Matthew J. Shepherd
Republican • 97th District 94th General Assembly- Party
- Republican
- Past Service
- House 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, Speaker of the House 2018, 2020, Speaker-designate 2022
- Seniority
- 3
- Religion
- Southern Baptist
- Occupation
- Attorney
Matthew J. Shepherd is the current and longest-serving Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives serving his third full term as Speaker. He represents District 97 which includes El Dorado and portions of Union County. He is serving his seventh term in the House. Shepherd lives and practices law in El Dorado at the law firm of Shepherd & Shepherd, P.A.
He was born and raised in El Dorado and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1994. Shepherd went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in History and Political Science from Ouachita Baptist University in 1998 and received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2001. He is a member of the Union County, Arkansas, Louisiana Bar Associations, and is licensed to practice in the state courts of Arkansas and Louisiana; the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Arkansas, and the Western District of Louisiana; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Shepherd is the former two-term Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the House Public Transportation Committee, the House Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee, and the House Management Committee. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of the Arkansas Code Revision Commission.
Shepherd has received a number of awards and recognitions for his legislative service.
Shepherd is a member of the First Baptist Church of El Dorado, where he is a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. He is currently a board member of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado, and El Dorado Fifty for the Future, and serves as President of the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club Alumni Association and the Murphy USA Classic football game. He formerly served in the Arkansas Bar Association’s House of Delegates, and on the boards of Union County Habitat for Humanity, Hope Landing, the Union County Community Foundation, the United Way of Union County, and the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and is a former member of the El Dorado Civil Service Commission, the El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Union County Election Commission.
Shepherd and his wife, Alie, have three children.
Elected Terms
2023 (Jan 1st, 2023 — Jan 1st, 2025) 2021 (Jan 11th, 2021 — Jan 1st, 2023) 2019 (Jan 1st, 2019 — Jan 10th, 2021) 2017 (Jan 1st, 2017 — Dec 31st, 2018) 2015 (Jan 1st, 2015 — Dec 31st, 2016) 2013 (Jan 1st, 2013 — Dec 31st, 2014) 2011 (Jan 1st, 2011 — Dec 31st, 2012)Leadership Roles
SpeakerNewsroom
SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS CHAD MAY TO THE STATE BOARD OF FINANCELittle Rock, Arkansas (August 21, 20...
2023 Regular Session-Summary of General Legislation
NEWS RELEASE &nb...
Speaker Matthew J. Shepherd released the following statement Thursday, June 22:"I’m saddened to hear...
Little Rock, Arkansas (June 16, 2023) –Arkansas House Speaker Matthew J. Shepherd announced today th...
Arkansas House Speaker Matthew J. Shepherd released the following statement on Friday:“While I disag...
Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd has released the following statement:“As we have stated befo...
More than twenty bills passed in the 2023 Regular Session address Arkansas elections.From how an ini...
In the final week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed a criminal justice reform bill, a ta...
On Tuesday, the House adopted HJR1006. This resolution is a proposed constitutional amendment that w...
On Monday, the House passed HB1345.This bill increases the income tax deduction for a teacher’s clas...
House members completed the 12th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Thursday. Next week, the House...
More than 360 bills have been signed into law and many more are making their way to the Governor’s d...
On Tuesday, the House passed SB248. This bill creates the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Progra...
On Monday, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committeebegan hearing testimony for pr...
When House members return from the spring break recess, they will begin the process of reviewing pro...
House members will now be taking an extended recess. When the House reconvenes on March 27, members...
On Thursday, the House passed HB1496. This bill amends the law concerning abuse of an athletic conte...
On Wednesday, the House passed HB1207. This bill creates the Fast-Track Permits Act. It states that...
On Tuesday, the House passed SB66. This bill states that a commercial entity shall use a reasonable...
On Monday, the House passed several bills regarding elections including the following:HB1457-This bi...
In the 9th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed several bills addressing education, el...
On Thursday, the House passed HB1462. This bill clarifies the definition of “unaccompanied homeless...
