1.1.25 – KTLO
As 2025 approaches, two significant laws in Arkansas are set to take effect, marking key changes in the state’s criminal justice system and education policy. Both the Protect Arkansas Act and the LEARNS Act, passed in 2023, will begin to impact residents starting in the new year.
The Protect Arkansas Act, part of Governor Sarah Sanders’s broader 2023 crime and parole overhaul package, eliminates parole eligibility for individuals convicted of certain violent crimes. It also includes nearly $500 million in funding to expand prison capacity. Starting in 2025, people convicted of first-degree murder will be required to serve their full sentence without the possibility of early release. While most offenders will no longer be eligible for parole, some may still qualify for release after serving 85% of their sentence.
Meanwhile, the LEARNS Act, also signed into law in 2023, is set to bring significant changes to education in Arkansas. Beginning in 2025, the state Department of Education will launch an app to help residents search for jobs and access training opportunities. Additionally, all Arkansas students will be eligible to apply for “education freedom accounts,” which will allow families to use state tax funds for private schooling or home education starting in the next school year.
The LEARNS Act has stirred controversy, particularly over Section 16, which bans the teaching of certain ideologies, including critical race theory. Earlier this year, teachers, students from Little Rock Central High, and the NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging this provision. A federal judge has postponed a final decision on whether to dismiss the case, leaving the issue unresolved as the law prepares to take effect.