Arkansas
Arkansas Senate approves seven potential bills to regulate cryptocurrency mines • Arkansas Advocate
The Arkansas Senate cleared the way Thursday for lawmakers to take up several potential amendments to a 2023 law that limited the state’s ability to regulate cryptocurrency mining operations.
Act 851 of 2023, or the Arkansas Data Centers Act, was introduced just over a week before the 2023 legislative session ended and passed both chambers with bipartisan support. A year later, Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, is spearheading an effort to change the law.
Crypto mines are large groups of computers that harvest digital currency. They are usually located in rural areas due to the space they take up, and they require large amounts of electricity to keep the computers running and water to keep them cool.
There are currently crypto mines in DeWitt and near Greenbrier, and citizens of the Greenbrier area have filed a lawsuit over the large amount of noise from the mine.
King and other officials have also expressed concern about foreign ownership of crypto mines and whether they pose a national security risk. King said Thursday that the government should be able to regulate a “new industry” that officials currently “don’t know much about.”
The Legislature’s fiscal session began Wednesday, and lawmakers can introduce legislation unrelated to the state budget during the session under certain conditions. They must file resolutions proposing the legislation by the end of the first day of the session, and both the House and Senate must approve the resolution with a two-thirds majority vote. This requires a minimum of 24 Senate votes and 67 House votes.
Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, said regulating crypto mines is “maybe the most important issue of all” and should not wait until the 2025 legislative session.
“I don’t want to wait a year to hear about this subject and be able to act on it if we hear something that really needs to be acted on,” Clark said.
Seven of the eight proposed crypto resolutions passed the Senate. King sponsored six of the resolutions, including the one that did not pass.
The following resolutions will go to the House floor Monday:
- Senate Resolution 5, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers, would place noise limits on Arkansas crypto mines and prohibit them from being owned by foreign entities. It passed with 28 votes.
- Senate Resolution 12, sponsored by King, would ban the use of computers or software manufactured by foreign entities in crypto mining in Arkansas. It passed with 26 votes.
- Senate Resolution 13, sponsored by King, would require people who engage in crypto mining to be licensed money transmitters under the state’s Uniform Money Services Act. It passed with 27 votes.
- Senate Resolution 14, sponsored by King, would require the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to monitor crypto mines’ water usage and administer consequences to any mine that “threatens the critical groundwater supplies of this state through an excessive use of water.” It passed with 28 votes.
- Senate Resolution 15, sponsored by King, would require at least six months’ advance notice before buying or leasing any land or buildings used for crypto mines. It passed with 27 votes.
- Senate Resolution 16, sponsored by King, would allow local governments to regulate crypto mines and would prohibit ownership of the mines by the list of foreign countries from which the federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations bans imports and exports.
- Senate Resolution 17, sponsored by Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, would require crypto mines to be licensed by the state Department of Energy and Environment. It would also require the department to inform legislative committees of its crypto mine regulation methods. It passed with 25 votes.
King also sponsored Senate Resolution 11, which fell three votes short of passing. The resolution proposed requiring cryptocurrency businesses to pay a fee to the Department of Energy and Environment for “extraordinary electrical energy usage.”
The vote on SR 11 was later expunged with a voice vote, and King said he would give “plenty of notice” if he brought the resolution back for reconsideration.
Bryant was the Senate sponsor of Act 851, and he voted against Senate Resolutions 11, 12, 13 and 16. He said in an interview that he particularly disagreed with the proposed fees in SR 11.
“I’ve talked to state and federal officials, and they’re getting a better handle on what crypto is and how to track it,” Bryant said. “A lot of the concerns that were published 10 years ago are not the concerns of today.”
Floor debate
King said Senate Resolution 12 had a similar purpose to Act 525 of 2023, which banned the purchase of Russian and Chinese drones in Arkansas and passed both chambers with bipartisan support. Crypto mining businesses have been reported to be tied to the Chinese government.
Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, asked King if SR 12 might be “a broad blanket” policy that would “make it impossible to import from China any and all technologies [or] software.”
