State Government & Legislation

LEARNS Act

Education in Arkansas stands at the cusp of a new frontier. Thanks to recent legislation, parents all across the state now have the majority financial stake in the education of their children. Parents can send their children to the schools of their choice and the tax money associated with that child will follow them to that school, be it public, private, or even home school. The Act also requires career-centered field trips for high school aged students which will give them the opportunity to learn about various trade programs to get an idea of what profession they seek to grow into during their adult lives.

Implementation and additional resources

Protect Arkansas Act

This parole reform law eliminates any chance of a hard prison sentence from being voided by a short parole. Beginning in 2025, certain felony convictions will require that inmates serve 100% of their court ordered sentence with NO CHANCE of parole. Certain less serious felonies will need to serve at least 85% of their time in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The intention of the law is to dissuade individuals from committing certain crimes, knowing they will receive no leniency as they suffer the maximum consequences for their criminal actions.

Concealed Carry Reform

Act 777 passed, eliminating the legal requirement to obtain training and procure a concealed carry license in the State of Arkansas. While this service will still be provided by Arkansas State Police, residents will no longer be required to hold special licensing to carry a concealed firearm in places where it is not explicitly prohibited.

Youth Hiring Act 2023

Federal law prohibits the hiring of children for most jobs under the age of 14. Many states, Arkansas included, previously required special government issued permits to authorize any minor between the ages of 14 and 16 to work. This law eliminates the requirement for such government permits, enabling parents to have final discretion around the type of work, if any, they would like to see their child participate in.