Arkansas House passes broad package of bills on online safety, health coverage, elections and education

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas House of Representatives on March 17, 2025, approved a wide-ranging package of bills addressing children's online safety, health-care oversight and funding, election procedures, education policy and several technical corrections to state law.

The most prominent measures that passed include the Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act, tighter reporting and fee changes for pharmacy benefit managers, clarified rules for paid canvassers and local petition activity, and removal of a sunset provision on the medical-marijuana privilege tax that funds food-insecurity programs. Several other bills on elections, education and public-safety licensing also cleared the chamber.

Why it matters: The bills together touch a range of state responsibilities — from placing expectations on technology platforms to protect minors, to increasing regulatory tools and funding streams for oversight of pharmacy benefit managers, to preserving funding used for child nutrition programs. Many measures were noncontroversial or technical; a handful drew more opposition or closer votes, including the repeal of the medical-marijuana sunset and the measure expanding investigative authority related to the state lottery.

Key votes and outcomes (Votes at a glance)

- HB 17-26, Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act — Passed 92-2. The bill creates a duty of care for technology platforms to address elevated risks of harm to minors (anxiety, depression, eating disorders, exploitation, bullying and similar categories described in the bill) and establishes an online-safety council under the Department of Commerce to advise and report to the relevant legislative committee. Representative Gramlich explained that the council and rulemaking details would be handled by the Department of Commerce; Representative Gramlich said he did not expect a funded full-time staff for the council and anticipated volunteer participation.…