In a signing ceremony at the state Capitol, the governor said he believed the debate on the issue was enlightening and not divisive.
"I expected this debate would divide us, but instead during the debate we listened to each other, and the conversation brought us together. This is an education bill in which the discussion educated each of us, and we learned that history needs to be viewed not just from our own lens but through the eyes and experience of others," he said.
Senate Bill 519 by Sen. David Wallace, R-Leachville, passed 24-0 in the Senate and 66-11 in the House. Wallace filed the bill for Hutchinson, who announced in advance of the session that giving King a stand-alone holiday was part of his policy agenda. Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, carried the bill in the House.
A bill to strip Lee from the holiday failed during the 2015 session, Hutchinson's first as governor. Hutchinson said Tuesday he had other priorities in that session, but he said that since then, he has been focused on the issue.
