To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning The Placement Of A Monument On The State Capitol Grounds In Recognition And Appreciation Of The Integration Of Hoxie Public Schools.
Summary
HB1194 amends Arkansas law to authorize and facilitate a monument on the State Capitol grounds honoring the 1955 integration of Hoxie public schools. The bill includes legislative findings describing Hoxie as an early and important desegregation milestone after Brown v. Board of Education, noting the local school board’s voluntary integration, the resistance it faced, and the legal and historical significance of the resulting court battle.
The measure directs the Secretary of State to permit, arrange, and approve the placement of the monument in consultation with the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission, and specifies that it should be located among other Capitol monuments. It also establishes the “Hoxie: The First Stand Memorial Monument Fund” as a state trust fund to receive gifts, grants, and donations for erecting and maintaining the monument, and adds that fund to the list of dedicated monument funds that may be used for upkeep before general preservation funds are spent.
In practical terms, the bill creates a new statutory framework for commemorating Hoxie’s role in school desegregation and adds a new dedicated fund within Arkansas fiscal law. It also amends the Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund provisions to recognize the new Hoxie monument fund alongside existing dedicated funds for other memorials and monuments.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable. The voting history shows overwhelming support in both chambers, with a 94-1 vote on House third reading and a unanimous 34-0 vote on Senate third reading. The bill’s findings frame the monument as a recognition of civil rights history and a point of Arkansas pride.
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available materials, and no committee transcript is provided. Any potential points of contention would likely concern the use of Capitol grounds, the selection and design of the monument, or the creation of a new dedicated fund, but the recorded votes suggest these issues did not generate significant resistance.
Impact
HB1194 changes Arkansas law by creating the “Hoxie: The First Stand Memorial Monument Act” and establishing a dedicated trust fund for the monument. It requires the Secretary of State to permit and arrange for a monument on State Capitol grounds commemorating the 1955 integration of Hoxie public schools, and it authorizes acceptance of private gifts, grants, and donations for the project. The bill also amends the Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund statute to include the new Hoxie monument fund among the dedicated funds that must be used first for maintenance and upkeep of that specific monument.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and a positive historical framing. The House passed it 94-1 on third reading, and the Senate passed it 34-0 on third reading. The legislative findings present the monument as a tribute to a significant civil rights milestone in Arkansas, suggesting the measure was viewed favorably as a commemorative and educational project.
Contention
No committee debate or transcript is available, and the recorded votes show minimal to no opposition. The most likely areas of concern would be the placement of a new monument on Capitol grounds, the Secretary of State’s role in approving design and site selection, and the creation of a new dedicated trust fund for maintenance. However, the vote totals indicate these issues did not become major points of contention in the legislative process.