Arkansas Legislature – Family Council

State of Arkansas Has Invested $111M+ in School Choice Since July 1

Nov 17, 2025Jerry CoxEducationArkansas Legislature, Education, Home School, LEARNS

Data from the state’s official transparency website shows Arkansas has spent more than $111 million on its school choice program since July 1.

In 2023, lawmakers passed the LEARNS Act overhauling public education in Arkansas and making it possible for students to use public dollars to pay for an education at a public or private school or through home schooling. Family Council and our homeschool division, the Education Alliance, were pleased to support this good law, because it gives families educational opportunities.

The State of Arkansas reportedly spent $111,138,210 on Educational Freedom Accounts under the LEARNS Act from July 1 through October 31 of this year. Administrative costs have accounted for $916,574 of the program’s spending. The other $110.2 million went to pay for education expenses.

Last spring, the General Assembly budgeted nearly $187.5 million for the Educational Freedom Accounts for the 2025-2026 school year and placed $90 million in its Restricted Reserve Fund set aside for the program.

Since the LEARNS Act launched in 2023, thousands of students have taken advantage of school choice in Arkansas. Many families feel that public education has deteriorated over the years, and they don’t like the direction it is heading. For those families, programs like the LEARNS Act could empower them with real alternatives that help their children succeed. That is part of the reason Family Council has supported the LEARNS Act.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Family Council Action Committee Recognizes 35 Legislators with 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award

Oct 30, 2025Jerry CoxCurrent EventsArkansas Legislature, Update

The following press release is from Family Council Action Committee:

Little Rock, Ark. – On Thursday, Family Council Action Committee recognized 35 members of the Arkansas General Assembly with its 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Family Council Action Committee reviewed every vote on 24 laws that the Arkansas House and Senate passed dealing with issues like the sanctity of life, religious liberty, education, protecting the state’s ballot initiative process from special interest groups, and with vices like marijuana and alcohol. We scored each legislator on a 100-point scale. Those who achieved 90% or above or who sponsored good laws from Family Council earned this award.”

Cox said he hopes the award gives Arkansans an idea of just how conservative the Arkansas Legislature is. “One of the most common questions I hear from people around the state is, ‘How did my legislator vote?’ That’s the question we want to help answer. This award isn’t an endorsement of any candidate or political party. It does not measure any lawmakers’ personal integrity, commitment to their faith, work ethic, or their rapport with Family Council Action Committee. It simply recognizes lawmakers who sponsored good legislation and consistently voted in support of good legislation.”

The following 21 state representatives and 14 state senators earned Family Council Action Committee’s 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award:

Rep. Sonia Barker
Rep. Mary Bentley
Rep. Harlan Breaux
Rep. Alyssa Brown
Rep. Karilyn Brown
Rep. Cindy Crawford
Rep. Hope Duke
Rep. Tony Furman
Rep. Jimmy Gazaway
Rep. Mike Holcomb
Rep. Lane Jean
Rep. Lee Johnson
Rep. Jack Ladyman
Rep. Robin Lundstrum
Rep. Roger Lynch
Rep. John Maddox
Rep. Ryan Rose
Rep. Randy Torres
Rep. Dwight Tosh
Rep. Kendon Underwood
Rep. Carlton Wing
Sen. Ron Caldwell
Sen. Alan Clark
Sen. Tyler Dees
Sen. John Payton
Sen. Ben Gilmore
Sen. Kim Hammer
Sen. Jimmy Hickey
Sen. Blake Johnson
Sen. Mark Johnson
Sen. Clint Penzo
Sen. Jim Petty
Sen. Terry Rice
Sen. Gary Stubblefield
Sen. Dan Sullivan

Cox praised the entire Arkansas General Assembly for its commitment to family values. “I have often said that this Arkansas General Assembly may be the finest ever to serve in our Capitol. Arkansas has enacted great laws over the years, and the fact that so many legislators would sponsor and vote for good laws and vote against bad laws speaks volumes about Arkansas’ elected officials. We want to commend these legislators for promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values during the 2025 legislative session.”

Family Council Action Committee is a conservative, pro-family, Christian 501(c)(4) organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

###

Family Council Releases 2025 General Assembly Report Showing How Legislators Voted on 24 Key Measures

Oct 28, 2025Jerry CoxLegislatureArkansas Legislature, Update

Family Council is pleased to share its 2025 Arkansas General Assembly Report.

This report is a snapshot of how lawmakers voted on key legislation related to social and moral issues. Guided by our mission of promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values, Family Council focused heavily on 24 laws that passed in the Arkansas House and Senate during the 2025 legislative session.

These measures dealt with religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, education, alcohol, marijuana, Arkansas’ ballot initiative process, and similar issues. Family Council supported 21 of those laws and opposed three of them.

This General Assembly Report is an educational resource for voters. It is not an endorsement of any candidate or political party. It does not measure any lawmakers’ integrity, commitment to their faith, work ethic, or rapport with Family Council. It is only a report on how each lawmaker voted on 24 specific measures.

Not all lawmakers voted on every bill, and the report notes when that is the case.

One of the most common questions Family Council’s supporters ask is, “How did my legislator vote?” This report should help answer that question.

You can download the General Assembly report on all 135 state senators and representatives using the links below.