On Wednesday, the House passed HB1035. This bill requires a healthcare insurer that offers, issues,...
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee advanced several bills including HB1511. This bill states...
House members began the 9th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed several bill...
In the 8th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed SB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Ac...
With a vote of 78-21 and one member voting present, the House passed SB294.This bill creates the LEA...
On Wednesday, the House passed HB1486. This bill amends the law concerning distracted driving. It st...
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee began hearing testimony regarding SB294. This bill creates...
House members began the 8th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed HB1458. This...
In the 7th week of the 2023 Regular Session, House members voted on a number of bills impacting empl...
On Thursday, the House passed HB1349. This bill states that an esports tournament organizer is autho...
On Wednesday, the House passed HB1419. This bill amends the procedure for the filing of a ballot ini...
On Tuesday, the House passed HB1244. This bill would require the Department of Finance and Administr...
The 2023 Regular Session is now in its 7th week.On Monday, the House passed HB1153. This bill is tit...
More than 70 bills have been signed into law since the 2023 Regular Session began and several more a...
On Thursday, the House passed HB1181. This bill establishes the Counseling Compact in Arkansas. It a...
The House Aging, Children and Youth, and Legislative and Military Affairs Committee advanced HB1153....
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced HB1355. This bill would allow any Arkansan who is...
House members began the 6th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed HB1325. This...
On the 5th week of the Regular Session, the House passed legislation addressing substance abuse, tee...
On Thursday, the House passed HB1340. This bill seeks to have veteran disability benefits excluded a...
On Wednesday, the House passed HCR1007. The resolution provides for an extension of the current sess...
On Tuesday, The House Education Committee advanced HB1185. This bill states that a student who atten...
The House began the 5th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed HB1144. This bil...
On Thursday, the House Public Transportation Committee advanced HB1324. This bill would allow law en...
House members passed several bills on Wednesday including three bills advanced by the House Educatio...
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced HB1004. This bill amends the Sex Offender Registr...
The House entered the 4th week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed HB1208 and HB1...
On the third week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed proposed legislation impacting every...
The House Revenue and Taxation Committeeadvanced HB1026 on Thursday. This bill would prohibit local...
On Wednesday, the House passed HB1125 which prohibits level 3 and level 4 sex offenders from owning...
On Tuesday, the House passed HB1150, HB1123, and HB1098.HB1150 would extend the time period aut...
The third week of the 2023 Regular Session began Monday afternoon.The House passed HB1122which amend...
House members will enter the third week of the 2023 Regular Session on Monday.In the second week, se...
On Thursday, theHouse passed HB1023. This bill states that all US flags and Arkansas flags of purcha...
House committees advanced several bills on Wednesday.The House State Agencies and Governmental Affai...
Members began the second week of the 2023 Regular Session on Tuesday.The House Public Transportation...
The 2023 Regular Session is now underway.The session began on Monday, January 9 when members of the...
House members have completed their business for the first week of the 2023 Regular Session.On Thursd...
Several House committees convened for organizational meetings on Wednesday morning.The full House pa...
On the second day of the 2023 Regular Session, the House and Senate convened for a Joint Session.Dur...
Members of the 94th General Assembly took the oath of office Monday morning.After swearing-in, the H...
The 94th General Assembly will convene at noon on Monday, January 9.The House will have 26 new membe...
Brent Renaud will be remembered not only as a talented filmmaker but as an Arkansan who continuously...
SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS CLARK SMITH TO INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COMMISSION Little Rock, Ark...
NEWS RELEASE JOINT STATEMENT FROM SENATE PRO TEMPORE HICKEY AND HOUSE SPEAKER SHEPHERD&nb...
Legislation passed so far this session reduced taxes by $84 million for the current fiscal year and...
The House is now in an extended recess. We will return in the fall to address redistricting.House me...
With a vote of 94-2, the House passed HB1949, an Act to Amend the Revenue Stabilization Law.This bil...
