Representative Ashley Hudson was re-elected for her second term in 2024 to represent the 32nd district of Arkansas. 

Born in Little Rock, Rep. Hudson decided to move back home with her husband Cliff. Where she now raises her four children. 

She was a Future Caucus Innovation fellow in 2023 and is now a co-chair of the Arkansas Future Caucus. 

During her time in the legislature she worked to pass signature legislation including: 

The Pregnant & Parenting Students Act

This law provides for additional leave for students for postpartum bonding time and recovery, pre- and post- natal doctor’s appointments, court appearances for adoptions, and other leave associated with caring for infants and small children. It also requires schools to offer breastfeeding students a private place to pump or nurse that’s not a bathroom.

This law ensures no Arkansas student has to choose between their child and finishing high school. This law was a strategic bipartisan accomplishment and passed without opposition.

Ashton & Abbie’s Law

In early 2024 the Governor signed HB1486, Ashton and Abbie’s Law, making it Act 445. This bill creates enhanced penalties for distracted drivers in accidents that cause serious injuries or death to another person.

Rep. Hudson decided to write this bill after a dear friend of our family, Jim Woods, lost his daughter Ashton in an accident with a distracted driver. Ashton’s entire family has been steadfast in their desire to make sure that Ashton is still able to make a difference, even though her time here on Earth was cut tragically short. 

​As the bill made its way through the House and Senate, Sen. Ricky Hill reached out about collaborating, and told me about another family who had lost their young daughter, Abbie Cooley, in a distracted driving accident, so we decided to honor her memory in the title as well. Abbie’s mother, Chandler Sullivan and grandmother, Minnie Sullivan, also joined us today for the bill signing, as did Michele Paden, the founder and leader of Families Against Distracted Driving (FADD).

Act 579

This law clarifies and adds additional protection for proceeds of life insurance policies, so that Arkansans can be assured that their final wishes to provide for their loved ones will be honored.

Act 621

Co-sponosred Act 621 to excuse absence so kids can go with their parents to vote.

HB1448

Rep. Hudson heard from a constituent which inspired her first bill which became law. 

This constituent is a long time member of a water district commission and they’d had trouble over the years filling positions as commissioners moved on. He explained to her that the current method to fill these seats isn’t very efficient and costs more money than it should – and he suggested a fix to make it work better.

He’d proposed this to her predecessor and didn’t get much traction, so when we talked early in the session, she dove right in. After overwhelming support in both houses, the Governor signed this idea into law, and in doing so said, “this sounds like good governance.”

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