Arkansas 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 90 — TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Last action — Notification that SB90 is now Act 902

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican) on April 22, 2025.

Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill requires public comment opportunities at school district board meetings.

The bill mandates that members of the public can provide comments at school district board meetings, with certain eligibility criteria. It ensures a minimum time for comment and outlines conditions for when this can occur.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Employees of the school district can participate in discussions relevant to their work environment.
  • Families: Families can voice their opinions at school board meetings, enhancing community engagement in school governance.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 2 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 90, a specific reference to Act 902 from the Regular Session has been removed. This change is important because it means that the bill is no longer linked to the provisions or requirements of that earlier act, which could affect how the new bill is implemented or understood. By making this adjustment, lawmakers may be looking to simplify the bill or clarify its intent.

→
Previous
Latest
Act 902 of the Regular Session State of ArkanAs Engrossed:
State of ArkanAs Engrossed:
English APPROVED:
English 2 04-09-2025 10:59:38 TNL107
4/21/25 2 04-09-2025 10:59:38 TNL107
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill requires school district boards of directors to allow public comment during meetings and establishes specific guidelines for doing so.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (f)(1)(A) Prior to the consideration of any business or an executive session at a meeting of a board of directors, any member of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to give public comment on any matter that is within the powers and duties of the board of directors as provided under § 6-13-620 if the member of the public providing the public comment: (i) Resides within the public school district; (ii) Is a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to a student enrolled in the public school district; or (iii) Is employed by the public school district.

    This establishes the right for certain members of the public to provide comments at school board meetings.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (B) However, a member of the public shall not provide public comment that prejudices the board of directors concerning a student or personnel matter that is on the agenda for the board of director's consideration of a disciplinary or employment action.

    This restricts public comment on specific sensitive matters to protect students and personnel.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (2)(A) A board of directors shall not require prior approval for a member of the public to give public comment under subdivision (f)(1) of board of directors.

    This allows public comments without prior approval from the board, enhancing public participation.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (3) A board of directors shall allow each member of the public who presents public comment under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section at least three (3) minutes to deliver his or her public comment.

    This guarantees a minimum amount of time for public comments, ensuring individuals can express their views.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (4) If the public comment period at the beginning of a board of directors meeting exceeds thirty (30) minutes, the board of directors may move public comment on matters within the powers and duties of the board of directors as provided under § 6-13-620 that are not on the board of directors meeting agenda for action to a time later in the board of directors meeting.

    This allows for flexible scheduling of public comments based on time constraints during meetings.

  • Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

    (B) However, a board of directors may utilize a sign-up sheet for members of the public providing public comment so long as the sign-up sheet is accessible to the public until the start of the meeting of the board of directors.

    This provision allows the board to manage public comment through a sign-up process while ensuring accessibility.

Amendments

5 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Notification that SB90 is now Act 902

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

  5. Read the third time and passed.

  6. Rules suspended.

  7. House Amendment No. 1 & 2 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in.

  8. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

  9. Returned from the House as passed as amended # 1 & 2 .

  10. Returned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1 & 2

  11. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

  12. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  13. Amendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.

  14. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.

  15. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 2

  16. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  17. Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.

  18. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.

  19. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE

  20. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

  21. Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.

  22. Read the third time and passed.

  23. Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

  24. Re-referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

  25. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  26. Amendment # 3 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

  27. Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 3

  28. Re-referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

  29. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  30. Amendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

  31. Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 2

  32. Re-referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

  33. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  34. Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

  35. Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1

  36. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

  37. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (136)

136 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 136 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 90?
SB 90 is sponsored by Keith Brooks and Jane English.
What is the current status of SB 90?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 90?
Track SB 90 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 90

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 90

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →