In this episode of Arkansas 1st Reports, host Kandi Cox sits down with Dallas Guynes Green, Grassroots Engagement Director for Americans for Prosperity, to discuss two critical issues impacting Arkansans: energy policy and healthcare access.

In the first segment, Kandi and Dallas dive into Entergy’s proposed Strategic Investment Rider bill, which could allow utilities to recover costs for infrastructure projects without full oversight from the Public Service Commission. They explore how this bill could lead to rate increases, reduce accountability, and prioritize profit over efficiency. Dallas outlines better alternatives, including maximizing existing assets, implementing competitive market mechanisms, and ensuring consumers only pay for necessary and reliable energy investments.

In the second segment, they shift gears to analyze Arkansas’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws. These regulations, intended to control healthcare expansion, have been criticized for limiting access to care, especially in rural areas and for mental health services. With Arkansas ranking 48th in the nation for mental health, Dallas highlights the unintended consequences of CON laws, including higher costs, reduced competition, and fewer options for families in need. They discuss how repealing these laws could open the door to innovation, lower costs, and improved healthcare access for Arkansans.

Tune in to hear a thoughtful, solution-oriented discussion on how free-market principles could transform energy and healthcare policy in Arkansas for the better.

Guest: Dallas Guynes Green, Grassroots Engagement Director, Americans for Prosperity

Host: Kandi Cox Guest: Blake Torres, Pharmacist & Arkansas Board of Health Member In this episode of Arkansas 1st Review, host Kandi Cox sits down with Blake Torres, pharmacist and co-owner of West Side Pharmacy, to discuss House Bill 1150 (HB1150) and its impact on local pharmacies and patient healthcare access in Arkansas. HB1150 is a legislative effort aimed at preventing large insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning and operating pharmacies—a practice that has driven local, independent pharmacies out of business, inflated drug prices, and limited patient choice. During the discussion, Blake Torres debunks the misinformation campaign being pushed by trillion-dollar corporate interests attempting to kill the bill. He explains: ✅ Why claims that HB1150 will harm 2.7 million Arkansans are false. ✅ How PBMs manipulate the system to force patients into mail-order pharmacies, stripping them of their right to choose. ✅ The real dangers of corporate-controlled pharmacy pricing and limited access to specialty medications. ✅ Why local pharmacies—not corporate mail-order giants—are the key to affordable, accessible healthcare. ✅ What Arkansans can do to fight back against corporate overreach and support HB1150. 🔥 This episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about protecting small businesses, patient freedom, and fair competition in healthcare. 🎧 Tune in now and join the fight for pharmacy freedom in Arkansas! 🚀

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Arkansas 1st Reports, host Kandi Cox sits down with Jerry Cox, President of Family Council, to discuss the key legislative priorities this session that impact faith, family, and freedom in Arkansas.

Topics covered include:

• $2 Million for Pregnancy Help Organization Grants – How this funding supports life-affirming resources and the likelihood of passage.
• HB1139 – The Released Time Education Act – What this bill means for religious instruction in schools and why it matters for parental rights.
• The LEARNS Act & Homeschooling – The impact of Arkansas' education reform on homeschool families.
• Abortion Amendment Update – Why the previous ballot initiative failed and how pro-life Christians should prepare for future challenges.
• Strengthening Pro-Life Laws – What legal clarifications are needed to protect Arkansas’ strong pro-life stance.
• Religious Freedom Bill – How this legislation reinforces protections for students and teachers in schools.
• H.B. 1221 & H.B. 1222 – Initiative Law Clarification – How these bills help prevent unconstitutional or misleading measures from reaching the ballot.

Join us for this insightful conversation as we break down the policies shaping Arkansas and discuss how conservatives can take action to protect our values.

Guests:

1. Jerry Cox: Jerry is the founder and president of Family Council. He began the Family Council in 1989 after a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to prevent the use of public funds for abortions. He is the founder of the Education Alliance, the Arkansas Physician’s Resource Council, and the Arkansas Justice Institute. In 2004 he spearheaded a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In 2008 Jerry led a successful effort to pass the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act. Between fundraising, public speaking, leading the staff, lobbying, and writing, Jerry maintains an active role in ensuring that Family Council continues to serve the people of Arkansas as it has for more than 30 years. He and his wife reside in Little Rock. They have four sons.