CANDIDATE ANSWERS to legislation question.

The following are summations of answers given by candidates for the Arkansas Senate and House to the following question:

“If you could pass only one bill in the Legislature’s next regular session — one that would unquestionably pass federal and state court scrutiny — what would it be? Give details.”

An asterisk (*) by the candidate’s name signifies an incumbent.

HOUSE DISTRICT 80

• Charlene Fite (R)* — Legislation to aid families, children, seniors, economic development and public safety, among others.

• Lou Reed Sharp (D) — A rural revitalization bill including public/private partnerships, education and health care expansion.

HOUSE DISTRICT 85

• David Whitaker (D)* — Automatic voter registration; ease voting restrictions.

• Brian Hester (R) — Assistance to small businesses and individuals to get back on their feet; education improvements.

HOUSE DISTRICT 86

• Nicole Clowney (D)* — A warranty of habitability for tenants, requiring landlords to provide habitable living. • John La Tour (R) — School choice and increased resources for teachers.

HOUSE DISTRICT 87

• Robin Lundstrum (R)* — Discontinue property taxes and rely on sales tax to fund schools.

• Michael Bennett-Spears (D) — A hate crime bill to enhance penalties for crimes of violence perpetrated in some part based on the victims’ skin color, sexuality or religion.

HOUSE DISTRICT 88

• Clint Penzo (R)* — Health care reform to increase transparency in billing and competition between providers.

• Hawley Woods (D) — A bill to ensure everyone gets the health care they need.

HOUSE DISTRICT 89

• Megan Godfrey (D)* — Legislation to streamline the voter registration process, permanently expand no-excuse absentee voting and equip counties to invest in secure, inclusive methods to promote and protect the vote.

• Jed Duggar (R) — Legislation for tax reform and to aid small businesses

HOUSE DISTRICT 90

• Kendon Underwood (R) — Declined to participate in the survey.

• Kelly Krout (D) — A bill that prohibits domestic abusers from having access to guns and the ability to remove guns from convicted abusers.

HOUSE DISTRICT 91

• Nick Jones (D) — Legislation to enhance public transportation.

• Delia Haak (R) — Legislation that designates all Arkansas jobs as essential.

HOUSE DISTRICT 93

• Jim Dotson (R)* — A bill to give parents access to the resources they need to ensure their student gets a good education.

• Daisy Bonilla (D) — Legislation that expands programs to rehabilitate youth, rather than send them to detention centers.

HOUSE DISTRICT 94

• John Carr (R) — A bill to eliminate taxes on groceries. • Jene Huffman-Gilreath (D) — Legislation that would increase or eliminate the asset threshold for families to qualify for food assistance.

HOUSE DISTRICT 96

• Josh Bryant (R) — A bill to codify parts of the Nuremberg Code with emphasis on voluntary and fully informed consent for any medical procedure.

• Jon Comstock (D) — A bill that would declare the state’s recognition that substance abuse is a health issue and addicts aren’t criminals.

SENATE DISTRICT 1

• Ronetta Francis (D) — Repeal the Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act, which prohibits cities from passing or enforcing an ordinance that protects against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Bart Hester (R)* — Declined to participate in survey.

SENATE DISTRICT 2

• Jim Hendren (R)* — Legislation that restricts vaping for youths similar to other tobacco products.

• Ryan Craig (D) — Did not reply to survey.