King said he saw the proposed policy as much narrower. He also emphasized that crypto mines create very few jobs in Arkansas.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, asked if the proposed policies would set a precedent for lawmakers to “sanction or not sanction businesses based upon the number of jobs that are created or where those jobs come from.” King said he disagreed.
“These crypto mines are taking advantage of our cheap energy [and] taking advantage of our laws that were passed,” King said.
Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn, said he had issues with the proposed bills as written in the resolutions but supported allowing the bills to be introduced because they covered a variety of issues.
“I’m voting for all of them so that the committee’s hands will not be tied and limited to just one bill title,” Payton said.
Most of the six Senate Democrats did not vote on any of the eight resolutions. Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, voted on none of them and said in an interview that he was surprised to be presented with so many potential bills unrelated to state budgetary matters.
“Our caucus decided that for a number of reasons, we would stay out of that discussion,” Leding said. “…I really feel that the fiscal session should be kept to fiscal matters.”
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Rex Nelson
Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”
After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.
He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.
Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.
From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.
Arkansas got a quick reminder this week that baseball doesn’t hand out easy wins.
The Razorbacks head into the weekend after splitting a midweek set with Arkansas State, a two-game stretch that showed both the highs and lows of early season baseball.
Now, the Hogs turn the page and prepare to host UT Arlington in a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas enters the weekend 7-2 overall. UT Arlington comes in at 2-6. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m., with Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s game will stream on SEC Network+.
Midweek Split Shows Two Sides of Arkansas
The midweek matchup with Arkansas State didn’t go the way the Razorbacks expected at first. In Game 1, Arkansas State won 12-4. It marked the first loss to the Red Wolves in program history.
The Hogs struggled on the mound and couldn’t keep pace as Arkansas State built separation. The result was a reminder that even in-state games can turn quickly if things slip early.
But 24 hours later, Arkansas looked like a different team.
In Game 2, the Razorbacks leaned on dominant pitching and edged Arkansas State 1-0 in a tight contest. It was the kind of bounce-back performance coaches want to see after a tough loss.
The split left Arkansas with lessons on both sides — how quickly things can unravel and how steady pitching can win a game even when runs are hard to find.
Home Comfort at Baum-Walker Stadium
Now the Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium looking to build momentum.
The Hogs have been strong at home and will try to use that setting to steady the ship after the midweek ups and downs. Playing in Fayetteville gives Arkansas a familiar environment and a chance to settle into its routine.
UT Arlington, meanwhile, is coming off a rough stretch. The Mavericks lost their midweek game to Dallas Baptist 6-1 and were swept in a weekend series against Lamar after winning the opener 10-2 before dropping the next two games.
Arkansas has the edge historically, leading the all-time series 7-1. The teams haven’t met since 2006, when the Razorbacks swept a series in Honolulu. This will be the first time UT Arlington plays in Fayetteville.
Pitching Matchups to Watch
The Hogs will roll out a strong weekend rotation.
Friday’s starter is right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 1.93 ERA). He’ll face UT Arlington right-hander Caylon Dygert (0-0, 1.80 ERA). That matchup could set the tone for the series opener.
On Saturday, left-hander Hunter Dietz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Arkansas against Dylan Skolfield (0-2, 6.48 ERA) for the Mavericks.
Sunday’s game will feature left-hander Colin Fisher (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Razorbacks. UT Arlington has not yet named a starter for the series finale.
After seeing how important pitching was in the 1-0 win over Arkansas State, Arkansas will look for more steady outings from its starters and bullpen.
Finding Consistency Early
Through nine games, the Hogs have shown flashes of strong offense and solid pitching. But the midweek split showed that consistency is still forming.
The loss to Arkansas State proved that mistakes can pile up fast. The narrow win that followed showed that disciplined pitching and defense can close out tight games.
This weekend gives Arkansas another chance to sharpen its approach before the schedule gets tougher later in the season.
For fans, the path to watching is simple. Friday’s game streams on SEC Network+, and radio coverage will be available in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM and AM 1590, along with other affiliates across the state.
Hogs Feed
COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.
The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.
James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.
Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.
Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).
South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.
Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.
Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.
Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.
Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).
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