(The Center Square) – The Arkansas Legislature meets on Wednesday to discuss a proposed 1.76% budget increase for fiscal year 2025.
March revenue reports showed income at $34.4 million or 8.2% greater than last year and $67.2 million or 17.5% above forecast, according to the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the budget increase includes $100 million for the LEARNS Act. The budget also includes $3.8 million for an additional trooper school for Arkansas State Police.
“This budget funds last year’s commitment to put an additional $100 million to raise starting teacher pay to $50,000 – taking us from 48th in the country to the top five – expand education freedom to thousands of new families, and invest in literacy coaches statewide. In the same vein, it includes an additional $2 million for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s land grant matching program, bringing the state’s total contribution to the program to $5.8 million,” the governor said when introducing her budget proposal.
Sanders will speak to a joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday. The Joint Budget Committee goes to work immediately after Sanders’ speech to consider the appropriations bills filed. The committee, co-shared by Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, and Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia, meets daily while the Legislature is in session.
Arkansas law limits the session to 30 days unless three-fourths of the Legislature agrees to extend it, but the extension can only be for 15 days.