This week, the Joint Budget Committee advanced two bills outlining the proposed budget for the next...
With a vote of 82-9, the House voted in favor of SJR10. This is a proposed constitutional amendment...
House members are now reviewing the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022. The Revenue Stabilization...
With a vote of 78-15 and 3 members voting present, the House passed SB55. This bill is the appropria...
The House passed two bills today which would create new tax credits.HB1719 creates the Reboot Pilot...
This week, the House passed several bills which will increase various tax credits and exemptions.Tho...
On Thursday, the House advanced a proposed constitutional amendment. HJR1005 would require statewide...
On Wednesday, the House passed bills outlining several tax credits and exemptions.HB1157 would doubl...
The Governor has now signed 680 bills into law since the beginning of the 2021 Regular Session.On Tu...
With a vote of 65-26 and 5 members voting present, the House passed SB622 on Monday.This bill states...
By the end of the 13th week of the 2021 Regular Session, more than 600 bills were signed into law.Th...
On Thursday, the House HB1865 which requires all law enforcement officers in the state to complete a...
More than 600 bills have been signed into law so far this session.On Wednesday, the House passed the...
With a vote of 72-25, the House voted to override the Governor’s veto of HB1570 on Tuesday. HB1570 p...
House members passed the following bills Monday afternoon:HB1740-This bill states that grooming a mi...
Close to 500 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.There are still...
Close to 500 bills have been signed into law so far this session.As we work to address the remainder...
By a vote of 64-34 and 1 member voting present, the House passed SB410 on Tuesday.This bill establis...
The public health emergency will continue in Arkansas for another 60 days. The Governor made the req...
The 11th week of the session was an abbreviated one as the General Assembly took a recess for Spring...
The General Assembly will be in recess for the remainder of this week. Before adjourning for the wee...
The House approved a resolution that will provide for an extended recess of the 2021 Regular Session...
In the 10th week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed several bills focusing on improved ed...
On Thursday, the House passed a bill requiring students entering the ninth grade class of 2022-2023...
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise teacher salaries and increase public school funding.HB1614 se...
More than 370 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.The House passe...
House members began the 10th week of the 2021 Regular Session on Monday.The House passed more than 3...
More than 320 bills have been signed into law during the 2021 Regular Session. There are several hun...
The House wrapped up the 9th week of the 2021 Regular Session.Members passed the following bills Thu...
Thursday will mark the 60th day of the 2021 Regular Session.The House passed 18 bills on Wednesday,...
More than 300 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.The House passe...
NEWS RELEASE SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS REGINAL THOMAS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMMISSION Litt...
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee began hearing proposed constitutional am...
As we wind down the 8th week of the 2021 Regular Session, more than 270 bills have been signed into...
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin reviewing proposed constituti...
On Wednesday, there were close to 30 additional bills filed and more than 20 bills advancing from co...
More than 1,000 bills have been filed since the session began and more than 200 have been signed int...
The House entered the 8th week of the Regular Session on Monday.Members passed the following bills o...
In the 7th week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed bills addressing taxes, medical care,...
The House has now wrapped up the 7th week of the 2021 Regular Session.The House passed the following...
Today is the 45th day of the 2021 Regular Session. More than 560 bills have been filed in the House,...
Since the filing period began, there have been more than 540 bills filed in the House. In the Senate...
After an extended recess due to the winter weather, House members are back at the Capitol.On Monday,...
This week was yet another example of how Arkansans overcome in difficult times. From the workers cle...
There are 25 proposed constitutional amendments filed in the House and 18 in the Senate. The deadlin...
Today is the deadline for members to file proposed Constitutional Amendments. More than 20 proposed...
Tomorrow is the last day members can file proposed Constitutional Amendments. The General Assembly c...
More than 70 bills have now been signed into law as we begin the 5th week of the 2021 Regular Sessio...
The 93rd General Assembly now prepares to enter the 5th week of the 2021 Regular Session. The House...
The 93rd General Assembly now prepares to enter the 5th week of the 2021 Regular Session. The House...
