Things to know when the Arkansas Legislature convenes to take up a budget and other issues

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers are convening at the Capitol and their top agenda item is taking up Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ $6.3 billion proposed budget for the coming year.

The session also could include efforts to tweak or outright repeal a law dealing with cryptocurrency mining operations.

Sanders, a Republican who took office last year, is scheduled to kick off this year’s session on Wednesday with an address to members of the House and Senate.

“Our preference is to keep it very limited, and that’s been our practice” since voters approved annual sessions in 2008, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said.

Here’s a look at what to expect during the fiscal session:

SANDERS’ PLAN

Sanders last month proposed a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that increases state spending by 1.76% over the previous year. Nearly all of the $109 million increase would go toward education and is related to a law Sanders signed last year that created a new school voucher program.

“As Governor, I’ve promised to Arkansans to limit the size and growth of government while still investing in areas of greatest need like education and public safety,” Sanders said in a statement. “My proposed budget accomplishes this with only a 1.76% increase over last fiscal year, far below the 3% year-over-year increase our state has averaged in the recent past, and my top priority this fiscal session is its passage.”

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