Latest news with #Act28
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four takeaways from the fifth week of the Arkansas 95th General Assembly
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An active time for the Arkansas legislature in the fifth week of the 95th General Assembly. Several bills reached the governor's desk for signature, where they became law. Other bills failed in the committee process, and multiple constitutional amendments were filed as the legislature reached its deadline for that process. Finally, the legislature and governor acted to repair an ongoing problem in an Arkansas county. BILLS INTO LAW Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' office announced she signed 23 pieces of legislation on Tuesday. While most of what was signed were operation funding bills for higher education institutions, other signed bills include House Bill 1204, now Act 28, well-sponsored legislation to limit the recovery amount for medical care after an accident. Alzheimer's Association advocates for financial support for caregivers, treatments at Arkansas capitol HB1204 reached the governor's desk after clearing the Senate by one vote, barely overcoming bi-partisan opposition. BILLS FAILING IN COMMITTEE A bill to remove the mandate to fluoridate water failed to make it out of committee on Wednesday. Senate Bill 2 removed the mandate and removed the Department of Health's ability to regulate fluoride levels. Multiple dentists were on hand to testify against the legislation. A second bill failing in committee was intended to allow universities to hold Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) raffles to support athletic funding. Testimony against the bill included that from a representative of Pine Bluff's Saracen Casino. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS February 12 was the 31st day of the legislative session, making it the final day to submit proposed legislation to create amendments to the Arkansas Constitution. While amendments have been filed since the session began, the last two days saw many resolutions filed. GOP lawmaker proposes renaming Greenland 'Red, White, and Blueland' Resolutions included judicial candidates being able to list their political party on ballots and removing the tax on food. Other filings were legislative control over commissions and changes to property assessments. One of the final resolutions was for a crime victim's bill of rights. If the resolutions make it through the legislative process, they must be endorsed by voters before becoming part of the constitution. AID FOR A COUNTY A budget stand-off has resulted in Jefferson County employees not being paid since Jan. 1. A bill, backed by the governor, moved quickly through the legislature to require any county that does not pass a budget for its new year to continue to operate on the previous year's budget. Arkansas pharmacy bill heads to governor's desk, pharmacy freedom of choice bill enters legislature It sailed through its floor votes & committee hearings and was signed into law on Tuesday night. Employee checks were being cut the next day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs bill limiting medical insurance settlements
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The governor on Tuesday signed into law legislation impacting insurance settlements introduced in the current Arkansas legislative session. The one-sentence-long House Bill 1204 impacts the amount of money Arkansans receive in court cases. The bill, now Act 28 with the governor's signature, mandates that any insurance repayment for medical expenses after an injury from an accident only be repaid to the plaintiff for the amount billed to the insurance company. Series of constitutional amendments filed in Arkansas legislature on Monday The legislation addresses the issue of paying for someone's injuries after an accident, being the difference between the full price of medical care and the adjusted, lower price hospitals charge for someone with insurance. Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View), one of the bill's sponsors, explained that the legislation corrected the law resulting from a 1998 Arkansas Supreme Court decision. In that case, the plaintiffs used the non-adjusted amount of their medical bills to show the seriousness of their injuries despite receiving a 50% discount. The court ruled that the plaintiff's adjusted amount was a 'collateral source' and could not be used as evidence, as the defendant wished, and the jury heard of the whole, non-adjusted cost of injuries. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Jefferson County budget correction bill, goes into immediate effect Irvin compared it to returning a sweater to a store after purchasing it at a 50% discount, expecting a full 100% price refund that did not reflect the discount. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
