Credit Governor's Office On the day before the Arkansas General Assembly begins a special session to consider modifying a state law prohibiting mask mandates, Gov. Asa Hutchinson acknowledged there might not be legislative support for the change. The Republican wants lawmakers to modify Act 1002, which took effect last month and prohibits any state or local government entity – including schools – from mandating masks. Hutchinson pointed to a rising number of cases involving kids under the age of 12, who are too young to be vaccinated, as the reason to allow local school districts to issue mask mandates for students and staff if they so choose.