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Higher‑education cleanup bill clears committee after sponsor removes contentious ARON provision
Summary
Senate Bill 358, a multisection higher‑education cleanup bill, was amended in committee to codify several technical provisions but the sponsor withdrew language creating a statutory basis for the Arkansas Research Education Optical Network (ARON) after members raised oversight concerns; the remaining cleanup passed.
Senate Bill 358, a multi‑section higher‑education cleanup bill, moved through the Senate Education Committee after debate over one provision that would have codified the Arkansas Research Education Optical Network (ARON) and its board. Following hours of questions about oversight and representation, the sponsor said he would remove the ARON provision and proceed with the remainder of the cleanup.
Sen. Jim Dodson introduced the bill with Melissa Rust of the University of Arkansas System at the table to describe the package of technical changes, which included removing obsolete affirmative‑action and committee provisions, clarifying alternative construction delivery authority for two‑year…
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