Attorney General Griffin Sends Letters to Governor, Legislative Leadership Noting Support of Legislation

Griffin: ‘These bills strengthen our ability to fight crime, improve education and health care, and promote economic development’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after sending a letter in support of several bills being considered by the Arkansas Legislature during the 95th General Assembly to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, House Speaker Brian Evans (R-Cabot) and Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs):

“I routinely identify legislation that I believe is important to the state and in line with my office’s priorities and voice my support for those policies. These bills strengthen our ability to fight crime, improve education and health care, and promote economic development.

“I will continue to review legislation and issue additional support letters as warranted.”

The bills for which Griffin voiced support are:

SJR15 – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SB13 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CIVIL ACTIONS BROUGHT BY CERTAIN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE; AND TO ALLOW A CLAIM TO BE BROUGHT FOR INJURY CAUSED BY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AT ANY TIME IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

SB18 – TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING REPORTS BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR OF IMPROPER OR ILLEGAL PRACTICES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB45 – TO AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF THE WOMEN VETERANS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE; AND TO REPEAL THE PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR LICENSE PLATE.

SB56 – CONCERNING THE EVALUATION, EXTENSION, AND REPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE RULES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB59 – TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WITH ONE BREAKFAST AT NO COST DURING EACH SCHOOL DAY UPON HIS OR HER REQUEST WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT’S ELIGIBILITY FOR A FEDERALLY FUNDED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEAL; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB142 – TO CREATE THE BELL TO BELL, NO CELL ACT; TO AMEND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES WITH REGARD TO STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB203 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND RECREATIONAL TRAMWAYS; AND TO CREATE A RECREATIONAL TRAMWAY SYSTEM FOR STATE PARKS AND FOR OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE STATE.

SB207 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO DISCLOSE THAT PETITION FRAUD IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

SB208 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO VIEW PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING A SIGNATURE; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB209 – TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

SB210 – TO CREATE THE REQUIRED EXAMINING OF AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENTS ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB211 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; TO REQUIRE A CANVASSER TO SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT BEFORE SIGNATURES CAN BE COUNTED; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

SB213 – TO CREATE THE HEALTHY MOMS, HEALTHY BABIES ACT; AND TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH IN THIS STATE.

SB214 – TO ADD SECOND DEGREE MURDER TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES THAT ARE INELIGIBLE FOR MERITORIOUS FURLOUGH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB246 – TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE AS THEY RELATE TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB300 – TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB301 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THEFT OF PROPERTY; TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR THEFT OF CARGO; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

SB302 – TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GIFT CARD FRAUD; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB313 – CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT; TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND QUALITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB314 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEXUAL SOLICITATION; TO AMEND THE PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENSE OF SEXUAL SOLICITATION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB317 – TO PROHIBIT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES WITH A PROHIBITED FOREIGN PARTY.

SB320 – TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB328 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPUTER CRIMES AGAINST MINORS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SB351 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.

SB375 – TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; AND TO AMEND A PORTION OF ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 3 OF 1936.

SB377 – TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES LEVIED ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 19 OF 1958; AND TO EXEMPT GROCERIES FROM STATE SALES AND USE TAXES.

HJR1014 – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS WITHIN CITIES, COUNTIES, OR COOPERATIVE AREAS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

HB1007 – TO REGULATE LIABILITY FOR SHOOTING SPORTS EVENTS; AND TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT TO SHOOTING SPORTS EVENTS.

HB1049 – TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CRIMINAL OFFENSES; AND TO CRIMINALIZE UNLAWFUL SQUATTING.

HB1067 – CONCERNING FIREARM HOLD AGREEMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY TO A FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEE WHO AGREES TO HOLD A FIREARM FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.

HB1075 – TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE SALE OR USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE OR IMPOSING A TAX OR FEE ON THE USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

HB1146 – AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

HB1221 – TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVES, REFERENDA, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB1222 – TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLES FOR CONFLICTS WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE SUBMISSION OF CONFLICTING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.

HB1223 – TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS WHO IS SERVING IN THAT POSITION AS AN APPOINTEE TO USE THE TITLE OF THAT POSITION AS A PREFIX ON THE BALLOT.

HB1352 – TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING ACTIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES.

HB1474 – CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

HB1489 – TO AMEND THE METHOD OF EXECUTION TO INCLUDE NITROGEN GAS.

HB1508 – TO RECODIFY TITLE 19 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING PUBLIC FINANCE; AND TO AMEND LAWS RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACTS 2000, NO. 1; AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO THE ARKANSAS CODE.

HB1512 – TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; AND TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE AS THEY RELATE TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

HB1527 – TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE INVESTMENTS A GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE MAY MAKE ON BEHALF OF A WARD.

HB1552 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN INCHOATE OFFENSES RELATED TO FENTANYL; AND TO ESTABLISH THE CLASSIFICATION FOR A CRIMINAL ATTEMPT, SOLICITATION, OR CONSPIRACY FOR CERTAIN FENTANYL RELATED OFFENSES.

HB1563 – TO ADD A FELONY OFFENSE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DEFINITION OF RESTRICTED RELEASE FELONY WITH RESPECT TO RELEASE ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURES FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025.

HB1579 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER REASSESSMENT; AND TO PROHIBIT AN INCARCERATED PERSON FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR RISK LEVEL REASSESSMENT.

HB1581 – TO ADD TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF SEX OFFENSE FOR RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF A CRIME.

HB1604 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PROHIBITED CONTRACTS BY STATE AGENCIES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY STATE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS MADE IN CHINA.

HB1609 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR RECRUITING TRAFFICKED PERSONS FROM CERTAIN PLACES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB1610 – TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HUMAN LIFE PROTECTION ACT AND THE ARKANSAS UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT.

HB1634 – TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

HB1637 – CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE FISCAL IMPACT OF STATEWIDE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM MEASURES AND LEGISLATIVELY REFERRED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

HB1641 – TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HARASSMENT; AND TO INCLUDE THE USE OF A TRACKING DEVICE IN THE OFFENSE OF HARASSMENT.

HB1662 – TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.

HB1680 – TO PREVENT A FOREIGN-PARTY-CONTROLLED BUSINESS FROM LEASING LAND; AND TO PROHIBIT A PROHIBITED FOREIGN PARTY FROM HOLDING AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY OR AGRICULTURAL LAND IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

HB1685 – TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES LEVIED ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 19 OF 1958; AND TO EXEMPT GROCERIES FROM STATE SALES AND USE TAXES.

HB1689 – TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO GRANT ACCESS TO ITS FACILITIES TO MILITARY RECRUITERS; AND TO REQUIRE CERTAIN STATE-SUPPORTED POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS TO GRANT ACCESS TO ITS FACILITIES TO MILITARY RECRUITERS.

To read a copy of the letter Griffin sent to the Governor and legislative leadership, click here.

About Attorney General Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state’s 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.

Griffin is currently an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and holds the rank of colonel. Griffin served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.

His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master’s degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.

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