The House and Senate are scheduled to convene at 11:00 AM this morning to begin the Third Extraordinary Session of the 93rd General Assembly.

Lawmakers are expected to use a portion of the state’s $1.6 billion surplus to accelerate a tax cut for wealthy Arkansans and to set aside $50 million for a school-safety grant program to be overseen by the legislature.

Despite bipartisan support for raising teacher salaries (and overwhelming support among the public), Governor Asa Hutchinson didn’t include teacher salaries on the agenda for the special session, citing too little support among Republican lawmakers.

Special sessions are required to touch three calendar days, meaning the session will run through at least Thursday, August 11.

As always, you can watch House and Senate proceedings online at www.arkleg.state.ar.us.