UA Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center

06/03/2026

Check out this event from our watershed education colleagues!

Central Arkansas residents can learn more about their local waterways at Streets to Streams: A Watershed Fair, a new event hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service and community partners.

WATERSHED INFO — The Cooperative Extension Service, along with community partners, state agencies and local nonprofits, will offer a watershed education event for central Arkansas residents on June 12.
The event will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on June 12 at the Extension State Office at 2301 S. University Ave. in Little Rock. Lunch will be provided, and there is no cost to attend. Register online for the event: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/jth1GqLhDq

Local nonprofits, state agencies and community partners will teach attendees about watershed dynamics, with a focus on the urban community’s impact on local waterways. Partners include the White Oak Bayou Conservancy, the City of North Little Rock Engineering Department, Central Arkansas Water, Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, Metroplan, Friends of Fourche Creek, Lake Conway Point-Remove Watershed Alliance, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arkansas Wild Spaces, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and more.

06/03/2026

We had a great time today with the 2026 summer intern cohort at Get Loud Arkansas talking about election history in Arkansas and the ballot issue process.

Thank you for inviting us!

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Kristin Higgins with the Public Policy Center for winning multiple awards this past week at the Arkansas Press Women award luncheon.

She won:
- First Place in Web and Social Media > Electronic Newsletter > Nonprofit, government, or educational for Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Newsletter
- Second Place in Graphics and Design > Graphics > Infographics for Approved Arkansas Citizen Initiatives by Decade
- Second Place in Radio and Television > Special Programming > Radio for Direct Democracy Minute. This series of public service announcements airs on DGold Music Hour on KABF-FM 88.3.

Congratulations also to our colleagues Mary Hightower and Torrie Smith on their awards.

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2026/june/06-04-2026-ark-apw-contest.aspx

06/03/2026

ELECTION INFO: Early voting is underway in Hempstead County on a proposed 10-year sales tax.

Early voting continues through Friday, and then on Monday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hempstead County Courthouse, 200 E. 3rd St. in Hope.

Election Day is Tuesday, June 9.

Voters will see this FOR/AGAINST question on their ballot:

0.75% SALES AND USE TAX FOR HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Adoption of a 0.75% local sales and use tax within Hempstead County, Arkansas (the "County"), the net collections of which remaining after deduction of the administrative charges of the State of Arkansas and required rebates, will be distributed only to the County and used for one or both of the following: (a) to maintain, improve, renovate, expand, equip, and insure the hospital facility currently known as "Wadley Regional Medical Center at Hope," including the land and buildings related thereto (collectively, the "Hospital") and to assist in obtaining access to providers of health care services at the Hospital and (b) to pay and secure the repayment of bonds approved by the voters and issued by the County from time to time to acquire, construct, furnish and equip improvements
to new or existing hospital facilities, including particularly, without limitation, the Hospital and any healthcare facilities related thereto. It is anticipated that the City of Hope, Arkansas (the "City") will convey the City's interest in the Hospital to the County for nominal consideration if the sales and use tax is approved. It is further anticipated that after the City's interest in the Hospital is conveyed to the County, the Hospital will be leased by the County to Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, LLC or to another entity. The levy of the sales and use tax will terminate on September 30, 2036.

Just a reminder to join us June 4th for a public meeting.

Come learn more, ask questions, and hear how the funds will be used to support local healthcare. 🏥

06/02/2026

Today (Tuesday June 2) is Election Day for House District 44, which represents parts of Pope and Van Buren counties.

Polls are open until 7:30 p.m.

The four Republicans running for a vacant Arkansas River Valley seat in the House are focused on tax cuts to address constituents’ affordability concerns.

05/29/2026

Recent events have brought renewed attention to a long-running legal battle between the state of Oklahoma and major poultry companies in Arkansas over environmental concerns and water pollution.  The case centers on allegations that poultry waste generated in northwest Arkansas was contributing to...

05/28/2026

Public Comments being taken on this.

PROPOSED RECREATION FEE CHANGES – PUBLIC COMMENTS WELCOME

The Ouachita National Forest is seeking public comments on a proposal to increase or establish recreation fees for certain campsites at Shady Lake Recreation Area and for group picnic sites at Cedar Lake Day Use, Charlton Day Use, and Shady Lake Day Use to help fund operations, maintenance, and improvements. For a list of sites, current fees, proposed increases, and to comment, go to: https://arcg.is/1Gu8zH1.

The recreation fee program provides a critical source of funding to maintain campgrounds, picnic shelters and other developed recreation sites. 80% of fees collected remain on the Ouachita National Forest to operate and maintain developed recreation sites and complete deferred maintenance projects.

Even if the changes requested in the fee proposal are implemented, 83% of the forest recreation sites remain free to use.

🏕️The proposed fee changes are in line with comparable recreation sites in and around the Ouachita National Forest that have similar amenities and maintenance needs.

Please submit comments regarding these fee proposals by close of business on July 20, 2026, using any of the methods below:
💻To provide comments online go to: https://arcg.is/1Gu8zH1.
✉️Email comments to: [email protected] with the subject line “Fee Change.”
📬Mail written comments to: Ouachita National Forest, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902, Attention: Recreation Program Manager.
🏢Comment cards are available at Forest Service offices during normal business hours. Find a list of our offices here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita/offices. Please call ahead to make sure the office will be open when you plan to stop by.

After public involvement is complete, a citizen-based Resource Advisory Committee will review all feedback before a final decision is made. Committee members represent a broad array of interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes. Any fees changes will not be implemented until summer 2027.

05/28/2026

Although Attorney General Tim Griffin certified ballot titles for seven citizen-initiated constitutional amendments ahead of the 2026 election, only three sponsors are actively collecting voter signatures ahead of the July 3 petition deadline.

Find out more about the proposals and two June special elections in our latest Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Newsletter:

Email from Public Policy Center What Citizen Proposals Are Circulating   Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot     May 2026 July Voter Signature Deadline Approaching Fast Although Attorney Gen

05/28/2026

Edit: Links to information about the Food Freedom Act are updated but someone called our attention today (Sunday) to how we overlooked updating a sentence involving raw milk sales! We will update the fact sheet asap! See comments for a link to current raw milk info.

UPDATED FACT SHEET: Two important websites recently changed for Arkansans interested in making and selling homemade food. The Arkansas Health Department released an updated food guide last week and the Agriculture Department has a new link for applying for a business ID for product labels.

Find both new links in our updated fact sheet on the Arkansas Food Freedom Law:https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSPPC318.pdf

05/27/2026

MAY 31 is almost here. Have you assessed your car, boat or cow? Your business personal property?

After May 31, counties apply a 10% penalty to late assessments.

In many counties you can assess online. Or call your assessor to assess over the phone.

Find a link to your county assessor: https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/property-tax-center/

Find more information about personal property taxes in Arkansas at https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/arkansas-assessment-coordination-division/personal-property/

FYI, if you take advantage of the Food Freedom Act to make and sell food from your home, your business equipment is assessable.