Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative In the 8th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passedSB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Act and outlines several educational reforms. SB294 raises the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year and raises current teacher salaries by $2,000. It requires that students be reading at a 3rd-grade level before advancing to the 4th grade. It also calls for 120 reading coaches to be deployed statewide…
Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative In the 7th week of the 2023Regular Session, House members voted on a number of bills impacting employment, education, and elections. This week, the House passedHB1430. This bill reduces the maxi-mum potential unemployment compensation benefits from 4 months to3 months. This bill also reduces un-employment insurance tax rates for employers. The House also passed HB1401.This bill reduces the time an able-bodied adult may receive cash assistance from…
Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative On the 5th week of the Regular Session, the House passed legislation addressing substance abuse, teen pregnancy, public assistance, and transportation. The House passed HB1144. This bill creates the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court Act. The bill states that there is a critical need for judicial intervention and support for effective treatment programs to reduce the number of family separations due to substance use disorders and mental…
Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative In the 4th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed bills impacting taxes, health-care, education, and criminal justice. Tax related bills that passed the House this week included HB1026and HB1143. HB1026 prohibits local governments from enacting an income tax. HB1143 defines “homestead” for purposes of property tax exemption for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and minor dependent children of disabled veterans. The House also passed HB1127which…
Hi, my name is Bart Schulz. I’m a proud fifth generation farmer raising beef cattle and broiler chickens alongside my wife, Brandi and four sons in Sidney, a rural community of 180 people, located in southwest Sharp County. In addition to the farm, I am the General Manager of Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service, I have served on the Sharp County Quorum Court for over 10 years, and I have been a…
