BioSenator Bart Hester of Cave Springs represents Senate District 33, which
includes the cities of Bentonville, Rogers, Centerton and Cave Springs in
Benton County. He was elected to the Senate in 2012 and took the oath of
office on the first day of the 2013 session.
Senator Hester was elected again to be the Senate President Pro Tempore
of the 95th General Assembly. Only two other people have severed two
terms as President Pro Tempore in modern times.
Senator Hester is a member of the Senate Revenue and Taxation
Committee, the Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee, the
Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth Committee, the Senate
Rules, Resolutions and Memorials Committee, the Joint Budget
Committee, Arkansas Legislative Council and the Legislative Joint Auditing
Committee. He is a member of the Legislative Facilities Committee.
Senator Hester believes in holding down the size of government and
reducing government debt. He has been a consistent sponsor of legislation
to lower taxes and reduce regulatory burdens on business. Also, his
legislative priorities include bills to improve foster care and adoption
services.
During the 94th General Assembly, Senator Hester sponsored legislation to
promote permanency and to strengthen kinship placements for children in
foster care. He also sponsored legislation that promote tourism in
Arkansas.
In 2021 Senator Hester co-sponsored legislation that requires public
schools to teach about the Holocaust. Other bills amended eligibility for
scholarships and change the process of getting a driver's permit. Senator
Hester co-sponsored bills on public health directives and property rights.
In 2017 and 2019, Senator Hester was the Senate Majority Whip and
Senate Majority Leader respectively. In 2017, he co-sponsored legislation
to provide $50 million in income tax relief to lower-income families. In 2015,
he co-sponsored legislation to provide $100 million in income tax relief to
middle class Arkansas families.
A native of Green Forest, he is a 2001 graduate of the Sam Walton College
of Business at the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in
Business Management. While working on his degree in Fayetteville, he
lettered for three years for the Razorbacks' varsity baseball team. His
business interests are in real estate and construction.
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