Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has ordered a hiring freeze for most state agencies and is requiring that any new rules or regulations go before his office for approval.
Hutchinson issued the two executive orders on Wednesday, his first full day as Arkansas' governor. The Republican ex-congressman was sworn in Tuesday as the state's 46th governor.
Hutchinson's hiring moratorium requires state agencies to submit requests to his office to fill replacement positions or create new positions. The freeze doesn't apply to the Legislature, constitutional offices, higher education or the judicial branch.
Hutchinson also is requiring all state agencies to submit any new rules or regulations to his office to review whether they burden businesses. The order says the governor must approve the rules or regulations before they're submitted to the Legislature.
