Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders unveiled a series of new policy initiatives during her state-of-the-state address to the state legislature on Tuesday, focusing on education, tax cuts, public safety, and the cost of living.
Sanders highlighted her administration’s commitment to education, noting ongoing efforts to improve public schools and expand opportunities for students across the state. She also touched on her plans to reduce taxes and increase safety measures for Arkansas residents.
At the conclusion of her speech, Sanders introduced the Arkansas Medal of Freedom, a new award designed to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the state. The inaugural recipient was Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl, honored for his actions during the 2024 Fordyce Mad Butcher mass shooting.
Education Priorities
Education was a focal point of the governor’s address, with Sanders dedicating significant time to discussing the Arkansas LEARNS Act. The governor noted that by 2026, Education Freedom Accounts, widely known as school vouchers, will be available to all students in the state.
Building on this, Sanders introduced the Arkansas Access Act, which she said aims to simplify the college application process. The act would establish a single-application, single-fee model for students applying to higher education institutions in Arkansas, reducing barriers to entry.
Further, the Access Act would also include provisions to combat what Sanders referred to as “woke nonsense” in higher education, particularly targeting professors she believes engage in what she called “indoctrination.” Under the proposed legislation, professors, tenured or not, could be dismissed for such activities.
The governor emphasized the plan’s broader goals, including the provision of college credits for certain high school courses, part of an initiative to overhaul the state’s higher education funding model and broaden state support for all types of degrees.
Addressing the Cost of Living
The cost of living was another key topic in Sanders’ address, as she called on the legislature to work with her office to eliminate the sales tax on groceries before the end of the session.
Additionally, Sanders proposed expanding the Summer EBT program to cover free school breakfast, which she said would help increase access to food. Funding for this expansion would come from medical marijuana revenue.
The governor also pushed for new initiatives to address food access, including removing liability for donated food and introducing a Buy Local Act to encourage schools to source food from local producers.
Public Safety and Security
Public safety was another major component of Sanders’ speech. She noted that the state now has more state troopers than ever before and that these officers would soon be receiving a 20% raise, a measure approved under previous legislation.
The governor also discussed programs aimed at reducing recidivism, such as the Pathway to Freedom program at the Wrightsville Hawkins Unit. She expressed her intention to expand evidence-based programs like this in state prisons.
Turning to school safety, Sanders advocated for legislation to create “phone-free schools” from bell-to-bell, citing the success of a 2024 pilot program in schools that adopted this policy.
The governor concluded her remarks with national security concerns, calling for the passage of the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act. She also called for the Communist China Defense Act, a measure aimed at limiting land purchases near military bases and substations by individuals linked to the Chinese government.
The proposed policies reflect Sanders’ ongoing focus on educational reform, economic relief, and safety, while also addressing broader concerns related to national security.
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