Senate Convenes
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Bills discussed (1)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1001
Act 2
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “house bill 1001 passes please return to the house that concludes our busine…”
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AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATION FOR … | Evans | Notification that HB1001 is now Act 2 |
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- October 5, 2026
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Beep.
Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time?
Speaker 9
8:09
Please. Thanks, Senator Hill. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismang, Dotson, English, Flippo, Flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, Letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Simon, Stone, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace.
Speaker 12
8:43
Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please rise. First, we'll be led in prayer
by Senator Ricky Hill, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam. If you would,
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
8:55
please bow your head. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today in prayer, Lord. We pray that you'll watch over us and take care of us, Lord. We pray that we'll make godly decisions for the state of Arkansas, Lord. We pray that you'll be with our national leaders, Lord, as they're leading our country. We pray that they'll make good decisions. And Lord, we pray that they'll make the decisions that's right
for the American people, Lord. We pray, Lord, that you'll watch over our military personnel who are spread throughout the world. Lord, we pray that you'll bring them home safely to their families. We pray, Lord, that you'll watch over us and take care of us, Lord. And we thank you, Lord, for the privilege for allowing us to serve in this
Speaker 18
9:34
great state of Arkansas for the people. In your name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the right of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Senator Hill, for those words. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State Senate. It is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. The morning hour has now begun. Are there any announcements or introductions at this time? Senator Tucker, you're recognized.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
10:16
Thank you, Madam President. Members, if we could look up in the East Gallery, we have a whole host of students. If you over are on the north side of the building, you can see their school from the north side of the Capitol. They're all visiting this morning from Episcopal Collegiate School. Our lieutenant governor's daughter attends this school as well, so we want to give them a warm welcome. And Mr. Daniel, Ms. Schallhorn, and I want to give an extra special welcome to my friend, Ms. Evie Peake up there. So, why don't we all welcome to the Senate?
Thank you, Senator Tucker, for welcoming our Wildcats to the Senate. Other announcements or introductions? Senator Caldwell,
Senator Ronald Caldwell
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11:03
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I would like to introduce our doctor of the day, Dr. Lee Kuhn, who covers the emergency room at Crossridge Hospital in Wynn. He also practices internal medicine at M-Boat in Pocahontas. And as always, we have our trusty nurse, Lee Fazio. Welcome, Dr. Kuhn.
Thank you, and welcome, doctor. and thank you, Lee, particularly on this National Nurses Day. So thank you so much for all of your work
throughout this entire session. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Lieutenant Governor, I
was going to see if we could get all of our staff to come in at this time to
the floor. Thank you, Senator Hester. I would encourage all Senate staff to come to the Senate floor.
Unknown speaker
11:56
Benita. How are you? How are you? Come here. You might need to keep it.
members as as we are wrapping up a uh another another yeah everybody please stand And as we're wrapping up another fiscal session and special session,
I think it's just appropriate that we see how many people, and we forget how many people it takes to make this thing work and work well and make us sound good and look good sometimes and certainly represent the Senate very well. But just want to take a minute to honor them and thank them for their great
Speaker 34
13:32
i think i think leanne had some prepared remarks i'm kidding i'm kidding anyway i just
one last time they thank you guys it really is uh it's it's important that everything runs so well we're on time uh um we're looking good uh since i just represented well as i've said and then that happens because everybody's doing their part, from our sergeant-at-arms out there to you guys back here making sure our paperwork's lined up and taking the calls with all the encouragement coming in from around the state that we're doing such a great job. And we just thank you guys and just wanted to take a moment to really appreciate. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Hester, and thank you again to all of the staff who
support our state senators. If there are no other announcements or introductions, Senator Love, you're recognized.
any other announcements or introductions madam secretary are there any items at the desk there are no items at the desk if there is no further business
to come before the body in the morning hour the morning hour has expired we will now begin the business
Speaker 13
15:09
agenda beginning with house bill 1001 house bill 1001 by representative eaves and senator dismay to reduce the income tax rates for individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
15:21
Senator Dismang, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, this is just a House version of the income tax bill. Not quite as good as the Senate bill, but we'll still pass it. If no
Speaker 8
15:34
questions, anyone wish to speak against? Senator Love, you're recognized to speak against. Thank you, Governor. You know, you all, here's the thing.
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
15:55
This is not something that I would like to speak against. This is the last thing that I officially do in this chamber. But I want to just raise awareness. I understand that we're trying to provide relief to Arkansans. But this tax bill, really, you all, will only provide about $50 to the average Arkansan. We need to talk about some significant relief for people. Because as gas prices rise, as grocery prices rise, everything is rising on the average Arkansan.
