Day one of the special legislative session began with a discussion on Senate Bill 2. It would set aside $50 million from the state’s $1.6 billion surplus to create a grant program by which schools across Arkansas could access funds to improve school safety. But what those safety measures could look like was cause for debate“There are folks who think having a gun in school is very safe. I do not,” said Senator Joyce Elliott of Little Rock.The discussion tried to ensure lawmakers would have oversight on those safety measures after the final school safety commission report is handed to Governor Hutchinson in October. Along with making sure the funds are appropriated fairly. “I represent a lot of small school districts too and I hate to see them left outside because ones on the inside come in here and roll through $50 million before anyone knows what happens,” said Senator Jim Hendren of Gravette Tax cuts were also on the special session agenda. Arkansas lawmakers have already approved a plan to gradually lower the top individual tax rate to 4.9%. That would take place over several years, finishing in 2026. But Governor Hutchinson wants the general assembly to lower that tax rate immediately through Senate bill 1. “Anyone that is paying income tax in Arkansas which is about 1.6 million filers,” said Paul Gehring, assistant commissioner of revenue police. “Everybody is getting a reduction.” Governor Hutchinson is also asking for a $150 tax credit for low- and middle-income taxpayers.“That’s $300 per couple for the 2022 tax year and we are making that retroactive in 2022 and the reason for that is it will trigger an automatic change in the withholding table,” said Senator Jonathan Dismang of Beebe.Several people spoke against Senate bill 1, including a member from the Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.“If we hit a recession before spending down our surplus for tax cuts, I am just worried how we will address the twin problems of falling revenue and increased pressure on public services in a recession would bring,” said Bruno Showers, a policy analyst with Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.Both bills advanced, setting up a vote for later in the special session.
Day one of the special legislative session began with a discussion on Senate Bill 2. It would set aside $50 million from the state’s $1.6 billion surplus to create a grant program by which schools across Arkansas could access funds to improve school safety. But what those safety measures could look like was cause for debate
“There are folks who think having a gun in school is very safe. I do not,” said Senator Joyce Elliott of Little Rock.
The discussion tried to ensure lawmakers would have oversight on those safety measures after the final school safety commission report is handed to Governor Hutchinson in October. Along with making sure the funds are appropriated fairly.
“I represent a lot of small school districts too and I hate to see them left outside because ones on the inside come in here and roll through $50 million before anyone knows what happens,” said Senator Jim Hendren of Gravette
Tax cuts were also on the special session agenda. Arkansas lawmakers have already approved a plan to gradually lower the top individual tax rate to 4.9%. That would take place over several years, finishing in 2026. But Governor Hutchinson wants the general assembly to lower that tax rate immediately through Senate bill 1.
“Anyone that is paying income tax in Arkansas which is about 1.6 million filers,” said Paul Gehring, assistant commissioner of revenue police. “Everybody is getting a reduction.”
Governor Hutchinson is also asking for a $150 tax credit for low- and middle-income taxpayers.
“That’s $300 per couple for the 2022 tax year and we are making that retroactive in 2022 and the reason for that is it will trigger an automatic change in the withholding table,” said Senator Jonathan Dismang of Beebe.
Several people spoke against Senate bill 1, including a member from the Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.
“If we hit a recession before spending down our surplus for tax cuts, I am just worried how we will address the twin problems of falling revenue and increased pressure on public services in a recession would bring,” said Bruno Showers, a policy analyst with Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.
Both bills advanced, setting up a vote for later in the special session.
