The Advocacy & Government Affairs division of the Chamber was very active in the Arkansas General Assembly in 2021. Ending the year on a high note, Legislators finished a Special Legislative session where they approved Governor Hutchinson’s income tax reduction package.

The main highlight from the regular session that ended last September was the approval of a Hate Crimes Bill, which was the priority piece of legislation contained in the Northwest Arkansas Regional Business Legislative Agenda. As a result of the passage of the Hate Crimes Bill, Arkansas is no longer one of the few states without a Hate Crimes Law. The work of many people representing the Northwest Arkansas business community was instrumental in developing and implementing the strategy to get that law passed.

However, there were some issues that developed late in the 2021 Session that employers should be very concerned about. Legislation that would enable employees to sue employers and give the legislature oversight of employer policies regarding vaccination status and safety policies was introduced in the final days of the regular session. Some agreements were hammered out to accommodate the legislation that employers could live with. This is no doubt a contentious and timely issue that should concern employers as we approach the Fiscal Session in the Spring, and the next Regular Session in 2023.

Let’s Get Fiscal

Currently there are no major issues other than budget bills that are anticipated for the Fiscal Session that begins in February. It is an election year and legislators will be meeting during the middle of a Primary Election. Look for legislators to wrap up the budget in short order and return to their districts.

Fill it Up with Regular 

Although the Fiscal Session is anticipated to be low key, the Regular Session in January 2023 will be anything but. Primary Election Candidates for the legislature are already campaigning on themes of making employers more accountable for the policies they develop regarding the vaccine status of their employees.

Candidates are also proposing to introduce legislation that will take away power from elected school boards to set the educational and administrative policies for their districts. It is unclear at this time what those measures will look like, but they are being talked about. Northwest Arkansas contains some of the highest performing school districts in the state, and the teachers and staff employed by these districts are paid very well compared to districts across the State. This is a big part of the phenomenal success our region has enjoyed. Our locally elected school boards, teachers, and district officials have done an excellent job of educating and preparing our children, and this region for future growth. Educational attainment and a healthy business environment are the foundation of the prosperity we enjoy in Northwest Arkansas. It is a great concern when you begin to allow legislative intrusion into those fundamental sectors of our economy.

What’s the Agenda?

Starting this month, the process of forming the Northwest Arkansas Regional Business Legislative Agenda will begin. You are a valued member of the business community in Northwest Arkansas. If you have any ideas or suggestions that you would like to share for the Regional Legislative Agenda, please contact Jon Moran.