The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday sent Gov. Asa Hutchinson the general appropriation for the expenses of the judicial and legislative branches of government.
The Senate voted 35-0 to approve House Bill 1037, which cleared the House on Tuesday.
[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]
The bill includes $400,000 for trial judges' expenses; $368,000 for the House of Representatives' interim expense reimbursements; $200,000 for senators' interim expense reimbursements; $350,000 for special and recalled circuit judges; and $45,000 for district judges' travel expense reimbursements.
Under the Arkansas Constitution, the general appropriation bill is the first appropriation that the General Assembly must pass before approving other appropriation bills.
-- Michael R. Wickline