Representative Denise Garner
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Committees
- Advanced Communications & Information Technology (Joint Committee)
- Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs (House)
- Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development (House)
- Agriculture- House Small Business & Economic Dev. Subcom.
- ALC - Higher Education Subcommittee
- ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee
- ALC - JBC Budget Hearings
- ALC-Lottery Oversight Subcommittee
- ALC - Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee
- ALC - PEER
- ALC - Review
- ALC - State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee
- Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)
- Education Committee (House)
- Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information
- Education - House Early Childhood Subcommittee
- Energy (Joint Committee)
- House Management
- JBC-Special Language
- Joint Budget Committee
- Revenue & Taxation (House)
- Task Force on Autism
Recent Meetings
| Date | Committee | Speaking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 7, 2026 | ALC - JBC Budget Hearings | 93s |
| Oct. 6, 2026 | ALC - JBC Budget Hearings | 63s |
| Oct. 2, 2026 | Advanced Communications & Information Technology (Joint Committee) | 71s |
| Sept. 14, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 106s |
| Sept. 14, 2026 | Education - House Early Childhood Subcommittee | 78s |
| Aug. 20, 2026 | ALC - Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee | 67s |
| Aug. 19, 2026 | ALC - State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee | 82s |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | ALC-Lottery Oversight Subcommittee | 10s |
| Aug. 17, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 148s |
| Aug. 17, 2026 | — | 1025s |
| June 17, 2026 | — | 691s |
| June 3, 2026 | — | 87s |
| June 2, 2026 | — | 191s |
| June 1, 2026 | — | 340s |
| May 26, 2026 | — | 11s |
| May 21, 2026 | — | 155s |
| May 18, 2026 | — | 660s |
| May 6, 2026 | Joint Budget Committee | 75s |
| April 22, 2026 | JBC-Special Language | 34s |
| April 16, 2026 | JBC-Special Language | 50s |
| March 20, 2026 | Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) | 43s |
| March 19, 2026 | Education - House Early Childhood Subcommittee | 1470s |
| March 17, 2026 | ALC - PEER | 38s |
| March 16, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 199s |
| March 5, 2026 | Joint Budget Committee | 271s |
| March 4, 2026 | Joint Budget Committee | 725s |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 307s |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Education - House Early Childhood Subcommittee | 1744s |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 4887s |
| Feb. 2, 2026 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 174s |
| Jan. 13, 2026 | Task Force on Autism | 167s |
| Jan. 12, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 85s |
| Jan. 12, 2026 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 45s |
| Jan. 6, 2026 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 68s |
| Nov. 3, 2025 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 306s |
| Oct. 27, 2025 | Agriculture- House Small Business & Economic Dev. Subcom. | 95s |
| Oct. 6, 2025 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 308s |
| Sept. 30, 2025 | Education - House Early Childhood Subcommittee | 1645s |
| Sept. 22, 2025 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 215s |
| Aug. 18, 2025 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 59s |
| Aug. 13, 2025 | ALC - Higher Education Subcommittee | 76s |
| June 18, 2025 | Energy (Joint Committee) | 22s |
| June 16, 2025 | Education Committee - Senate & House Meeting Jointly with Advanced Communications & Information | 234s |
| May 19, 2025 | ALC - Hospital, Medicaid, & Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee | 138s |
| April 10, 2025 | Education Committee (House) | 574s |
| April 10, 2025 | — | 84s |
| April 8, 2025 | — | 62s |
| April 8, 2025 | Education Committee (House) | 148s |
| April 8, 2025 | Education Committee (House) | 291s |
| April 7, 2025 | Education Committee (House) | 80s |
Recent Transcript Excerpts
own, they certainly have that right. It does not require that. Yes, no. That's what the amendment wanted to make clear. What is the human
here. So I guess my concern is whether we require human service workers or mental health counselors in every school. Is that necessary, do you think? No.
