On Monday evening, the House and Senate Education Committee advanced HB1512, which proposes the creation of the Arkansas ACCESS Act. ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships, and standardization. The bill aims to expand accelerated coursework options in Arkansas high schools. It also seeks to promote unbiased higher education environments, reform the productivity funding model, and create more streamlined and efficient admissions policies. Additionally, it includes several scholarship changes, such as expanding the Workforce Challenge Scholarship and increasing the Arkansas Academic Challenge first-year award from $1,000 to $2,000.

On Tuesday, the House passed HB1398, which mandates schools to implement a cardiac emergency response plan. Another bill, HB1601, was passed, requiring state-supported higher education institutions to provide career resources for students up to six months after they leave college. SB260, also passed by the House, allows the collection of a defendant's state income tax refund to cover any unpaid restitution.

The House also adopted a resolution to celebrate Women’s History Month during the month of March.

The House is set to reconvene on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.