On Thursday, the House passed 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.

The House passed HB1717, the Arkansas Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, which extends online privacy protections to children and teens aged 13-17. It prohibits tech companies from collecting information from minors for targeted advertising and mandates clear disclosure about what information is collected, along with the ability for parents and teens to delete or challenge the data.

The House passed HB1551, which creates the crime of coerced criminal abortion by fraud. This offense occurs when someone knowingly administers an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her consent, intending to cause an abortion. It classifies the offense as a Class B felony.

HB1505 was also approved, requiring public employers to provide licensed counseling coverage for public safety employees who experience traumatic events.

HB1669 seeks to provide protection from discrimination for adoption and foster care providers acting in accordance with their religious beliefs.

HB1424 mandates health benefit plans to cover bariatric surgery for severely obese patients.

HB1316 requires coverage for lung cancer screenings.

Finally, the House passed HB1656, which amends gas production and conservation laws, requiring specific details to be included in itemized statements to royalty owners.