State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Terry Rice
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Legislative Council voted to fund the Educational Freedom Accounts (EFA) through the rest of the 2025-2026 school year. The accounts can be used to offset the expenses of home school materials or go toward tuition at an accredited private or parochial school in Arkansas. Currently, over 44,000 Arkansas students are participating in the program this school year.
Educational Freedom Accounts are part of the LEARNS Act that was passed during the 2023 Legislative Session. Unlike other states, the program was implemented in stages. In 2023, the first year of the EFA program, about 1.5 percent of Arkansas students were allowed to participate. During the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of students increased to 3 percent.
This school year is the first time that all Arkansas children in grades K-12 have been allowed to participate in the EFA program. Each account is funded up to $6,864 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Many more students applied for the EFA program this school year, but their parents either did not complete all the paperwork, or they made other choices for their child(ren) such as attending their local public school.
Arkansas Teacher Maternity Leave
As of 2023, school districts have been able to choose to participate in a cost sharing model that would allow teachers to have paid maternity leave. Each school district and the state would pay 50/50 into the program, giving teachers up the 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. The leave does not require teachers to exhaust their accumulated sick days first.
Act 904 of 2025, with bipartisan support, updated the law to require the state to cover 100% of the cost, making it a fully funded, paid benefit for teachers rather than a cost-shared one. Public school and charter schoolteachers are allowed to participate in the program. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) released a case study highlighting the Arkansas’ teacher maternity leave program. The study confirmed that bipartisan legislation helps Arkansas strengthen support for schoolteachers. The program gives teachers the time they need to recover and bond with their newborn or adopted child(ren) before they must return to the classroom.
Online Services
With the tax deadline only a few months away, Arkansas residents can check for their state refund by accessing the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) website at: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov. You will need your Social Security Number and expected refund amount to access your tax refund information.
Also, on the DFA website, there is a section of online services that the department offers. For example, you can order a replacement driver’s license or change your address on your license online. DFA also offers the opportunity to book an appointment at your local DMV online. The department states booking an appointment online reduces wait time at the DMV.
State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Bryan King
In my last column, I wrote about the revolving door of legislators and governor’s staff leaving state government only to personally profit by going to work directly for mega companies that they gave contracts to while in office.
Mega consulting companies like Deloitte and McKinsey have pocketed hundreds of millions of Arkansans’ hard earned tax dollars and hired former high-level staff members such as Jamie Barker and legislators like Grant Hodges. They have also hired former governors’ staff like Jon Gilmore to lobby for them. Deloitte has pocketed over half a billion dollars alone.
Now Governor Sanders wants to appoint Jamie Barker, her former deputy chief of staff, to the Board of Corrections. Apparently, having real world experience like working in construction or banking or having any law enforcement or prison related experience is not a requirement.
To my knowledge, Jamie Barker’s only experience is being a Politico. A Politico is one who jumps from politics, lobbying, and government jobs. This 29-year-old Politico is now set to be a member of a high-level, governing body that provides oversight and policy direction for the state’s Department of Corrections and related divisions.
Despite all the gross incompetence in choosing a site with no water infrastructure and the appropriation bill being historically defeated five times for long term funding, the Governor continues to push for this mega prison catastrophe. If Jamie Barker is appointed to this board, Arkansas will be driven more quickly to financial bankruptcy with this incomprehensible site location.
After last month’s legislative council meeting, Deloitte was awarded another multi-million-dollar contract. The same afternoon Jamie Barker left his job at the governor’s office; he joined Jon Gilmore’s lobbying firm as a “partner” not a lobbyist. Arkansas has a law banning state legislators and high-level appointees from becoming lobbyists within a certain period of time after leaving a government position, generally 1-2 years. So, instead of being a registered lobbyist they use the title of consultant, account manager, or partner to get around the ban.
If this appointment goes through this will be a disaster for this state. Personal profiteers are already bleeding us dry. This will damage not only the correction system, but our budget in the years to come. It’s time to step up and demand qualified people who put the best interests of Arkansans and not profiteers like Jamie Barker and Grant Hodges.
Obituary: Doris Martin (1937-2026)
Doris Cecile Martin, 88, of Waldron, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026. She was born on February 27, 1937, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Alice Cecile (LeBoeuf) David and Joseph Leo David.
Doris was raised attending Catholic schools, which helped shape her strong values and caring spirit. Throughout her life, she found joy in the simple pleasures-dancing, country music, cowboys, cooking, and working crossword puzzles. Above all else, Doris loved people. She was known as the “neighborhood mom,” always opening her heart and home, offering comfort, guidance, and a listening ear to anyone in need.
Her greatest pride was her family. Doris is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Debbie Gates of Waldron, and her son, Gene Edward Angell of Parks. She was a devoted grandmother to Denise John and David Angell, and a cherished great-grandmother to Lauren John and Mike John Jr. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Gilheart.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Martin; her parents; her daughter, Kathleen Vaccaro; her sister, Gloria Diliddo; and her brother, Joseph David.
Doris’s warmth, kindness, and unwavering love for her family and community will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who were blessed to know her.
Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home of Waldron, Arkansas.
Obituary: Velma Hine (1930-2026)
Velma Ruth Hine, 95, of Booneville, Arkansas (Freedom Community), passed peacefully at her home on January 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.
Velma was born on October 27, 1930, in Topeka, Kansas, to Hiram S. Coke and Goldie Lydia (Lee) Coke. She was a woman of strong character, quiet grace, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.
For 20 years, Velma worked faithfully at Garland Coal Company, where she served as a secretary, bookkeeper, and payroll clerk. She later continued her service to others at the Booneville Human Development Center for five years before retiring in 2001. Her dedication, attention to detail, and work ethic left a lasting impression on those she worked with.
Velma was a devoted member of Freedom Freewill Baptist Church and took great pride in her heritage as a DAR registrant. Her faith guided her life, and she lived with kindness, humility, and compassion for others.
She leaves behind a legacy of love to be cherished by her husband, Edward Hine of the home; her three children, Gene Berg and wife Vickie of Topeka, Kansas, Donna Coke of Bothell, Washington, and Lahne Gates and husband Damon of Bothell, Washington; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was deeply loved as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and her presence will be profoundly missed.
Velma’s life was one of service, faith, and family-values she passed on to generations who will continue to honor her memory.
Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home of Waldron, Arkansas.