Arkansas Gov. Beebe Signs Teacher Insurance Fixes Into Law

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has signed into law a package of bills intended to limit health insurance premium increases for thousands of public school teachers.

Beebe signed the measures into law on Monday. State lawmakers gave final approval to the bills last Saturday during a marathon special legislative session.

The measures include a plan to tap $43 million in surplus money this year for the insurance program and redirect state money in subsequent years.

Beebe also signed into law a plan to repeal a measure approved in March that eased water quality standards for waterways that aren’t used for drinking water. Federal officials have said that law doesn’t comply with the Clean Water Act.