The House has adjourned from the 4th week of the Regular Session.The following bills were passed by...
On Wednesday, the House passed several pieces of legislation, including the following:·  ...
On Tuesday, the House passed HB1022. This bill states drivers must have their vehicle’s headlights o...
The House began the 4th week of the 2021 Regular Session on Monday.This morning, the House State Age...
Several bills are now making their way to the Governor’s desk including one that intends to expand b...
With a vote of 94-0, the House passed legislation to expand broadband access in Arkansas.SB74 allows...
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HB1211 which states the Governo...
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee advanced HB1151 which suspends the public school rating sy...
The third week of the 2021 Regular Session is now underway.This morning, the House State Agencies an...
In the second week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House voted on bills addressing everything from...
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HB1056. This bill amends the Ar...
The House began its second week of the Regular Session on Tuesday.The House Public Transportation Co...
House members are now ready to begin the second week of the 2021 Regular Session.Nearly 200 bills ha...
The House has now completed its work for the first week of the 2021 Regular Session.This afternoon,...
The House Rules committee advanced resolutions outlining new rules and changes to procedure due to C...
On this second day of the Regular Session, Governor Asa Hutchinson addressed the General Assembly an...
House members elected to serve in the 93rd General Assembly took the oath of office in the House Cha...
Representative Joe Cloud informed me that he has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. I continue...
TWO HOUSE MEMBERS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS POSTPONED LITTLE ROCK -...
From UAMS: Aug. 25, 2020 | LITTLE ROCK – Drive-up testing for COVID-19 will be held from...
Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd released the following statement:"Murphy Oil Corporation has...
Rep. Murdock informed me this morning that he tested positive for COVID-19.Rep. Murdock was present...
· The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is working closely with the Arkansas D...
If you are a business owner struggling to meet payroll or if you have recently become unemployed due...
Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is working closely with local, state and...
On mobile? Click to view: Ethics Commission Appointment.pdf
John Walker was my colleague as an attorney and State Representative, a civil rights icon, and my fr...
Today’s vote to expel Rep. Gates sends a clear message. It tells Arkansans that their elected leader...
Click to view document
Whether it is rebuilding a family home or planning for a loss of crops, our state will be recovering...
For students just beginning an education or going back to school, the lottery scholarship offers opp...
The month of May is designated as Military Appreciation Month.Not only do we pause on Memorial Day t...
Many of the bills passed in the recent session could have a direct impact on your daily commute. &nb...
When we pass legislation to grow our economy, it does not stop at tax incentives and workforce train...
On Tuesday, the House passed HB1876, the bill to amend the Revenue Stabilization Law. The bill outli...
The Joint Budget Committee advanced HB1876, the bill to amend the Revenue Stabilization Law. The bil...
The state budget is guided by the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) which is typically one of the last...
In a vote of 68-20 with 2 members voting present, the House passed HJR1008. This is a proposed const...
The House approved HR1073. This resolution allows for the introduction of a third proposed constitut...
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee advanced SB576. This bill requires out of state online reta...
In a vote of 51-26, with 9 members voting present, the House passed SJR15. This is a proposed consti...
Legislation passing the House this week addressed everything from robocalls to property taxes.While...
On Thursday, the House passed a measure to increase homestead property tax credit. SB447 increases t...
The House Insurance and Commerce Committee advanced SB514. This bill makes illegal robocalls origina...
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee advanced SB561. This bill requires The Assessment Coordinat...
More than 550 bills have made it to the Governor’s desk during this legislative session. We no...
The House is now in the final weeks of the 2019 Regular Session. In recent days, the House has passe...
In a vote of 87-0, the House passed HB1674. This bill creates a statewide child abduction response t...
With a vote of 91-0, the House passed HB1685. This bill increases the foundation funding for K-12 ed...
On Monday, House members began the 10th week of the Regular Session.With a vote of 87-0 and 4 member...
This week, the House passed legislation which will drastically change the way our communities respon...
