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 The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the ...

since 2011.

Early life and education

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

Early career

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

Political career

2011 election

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

2011-12 Legislature

During the 2011-12 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees: * 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.

2013-14 Legislature

During the 2013-14 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees: * Joint Energy * Education * City, County and Local Affairs

2014 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2014 election.

2015-16 Legislature

During the 2015-16 Legislature Cozart served on the following committees: * Education, Chairman * Insurance and Commerce * Legislative Joint Auditing

2016 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2016 election.

2017-18 Legislature

During the 2017-18 Legislature Cozart served on the Following committees: *Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development *Education, Chairman

2018 election

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

2019-20 Legislature

During the 2019-20 Legislature Cozart served on the Following committees: *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. The bill was passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives. There were funding concerns about the bill before it passed.

2020 election

Cozart ran unopposed in the 2020 election.

2021-22 Legislature

During the 2021-22 Legislature Cozart serves on the Following committees: *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. It came less than a day after a failure of a bill that banned the

1619 Project The 1619 Project is a long-form journalism endeavor developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, writers from ''The New York Times'', and ''The New York Times Magazine'' which "aims to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery an ...

from being used in schools. The bill passed and became law. 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. The bill would aim to increase median teacher salaries across the board. Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the bills on April 12, 2021.

Personal life

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cozart, Bruce 1955 births 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century American politicians American construction businesspeople Assemblies of God people Businesspeople from Arkansas Living people People from Garland County, Arkansas Republican Party members of the Arkansas House of Representatives School board members in Arkansas