We need to really think about what we can do to provide some significant relief. You know, I understand that corporations need to prosper. I understand that we need to grow businesses. But you all, let's really begin to think about some significant relief for the everyday working Arkansan. You know, in June or July of 2025, we passed a big, beautiful bill that provided about $5 trillion.
$5 trillion of tax relief. The average Arkansan probably relieved about $200 to $300. while the millionaires and billionaires actually receive hundreds of thousands of dollars. So as we begin to really go down the road, you all, let's talk about significant tax relief for the everyday Arkansan. As I said, this is not
something that I wanted to end on,
but it's something that I really think that this chamber and the House chamber really needs to think about when we start talking about how can we help the average everyday Arkansan. And with that, I would say I would speak against this bill. Thank you. Senator, to speak
for. Senator Sullivan, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. I appreciate the comments.
I'd like to see legislation directed towards that. If we need to have a conversation, it all starts with legislation. So I would ask my esteemed colleague to provide that legislation and we'll have that
Speaker 8
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conversation. Any other senator wish to speak against or for House Bill
1001? If not, Senator Dismang, you're recognized to close. Thank you, Governor.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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18:28
Members, I'd just like to reiterate what we've already said, which this is a process that has been going on
since 2013. I believe providing $1,600 to a family making $65,000 a year is a significant savings for those families. Again, we would be criticized if we were to try to do it all at once, and we shouldn't do it all at once. This has been a very diligent, thoughtful strategy to lowering our income taxes in Arkansas. We've done that by maintaining a conservative budget, creating savings, and making sure we have the backstops in place so that we can make these types of moves.
Again, it's a slow process. I apologize that it's not fast enough. But we will continue to provide tax relief
to Arkansas families. Thank you. Senator has closed.
Speaker 9
19:20
Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismang, Dotson, English,
Flippo Flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Letting Love McKee Murdoch Peyton Penzo Petty
Rice Scott Simon Stone
Senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one,
Speaker 29
20:33
please cast up the ballot. But by a vote of 27 yay, 6 nay, House Bill 1001 passes.
Please return to the House. That
concludes our business agenda. Senator Hester, you are recognized. Well, members, I think
it is very likely this will, barring some emergency none of us foresee coming the last time the 95th General Assembly will be together as a group. And again, regrettably, there are a few of us that will not be back for
the 96th General Assembly. So I thought appropriate that we would take a few minutes and honor those members that will not be returning with us. And so if you're part of that, you know what's going on. so we're going to honor each member going from the lowest or the highest in seniority in reverse. So I think we're going to start with, if it's okay, I'll yield the well to Senator Clark Tucker and Senator Deese. Senator
Tucker and Senator Deese, you all are recognized.
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
21:48
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator Hester. So, you know, I was elected to the
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
21:52
House in 2014, which means I've served with Senator Love for 12 years now. You really get to know a person when you serve with them for that long. You get to know their strengths, and you get to know their weaknesses. And I'm here to tell you, Senator Love has a weakness that's like his kryptonite. Now, I've never seen him flinch at a hard vote. I've never seen him not speak his truth to whoever he thinks needs to hear it.
We had a caucus conversation going a week or two ago. All of us, except for him, were on one side, he was on the other, and he stood up to us and talked us into it. Those aren't his weaknesses. His weakness is sitting in his seat right now. I knew Senator Love when, because we have boys the same age, and he was always a, you know, strong father with his son as soon as his daughter came into his life. If you ever want to see Senator Love, the only time when he's at a loss for words or weak in the knees, it's when his
little girls around. So it's only appropriate that she's here with us
Senator Tyler Dees
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22:59
today. Well, Senator Love is a good man. He truly is. It's been said that after his term ends, there will be no more love in this chamber. And there's a bit of truth to that. We will miss what you bring to this chamber. We sincerely appreciate it. I have been able to sit next you in committee meetings, and I love your intentionality for seeking truth. In a subtle
question that many of you have heard, it goes something like, so tell me a little bit more about that. It's not out of arrogance. It's not out of pride. It's truly out of an intentionality to seek truth, and I respect that. I really appreciate how you've done that well. But above all, I appreciate how great of a family man he is, just like Senator Tucker talked about. To see him light up on the issues that you heard even today is inspiring, but when you talk to him about his
family, his face changes. The way he talks about his kids, his wife, it's inspiring. I want to be the same man like that. I want to serve this state well, but above all, I want to serve my family well, and you've done that. So thank you for being a great example for all of us to see how to do that well, for Ms. Millie here to get to see that up close and personal. That's really special. And while in this chamber you sit behind me, I want you to know that I've always got your back.