With a vote of 82-0 and 10 members voting present, the House passed the Transformation and Efficienc...
The House State Agencies Committee advanced SB445. This bill states that the date of the primary ele...
The House Judiciary Committee advanced SB197. This bill clarifies that a law enforcement officer may...
On Monday, the House passed HB1523. This bill states a correctional or detention facility shall not...
Arkansas ranks forty-fourth in the nation when it comes to maternal mortality rates. Maternal...
The House Education Committee advanced HB1409. This bill provides 40 minutes of recess for ele...
The House Rules committee advanced HB1565. This bill seeks to provide funding for a national c...
The House Education Committee advanced HB1569. This bill allows school districts to develop policies...
On Monday, the House passed two pieces of legislation addressing highway funding.In a vote of 71-26,...
In Arkansas, there are two ways to put a constitutional amendment on an election ballot.First, an in...
In a vote of 85-6, the House passed HB1437. This bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor if a mandated r...
The House State Agencies committee advanced HJR1018. This is a proposed constitutional amendment whi...
Little Rock, Arkansas (February 27, 2019) –Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd has named Tommy M...
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee advanced legislation outlining $95 million in additional fu...
With a vote of 78-13 and 2 members voting present, the House passed HB1489. This legislation address...
Close to 200 bills have been signed into law as we close the 6th week of the 2019 Regular Session.On...
On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced several pieces of legislation including HB1437....
The House State Agencies Committee advanced legislation addressing petitions for constitutional amen...
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced several pieces of legislation including HB1126 wh...
We are now entering the 6th week of the session.On Monday, the House passed HB1403. This bill allows...
More than 140 bills have been signed into law during this session.There are hundreds of bills still...
In a vote of 82-14 with 2 members voting present, the House passed SB211. This bill cuts the top tax...
The House State Agencies Committee advanced HB1402. This bill requires special elections to be held...
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee advanced SB211 this morning. This bill cuts the top tax rat...
In a vote of 96-0, the House passed HB1302, An Act to Create the Red Tape Reduction Collective Rulem...
This week, the House voted overwhelmingly to raise teacher salaries, increase a tax credit, and incr...
With a vote of 91-0, the House passed a bill titled the Teacher Salary Enhancement Act. HB1145...
In a vote of 95-0, the full House voted in favor of HB1296. This prohibits and occupational li...
The House Education Committee advanced several bills including HB1145, the Teacher Salary Enhancemen...
SPEAKER SHEPHERD APPOINTS NATHAN EVERS TO INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COMMISSION Little Rock, Ar...
House members are now preparing for the fourth week of the 2019 Regular Session. We are expecting to...
The House has now completed the third week of the Regular Session.Today, the House Public Transporta...
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced legislation that will allow a f...
The House Public Transportation Committee advanced several pieces of legislation today.HB1100 addres...
The House is now entering its third week of the Regular Session.On Monday, the House voted 94-0 to r...
The House has now wrapped up its second week of the Regular Session. More than 250 bills have been f...
On Thursday, the House passed legislation aimed at protecting employees when it comes to microchip t...
Members of the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee began hearing details on legi...
Two pieces of legislation addressing the opioid crises in Arkansas moved forward today.With a vote o...
Highway funding, tax cuts, teacher salaries, and transforming state government are just a few of the...
There are a few bills now making their way to the House floor as we are wrapping up the first week o...
In every session, one of the first pieces of legislation to be considered by the House is the resolu...
It was another historic day in the House Chamber as all newly elected constitutional officers took t...
Having a diverse membership helps the House of Representatives more effectively serve the people of...
There is a new rule taking effect this session which changes the way our many of our committees are...
“I have been made aware of the arrest of Rep. Gates this morning.It is deeply troubling to hear of a...
Contact Representative Shepherd
Matthew J. Shepherd
matthew.shepherd@arkansashouse.org
200 N. Jefferson Ave., #600
El Dorado, AR 71730-5856
870-862-2087
Fax: 870-862-2747
