In This Issue SPRING 2021


Features AAC Calendar.......................................................................................6


Fallen Officers Honored at Capitol...............................................21 The Price Counties Have Paid........................................................24 Following the Arkansas Quilt Trail.................................................28 Pulaski County Flips the Switch on New Solar Array.................30 AAC Welcomes New Board Member.............................................32 Staff Profile: Whitney Ives...............................................................33 AAC Photo Recap: County Coroners.............................................36 AAC Photo Recap: County Collectors.........................................37 AAC Photo Recap: County Treasurers...........................................38 AAC Photo Recap: Justices of the Peace......................................39 AAC Photo Recap: County Assessors.........................................40


Departments From the Director’s Desk...................................................................7


President’s Perspective......................................................................9 From the Governor............................................................................11 AG Opinions.......................................................................................13 Research Corner ...............................................................................14 Seems to Me..................................................................................... 16 Governmental Affairs ......................................................................18 Legal Corner......................................................................................20 Litigation Lessons ............................................................................22 Wellness & Safety............................................................................23 News from NACo...............................................................................34


Cover Notes: Legislative Recess


(Cover Photo by Holland Doran) The 2021 Legislative Session was like no other in


history. The COVID-19 pandemic dictated that there be an entirely new set of rules in place — masks were required, plexiglass partitions were in place, those testifying were kept in holding rooms, and the halls of the state Capitol building were largely empty. In addition, rather than adjourning sine die at the end of April, the two chambers took an extended recess. They will return in the fall to address congressional redistricting and COVID-19 relief funding. AAC Governmental Affairs Director Josh Curtis addresses what to expect this fall in his column on Page 18.


Law enforcement reform, second amendment rights, COVID-19 matters, and election reform domi- nated the legislative discussion. Gov. Asa Hutchinson discusses some of those issues in his column on Page 11, while AAC Legal Counsel Lindsey French focuses on election reform in her column on Page 20. AAC Executive Director Chris Villines also dis- cusses the session, as well as other important topics for county government in his column on Page 7. We hope you find this issue of County Lines informative. Pictured at left are the House of Representatives (top) and Gov. Hutchinson (bottom).


— Photos by Secretary of State’s Staff COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2021 5


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