Representative Austin McCollum

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (11:55)

the master deed. Okay. Save more flexibility within the master deed than

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (8:18)

to adopt some of that way of thinking, but with paying attention to our current definitions and the way we currently do things based off of the input from a

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (8:08)

say I appreciate going the non-200 page way of, you know, when we think about the Uniform Act, an ability to, or an opportunity rather,

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (5:35)

probably would be a good example, is the nesting regime, have a master regime. I think what would be good, if I have a guest here today that probably could give some examples of

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (5:00)

a police station, all of the above, and just trying to get a working, really, deed while getting the approval to do this had begun to be a headache, and the more they talked with other individuals who dealt with the same type of development over time, they all agreed that there was need for much updating. So in the current statutory scheme, every unit has to be given a value. The value establishes their voting rights in the regime. You know, the example,

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (4:25)

round hole when they try to develop some of these mixed-use condominiums. I think about the testimony that was given from one of the developers along with an attorney with the Friday firm who has spent as much time as he thought necessary visiting with interested parties. He developed, I think it was the parking lot on Dixon Street, and he felt like it turned into somewhat of a nightmare in that you've got commercial use, residential use, I think

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (3:50)

and he gave me a long history about buildings and when we build things in certain ways that we might need different terminology. So the better way to think about it is we're dealing with condominiums. Our condominium laws go back to the 1960s, and a lot has happened since then. The reason that I agreed to run this bill is my understanding from multiple developers from across the state is they felt actually the way they described what they currently do is putting a square peg in a

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (3:36)

committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So in front of you, you have a bill that has everything to

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (3:42)

do with horizontal property regime laws, which was a term that I wasn't really that familiar with, but I spent some time with Representative Whitaker,

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (2:47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee. So the Senate bill is Senate Bill 323, and we do have an amendment, so I guess we

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (2:55)

can wait a moment to get that passed out. But the amendment's pretty short. Page 4 just deletes lines 10 and 11, and it has a substitute. And that was based off of feedback from

Insurance & Commerce (House) — March 31, 2025 (3:10)

a constituent of, actually, Senator Payton, but maybe close to your neck of the woods, Mr. Vice Chair.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (31:41)

decision? I think we're sent here to make tough decisions, and if we are convicted on this particular issue and we believe, you know, also that is somewhat undemocratic or against the tradition of that one person, one vote, then I think it's okay to, in your role as a House member and what you ran on, to act like that.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (30:55)

chair's ability to run a good committee and decipher. We are governed much differently, I'd say that. But, yeah,

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (30:52)

My comment is just mostly respect for the

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (29:50)

right. It wouldn't stop, you know, maybe some of these deep pockets that have tried to get this passed in other states, and maybe they would like to get that passed in Arkansas too. I don't really have an issue with trying to get in front of

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (29:17)

elections and wanted to re-look at that and within that also decide to make some type of ranked choice voting. I guess my response is, you know, having this recently passed would show quickly the signal of the legislature that's passed. And then I guess to your other example of how it could change from the ballot initiative process, I guess my view is if I think it is a good idea to prohibit it and make that clear, I would be okay with the law stating that. And you're

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (28:55)

of vote from taking place. Is that right? No, it couldn't prevent any type vote from taking place. I guess the two ways that, you know, a law to support ranked choice voting, two ways that that could happen is one of us, you know, could run that bill. Let's say someone wanted to go and create clarity with the 40-20 rule that municipalities currently have in

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (28:12)

and some of their legal team was they do welcome clarity. I talked to the Secretary of State personally. He said he's in support of it. They welcome clarity. And I think most of that conversation, and I don't want to speak for them, but for me, of why I would also think clarity is needed, is if there was a municipality that wanted to pass an ordinance or do anything of the nature, we could quickly point to something that would bring clarity on the issue. Okay, thank you.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — March 31, 2025 (27:55)

asked the Secretary of State that same question. I was a little surprised by the, I'd say, maybe how long it took to get an answer back. I'm not aware of any. The response I received from Secretary of State's office