DeAnn Vaught

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Jobs & cost of living237 with · 24 against261 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    TO CREATE THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS IN ARKANSAS; AND TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NATURAL MEDICINE.

    Creates a licensing system for naturopathic physicians overseen by a new Arkansas State Board of Natural Medicine, defining their scope of practice, education requirements, background checks, and unlicensed-practice prohibition.

    Apr 15, 2025 · Failed 46–44 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE CERTAIN RECORDS BE PROVIDED TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS A MINOR.

    Requires employers with more than ten employees to give each minor employee an itemized pay statement showing pay basis, rates of pay, gross pay and deductions each time wages are paid.

    Apr 16, 2025 · Failed 42–34 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT STATE ENTITIES FROM EMPLOYING UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS; TO ESTABLISH THE E-VERIFY REQUIREMENT ACT; AND TO REQUIRE STATE ENTITIES TO USE E-VERIFY TO CONFIRM EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY.

    Requires state agencies and political subdivisions to verify new hires through E-Verify, bars employing unauthorized aliens, and lets the Department of Labor and Licensing request verification records, with a 30-day cure period for noncompliance starting July 1, 2026.

    Apr 10, 2025 · Passed 76–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Health & care112 with · 13 against125 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    TO CREATE THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS IN ARKANSAS; AND TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NATURAL MEDICINE.

    Creates a licensing system for naturopathic physicians overseen by a new Arkansas State Board of Natural Medicine, defining their scope of practice, education requirements, background checks, and unlicensed-practice prohibition.

    Apr 15, 2025 · Failed 46–44 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

    On the version voted Apr 15, 2025: Requires the Department of Human Services, with the Department of Education, to set up regional behavioral health programs by January 1, 2026, respond within 48 hours to school requests about students likely to injure themselves or others, develop management plans, and find funding.

    Apr 14, 2025 · Passed 51–22 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT RACE-SELECTION ABORTION IN THIS STATE; AND TO CREATE THE RACE DISCRIMINATION BY ABORTION PROHIBITION ACT.

    Bans abortions sought solely because of the unborn child's race, requires providers to ask whether the woman knows the race and request her pregnancy records, and sets criminal, civil and license penalties. Takes effect only if the state's abortion bans are enjoined or amended.

    Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 63–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Rights & public safety109 with · 6 against115 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

    On the version voted Mar 11, 2025: Requires a person to read the ballot title, or hear it read aloud, in the canvasser's presence before signing an initiative or referendum petition, and makes it a misdemeanor for a canvasser to knowingly accept a signature without that. Takes effect immediately.

    Mar 10, 2025 · Failed 56–35 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

    On the version voted Mar 11, 2025: Requires the Secretary of State not to count petition signatures gathered by a canvasser found, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have violated canvassing, perjury, forgery or fraud laws during the current election cycle. Takes effect immediately.

    Mar 10, 2025 · Failed 65–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLES FOR CONFLICTS WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE SUBMISSION OF CONFLICTING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.

    Lets the Attorney General reject proposed initiated acts and amendments whose text conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or a federal statute, and bars sponsors from submitting multiple conflicting petitions, except after a rejection or after the general election following a certification.

    Feb 10, 2025 · Passed 62–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Education & families105 with · 8 against113 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

    On the version voted Apr 15, 2025: Requires the Department of Human Services, with the Department of Education, to set up regional behavioral health programs by January 1, 2026, respond within 48 hours to school requests about students likely to injure themselves or others, develop management plans, and find funding.

    Apr 14, 2025 · Passed 51–22 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY AT THE RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

    Lets a school district or open-enrollment charter school allow a private school student to join an interscholastic activity there when the student's private school lacks that activity approved by the Arkansas Activities Association.

    Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 56–32 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015; AND TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL WITHIN HIS OR HER RESIDENT DISTRICT.

    Lets students transfer to another public school within their resident district under the school choice laws, requires districts to adopt and post a transfer policy, and lets a district claim lack of capacity once 95% of grade-level seats are filled.

    Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 59–30 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Climate & energy40 with · 3 against43 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

    On the version voted Apr 28, 2026: Appropriates money for the Division of Environmental Quality for 2026-27, covering state and federal operations and programs for wastewater licensing, land reclamation, hazardous waste permits, abandoned mines and surface coal mining.

    Apr 27, 2026 · Failed 66–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE SALE OR USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE OR IMPOSING A TAX OR FEE ON THE USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

    Feb 20, 2025 · Passed 82–8 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER.

    Bars state agencies from imposing permit moratoriums in watersheds or bodies of water unless adopted by rule and approved by legislative review; approved moratoriums expire after four years unless the Legislative Council approves renewal.

    Apr 15, 2025 · Passed 70–11 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Transportation27 with · 1 against28 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT THE PROCUREMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN WHOLE OR IN PART USING FORCED LABOR.

    Bars governmental entities from contracting to buy electric vehicles or components unless the manufacturer certifies under oath that no forced labor was used in production, with civil penalties for knowingly false certifications.

    Apr 7, 2025 · Passed 74–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    TO ESTABLISH THE PREGNANCY PARKING ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PARKING FOR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF A TEMPORARY SPECIAL CERTIFICATE TO PREGNANT WOMEN.

    Creates the Pregnancy Parking Act, letting a physician-confirmed pregnant woman get a temporary disability parking certificate that expires one year after she gives birth.

    Mar 19, 2025 · Failed 35–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF GENDER INFORMATION ON AN ARKANSAS DRIVER’S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD.

    Requires Arkansas driver's licenses and ID cards to state gender as "M" or "F", matching the applicant's identity document or, if it shows "X" or none, a form the applicant completes; bars "X" or blank entries; allows changes only with an amended birth certificate.

    Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 82–8 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Housing & rent14 with · 2 against16 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    TO REQUIRE A COUNTY RECORDER TO VERIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION BEFORE RECORDING A DEED TO REAL ESTATE.

    Bars county recorders from accepting a real estate deed unless the grantor, or someone signing for the grantor, appears in person with a valid photo ID, with exceptions for deeds presented by attorneys, real estate brokers, lenders, title agents, and government representatives.

    Apr 14, 2025 · Passed 51–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS SHALL HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO REGULATE OR CONTROL THE AMOUNT CHARGED FOR A RENTAL APPLICATION FEE OR RENTAL DEPOSIT FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.

    Extends the existing ban on local rent-control ordinances to also cover rental application fees and rental deposits for private residential or commercial property.

    Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 81–11 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME INSPECTORS; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF ABSTRACTERS; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF HOME INSPECTORS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

    Apr 1, 2025 · Failed 23–56 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes
• ›Technology & privacy14 with · 1 against15 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    TO CREATE ELI'S LAW; AND TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO INSTALL AN AUDIO RECORDING DEVICE IN EACH LOCKER ROOM AND DRESSING ROOM ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CAMPUS.

    Requires each public school district and charter school, starting in 2027-28, to install audio recording devices in locker rooms and changing rooms with posted notices, and keep recordings at least 90 days but no more than 12 months absent an allegation.

    Apr 14, 2025 · Passed 71–21 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    TO AMEND THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS BY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, PRIVATE LEASEHOLDER, AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

    Allows private landowners, leaseholders and commercial businesses to use automatic license plate readers to monitor access to their property, limits their data retention to 60 days, bars selling the data, and requires a subpoena for government to compel its release.

    Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 56–27 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MANUFACTURING, MODIFYING, SELLING, TRANSFERRING, OR OPERATING A ROBOTIC DEVICE OR AN UNCREWED AIRCRAFT THAT IS EQUIPPED OR MOUNTED WITH A WEAPON.

    Makes it a violation, with a fine of $5,000 to $25,000, to knowingly make, modify, sell, transfer or operate a ground robotic device or uncrewed aircraft equipped with a weapon, or to reprogram a robot to harm people or property.

    Apr 7, 2025 · Failed 14–65 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense13 with · 0 against13 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.

