LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order Monday aimed at speeding up the permitting process within state government.
The order requires any cabinet-level state agency, commission or commission to review its licensing process within 120 days. Specific agencies named in the order include the Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Environment, Labor and Licensing, and Health.
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The order continues that within 180 days, these agencies must submit a written improvement plan to the governor that focuses on improving current processes. Where possible, agencies should establish clear, public timelines for all major permits and licenses, develop a one-stop online application portal, expand parallel reviews across agencies, and provide applicants with real-time status updates and a single point of contact.
“Arkansas is one of the best states in the nation for starting, building and growing a business, but we must do better to compete nationally and globally,” the governor said. “This executive order puts people over paperwork, adding transparency and speed to our permitting process to ensure major economic development projects are not hampered by unnecessary red tape.”
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The text of the order is on the governor’s website.
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