Bruce Cozart

Bruce Alan Cozart (born October 3, 1955) is an American politician and businessman who has been a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2011.

Bruce Cozart
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
Assumed office
March 11, 2011
Constituency
  • 24th district (2011–23)
  • 91st district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born (1955-10-03) October 3, 1955
Pearcy, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children2
OccupationBusinessman

Early life and education

Cozart was born on October 3, 1955.[1] Cozart graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in 1973.[1]

Early career

Cozart founded Bruce Cozart Construction, Inc. in 1977.[1] He is a general contractor for commercial and residential buildings.[2] Cozart served on the Lake Hamilton school board from 1991 to 2001.[1][2]

Political career

2011 election

Cozart won a special election against Jerry Raphon on March 8, 2011.[3]

2011-12 Legislature

During the 2011-12 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees:[4]

  • Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs
  • Public Transportation

2012 election

Cozart won re-election 7,778 votes to 4,624 against Jimmie Harmon.[4]

2013-14 Legislature

During the 2013-14 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees:[4]

  • Joint Energy
  • Education
  • City, County and Local Affairs

2014 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2014 election.[4]

2015-16 Legislature

During the 2015-16 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees:[4]

  • Education, Chairman
  • Insurance and Commerce
  • Legislative Joint Auditing

2016 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2016 election.[4]

2017-18 Legislature

During the 2017-18 Legislature Cozart served on the Following committees:[4]

  • Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development
  • Education, Chairman

2018 election

Cozart won re-election 6,460 votes to Kallen Peret's 2,913.[4]

2019-20 Legislature

During the 2019-20 Legislature Cozart served on the Following committees:[4]

  • Academic Facilities Oversight Committee, Co-chairman
  • Legislative Council
  • House Education Committee
  • House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee

In February 2019, Cozart sponsored a bill that would raise minimum teacher salaries across the state of Arkansas.[5] The bill was passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives.[6] There were funding concerns about the bill before it passed.[7]

2020 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2020 election.[4]

2021-22 Legislature

During the 2021-22 Legislature Cozart serves on the Following committees:[4]

  • House Education Committee, Chairman
  • House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee
  • Joint Performance Review Committee
  • Legislative Council

In February 2021, Cozart sponsored a bill that would allow parents to challenge curriculum they did not like.[8] It came less than a day after a failure of a bill that banned the 1619 Project from being used in schools.[9] The bill passed and became law.[10] Cozart, alongside Missy Irvin in the Arkansas Senate, helped get another teacher pay increase bill passed in both the Arkansas House and Senate in April 2021.[11] The bill would aim to increase median teacher salaries across the board.[12] Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the bills on April 12, 2021.[12]

Personal life

Cozart is married and has two sons.[2] Cozart is a follower of the Assembly of God faith.[2]

References
  1. "Bruce Cozart's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  2. "ARKANSAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE Bruce Cozart - Republican • 91st District". Arkansas House of Representatives. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. "2011 Special General Election for the Office of State Representative District 24". Arkansas Secretary of State. March 10, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  4. "Bruce Cozart". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  5. Field, Hunter (February 6, 2019). "Arkansas House set to tackle teacher-salaries bill". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. Field, Hunter (February 8, 2019). "Arkansas House passes bill to raise minimum teacher salary". Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  7. Kellogg, Sarah (February 5, 2019). "Bill To Raise Arkansas Teacher Salaries Passes Committee Despite Funding Questions". KUAR Online. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  8. Herzog, Rachel (February 16, 2021). "Bill would let parents challenge classwork". Northwest Arkansas Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  9. Brantley, Max (February 10, 2021). "1619 Project fallout: A process to challenge school material". Arkansas Times. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  10. Herzog, Rachel (February 28, 2021). "House panel advances school curriculum bill". Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  11. John Moritz; Michael R. Wickline; Rachel Herzog (April 6, 2021). "STATE CAPITOL NEWS IN BRIEF: Senators back rise in teacher salaries". Northwest Arkansas Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  12. "Arkansas governor signs teacher salary hike into law". Microsoft News. April 13, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
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