Representative Terry Rice
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Recent Meetings
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question? Representative Collins, just to double-check, Representative Kerr presented this before this with his full knowledge. Yes, yes, it is, Representative
The only concern that has been addressed to me is, well, you're going to allow them to spend money for something other than equipment, and they won't be trained. And my statement to that is if they don't have a building, if they're not able to stay viable as a department, we have many, most of us have small rural fire departments that need to survive, and they're doing a good job. And that's the only intent of this bill. So I would appreciate a good vote.
But it was requested that it be defined in law by agencies, and that's the intent of this. It does not add to or take away anybody's money, does not direct them to pay for building insurance or utility costs. It simply says that they can do that. There is no financial impact. But it does not change what they want to do as far as utilizing, I'm sure, all the monies that they can for equipment.
If you've read it, it says, so long as all monies received are spent directly on equipment, training, capital improvements, or other expenditures necessary for upgrading the service provided by the department. Many of us in layman terms would look at that and think that would allow the departments to use that for what they need already and could use that for the building insurance and utilities.
Mr. Chairman Good morning, members. House Bill 1129, to clarify the use of insurance, premium taxes, and other purposes, is a simple addition to authorization and clarification that allows fire departments who receive Act 833 money, which is derived, as we know, from insurance premiums, simply adds the words, insurance for buildings and utility.
Representative Rice, you are recognized and proceed with House Bill
the members found that? Fiscal impact.
impact that's sent over, if you want that passed out. Please, please. I think that would
I serve now in my third term, second term on insurance and commerce. Glad to be here. Appreciate the committee and the work that they do. I serve portions of Sebastian Scott, Hope, Yale, Garland, Montgomery, and one more. I just forgot what it was. Would you look that up for me? So I've got a good part of middle Arkansas in Washtenaw National Forest.
it is time for both parties to work together in legislating as they've never done before I thank you for listening I appreciate the opportunity to address you and I humbly ask for your vote. God bless you. Thank you.
but it's something we need to live by a Ronald Reagan quote, my favorite says there is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit I've always sought truth and that is the type of leadership I will provide as your speaker I need every one of you to do your part so that we can move forward together
We must do that. The stakes are
task as we think about, we can ensure that parents and grandparents can see their children and grandchildren choosing to stay in Arkansas because Arkansas is the best place to have a career and raise a family. I'm going to remind you of a quote that many of you have heard before
We can have a new day in Arkansas. So, it can provide a quantum leap of achievement for our Arkansas students. And we know that the stage is set, but there are still a few pieces that need to be put in place. As I said in March, to not take on this challenge is morally wrong.
My second policy initiative will be to call to reduce government waste and make government smaller, smarter, and more efficient. It can be done. We cannot sit idly by and watch our state's status as a poor state be enhanced. We can do something about that. My third policy initiative will be to strengthen our educational system.
And it's not to be an open invitation for those to take advantage of others, but we must not strangle business because there are some that do wrong. In addition to that, it's my goal that as this body, that we bring good legislation to stop the depopularization of much of Arkansas and create a business climate that would reverse that trend. We know rural Arkansas is hurting. We represent rural Arkansas by many in this body.
We must understand that our sister states around us are pulling out all the stops to create a business climate that will ensure their future. We must do that, too. Let's remember the economic reality that good jobs and a prosperous Arkansas depends on small business. Also, we need reduced regulation.
We must come together as this body on behalf of the state of Arkansas. I'm going to give you a short bit of what I believe we need to look at. My first policy, and this would be to develop a long-term plan, a long-term plan that will reduce the state's income tax, to reduce over-regulation that is hurting jobs, to promote growth in Arkansas.
But what I want us to do is know that we've done our very best. Each and every member has had the opportunity, hopefully, to have their voice heard, to do their best, and to understand that they're representing the best to build a better Arkansas. It's important that these debates take place in all aspects and proposals be examined. I am committing to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to present their views.
I want to remind us all that we must never forget that we serve the people, not the other way around. I don't think that can be said enough. And that is why that I intend to lead an example of shared sacrifice. We're going to have vigorous debate that's been mentioned. It happens. There are going to be days that it gets very contentious.
Bills Discussed
No bills found.