Robbie Wills

Wills served as Speaker of the Arkansas House in 2009-10. He is a native of Conway, graduating from Conway High School and the University of Central Arkansas. He earned a law degree from the UALR Bowen School of Law, where he served as Assistant Editor of the UALR Law Review and graduated with honors. He earned the top score on the February 2004 Bar Exam. Robbie has chosen law and public policy as his profession and his dedication. His career as a public servant, attorney and lobbyist has been based on common sense, fairness, purpose and working with others. That ethic was recognized by Conway and Faulkner County voters who elected him to two terms on the Faulkner County Quorum Court from 2001-2004, where he chaired the Faulkner County Jail Task Force, and three terms from 2005-2010 as State Representative for District 46, covering West Conway and the western portion of rural Faulkner County. During his time in the legislature Wills served as a member of the House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee, the House Revenue and Tax Committee, House Public Transportation Committee, House Aging, Children and Youth Committee, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Arkansas Legislative Council and the Joint Budget Committee. Robbie has been a respected leader at the Arkansas State Capitol. In 2008, at age 39, Robbie was the unanimous choice of his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the Arkansas House. He was the first Speaker candidate after the implementation of term-limits to be elected unanimously. As one of the youngest Speakers of the House in the country, Robbie worked hard to live up to the trust given him by his family, those who elected him, and those with whom he worked. In recognition of his leadership, in 2009 Wills was named the AARP Legislator of the Year, a Talk Business "Top-Ten Legislators" and received distinguished legislator awards from the Arkansas Municipal League, the Arkansas Hospital Association and the Community Health Centers of Arkansas. Robbie has demonstrated a mastery of the legislative process. In 2009, Wills was the lead sponsor of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act, helping to provide millions of dollars for college scholarships. Wills also led the effort to pass the health care package that created a statewide Trauma system and other needed health programs. The package required a difficult three-fourths majority in both houses of the legislature, a goal that was met in two weeks. Robbie and his wife Dana have two young daughters, ages 16 and 8. For recreation, Robbie is an instrument-rated private pilot and enjoys running, reading history, playing music and rooting for the Razorbacks. The Wills Family attends Grace United Methodist Church in Conway, Arkansas.