5.20.25 – KY3 – By Chris Bryant – HARRISON, Ark.
Arkansas lawmakers hope a new state law will reduce bullying in school locker rooms. State Rep. Keith Brooks of Little Rock introduced Eli’s Law. By 2027-2028, all public schools and open-enrollment charter schools must install audio recording devices in locker rooms and changing areas.
Arkansas lawmakers hope a new state law will reduce bullying in school locker rooms.
State Rep. Keith Brooks of Little Rock introduced Eli’s Law. By 2027-2028, all public schools and open-enrollment charter schools must install audio recording devices in locker rooms and changing areas.
“Parents throughout the United States and in Arkansas worried about bullying and in unsupervised areas, and House Bill 1866, or now Act 908, is addressing that,” said Dr. Stewart Pratt, the Superintendent of Schools for the Harrison School District.
The school must post signs in those places to let students know that recording devices are in place.
“We got a little bit of buffer time; we appreciate the legislatures doing that, because getting the equipment in and making sure that it’s set up and tweaked the right way. Harrison will probably have theirs done a little bit earlier than that; we won’t wait until the 11th hour,” said Supt. Pratt.
Supt. Pratt says this new law is another tool that will help protect students.
“I think it is just another tool, I don’t think it is the tool, it is not the end-all be-all, when it comes to our coaching staff, our teachers, to communicate with our students about what is the right way to build relationships with one another. It gives us another tool to reinforce and strengthen the learning that is going on with our young students and how to treat each other in a respectful way,” says Pratt.
Regarding access to the recordings and who can access them, Pratt says his district will develop a policy that adheres to the law. This policy will protect the students and staff as well.
“There is also protection for coaches, to verify that there are the things I did say, or if someone is abusive, which we don’t ever want, we have ethical people that are educators, and if someone does step out of line, yeah, it could be used against them,” said Supt. Pratt.
To read Eli’s Law for yourself, you can click here.