In every regular session the legislature can refer up to three proposed constitutional amendments to voters.

Two things are scheduled to happen on Saturday. Let’s hope the weather cooperates so both events can have good results.

The legislature has advanced a long list of bills to prevent voter fraud and protect the integrity of elections.

An interesting discussion took place Monday night at the Madison County Quorum Court meeting.

The Arkansas House last week approved a proposed law that could make school and public librarians open to criminal liability for the distribution of “obscene” content. Seven Republicans joined 18 House Democrats in voting against Senate Bill 81, which I wrote about in last week’s edition of The Record. If the bill becomes law, local quorum courts could actually be the ones to decide what materials appear in libraries. Rep. DeAnn Vaught, a Republican from Horatio, voted against the bill, calling it “government overreach.”

The 118th Congress has already provided multiple opportunities to roll back proposed or recently enacted rules, regulations and legislation that is bad for Arkansas and our country.

Now that the legislature has given final approval to the education bill proposed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, I can say that she successfully completed one the most politically courageous moves I have ever witnessed.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed her signature education package into law last Wednesday, just two weeks after the bill was filed. The Arkansas Senate the day before approved Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, on a vote of 26-8, after it was amended in the House of Representatives.

Military service is a family affair. There is a lot asked of loved ones of who serve alongside the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform. They move away from family and friends to support our country’s readiness at home, during deployments and amid mission transitions. These families need to know we’re doing our very best to make sure they have a good quality of life. That’s why I’m helping lead a push to modernize and expand means to better support their evolving needs.

Denton Grubb received a well-earned birthday party and recognition event for his 100th birthday last week. The Alabam native turned 100 last Wednesday. The day before, the Madison County Veteran Services Office and Madison County American Legion put on a wonderful program for Grubb at the Madison County Senior Health and Wellness Center. The dining hall was packed.

The City, County, Local Committee of Arkansas House of Representatives started late last week due to a technical glitch. Sometimes, technology can fail. 

When I lived in El Dorado, I helped the Habitat for Humanity chapter there build more than 30 houses for deserving working families. I showed up my first Saturday with a hammer, very little construction experience, but a wealth of desire to help others.

The federal government can be difficult to maneuver, and it can be especially frustrating when trying to get help in a hurry. The good news is my staff and I here to help. We have been recognized for outstanding constituent service and routinely help thousands of Arkansans navigate federal agencies to get answers, navigate the bureaucracy and secure needed paperwork.

It was truly a pleasure to recently sit down for a chat with Denton Grubb, who will turn 100 years old on March 1. You can see a profile on Grubb in this week’s Lifestyles on Page 6A.

We love the state of Arkansas. It’s full of dichotomous beauty. Like the Ozark Mountains and the Mississippi Delta, both are beautiful for different reasons. With talent ranging from Al Green to Johnny Cash to Justin Moore, Arkansas’s musicality is as wide ranging and diverse as its people.

Arkansans across the state are working toward a common goal of preserving our unique history. Communities are embracing the past to build a bright future and we’re pleased to advocate on behalf of these efforts.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders last week revealed some details of her education overhaul plan. Reaction, as expected, pretty much fell along party lines. Sanders supporters praised the package, while others cautioned that it could harm public education, especially in the more rural areas of the state.

I’ve been honored to serve on the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees to help craft policies designed to fulfill the promise we made to the men and women who served in our nation’s uniform by expanding access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, benefits and services. This responsibility also means ensuring we have qualified personnel across VA clinics to carry out this sacred task. 

Round two of inclement wintery weather hit Madison County last week. Your small, dedicated staff at The Record proved it could do whatever is needed to get the job done.

You know what one says about “the best laid plans. ...”