So we're thankful for your 16 years of service to the state. Really appreciate you. Thank
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
24:51
you, Senator Love. just just a few more comments sorry everybody i'll keep it brief i
was going to say something else but that was perfect so but i am going to read uh two quotes from some former colleagues
the first is from our former colleague in this chamber senator chesterfield who said today we honor and celebrate the service and leadership of senator fred Love, a devoted public servant, passionate advocate, and above all, a family man. One of the most unique and inspiring parts of his journey is the distinction of serving in the Arkansas legislature alongside his former teacher, Senator Joyce Elliott, a powerful reminder of the lasting impact educators can have on the lives and futures of their students. Senator Love has been a
consistent voice for working families, healthcare access, and underserved communities across our state. His leadership has always reflected a heart for service and a deep understanding of the needs of everyday Arkansans. Congratulations, Senator Fred Love, on 16 years of service to the state of Arkansas. Thank you for your commitment to making our community stronger. Linda Chesterfield. One other comment from a longtime colleague of ours, and especially Senator Love's in the House. This is from Representative Monty Hodges. I'm not going to toast Senator Love, but the scripture
that comes to mind as I reflect on your transition into this next chapter is Jeremiah 29 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. As you move forward, may you walk confidently knowing that your service, leadership, and impact have mattered. Praying God grants you wisdom, peace, favor, and fulfillment in this next season, Honorable Monty Hodges. And with that, Madam President, I would like to yield the floor to Senator Fred Love.
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
26:41
Senator Love, you're recognized. Thank you, Lieutenant Governor. You know, you guys, I thought actually when I spoke against that bill was going to be the last
time I was going to speak. Thank you all, really. Thank you. You know, it has been an honor serving in this chamber. It's been an honor, you know, of course, we don't always agree.
But I will tell you, it's something special to serve in this chamber. I was talking to someone, and, you know, people only see what they see in the media about us. But I always tell people, you know, somebody might say, well, what about this person? And I say, you know what, that's a good person. You may not agree with them, but they are a good person.
And that's the special, that's something that really especially just happens here. And so for all of you all, I wish you the best. Truly, I love you all. This has been a great
chamber to serve in. And I wish you the best. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Love. Senator Scott, you are recognized.
Senator Jamie Scott
Unverified
28:19
Thank you, Governor. Colleagues, today I have the awesome privilege of trying to roast and toast Senator Reginald Murdoch. And
some of you might not know me, you know, I don't really think I'm a funny person. So I think I'm a little serious all the time, but I can be funny. The one part of this roast and toast that I have that I think is funny is I've been here. How long have I been with y'all?
A year and a half, maybe. And Senator Murdoch has been here in this chamber
four years, almost. I think I've probably cast the majority of his votes in the two years that I've been here. That's the only ringer I have today. So I wanted to make this day special for Senator Murdoch because he's so special to me. I reached out to some of our colleagues, former colleagues, just to get some what would they say or what do they want to say to him. So Senator Murdoch is the true definition of a self-made man, a visionary leader who built a million-dollar company
through work, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Despite his success, he has never lost the warmth, humility, and generosity that makes him such a special person to all those around him. He enjoys the simple joys of life, especially good food, if you know him. He loves greens. That's very high on his list. Murdoch has always had a very generous spirit, if you know Senator Murdoch. I've never paid for a meal, and none of the women who he has, like, taken in,
we've never lifted our pockets to pay for anything. So he spoils us in a very different way. And he teaches us that that should be the standard in which men, if they're dealing with us, that should be how they carry and honor us. So he has never lost, he consistently spoils the ladies in his community, which I already said, but he makes you feel valued and appreciated. And he's a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. And he could have chosen to live and build his life anywhere in this state or across the country
because he was highly sought after in high school. He is very smart. But he decided to stay in Mariana, and he loves Mariana. He loves to invest his time, his resources, and his heart back into the community that has helped shaped him. His life is a testament of what it means to succeed without forgetting where you come from and to use your blessing to be a blessing to others. And that was from the Honorable Linda Chesterville. She shared that with me to share. And so your mayor in West Memphis told me
that West Memphis and Crendon County really will miss your experience, your knowledge, and the genuine compassion that you brought to this job. We are better because of your contributions and your leadership. You have been there every time my office has called upon you to assist with the many projects and present the past. and as we're going forward in the area with different projects. You've set the bar very high, and we're all wishing you the best in your next chapter. I'm sure that wherever you go next, we will fully expect you'll still be involved
in helping to make the lives of people better. That was Mayor Marco McClendon. This is from another former legislator. Senator Murdoch is a legislator and a friend that you can count on. He has been involved in every major economic development project in our area, and he delivers results. He is someone that has always put the people over politics, and he delivers time after time. I think I can speak for all of us in Crendon County when I say that we will miss your experience,
your knowledge, and the compassion, and your love for people. I wish him well on his next chapter. That was from Steve Jones. The Delta sent one of the very best in his favorite sons when the people elected Reginald Murdoch. Reggie loves God, his family, his community, and his people. And he has demonstrated his service and his distinguished—he has demonstrated this through his distinguished service to the state of Arkansas. I had the great honor of serving and learning from Reggie for over a decade.
