Credit Arkansas House
A bill that would establish statewide minimum housing standards is one step closer to going to the governor, after passing the Arkansas House on Thursday.
By a vote of 89-0, with one member voting present, representatives passed Senate Bill 594.
The legislation establishes minimum housing standards for rented properties that landlords must provide such as an available source of electricity and a functioning roof.
Neither landlords nor tenants rights’ advocates have expressed major dissent over the amended legislation, though Lynn Foster with the group Arkansans for Stronger Communities, said previously in a committee meeting that the bill does not do enough to be considered a habitability standards bill. Arkansas is currently the only state in the country without a statewide warranty of habitability in its code.
Rep. Spencer Hawks, R-Conway, presents Senate Bill 594 to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee
Credit Arkansas House
A bill that establishes statewide minimum housing standards for rented properties in Arkansas is one vote away from going to the governor’s desk.
By a voice vote, with no dissenting votes heard, the House Insurance and Commerce committee advanced Senate Bill 594 to the House on Monday. The bill amends the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 to include a set of minimum housing standards such as having a available source of electricity and a source of potable drinking water.
However, a tenant’s sole remedy under the legislation is the ability to move out of a rental property without penalty if a landlord does not fix a violation of these standards within 30 days of receiving a written notice of the issue. This remedy is also only available to tenants who are up to date on their rent.
Credit Chris Hickey / KUAR News
Arkansas lawmakers considered a variety of bills on Wednesday, but the main drama centered on the state’s Medicaid program. For the second day in a row, House members could not muster enough votes to approve a Department of Human Services budget that includes funding for a revamped Medicaid expansion program.
SB 55 outlines the spending for the state’s DHS Division of Medical Services budget, which includes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. In 2013, Arkansas first adopted a Medicaid expansion program through the ACA, known as the private option. It struggled nearly every session to reach the three-fourths vote needed for passage as Republican opposition to the ACA hardened.
Credit Arkansas Senate
A bill that would implement stricter scrutiny of absentee voting applications in Arkansas has received final legislative approval and is heading to the governor s desk.
The Senate, by a vote of 27-8 on Tuesday, passed House Bill 1715. It would change several aspects of absentee voting in the state, including banning county clerks or other designated election officials from distributing absentee ballot applications or ballots to voters who had not requested them. The bill would also require the creation and approval of a uniform voter statement by the State Board of Election Commissioners.
Another part of the legislation would require election officials to verify the signatures of a voter’s absentee ballot application with their voter registration application. If the signatures do not match, an absentee ballot would not be mailed.
Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, presents House Bill 1671 to the Senate.
The Arkansas General Assembly has given final approval to a bill that would allow college athletes to enter into contracts and make money off their name and likeness.
The Senate voted 34-1 Tuesday to pass House Bill 1671, which establishes the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act. Under the legislation, athletes at the collegiate level in the state will be able to enter into a contract and receive compensation for the use of their name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness.
Entering into such contracts would not impact a student’s scholarship eligibility, nor would collegiate athletes be paid to play their sport. Currently, states across the county are considering or have already passed similar legislation, including one in Florida that is set to go into effect this summer.