# 94th Arkansas General Assembly

The Ninety-Forth Arkansas General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Arkansas in 2023 and 2024. The Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives were both controlled by the Republicans. In the Senate, 29 senators were Republicans and 6 were Democrats. In the House, 82 representatives were Republicans and 18 were Democrats.

## Sessions

The Regular Session of the 94th General Assembly opened on January 9, 2023. It adjourned sine die on May 1, 2023.
A special session was called by Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders to begin September 11, 2023 to consider tax cuts and changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) law. It ended after four days. The special session ended with an amendment to the FOIA law exempting information regarding travel on the state airplane, operated by the Arkansas State Police for use by the Governor of Arkansas and other constitutional officers. Several other provisions proposed by the governor to be exempted from FOIA, including deliberations among state officials, policy recommendations, and other information, were withdrawn after receiving broad bipartisan opposition.
The legislature assembled for the fiscal session on April 10, 2024. Governor Sanders' proposed $6.31 billion budget in 2024, with a 2% increase for 2025. The budget included large increases to fund school vouchers created by the Learns Act, as well as the Arkansas State Police and Arkansas Department of Corrections, with reductions to higher education. The budget was approved, but a standoff emerged over setting a potential cap on the salary for the director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The fiscal session adjourned May 9, 2024 without establishing funding for the commission, the first time the legislature had failed to fund a state agency during a fiscal session in over 30 years.
A second special session was called by Governor Sanders to cut taxes and fund the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on June 17, 2024. The legislature reduced the top individual income tax rate to 3.9% and the state’s top corporate income tax rate to 4.3%, with no changes to lower income and middle income earners. Due to a disagreement about a cap on the director's possible salary, the legislature had allocated $0 to the Game and Fish Commission in the fiscal session, which typically received over $100 million to fund operations. Though the House and Senate had ultimately concurred on a compromise, the House had adjourned before it was approved during the fiscal session, requiring reconvening in a special session for ratification. The House also passed a resolution urging voters to vote against the Arkansas Right to Abortion Initiative's initiated constitutional amendment (which was ultimately not on the ballot in Arkansas). The special session adjourned June 19, 2024.

## Major legislation

The legislature passed 889 new laws during the regular session. The signature legislation included Governor Sanders' campaign priorities of education reform (Arkansas Learns Act), tax cuts, and culture war issues like transgender rights to book access at libraries.

## Senate
### Leadership
#### Officers

| Office | Officer | Party | District |
| President/Lieutenant Governor | Leslie Rutledge | Republican | N/A |
| President Pro Tempore of the Senate | Bart Hester | Republican | 33 |
| Assistant Pro Tempore, 1st District | Dan Sullivan | Republican | 20 |
| Assistant Pro Tempore, 2nd District | Clarke Tucker | Democrat | 14 |
| Assistant Pro Tempore, 3rd District | Jim Dotson | Republican | 34 |
| Assistant Pro Tempore, 4th District | Breanne Davis | Republican | 25 |

#### Floor Leaders

| Office | Officer | Party | District |
| Majority Leader | Blake Johnson | Republican | 21 |
| Majority Whip | Ricky Hill | Republican | 11 |
| Minority Leader | Greg Leding | Democratic | 30 |
| Minority Whip | Linda Chesterfield | Democratic | 12 |

