Representative Lee Johnson - I'm Proud to Back the Blue

Law enforcement deserves our unwavering support. This week I was proud to support several initiatives designed to say “thank you” to our heroes and also help keep criminals off the streets.

- SB103 grants a one-time $5,000 stipend to certified law enforcement officers all across the state. T

his initiatives is designed to reward and thank the men and women who protect and serve, but also send a message that Arkansas will never “defund” law enforcement. We’re supporting them more than ever before.

- HB1026 increases the salary for Arkansas State Troopers, taking us from 7th to 2nd in our region. Troopers are vital to our safety and security and we must remain competitive with neighboring states.

- Arkansas county jails will receive a $6.4 million increase in reimbursements for housing state inmates. The daily rate will increase from $32 a day per inmate to $40. This important measure has long been requested by local leaders and will help Sebastian County and others continue to provide critical services on behalf of the state.

- The General Assembly also approved up to $75 million to expand prison operations at the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Providing this additional capacity will ease the long-term burden on counties to house overflow, and ensure the state has the ability to keep dangerous criminals in prison where they belong.

As your state representative, I’ll always Back the Blue. I am committed to paying the salaries our defenders deserve and ensuring the state has the capacity to keep criminals in jail and off the streets. This was a good week for law enforcement and citizens, and I was happy to lend my support on behalf of the people of Sebastian County.