Latest news with #Act903
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Library Board has final meeting before law disbanding it goes into effect
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The current Arkansas Library Board held its last meeting before Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to appoint all new members to the team due to a new law. Gathered for the last time, the board met to discuss funding and recommendations to leave for the new board to take up. Bill filed in Arkansas legislature to require locking away children's library material on sexuality Act 903, passed during the recent legislative session, removes all seven current board members and allows the governor to replace them. Legislators in support of the bill testified during the session that the current board is not run correctly, citing concerns about young people's access to certain library materials. Rep. Howard Beaty (R-Crossett) is a sponsor of the bill that became law. 'This board is not functioning in a manner that we find acceptable,' Beaty said in introducing the legislation. Bill filed in legislature would abolish the Arkansas State Library, put controls on public libraries Misty Hawkins is the regional director of the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library system. During the meeting, she thanked the board and said the library shouldn't be partisan. 'We do not want to be affiliated with either party, but we need to work with both,' Hawkins said. If Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders acts in accordance with the new law, which will go into effect Aug. 3, the next library board meeting will have new members. Hawkins said she hopes the new board will reach across party lines. Although it's bittersweet to have this board leave, she's optimistic. 'I do think that bi-partisan, nonpartisan, that is something we need to focus on, we have business to do, let's do it,' Hawkins said. President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden The board's next meeting will be Aug. 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs law for her to reconstitute state library board
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation on Monday to reconstitute the state library board. The legislation was passed late in the General Assembly's session to remove all members of the board and allow the governor to replace them. The legislation states the board members are terminated the day the act is signed. Bill to eliminate AETN and Arkansas library board passes Senate, heads to House Typically, library board members are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor. Under the legislation, the seven new appointees to the board will be given staggered terms to return to the every seven years process. Since her assuming governorship, Sanders has made a single appointment to the board, former state Sen. Jason Rapert. Rapert made several calls for the board to be abolished after it would not follow his requests for it to advocate keeping certain material away from minors and rejecting the principles of the American Library Association. Legislation was introduced during the current legislative session, currently in recess, to either abolish the board or abolish reference to American Library Association policies by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro). The legislature did not pass these bills. Legislation to remove Arkansas Library Board passes in committee hearing Senate Bill 640, now Act 903 after the governor's signature, was entered into the legislative calendar on April 9, a week before the legislature's scheduled recess. It was quickly approved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
