NWAOnline’s Legislative Coverage

Senate Bill 799 by Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, just sailed out of the Senate Education Committee with no debate. The bill would grant in-state tuition at state-run colleges and universities for students who live in Arkansas but aren’t documented as legally living in the United States. Usually these are students who grew up here but were brought here as young children by illegally immigrating parents.

Elliott called for a vote as soon as her fifth committee vote arrived and debate on a previous bill ended. Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, was the needed fifth vote. He was out with the flu when the bill came to a vote on Monday and failed to get a “do pass” recommendation in a 4 to 2 vote.  Today’s vote was 5 to 2.