even more harmful. The bill...
ICYMI: This week at the Arkansas State Capitol, Feb. 20-24
In case you missed it, here’s a recap of some of the big things that happened at the Arkansas State Capitol this week: TAX & BUDGET: What’s going on with all of those online sales tax bills? A bill...