Arkansas Legislative Fiscal Session Starts Today

Arkansas legislators return to Little Rock today for the start of this year’s fiscal session.

State Representative Justin Gonzales says the COVID-19 health emergency will have an impact on the proposed budget. A revised revenue forecast was issued last week by the Department of Finance and Administration calling for a decrease of nearly 206 million dollars as compared to the prior budget forecast in January.

The coronavirus is also having an impact on how lawmakers carry out their business. House members will convene on the U.A.L.R. campus to have enough space for the recommended social distancing guidelines.

By law, a fiscal session can not last more than 30 days without a three quarter vote of members from both chambers. The longest a session can be extended is an additional 15 days. During the meeting, legislators can only address the budget and appropriation bills.

Due to the health emergency, this fiscal session is not expected to last as long as previous sessions.