LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced the findings of a comprehensive regulatory review aimed at streamlining how Arkansas government handles permits, licenses, and other approvals.

The review was initiated under Executive Order 26-04, which Sanders signed on February 16, 2026. The directive required state agencies to evaluate and recommend changes to improve efficiency and reduce burdens on Arkansans and businesses. According to Sanders, 13 state departments identified 344 ways to make the process faster, simpler, and less costly.

“We don’t grow our economy by putting government in charge and telling everyone what to do; we grow our economy by getting government out of the way and letting entrepreneurs and small businesses do what they do best,” Sanders said in a statement. "My administration is focused on making government work better for you, and these regulatory changes deliver on that promise: less red tape, faster approvals, and clearer rules. We’re giving Arkansans the tools they need to build the businesses and economy our state needs to thrive."

Of the 344 recommendations, Governor Sanders detailed that 51 have already been implemented, and 24 others are in progress. However, moving forward with many of the remaining proposals will require additional actions. Specifically, 84 changes need legislative or rule changes to take effect, while 80 more require adjustments through departments’ internal rulemaking processes.

Sanders has tasked her agencies with pursuing all changes currently within their authority and has directed them to engage with legislators on reforms that would require approval during the next legislative session.

The regulatory review involved recommendations from 13 Arkansas state agencies, each proposing statutory, regulatory, and internal operational adjustments. Sanders emphasized the ongoing nature of the initiative and expressed her administration’s commitment to sustaining these efforts.

The announcement builds on the governor’s broader agenda for creating a more business-friendly climate in Arkansas by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

Further developments are expected as agencies continue their work and as lawmakers consider proposed legislative changes in the coming months.