### Senators

| District | Name | Party | Residence | First elected | Seat up | Term-limited |
| 1 | Ben Gilmore | Rep | Crossett | 2020 | 2024 | 2032 |
| 2 | Matt Stone | Rep | Camden | 2022 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 3 | Steve Crowell | Rep | Magnolia | 2022 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 4 | Jimmy Hickey Jr. | Rep | Texarkana | 2012 | 2024 | 2028 |
| 5 | Terry Rice | Rep | Waldron | 2014 | 2022 | 2030 |
| 6 | Matt McKee | Rep | Pearcy | 2022 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 7 | Alan Clark | Rep | Lonsdale | 2012 | 2024 | 2028 |
| 8 | Stephanie Flowers | Dem | Pine Bluff | 2010 | 2024 | 2026 |
| 9 | Reginald Murdock | Dem | Marianna | 2010 | 2026 | 2026 |
| 10 | Ron Caldwell | Rep | Wynne | 2012 | 2024 | 2028 |
| 11 | Ricky Hill | Rep | Cabot | 2018 (special) | 2024 | 2034 |
| 12 | Linda Chesterfield | Dem | Little Rock | 2010 | 2022 | 2026 |
| 13 | Jane English | Rep | North Little Rock | 2012 | 2024 | 2028 |
| 14 | Clarke Tucker | Dem | Little Rock | 2014 | 2024 | 2032 |
| 15 | Fredrick Love | Dem | Mabelvale | 2010 | 2026 | 2026 |
| 16 | Kim Hammer | Rep | Benton | 2018 | 2022 | 2034 |
| 17 | Mark Johnson | Rep | Little Rock | 2018 | 2022 | 2034 |
| 18 | Jonathan Dismang | Rep | Beebe | 2010 | 2024 | 2026 |
| 19 | Dave Wallace | Rep | Leachville | 2016 | 2024 | 2032 |
| 20 | Dan Sullivan | Rep | Jonesboro | 2014 | 2024 | 2030 |
| 21 | Blake Johnson | Rep | Corning | 2014 | 2022 | 2030 |
| 22 | John Payton | Rep | Wilburn | 2012 | 2026 | 2028 |
| 23 | Scott Flippo | Rep | Mountain Home | 2014 | 2022 | 2030 |
| 24 | Missy Irvin | Rep | Mountain View | 2010 | 2022 | 2026 |
| 25 | Breanne Davis | Rep | Russellville | 2018 (special) | 2024 | 2034 |
| 26 | Gary Stubblefield | Rep | Branch | 2012 | 2022 | 2028 |
| 27 | Justin Boyd | Rep | Fort Smith | 2014 | 2026 | 2030 |
| 28 | Bryan King | Rep | Green Forest | 2013 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 29 | Jim Petty | Rep | Van Buren | 2022 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 30 | Greg Leding | Dem | Fayetteville | 2018 | 2026 | 2034 |
| 31 | Clint Penzo | Rep | Springdale | 2016 | 2024 | 2032 |
| 12 | Joshua P. Bryant | Rep | Rogers | 2020 | 2024 | 2032 |
| 33 | Bart Hester | Rep | Cave Springs | 2012 | 2024 | 2028 |
| 34 | Jim Dotson | Rep | Bentonville | 2012 | 2026 | 2028 |
| 35 | Tyler Dees | Rep | Siloam Springs | 2022 | 2026 | 2034 |

## House of Representatives
### Leadership
#### Officers

| Office | Officer | Party | District |
| Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives | Matthew Shepherd | Republican | 97 |
| Speaker Pro Tempore | Jon Eubanks | Republican | 46 |
| Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 1st District | Charlene Fite | Republican | 24 |
| Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 2nd District | Jack Ladyman | Republican | 32 |
| Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 3rd District | DeAnn Vaught | Republican | 87 |
| Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 4th District | Fred Allen | Democratic | 77 |

#### Floor Leaders

| Office | Officer | Party | District |
| Majority Leader | Marcus E. Richmond | Republican | 52 |
| Majority Whip | Jon Milligan | Republican | 33 |
| Minority Leader | Tippi McCullough | Democratic | 74 |
| Minority Whip | Vivian Flowers | Democratic | 65 |

