On Monday, the House passed a series of bills covering a range of issues, including election laws, education, and public safety.

HB1574 requires paid canvassers for statewide initiative or referendum petitions to be residents of Arkansas. HB1714 clarifies the definition of a paid canvasser. HB1693 directs the State Board of Election Commissioners to establish rules for duplicating damaged or defective ballots and mandates the reporting of the number of ballots duplicated. SB304 allows voters to cast a ballot after changing their county of residence, as long as the county clerk receives the updated registration before polls close on election day. Currently, the registration must be received four days before the election.

HB1352 prohibits state-supported colleges and universities with a Confucius Institute or similar entity related to China from receiving state funding, and it also bars such institutions from investing with certain foreign entities. SB317 prevents higher education institutions from conducting classified research, agricultural research, or selling agricultural products to prohibited foreign entities. HB1561 outlines disclosure requirements for certain gifts from foreign adversaries to institutions of higher education.

HB1726 creates the Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act, which requires technology platforms to take reasonable measures to protect minors from content that contributes to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse.

HB1686 allows concealed carry handgun licenses to be issued electronically. HB1252 establishes a certification process for birth and postpartum doulas to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

The House also passed SB246, the Senate version of the Arkansas ACCESS Act, which reforms higher education. The House had already passed an identical version the previous week. The House will reconvene on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.