State Capitol Week in Review
By Senator Steve Crowell
March 20, 2026
Much of the Arkansas Legislature’s work between full legislative sessions takes place in committee, and this week the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and its subcommittees were in full swing.
Created by Act 264 of 1949, the ALC gathers information that guides lawmakers during regular legislative sessions. It coordinates the work of interim committees and provides ongoing oversight of the executive branch. The council is composed of 36 regular members—20 from the House and 16 from the Senate—along with 24 ex-officio voting members and five non-voting ex-officio members.
Three subcommittees met Monday: the Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee; the Highway Commission Review and Advisory Subcommittee; and the Claims Review and Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee. Lawmakers reviewed the Department of Human Services’ hospital spending, discussed recent litigation reports, and examined updates on highway construction projects around the state.
The Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Subcommittee convened Tuesday to review appropriation requests from state agencies, departments, and institutions. Members also considered requests for professional and consultant services contracts. Later in the day, the Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee received an overview and in-person tour of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery in Lonoke. The facility is the oldest and largest of the AGFC’s warm-water hatcheries and is considered one of the most significant state-owned operations of its kind in the nation.
On Wednesday, the State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee heard a detailed presentation on Medicare Advantage prescription drug contracts and current market trends. The Higher Education Subcommittee received a forward-looking presentation on the role of Artificial Intelligence in education, delivered by Arkansas State University students Seungho Jeon and Johnny Toma. The ALC Personnel Subcommittee also met to review requests for new and reinstated positions within the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, the Department of Health, and other agencies.
The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met Thursday to conduct its periodic examination of occupational authorizations and the boards and commissions that issue them. The goal of these reviews is to ensure that Arkansas maintains the licensing requirements necessary to protect public health and safety. The Administrative Rules Subcommittee also met to consider proposed and amended rules from various state agencies.
The full Arkansas Legislative Council met Friday to receive and review reports from all subcommittees.
These meetings rarely make headlines, but they represent the essential, day‑to‑day work of state government. In every committee, your senators play an active role, asking tough questions about how Arkansas tax dollars are managed and spent.
All committee meetings are streamed live and available on demand at: https://senate.arkansas.gov/