Senator Greg Leding

Meeting — March 20, 2025 (2:03:00)

but afterwards we realized that there were two key lines that got left out, so we were just making sure those lines go back into the bill. They

Meeting — March 20, 2025 (2:02:42)

Motion to place Senate Bill 331 back on second reading for the

Meeting — March 20, 2025 (2:02:58)

of Insurance and Commerce without opposition this morning,

Meeting — March 20, 2025 (1:12:36)

So that's all this is doing, is streamlining that 2019 law. Prosecutors are fine with the bill. It came

Meeting — March 20, 2025 (1:12:05)

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, back in 2017, you might remember that Senator Urban passed a bill that ended a juvenile life without parole in Arkansas, making us the first state in the South to do so. In 2019, this chamber unanimously passed a law that, among other things, created a path to have individuals freed under the 2017 law to have their parole discharged. The first person freed under the 2017 law was a woman named Laura Nix. She was also the first person to make use of that 2019 law. And so watching her go through that process, we learned some things. And we worked through the prosecutors with the prosecutors to streamline that process.

Insurance & Commerce (Senate) — March 20, 2025 (11:07)

to close your bill unless miss Marquette has anything she'd like to say

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:55:33)

Current practice in Arkansas, in our courts and with our prosecutors, is that children under the age of 10 are handled somewhat differently, the idea being that nine and younger, you can't necessarily form criminal intent. So that is the existing practice. The issue is that that language is not consistent throughout the code. So all we're doing with Senate Bill 459 is codifying that existing practice. Prosecutors are fine with this bill. Nobody spoke against it in committee. And I appreciate the Judiciary Committee voting it out unanimously. Happy to try to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Letting?

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:55:26)

a package of criminal justice reforms that we're running. Senator Irvin is carrying some. I've got this one. It's fairly straightforward.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:23:57)

you you do have the genes for this particular cancer. here are some steps you can take to potentially avoid contracting that cancer. And so all we're doing here is what we've done with similar bills is we're making sure that cost is not going to be a barrier, that if a doctor recommends you have this kind of test, that there's nothing that's going to stop you from doing it so that we can possibly prevent you from ever contracting cancer in the first place. Nobody spoke against this bill in committee. I appreciate Insurance and Commerce putting it out unanimously. Happy

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:23:27)

Senator Letting, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, back in 2019, this body unanimously passed a bill that allowed licensure for genetic counselors, and that's because genetic testing has become an important tool in helping prevent cancer. And by the way, this is the last cancer-related bill I'm ever going to run. There are some forms of cancer that are hereditary, and you can inherit them, and in some cases, if the doctor knows that you are at increased risk, that you have a parent or a relative that has these genes, you can have this test done, and it can come back, and it can tell

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (45:31)

So that's all that we're doing right here. This simply eliminates any kind of cost barrier to a supplemental imaging process for Arkansans that are at increased risk based on personal history or family history. Nobody spoke against this bill in Insurance and Commerce last week, and I appreciate the committee voting it out unanimously.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (45:15)

recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, over the years, Representative Vaught and I, as many of us have, have run bills to help Arkansans diagnose, prevent, and treat cancer. The idea being that obviously the better access Arkansans have to these kinds of tools, we're going to save more lives. but also treating the cancer is going to be less expensive.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (41:58)

question. Thank you, Madam President. Senator in committee, I believe you pointed out that Arkansas would not be the first state to take this important step, but I forget some of the states

Public Health Welfare & Labor Committee (Senate & House) — April 1, 2025 (10:32)

of those states, I believe, there's legislation to repeal that ban at this time, and most states' access to it is allowed. But with respect for the committee's time and Mr. Haddow, who traveled in from out

Public Health Welfare & Labor Committee (Senate & House) — April 1, 2025 (10:00)

relieve withdrawal symptoms. And so Representative Eubanks and I carried on conversations over the years. It is through Senator Bramble that we met Mr. Haddow here and have talked about this issue here in Arkansas since at least the 2021 session. I know Senator Boyd conducted an interim study on this issue that he filed at the end of the 2023 session. And we are here today with legislation to legalize Kratom in Arkansas. It is my understanding, and Mr. Haddow can correct me if I'm wrong, but that only six states currently outright ban Kratom, and in at least five

Public Health Welfare & Labor Committee (Senate & House) — April 1, 2025 (9:28)

Some years ago, Representative Eubanks and I came to know a former state Republican state senator from Utah named Kurt Bramble. who was in that legislature for over 20 years, and in fact, only just at the start of this year, stepped down from that position. And it was through Senator Bramble that Representative Eubanks and I became aware of Kratom. He is a deeply conservative lawmaker, but through a very personal and powerful family experience, he came to understand the value of Kratom, particularly when it comes to helping to alleviate people who are addicted to opioids. It can help

Public Health Welfare & Labor Committee (Senate & House) — April 1, 2025 (9:14)

Letting, State Senator for District 30, in

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (Senate) — April 1, 2025 (11:06)

or if he wanted to say something on this. If he's good, I'm certainly closed. Senator

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (Senate) — April 1, 2025 (11:00)

spot, but I did notice that Senator Stubblefield stepped into the room, and I don't know if that was for another piece of legislation

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (Senate) — April 1, 2025 (10:22)

where we are with this legislation and what other things might come up during the discussion. - All right,