The Arkansas General Assembly is one step closer to passing new legislation on unemployment assistance, but proposed changes to the state s mask mandate ban are moving more slowly.The House and Senate met for less than half an hour Wednesday morning. Identical bills were introduced to end the federal unemployment program in Arkansas.Both bills passed their respective public health committees and will be discussed Thursday in the full chamber.However, a decision was not made on the future of face masks in public schools.The House Public Health Committee discussed House Bill 1003, which would give school boards the power to require masks. The district would need an infection rate of 50 new cases per 10,000 residents for the ability to require masks for students under the age of 12.The committee delayed a vote on the bill s passage. Lawmakers will adjust the bill before examining it again.No similar legislation was filed in the Senate.Two state senators 40/29 News talked to were sk
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