Arkansas lawmakers have given final legislative approval to a change in the state's driving while intoxicated law that's intended to prevent the state from losing more than $50 million in federal highway funding.
The House on Thursday approved by an 80-2 vote a proposal to make DWI an offense for which prosecutors don't have to prove intent. The measure would apply only to alcohol-related DWI offenses.
The measure now heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's desk.
The bill was proposed after the state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that DWI is not a "strict scrutiny" offense where prosecutors don't have to show intent. State highway officials have said the ruling threatened transportation funding that's tied to the state's DWI laws.
