Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Arkansas Public Policy Center

@uaexppc.bsky.social

190 followers 140 following 150 posts

Housed at the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock, the Public Policy Center is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. We provide Arkansans with research-based information about public policy issues.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · 12d

NEWSLETTER: Legislative sponsors of a 2026 constitutional amendment focused on creating economic development districts in Arkansas have joined forces with others to form an official legislative question committee responsible for convincing voters to pass SJR15 next year.

conta.cc/48ymmlZ
#ARballot

Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter

Email from Public Policy Center Group Forms to Support Legislature's Economic Development Amendment Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot September 2025 Group Forms to Support Legislat

conta.cc

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · 2d

Voters in Ozark have a special election in November. We partnered with the Franklin County Extension Service on a fact sheet about the referendum on the city's entertainment district ordinance.

Early voting starts Nov. 12. Election Day is Nov. 18.

www.uaex.uada.edu/business-com...

#ARballot

2 3

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · 5d

Voters in Marion County have a special election in November. We partnered with the Marion County Extension Office to collect information for a fact sheet on the sales tax election.

Early voting starts Nov. 3 and Election Day is Nov. 18.

www.uaex.uada.edu/business-com...

#ARballot #arpx

Fact sheet Available for Upcoming Marion County Sales Tax Election

www.uaex.uada.edu

1 4

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · 8d

A handful of Arkansas communities have a special election in November. Does your community have an upcoming election that's not on our list?

www.uaex.uada.edu/business-com...

#ARballot #arpx

Arkansas Voters Have Local Ballot Issues to Decide in November Election

www.uaex.uada.edu

8 8

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · 12d

Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter

Email from Public Policy Center Group Forms to Support Legislature's Economic Development Amendment Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot September 2025 Group Forms to Support Legislat

conta.cc

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Sep 4

An update on one of several pending lawsuits related to Arkansas ballot issues.

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 4

Via @tessmvrbin.bsky.social: A Central Arkansas judge said Wednesday that he expects to rule “fairly quickly” on the legal challenge to a 2023 Arkansas law that increased the prerequisites for a citizen-initiated ballot measure to go before voters. #arpx

Ruling expected soon in lawsuit over 2023 changes to Arkansas ballot measure requirements | Arkansas Advocate

The League of Women Voters seeks an injunction of Act 236 of 2023, while the state wants a judge to dismiss the case.

arkansasadvocate.com

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 29

NEWSLETTER: No Google. Arkansas does not have online voter registration. Read our August Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Newsletter for the latest at:
conta.cc/3JvNMyL

#ARballot

Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter

Email from No Google. Arkansas Does Not Have Online Voter Registration TPublic Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot August 2025 No Google. Arkansas Does Not Have Online Voter Registration

conta.cc

1 2

Reposted by Arkansas Public Policy Center

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station @arkagresearch.bsky.social · Jul 30

Research by UA System Division of Agriculture and University of Arkansas scientists uses nanotechnology to improve controlled-release systems for #probiotics, #cancer drugs and other meds in human and animal #health.

Read more: aaes.uada.edu/news/jin-woo...

Portrait photo of Jin-Woo Kim seated at his desk with two computer monitors in the background

Close up photo of small, white spherical beads at the bottom of a beaker containing a clear liquid.

1 3

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 11

Read Act 399 of 2025: arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocu...

arkleg.state.ar.us

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 11

Act 399 lets districts skip hosting a full election complete with election workers and polling sites. Instead, the board can appoint a registered voter from their district to cast a single vote at a time, date and place determined by the county election commission.

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 11

Did you know Arkansas legislators passed a law this year allowing school districts to appoint a voter to cast a single ballot? Act 399 of 2025 offers a solution to a tricky situation: meeting a constitutional requirement for a vote even when the rate doesn't change and the votes don't count.

1 1

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 8

Note: this change does not impact special elections related to bond issues or millage rates. Special elections can take place two times a year, including this November.

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 8

Did you know Arkansas legislators passed a law this year eliminating fall school board elections? Act 503 made it to where all school districts now operate on a spring election calendar. Find the spring school board election calendar: www.arsba.org/article/2342...