    Bars people paid to lobby from lobbying for a covered foreign entity, defined to include parties on federal screening or entity lists and those based in or controlled by China or Russia, with penalties escalating from a fine to a felony.

    Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 78–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO PROHIBIT THE PROCUREMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN WHOLE OR IN PART USING FORCED LABOR.

    Bars governmental entities from contracting to buy electric vehicles or components unless the manufacturer certifies under oath that no forced labor was used in production, with civil penalties for knowingly false certifications.

    Apr 7, 2025 · Passed 74–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    TO CREATE THE RECOGNIZING JUDEA AND SAMARIA ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM USING THE TERM "WEST BANK" IN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MATERIALS.

    Bars state agencies from using the term "West Bank" in official materials, with the stated intent of using "Judea and Samaria" instead; an agency's executive head may waive the bar and must explain the waiver to the legislature.

    Apr 7, 2025 · Passed 79–11 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 10 of 104 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Education & families (5), Rights & public safety (4), Jobs & cost of living (2)

• TO REQUIRE CERTAIN RECORDS BE PROVIDED TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS A MINOR.

  What it does: Requires employers with more than ten employees to give each minor employee an itemized pay statement showing pay basis, rates of pay, gross pay and deductions each time wages are paid.

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 17–0, Republicans 25–34

  Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗

• CONCERNING SAFETY AND PRIVACY IN CERTAIN ENTITIES; AND CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF MULTI-OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS, CHANGING ROOMS, AND SLEEPING QUARTERS IN CERTAIN ENTITIES BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEX.

  What it does: Requires shelters, state and local correctional facilities and public buildings to designate multi-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters for males or females only, defined by biological sex, limits…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 60–4

  Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗

• TO CREATE THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS IN ARKANSAS; AND TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NATURAL MEDICINE.

  What it does: Creates a licensing system for naturopathic physicians overseen by a new Arkansas State Board of Natural Medicine, defining their scope of practice, education requirements, background checks, and unlicensed-practice p…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–17, Republicans 46–27

  Apr 15, 2025Official record ↗

• TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

  What it does: On the version voted Apr 15, 2025: Requires the Department of Human Services, with the Department of Education, to set up regional behavioral health programs by January 1, 2026, respond within 48 hours to school reque…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–17, Republicans 58–11

  Apr 14, 2025Official record ↗

• AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AWARDED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003.

  What it does: Requires professional development funding above the $41-per-student base amount to be used by the state education division for professional learning communities that support implementing the LEARNS Act.

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 2–12, Republicans 59–13

  Apr 10, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• No

  TO CREATE THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS IN ARKANSAS; AND TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NATURAL MEDICINE.

  Against most of their party · Failed 46–44 · Yes 46–No 44 · Democrats 0–17, Republicans 46–27

  Apr 15, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

  Against most of their party · Failed 56–35 · Yes 56–No 35 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 56–17

  Mar 10, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

  With most of their party · Passed 51–22 · Yes 51–No 22 · Democrats 0–16, Republicans 51–6

  Apr 14, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

  With most of their party · Failed 65–30 · Yes 65–No 30 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 65–11

  Mar 10, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  TO RECONSTITUTE THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD.

  With most of their party · Passed 60–29 · Yes 60–No 29 · Democrats 0–17, Republicans 60–12

  Apr 15, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  TO CREATE THE BABY OLIVIA ACT.

  With most of their party · Failed 21–58 · Yes 21–No 58 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 3–58

  Feb 6, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLES FOR CONFLICTS WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE SUBMISSION OF CONFLICTING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.

  With most of their party · Passed 62–30 · Yes 62–No 30 · Democrats 0–17, Republicans 62–13

  Feb 10, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  CONCERNING SAFETY AND PRIVACY IN CERTAIN ENTITIES; AND CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF MULTI-OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS, CHANGING ROOMS, AND SLEEPING QUARTERS IN CERTAIN ENTITIES BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEX.

  Against most of their party · Passed 60–22 · Yes 60–No 22 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 60–4

  Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