Senate Education committee advances bill clarifying Arkansas requirement to lock outdoor exit doors at schools

Sen. Jane English, District 13, presented a bill to the Senate Education Committee clarifying that Arkansas law requires outdoor exit doors at public, charter and private schools to be locked and closed while students are in classrooms.

"This basically clarifies the Arkansas law that requires all public schools, charter schools, private schools have outdoor exit doors locked and closed while students are in the room," English told the committee.

The committee chair asked whether members had questions and whether the committee should pass the measure; no members of the public spoke for or against the bill during the public comment check. English closed her presentation and moved the committee to "do pass." The chair announced a motion to pass and recorded a second from Sen. Dodson. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote; the chair said, "Motion carries."

After the vote, committee members completed signing formalities related to the passage. The committee adjourned after members finished distributing materials.

The record shows a committee-level approval; the transcript does not specify the bill number, the exact statutory citation being amended or the next procedural step in the legislative process.