The Arkansas Professional Firefighters Association is shedding light on two new laws in the state looking to meet some of the most essential needs for their responders. The union recently selected Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock) as their legislator of the year after his help with two bills that became law in the recent legislative session. “They do so much, I mean they put their lives on the line for us every day,” Tucker said Tuesday. Act 529 provides 168 hours of military leave time for firefighters for annual training requirements or other duties performed in an official duty status. “Our guys were running out of leave – they were exhausting their military leave then having to use their own leave or unpaid leave to both serve their community and serve the country,” Arkansas Professional Firefighters Political Director Matthew Stallings said.