ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
- Governor Hutchinson announced some nonessential out-patient medical procedures can resume on April 27. (April 22)
- Governor Hutchinson issued an executive order directing commercial lodging and short-term rentals, such as hotels, motels, and vacation rentals, to only permit certain types of guests in order to protect public health during the COVID-19 crisis. (April 4)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
- Governor Hutchinson issued an executive order that will require employers to pay for medical care and provide time-off pay for workers who test positive for COVID-19. (June 15)
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
- Arkansas will introduce a new state-run program with higher income limits and simpler documentation requirements that will make more residents eligible for rental assistance payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. (May 17)
- Arkansas is set to become one of the first states in the Mid-South to end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs. (May 10)
- Arkansas applied for the federal program that would provide $300 additional dollars a week for unemployed residents. (August 20)
- Governor Hutchinson issued an executive order creating the Governor’s Economic Recovery Task Force, which will develop an industry-specific strategy and provide recommendations for the state’s economic recovery. (August 18)
Business Support & Resources:
- Governor Hutchinson issued an executive order granting all businesses and their employees immunity from civil liability as a result of exposure to COVID-19. (June 15)
