Denise Jones Ennett Explained
Denise Jones Ennett is an American politician. She is a Democrat currently serving as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 36th district, having assumed office in 2019 after winning a special election.
Career
Arkansas House of Representatives
Ennett was first elected in a 2019 special election following the resignation of Charles Blake to work for the mayor of Little Rock, beating Darrell Stephens in a runoff election.[1] She serves on the House Public Transportation Committee as well as the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development and the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology.[2]
Feminine hygiene products
In January 2021, Ennett co-sponsored a bill that would exempt items such as tampons, menstrual cups, and other products related to feminine hygiene from sales and use taxes in Arkansas.[3] Ennett also sponsored a bill that allowed Arkansas public schools to use their funding to purchase feminine hygiene products and distribute them to students at no cost. The latter bill was approved and signed into law.[4]
Discrimination against disabled people
Ennett co-sponsored a bill that was termed "Lila's law", after a girl who was denied a heart transplant in 2018 due to her having Down syndrome.[5] The bill prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities when seeking an organ transplant, and was signed in to law on April 22, 2021.[6]
Black Lives Matter protest
In June 2020, Ennett attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the fifth consecutive night of protests in front of the Arkansas State Capitol. Ennett told reporters that she felt that she had to protest to ensure the well-being of her children.[7]
Personal life
Ennett is married to a veteran of the United States Air Force, and has three children. They live in Little Rock.
Electoral history
2019
Notes and References
- News: May 30, 2019. Governor sets special election for House seat vacated by lawmaker who resigned to work with Little Rock mayor. Associated Press. September 15, 2021. September 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916064308/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/may/30/governor-sets-special-election-house-seat-vacated-/. live.
- Web site: Denise Jones Ennett. live. September 15, 2021. Arkansas House of Representatives. September 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210920004253/https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/36.
- News: January 27, 2021. Arkansas Bill would make feminine hygiene products tax-free in the state. ABC 24 Memphis. September 15, 2021. September 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916060550/https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/regional/arkansas-bill-would-make-feminine-hygiene-products-tax-free/522-bc59441c-f95b-4129-b23f-255cd631f9f1. live.
- News: April 19, 2021. House Bill 1611. Arkansas State Legislature. September 15, 2021.
- News: Sturch. James. January 29, 2021. Lila's Law moves forward. The Batesville Daily Guard. September 15, 2021. September 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916065248/https://www.guardonline.com/opinion/lilas-law-moves-forward/article_85f90dc0-583b-5a1c-a1fb-8a540c918f10.html. live.
- Web site: January 21, 2021. Senate Bill 155. live. September 15, 2021. Arkansas State Legislature. September 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210927025031/https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2021R%2FPublic%2F&file=837.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R.
- News: Herzog. Rachel. Monk. Ginny. Simpson. Stephen. June 5, 2020. On 5th night, protest ends before Little Rock curfew. Arkansas Democrat Gazette. September 15, 2021. September 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916060539/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/jun/05/on-5th-night-protest-ends-before-lr-cur/. live.
