Update: Lawmakers in the Arkansas House of Representatives passed the LEARNS Act, the governor's massive education overhaul bill. SB294 will go back to the AR Senate for final legislative approval next week.The AR Senate will need to concur on an amendment clarifying a teacher's right to a termination appeal hearing before their local school board. During Wednesday's committee hearing, the biggest item that drew the most debate was school choice vouchers, or "Education Freedom Accounts" as named in the bill.Watch video above for more information! Due to an emergency clause in the 145-page omnibus bill, if signed into law, the Arkansas LEARNS Act would take effect on June 30, 2023.Senate Bill 294 gives teachers a starting minimum salary of $50,000, and it provides merit bonuses for teachers. It also bans the teaching of critical race theory and gender until a certain age. "At the end of the day, I think it's a good bill; it moves us in the right direction. I'm excited about the future, and the future for kids in the state of Arkansas. "The ultimate outcome of any child's education is to provide well-rounded problem solving, preparing for the world students, who are going to achieve in whatever lane they pick," Rep. Grant Hodges (R) said. A point of contention for many Democratic lawmakers, teachers, and administrators is the voucher program. "Vouchers do not support students with disabilities, and it does exacerbate segregation, skirt accountability and transparency, funds discrimination, and leaves under served students and communities behind," said Rep. Denise Garner (D). "The fact that we are establishing policy that doesn't feed into Grow, invest in our public schools, I think does a disservice to our teachers and it certainly does a disservice to our children," Rep. Vivian Flowers addressed her fellow legislators during committee hearings.