Garner? Yeah, just a follow-up. So can you just help me understand how this bill would help or if it – just help me understand how it relates to what we're doing
just amazed at the number of programs that you have already and would like to hear what's going on now and how this bill would impact that.
the table, then it would be great. Right. I think what I'd like to know is how this bill affects what you're already doing. And I was
and how this would change or affect, how it would help, whatever? I
a couple of questions. I've been working with the Department of Human Services for some mental and behavioral health, and I was amazed at some of the programs that they have already. Yes. So could you or someone from the department come talk to us about what we have going on right now
thank you, Representative Stills. I've got
DHS. Cindy Gillespie, Secretary at DHS. Melissa
I said we're looking at it and we'll also take whatever so It sounds to me,
DHS. Cindy Gillespie, Secretary at DHS. Melissa
one. Yeah, Representative Garner, you're recognized. Thank you. I just have a quick question about eminent domain. Who does the organization answer to? How is that determined?
then you can decide that a different place needs to have those incentives. I mean, you've got limited funds, I assume. We're not going to overdevelop one and leave out the others.
And I get that, but once you get all of these folks moving into that one opportunity zone,
questions? I've got a quick question. Yeah. Representative Garner. I just have a quick question about how opportunity zones work. So once you get that area developed, then that's not an opportunity zone anymore, or does it always stay an opportunity zone? And how do you make sure that after that happens the projects are quality projects, if for lack of a better term?
have a quick question about the software, and I don't know enough about the machinery to know. Is the software patented, or do you have any
Representative Garner? I've got a quick question, and I like what you're doing, but I just
Garner is closed for her bill. What's the will of the committee? I can make
I just thank you for letting me present the bill, and I hope we'll think about those folks who don't have an opportunity and make sure that our public funds are working for everyone. Thank you. Representative
This is a little bit different in that we do have a limited amount of funds that we can use for these positions. And it just makes sense to me that we make sure that the most vulnerable population are the ones that have access to the funds first. Seeing no additional questions by the committee, and we do not have
Bills Discussed
| Bill | Title | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| SB183 | TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY PROVIDE TO … | 5 |
| HB1709 | TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM; AND TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES … | 5 |
| HB1727 | TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS. | 5 |
| HB1495 | CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. | 5 |
| HB1733 | TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. | 4 |
| HB1139 | TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. | 4 |
| HB1062 | TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. | 4 |
| HB1539 | TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003; AND TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL … | 4 |
| HB1672 | TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION IN ARKANSAS. | 4 |
| HB1528 | TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. | 4 |
| SB303 | TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY AT THE … | 4 |
| HB1027 | TO CREATE THE BRIGHTER START ACT OF 2025; AND TO REQUIRE THE TREASURER OF STATE TO MAKE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION … | 4 |
| HB1030 | TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID; AND … | 4 |
| HB1492 | TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEM. | 4 |
| HB1081 | TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. | 4 |
| HB1031 | TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATION ACT OF 2025; AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH CURRICULUM IN ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS … | 4 |
| HB1490 | TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT RETURN TEMPORARILY ISSUED ITEMS, RESOURCES, MATERIALS, AND PROPERTY BELONGING TO A … | 4 |
| HB1482 | TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST AND RECEIVES A … | 4 |
| HB1710 | TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUBLIC SCHOOL RATING IN ANY ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, OR COMMUNICATION DIRECTED … | 3 |
| HB1239 | TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003; AND TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION … | 3 |
| HB1561 | TO ESTABLISH THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. | 3 |
| HB1197 | TO PROHIBIT SCHEDULING, HOSTING, OR REQUIRING AN OUTDOOR PRACTICE, SCRIMMAGE, GAME, OR ACTIVITY FOR AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY DURING THE HOURS … | 3 |
| HB1542 | TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT; AND TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMIT EACH STUDENT … | 3 |
| HB1109 | TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DEPOSIT OF FUNDS BY THE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY ACT. | 3 |
| HB1025 | TO CREATE THE TEACHER FAIR DISMISSAL ACT OF 2025. | 3 |
| HB1646 | TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. | 3 |
| HB1023 | TO AMEND THE STATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM; AND TO AMEND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LOAN FORGIVENESS AND THE LOAN REPAYMENT … | 3 |
| HB1010 | TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR SALES OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT. | 3 |
| HB1020 | TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; TO CREATE A NEW EDUCATION FUNDING CATEGORY FOR STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE … | 3 |
| HB1031 | TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF INCOME TAX RETURNS BY TAX PRACTITIONERS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING TAX PRACTITIONERS. | 3 |