Arkansas legislature Monday bills filed include ending electric vehicle support and campus affirmative action, more
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas legislature filed multiple bills on Monday.
Bills filed include electric vehicles, campus affirmative action, online safety and child labor.
Arkansas Public Service Commission submits proposed changes to Arkansas utilities legislation
ONLINE SAFETY
House Bill 1726 intends to create the 'Arkansas Online Kids Safety Act.' If it becomes law, it would mandate that online platforms that market to minors have a structure and controls in place to protect children from mental harm or encourage harmful behavior. The website would also limit how other people could contact a minor and allow their parents to place restrictions on an online account.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Senate Bill 416 would end the state-maintained Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which was formed to allow the Energy Secretary to issue grants to build charging stations.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Senate Bill 417 would strike many laws for state-supported higher education institutions. It would end affirmative action, a school's need to participate in the annual state energy use report, and the differentiation between classified and non-classified employees for benefits.
CHILD LABOR
If House Bill 1731 becomes law, anyone under 16 who wants to take a job would need an employment certificate that includes proof of age, a description of the job and work schedule, and written parental permission.
TEACHER TAXES
House Bill 1732 would double the amount teachers could deduct for classroom supplies from $500 to $1,000. Married teachers filing jointly would be able to deduct $2,000.
Back and forth among legislators about Arkansas ACCESS higher education legislation
GREYHOUND RACING
House Bill 1721 would prevent licensed casinos from conducting or simulcasting greyhound racing. License holders would also not be allowed to take bets on greyhound racing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Liminatus Pharma Announces Compliance with Nasdaq Filing Requirements
La Palma, CA June 04, 2025 --( )-- Liminatus Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIMN) ('Liminatus' or the 'Company'), a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating cancer therapies, today announced that on June 3, 2025, it received a notification letter from Nasdaq indicating that it now complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) which requires timely filing of reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the matter is now closed. Prior to its filing on June 2, 2025, the Company had received a notification letter from Nasdaq on May 29, 2025, stating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) as a result of the delay in filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025. On June 2, 2025, the Company filed the Form 10-Q such that it is now current with respect to its Exchange Act reporting obligations. About Liminatus Liminatus Pharma, Inc. is pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating cancer therapies. The Company's candidate IBA101, is a humanized anti CD47 monoclonal antibody. The next generation CD47 checkpoint inhibitor's initial indication is expected to be patients with advanced solid cancers including non-small cell lung cancer. The Company's vision is to develop a broad array of transformative therapies for cancer patients as a leading global biopharmaceutical company. For more information, please contact: Chris Kim, Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Contact Information: Liminatus Pharma, Inc Chris Kim 2132-735-453 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Liminatus Pharma Announces Compliance with Nasdaq Filing Requirements Press Release Distributed by
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Ocugen, Inc. Announces Signing of Binding Term Sheet for the License of OCU400 Modifier Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa in Korea
MALVERN, Pa., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocugen, Inc. ('Ocugen' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ: OCGN), a pioneering biotechnology leader in gene therapies for blindness diseases, today announced the signing of a binding term sheet to negotiate and enter into a licensing agreement with a well-established leader in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector in Korea, for exclusive Korean rights to OCU400—Ocugen's novel modifier gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Pursuant to the term sheet, under the license agreement Ocugen will receive upfront license fees and near-term development milestones equaling up to $11 million. The Company will be entitled to sales milestones of $1 million for every $15 million of net sales in Korea in addition to a royalty of 25% on net sales of OCU400 generated by Ocugen's partner. Additionally, Ocugen will manufacture commercial supply of OCU400 under terms of a supply agreement. There are an estimated 15,000 individuals in the Republic of Korea with RP. OCU400 provides the opportunity for our partner to help thousands of patients and become a leader in gene therapy in Korea. 'This regional licensing agreement is aligned with our business development strategy to partner with well-established companies in their respective countries and regions—leveraging their networks and know-how to treat as many RP patients as possible,' said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Ocugen. 'A regional approach preserves Ocugen's rights to larger geographies to maximize total patient reach while also generating return for our shareholders.' Additional details will be available once the definitive agreement between the parties is executed, which is expected to occur within the next 60 days. Ocugen is currently advancing OCU400 through Phase 3 clinical development with a target Biologics License Application filing of mid-2026. About Ocugen, Inc. Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene therapies to address major blindness diseases and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patient's lives through courageous innovation—forging new scientific paths that harness our unique intellectual and human capital. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to address significant unmet medical need for large patient populations through our gene-agnostic approach. Discover more at and follow us on X and LinkedIn. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements Thispressreleasecontainsforward-lookingstatementswithinthemeaningofThePrivateSecuritiesLitigationReformActof1995,including,butnot limited to, statements regarding the terms of the definitive license and timing of a definitive agreement or if a definitive agreement will be executed at all or the anticipated benefits to Ocugen of the definitive license agreement, qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for ongoing clinical trials, anticipated regulatory filings and anticipated development timelines, 'believes,' 'potential,' 'proposed,' 'continue,' 'estimates,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'could,' 'might,' 'will,' 'should,'or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations, including,butnotlimitedto, Contact: Tiffany Hamilton AVP, Head of Communications [email protected]
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Mediar Therapeutics Doses First Patient in Phase 2 WISPer Trial of MTX-463 for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
First-in-class agent targets WISP1 in patients with IPF Primary endpoint in WISPer trial is change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) at 24 Weeks BOSTON, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediar Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing first-in-class therapies designed to halt fibrosis, today announced the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 2 WISPer clinical trial evaluating MTX-463, an investigational therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study's primary endpoint is the change from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC)—an important measure of lung function—at 24 weeks. The study aims to advance the development of a potential novel treatment for patients living with IPF, and targets the myofibroblast, the key pathogenic cell in fibrosis. Mediar recently entered into a global licensing agreement with Lilly to advance MTX-463 through the Phase 2 WISPer trial. IPF is a rare and progressive lung disease characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, which leads to increasing shortness of breath and a persistent dry cough. Despite available treatments, there remains a high unmet medical need, with an average life expectancy of three to five years post-diagnosis. The WISPer trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 24-week Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of MTX-463 in patients living with IPF. 'Dosing the first patient in the WISPer trial represents an important step forward in the pursuit of new options to address the urgent needs of individuals living with IPF,' said Toby Maher, MD, PhD, Director of Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Southern California, and lead investigator in the Phase 2 clinical study. 'IPF is a devastating disease with limited treatment options. We are eager to evaluate the potential of MTX-463 to slow or halt disease progression and look forward to the insights this study will provide for patients and their physicians.' 'Today marks an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to pioneering novel therapies to impact people living with fibrotic diseases. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Ryan Klein and the dedicated team at NewportNativeMD whose expertise and collaboration have been instrumental in reaching this important step,' said Jeff Bornstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Mediar. 'The first patient dosed with this first-in-class anti-fibrotic marks the beginning of a new chapter in our research, and we look forward to working with our clinical sites as we continue to enroll the Phase 2 program.' Mediar is also independently advancing its two wholly owned programs to treat other fibrotic disorders. MTX-474, a first-in-class human IgG1 antibody designed to neutralize EphrinB2 signaling, recently completed its Phase 1 clinical study. Mediar anticipates initiating a Phase 2 trial for MTX-474 in systemic sclerosis in the second half of 2025. Mediar's third novel fibrosis program, targeting SMOC2 for renal fibrosis, is also advancing with a plan to nominate a clinical candidate in the first half of 2025. About MTX-463 MTX-463 is a first-in-class human IgG1 antibody developed against WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1). WISP1 is a secreted matricellular protein shown to have a relevant role in fibrosis progression, is measurable in human blood, and correlates with disease severity. Data indicates that MTX-463 neutralizes WISP1-mediated fibrotic signaling and significantly reduced fibrosis in vitro and in various preclinical models. A Phase 1 study was recently completed and a Phase 2 study in patients with IPF is now open (NCT06967805). More information can be found at: About Mediar Therapeutics Mediar Therapeutics is pioneering a new approach to fibrosis treatment that aims to halt the disease at a different source – the myofibroblast, the key pathogenic cell in fibrosis that drives scarring, disease progression, and ultimately organ failure. Mediar was founded based on a deep understanding of the complex science underlying fibrosis progression. By combining novel targets with reliable, easily detectable blood biomarkers and familiar modalities, Mediar's goal is to bring forward novel anti-fibrotic therapies that potentially have a precision medicine approach. For more information, contact [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contact [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mediar Therapeutics
