The Joint Budget Committee advanced HB1876, the bill to amend the Revenue Stabilization Law. The bill outlines the $5.7 billion budget for the Fiscal Year 2020. It includes a 2.2% increase in spending from the current fiscal year. The increases are for education, Medicaid, more correctional officers, and more state troopers. We have posted the proposal on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

The House passed SB659. This bill allows two-year colleges in the state to market and provides services to any individual in Arkansas regardless of the service area in which the individual resides.

The House passed SB503. This bill makes the offense of physician-assisted suicide a Class B felony. Currently, the offense is a Class C felony.

The House passed SB593. This bill states the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services shall collaborate on providing awareness and training materials to local school districts on human trafficking that include without strategies for the prevention of the trafficking of children.

The House passed SB483. This bill aims to improve Arkansas public school districts' financial practices by establishing a system by which the Department of Education shall review the financial management practices of public school districts.  This includes identifying the best financial management practices and early indicators of fiscal distress.

This is the final week scheduled for the 2019 Regular Session. The House will convene again on Tuesday at 1:30 pm.