Bruce Cozart

American politician
  • 24th district (2011–23)
  • 91st district (2023–present)
Personal detailsBorn (1955-10-03) October 3, 1955 (age 68)
Pearcy, Arkansas, U.S.Political partyRepublicanChildren2OccupationBusinessman

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.

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. ^ a b c d "Bruce Cozart's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "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. ^ a b "Arkansas governor signs teacher salary hike into law". Microsoft News. April 13, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  • v
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94th General Assembly (2023-present)
Speaker of the House
Matthew Shepherd (R)
Speaker pro tempore
Jon Eubanks (R)
Majority Leader
Marcus Richmond (R)
Minority Leader
Tippi McCullough (D)
  1. ▌Jeremy Wooldridge (R)
  2. ▌Trey Steimel (R)
  3. ▌Stetson Painter (R)
  4. ▌Jack Fortner (R)
  5. ▌Ron McNair (R)
  6. ▌Harlan Breaux (R)
  7. ▌Brit McKenzie (R)
  8. ▌Austin McCollum (R)
  9. ▌DeAnna Hodges (R)
  10. ▌Mindy McAlindon (R)
  11. ▌Rebecca Burkes (R)
  12. ▌Hope Hendren Duke (R)
  13. ▌Scott Richardson (R)
  14. ▌Grant Hodges (R)
  15. ▌John P. Carr (R)
  16. ▌Kendon Underwood (R)
  17. ▌Delia Haak (R)
  18. ▌Robin Lundstrum (R)
  19. ▌Steve Unger (R)
  20. ▌Denise Garner (D)
  21. ▌Nicole Clowney (D)
  22. ▌David Whitaker (D)
  23. ▌Kendra Moore (R)
  24. ▌Charlene Fite (R)
  25. ▌Chad Puryear (R)
  26. ▌Mark H. Berry (R)
  27. ▌Steven Walker (R)
  28. ▌Bart Schulz (R)
  29. ▌Rick McClure (R)
  30. ▌Frances Cavenaugh (R)
  31. ▌Jimmy Gazaway (R)
  32. ▌Jack Ladyman (R)
  33. ▌Jon Milligan (R)
  34. ▌Joey L. Carr (R)
  35. ▌Milton Nicks (D)
  36. ▌Johnny Rye (R)
  37. ▌Steve Hollowell (R)
  38. ▌Dwight Tosh (R)
  39. ▌Wayne Long (R)
  40. ▌Shad Pearce (R)
  41. ▌Josh Miller (R)
  42. ▌Stephen Meeks (R)
  43. ▌Rick Beck (R)
  44. ▌Stan Berry (R)
  45. ▌Aaron Pilkington (R)
  46. ▌Jon Eubanks (R)
  47. ▌Lee Johnson (R)
  48. ▌Ryan Rose (R)
  49. ▌Jay Richardson (D)
  50. ▌Zachary Gramlich (R)
  51. ▌Cindy Crawford (R)
  52. ▌Marcus Richmond (R)
  53. ▌Matt Duffield (R)
  54. ▌Mary Bentley (R)
  55. ▌Matthew Brown (R)
  56. ▌Stephen Magie (D)
  57. ▌Cameron Cooper (R)
  58. ▌Les Eaves (R)
  59. ▌Jim Wooten (R)
  60. ▌Roger Lynch (R)
  61. ▌Jeremiah Moore (R)
  62. ▌Mark McElroy (R)
  63. ▌Deborah Ferguson (D)
  64. ▌Ken Ferguson (D)
  65. ▌Vivian Flowers (D)
  66. ▌Mark Perry (D)
  67. ▌Karilyn Brown (R)
  68. ▌Brian S. Evans (R)
  69. ▌David Ray (R)
  70. ▌Carlton Wing (R)
  71. ▌Brandon Achor (R)
  72. ▌Jamie Aleshia Scott (D)
  73. ▌Andrew Collins (D)
  74. ▌Tippi McCullough (D)
  75. ▌Ashley Hudson (D)
  76. ▌Joy Springer (D)
  77. ▌Fred Allen (D)
  78. ▌Keith Brooks (R)
  79. ▌Tara Shephard (D)
  80. ▌Denise Ennett (D)
  81. ▌R. J. Hawk (R)
  82. ▌Tony Furman (R)
  83. ▌Lanny Fite (R)
  84. ▌Les Warren (R)
  85. ▌Richard McGrew (R)
  86. ▌John Maddox (R)
  87. ▌DeAnn Vaught (R)
  88. ▌Danny Watson (R)
  89. ▌Justin Gonzales (R)
  90. ▌Richard Womack (R)
  91. ▌Bruce Cozart (R)
  92. ▌Julie Mayberry (R)
  93. ▌Mike Holcomb (R)
  94. ▌Jeff Wardlaw (R)
  95. ▌Howard Beaty (R)
  96. ▌Sonia Eubanks Barker (R)
  97. ▌Matthew Shepherd (R)
  98. ▌Wade Andrews (R)
  99. ▌Lane Jean (R)
  100. ▌Carol Dalby (R)