### Representatives

| District | Name | Party | First elected | Term-limited |
| 1 | Jeremy Wooldridge | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 2 | Trey Steimel | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 3 | Stetson Painter | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 4 | Jack Fortner | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 5 | Ron McNair | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 6 | Harlan Breaux | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 7 | Britt McKenzie | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 8 | Austin McCollum | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 9 | DeAnna Hodges | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 10 | Mindy McAlindon | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 11 | Rebecca Burkes | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 12 | Hope Hendren Duke | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 13 | R. Scott Richardson | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 14 | Grant Hodges | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 15 | John P. Carr | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 16 | Kendon Underwood | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 17 | Delia Haak | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 18 | Robin Lundstrum | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 19 | Steve Unger | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 20 | Denise Garner | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 21 | Nicole Clowney | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 22 | David Whitaker | Dem | 2012 | 2028 |
| 23 | Kendra Moore | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 24 | Charlene Fite | Rep | 2012 | 2028 |
| 25 | Chad Puryear | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 26 | Mark H. Berry | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 27 | Steven Walker | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 28 | Bart Schultz | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 29 | Rick McClure | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 30 | Frances Cavenaugh | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 31 | Jimmy Gazaway | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 32 | Jack Ladyman | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 33 | Jon Milligan | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 34 | Joey L. Carr | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 35 | Milton Nicks | Dem | 2014 | 2030 |
| 36 | Johnny Rye | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 37 | Steve Hollowell | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 38 | Dwight Tosh | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 39 | Wayne Long | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 40 | Shad Pearce | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 41 | Josh Miller | Rep | 2012 | 2028 |
| 42 | Stephen Meeks | Rep | 2010 | 2026 |
| 43 | Rick Beck | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 44 | Stan Berry | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 45 | Aaron Pilkington | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 46 | Jon Eubanks | Rep | 2012 | 2028 |
| 47 | Lee Johnson | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 48 | Ryan A. Rose | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 49 | Jay Richardson | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 50 | Zachary Gramlich | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 51 | Cindy Crawford | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 52 | Marcus Richmond | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 53 | Matt Duffield | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 54 | Mary Bentley | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 55 | Matthew Brown | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 56 | Stephen Magie | Dem | 2012 | 2028 |
| 57 | Cameron Cooper | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 58 | Les Eaves | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 59 | Jim Wooten | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 60 | Roger Lynch | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 61 | Jeremiah Moore | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 62 | Mark McElroy | Rep | 2012 | 2030 |
| 63 | Deborah Ferguson | Dem | 2012 | 2028 |
| 64 | Ken Ferguson | Dem | 2014 | 2030 |
| 65 | Vivian Flowers | Dem | 2014 | 2030 |
| 66 | Mark Perry | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 67 | Karilyn Brown | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 68 | Brian S. Evans | Rep | 2018 | 2034 |
| 69 | David Ray | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 70 | Carlton Wing | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 71 | Brandon C. Achor | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 72 | Jamie Aleshia Scott | Dem | 2018 | 2028 |
| 73 | Andrew Collins | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 74 | Tippi McCullough | Dem | 2018 | 2034 |
| 75 | Ashley Hudson | Dem | 2020 | 2032 |
| 76 | Joy Springer | Dem | 2020 (special) | 2036 |
| 77 | Fred Allen | Dem | 2016 | 2032 |
| 78 | Keith Brooks | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 79 | Tara Shephard | Dem | 2022 | 2034 |
| 80 | Denise Ennett | Dem | 2019 (special) | 2034 |
| 81 | R. J. Hawk | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 82 | Tony Furman | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 83 | Lanny Fite | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 84 | Les Warren | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 85 | Richard McGrew | Rep | 2020 (special) | 2036 |
| 86 | John Maddox | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 87 | DeAnn Vaught | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 88 | Danny Watson | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 89 | Justin Gonzales | Rep | 2014 | 2030 |
| 90 | Richard Womack | Rep | 2012 | 2028 |
| 91 | Bruce Cozart | Rep | 2011† | 2028 |
| 92 | Julie Mayberry | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 93 | Mike Holcomb | Rep | 2012 | 2028 |
| 94 | Jeff Wardlaw | Rep | 2010 | 2026 |
| 95 | Howard Beaty | Rep | 2020 | 2032 |
| 96 | Sonia Eubanks Barker | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |
| 97 | Matthew Shepherd | Rep | 2010 | 2026 |
| 98 | Wade Andrews | Rep | 2022 | 2034 |
| 99 | Lane Jean | Rep | 2010 | 2026 |
| 100 | Carol Dalby | Rep | 2016 | 2032 |