The Arkansas Kids Count Coalition will be hosting Children’s Policy Summits throughout the state this summer. The first (and closest) one will be in Fayetteville on June 10th at 2 p.m.. During the event you’ll get an update on which laws passed, or didn’t, and how news laws will impact the children and families of our state. They will also discuss ways you can continue to advocate even after the legislators have gone home.

Register for the event HERE.

Attend this spring’s Weave The People at the Mount Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville on May 17th from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.. The theme will be Building Trust and Belonging in NWA. The objective for this convening is to assemble weavers, community leaders, and community builders to collaboratively address the community's most critical challenges.

The day will initially focus on community builders building trust with each other as they discover new people in the room using a map created pre-event from data derived from participant registration information. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen existing connections and create new connections based on shared areas of community interest. Weave the People NWA will further highlight a panel of local community builders who have ‘hacked’ local solutions and gone from inspiration to actualized programming. And finally Weave will announce the 2025 NWA Weaver Awards process.

Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and the program will be from 11 - 2:30 p.m.. Lunch will be provided. Register to attend HERE.

Stretching 40 miles through Northwest Arkansas, the Razorback Greenway connects seven cities. In just 15 years, the trail went from vision to reality. The Razorback Greenway Corridor Plan will build on this success, ensuring the Greenway catalyzes trail-oriented development, smart growth and healthy living for the region.

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is seeking public input to shape the Razorback Greenway Corridor Plan. This survey, the first of two during the planning process, will help define how the Greenway is used today. A second survey, due in October, will seek input on planning concepts.

Your feedback is valuable! It will directly inform the plan and future investments. Start the survey HERE.

Do you need an Arkansas REAL ID? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require a REAL ID to board a flight beginning May 7, 2025. A REAL ID will also be required to enter federal buildings beginning May 7.

Arkansans may make an appointment to obtain a REAL ID at Schedule or Find an Appointment – Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. While an appointment is recommended, it is not required.

Before making the trip to the Revenue Office, please visit Finance & Administration website to confirm the documents that will be provided meet the requirements of the REAL ID program.

“The Northwest Arkansas Council held its spring meeting in Fayetteville on Wednesday (April 16) to discuss two of the region’s biggest concerns — affordable housing and more access to specialty medical care.” Read more from Kim Souza’s recap of the meeting in Talk Business & Politics HERE.

“Area transportation leaders provided updates on key transportation projects in Northwest Arkansas, including the Springdale Northern Bypass, Arkansas Highway 112 widening and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) connector road.” Read more from Jeff Dellla Rosa’s recap of the meeting in Talk Business & Politics HERE.

“Northwest Arkansas's flagship community college wants to add amenities and classroom space — multiplying its indoor space by six — over the next 25 years.” Read more about the plans from Axios NWA’s reporting HERE.

Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:

Last week, Thomas Saccente from the NWA Dem Gazz, reported on a kerfuffle amongst the current Justices of the Peace after District 7’s representative, Joseph Bollinger, requested reimbursement of $3,702 for an unbudgeted out-of-state conference he attended in March. Read Thomas’s entire meeting recap HERE.

Session Recaps

🎉 Some Wins!

^{Content from Arkansas Appleseed Legal Justice Center:}

Government Overreach

👀 Oh look, the state is already getting sued (yes, that’s your tax dollars that will be used to fight for terrible legislation):

Governor Uses Veto Power

^{from Roby Brock’s reporting in Talk Business & Politics:}

“Gov. Sarah Sanders on Wednesday (April 16) announced two vetoes — a bill veto and a line-item veto — her first two vetoes of the 95th General Assembly. Her first announced veto was HB1889, which… would amend the limitations on access to a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility. It would also alter the existing law on medical marijuana prescription orders being delivered via a delivery vehicle or drive-thru window.

Sanders also used her line-item veto on HB1265, the appropriation bill for operating expenses for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She struck down a position for the director of the Institute on Race & Ethnicity.” Read more HERE. If you want more detailed coverage on the line-item veto, read Benjamin Hardy’s post in the Arkansas Times, “Sanders issues meaningless veto of UA – Little Rock faculty role that’s been unfilled for years”.

Last week, Sanders vetoed two additional bills, SB451 and HB1961. From Worth Sparkman at Axios NWA, “SB451 would have provided school districts with resources to assist with students showing behavior likely to cause injury to themselves or others. The state Department of Human Services was to establish regional behavioral health programs that would develop health plans for referred students. Sanders said she'd directed the state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam to "come up with a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools."

HB1961 would have allowed medical providers to prevent certain sensitive medical information from being automatically loaded into a patient's records until the provider made an effort to interpret the information. A goal of the bill was to overcome a patient's misinterpretation and misunderstanding of a diagnosis. Sanders vetoed the bill because it could unduly delay the release of personal medical information.”

Regarding that Billion Dollar Prison…

“Facing vocal opposition, limited funding and logistical challenges, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the state Board of Corrections appear committed to Franklin County as the site for a new prison.” Read more from Worth Sparkman at Axios NWA HERE. Keep up to date with Gravel & Grit, the folks fighting to keep the prison out of Franklin County, HERE.

Federal Emergency Assistance

<Insert your favorite “leopard eating the governor’s face” GIF here…>

“Under President Donald Trump, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina’s request for extended relief funding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

While it’s not uncommon for the feds to turn down some requests for disaster declarations, which unlock federal aid, state leaders say the Trump administration’s denials have taken them by surprise. White House officials are signaling a new approach to federal emergency response, even as Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threaten to shut down FEMA altogether…

Sanders has appealed that decision, saying the disaster caused “widespread destruction” that requires federal help. Asked for an update Friday [April 25], Sanders’ spokesperson said the governor “has been in close contact with the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem as the State provides additional information to appeal its Major Disaster Declaration request and help Arkansans recover from these storms.””

Read more from Alex Brown’s reporting for Stateline HERE.

The Trump administration’s decisions continue to greatly impact Arkansas - to the extent and exactly how/where is still not quite clear. Here are a few reports to start following:

Do you have an election to participate in on May 13th? Check www.arvotes.org to review ballot related information. Early voting begins on May 6th. In Benton County, voters will have items on their ballot in:

Read more about special ballot items from the Arkansas Public Policy Center HERE.

For potential future candidates or support campaign staff/volunteers:

Join the National Democratic Training Committee on Tuesday, May 6th from noon - 1 p.m. for a free virtual live training on Building Your Initial Donor List. Join to learn the following:

Register for the FREE event HERE.