#ARballot

2 1 1

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here are some extension resources to help meet those challenges:

Native plants: www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/...

Water quality: uaex.uada.edu/environment-...

Voter education: uaex.uada.edu/business-com...

www.uaex.uada.edu

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Aug 8

August's civic commitment calendar has all of our favorite things: voter registration, visiting city halls, and water education!

#civicarkansas

1 2

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 24

BALLOT NEWSLETTER: July's newsletter is full of updates on Arkansas ballot issue campaigns and lawsuits, including filings in federal court today. Also, do you have the right ID to sign a ballot issue petition? Check out our list of what qualifies for photo ID.

conta.cc/3UvEaWK

#ARballot #arpx

Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter

Email from Public Policy Center Do You Have the Right ID to Sign Ballot Petitions? Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot July 2025 Photo ID Now Required to Sign Petitions What IDs Sati

conta.cc

3 3

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 24

Read the request at www.courtlistener.com/docket/69919...

Preliminary Injunction – #24 in League of Women Voters of Arkansas v. Jester (W.D. Ark., 5:25-cv-05087) – CourtListener.com

Preliminary Injunction

www.courtlistener.com

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 24

A second Arkansas ballot issue group has asked a federal judge to pause new state laws regulating the citizen initiative process in the state, including the law requiring ballot titles be written at an 8th grade reading level and voters show ID before signing a petition.

#ARballot #arpx

1 4 7

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 23

A federal judge today agreed to let ballot issue groups Protect AR Rights and For AR Kids join a lawsuit that says new Arkansas laws regulating the citizen initiative process are unconstitutional.

Read the judge's order tinyurl.com/e66dn4k3
#ARballot

storage.courtlistener.com

Reposted by Arkansas Public Policy Center

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station @arkagresearch.bsky.social · Jul 7

'Killer bees' are spreading in the U.S. But how did they get here? According to entomologist Allen Szalanski, faster than expected, traveling "from Brazil to Texas in a span of less than 40 years." Read more from @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

'Killer bees' keep spreading (and killing) across the US

Scientists say the bees' temperament is to ward off predators. But unsuspecting humans will find them to be aggressive, spiteful and terrifying.

www.usatoday.com

1 1

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 1

Read the Arkansas Attorney General Opinion issued Tuesday: ag-opinions.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025...

#ARballot #ARpx

ag-opinions.s3.amazonaws.com

1 1

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jul 1

For the second time, Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected the ballot title of a proposed constitutional amendment because the wording scored higher than an 8th grade reading level.

The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment scored at a 9th grade reading level on Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test.

1 2 3

Reposted by Arkansas Public Policy Center

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station @arkagresearch.bsky.social · Jun 12

Save the Date! Join us for the 2025 Turfgrass Field Day on Aug. 6 at 7:00 a.m. in Fayetteville. Learn the latest on turfgrass research and network with other turf professionals. Learn more: aaes.uada.edu/events/2025-...

Attendees examine a patchy section of short turfgrass during a field day.

2 2

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jun 25

NEWSLETTER: Of the 4 citizen-led proposals Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office certified since July 2024, only group appears to be actively collecting signatures for the 2026 ballot.

Read the latest in our June Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Newsletter conta.cc/3T9W4Oo

#ARballot #arpx

Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter

Email from Public Policy Center Citizen-led ballot issue campaign kicks off signature collection Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot June 2025 365-Day Push to November 2026 Ballot

conta.cc

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jun 25

We took home an award Saturday for our 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program! On Saturday, our crew received first place in the Arkansas Press Women's Professional Communications Awards for Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Service > Program or Campaign.

bit.ly/2025-apw-win...

12 Division of Agriculture employees recognized with APW awards

bit.ly

Arkansas Public Policy Center @uaexppc.bsky.social · Jun 3

- Learn more about your local Mayor’s Youth Council.

- If you want to start a Mayor’s Youth Council in your community, visit the Arkansas Municipal League’s website to review a guide.

www.armunileague.org/programs-ser...

Youth Councils – Arkansas Municipal League