Arkansas Implements New Laws, Focuses on Education

As Arkansas enters the 2025 legislative session, Republican lawmakers are set to continue supporting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' agenda, while Democrats aim to advance their policy priorities despite a significant GOP supermajority. Key Democratic focuses include maternal and mental health care, public education, and voting access, with House Minority Leader Andrew Collins filing numerous bills to address these issues. New laws such as the Protect Arkansas Act will enforce stricter sentencing for violent crimes, eliminating parole eligibility and requiring offenders to serve their full sentences, while the LEARNS Act will introduce education freedom accounts for private schooling. Meanwhile, Republicans will prioritize school vouchers and corrections reform, alongside a review of the state's Medicaid program, as they anticipate opposition to costly proposals from Democrats. Controversy surrounds the LEARNS Act, particularly regarding its ban on specific educational ideologies, as legal challenges remain unresolved. The new legislative landscape will reflect a continued divide between the parties on key social issues.