I watched him, with Democrats and Republican leaders, deliver resources and results and jobs to his district to improve the care of Arkansans with sickle cell disease and to ensure equal access and flexibility to public education and to improve pharmaceutical health care. The only questionable action I witnessed him repeat for nearly 12 years is his order and the bone steaks being well done. But since I don't eat steak, his record is perfect with me.
I was a better representative and Christian, and I am a better mayor and a human being for having known and worked alongside Representative and now Senator Reginald Murdoch. And that is from mayor Vivian Flowers. And so I'll wrap up with my remarks. Today I want to take a moment to honor and celebrate Reginald Murdoch, a man of wisdom, courage, integrity, and unwavering service to the people of Arkansas. Through his service, Reginald Murdoch has led with compassion and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others, especially children in the Delta, families and
underserved communities across the state. He has consistently used his influence, leadership, and voice to create opportunities for those who often are overlooked and forgotten. What I've always admired most about Senator Murdoch is his fearless spirit. He is never afraid to stand firmly on his convictions, even when it means standing apart from the crowd or even against our own caucus like a couple weeks ago. He leads with principle, not popularity. He may not speak often, but when he does, he's always very observant, he's always discerning. And when he
rises to speak, this entire chamber listens because he speaks truth to power. He carries words of wisdom, weight, and authenticity. Whether advocating for better health care outcomes, investing opportunities for young people, and fighting for the Delta and rural Arkansan communities, his impact will be felt for generations to come. Beyond his public service, he is an exceptional husband, a devoted father, a successful businessman, and a man who never forgot where he came from.
Though he could have chosen to serve anywhere or live anywhere, he chose Arkansas. He chose Mariana. He chose to pour back into the Delta and make it stronger for the future that we're fighting for, for future generations. Senator Murdoch, thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for your friendship and your belief in me ever since I arrived eight years ago. Your support, encouragement, and example have meant more than words can express today. Thank you for choosing service. Thank you for choosing Arkansas. Thank you
for choosing to continue to fight for communities that deserve to be seen, heard, and invested in. Your legacy of advocacy, courage, and servant leadership is deeply appreciated. Your little sister loves you and I appreciate you always. Thank you and I yield the floor to you.
Speaker 102
35:51
Thank you. Thank you, Jamie. Be sure to
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
35:54
see me. I got an envelope rope for you at the end of the day. As Flippo said, how much did you pay her? Or did I write that myself? No, sincerely thank you for this moment. Thank you for this day. There's lots of emotion that goes with the day because of the purpose of why we're here. And obviously in a day as today, in a time such as now, many times we're here in a different space,
a different way one from another. What challenges me as I revert to the biblical teachings and the teachings of Andrew and Mary Murdoch, my parents, is to respect through the storm. And it's been lots of storms as I've been in the Senate and in the legislature, but what I've tried to do and hopefully I've done is go through this process as respectful as possible even when I have felt very much touched personally for the people I represent and things that are very
endearing to my heart. In these positions, as you know, politically sometimes it's emotional. There's a lot of things that's personal as you represent people that you love so much and when you feel like things are happening that affects them in a way that you don't feel like is necessarily best for them. So it's been a a challenge for me. I apologize for any time that I have acted or been less than what my parents
would be proud of or what I should be, even for the people that sent me here. But many times I've tried to defer and deter from doing anything that would embarrass myself or my family as well. So, it's been a ride. It's been something that's necessary. I pray that this chamber and this body continues to look to the heels for which cometh their help as they make decisions that affect all of us, and that we will, no matter who's in majority, no matter what the stakes are for you
personally, that you will remember those that need you the most, the underserved, the elderly, those that disabled, those that really, really need your service and your ability to help them through their toughest times. So again, I appreciate the walk. I appreciate the friendship, many of you guys, the wisdom that's in this room. Listen, I've had some great conversations with many of you in many ways, and I respect you for that. So as you go forward, as I go forward,
I wish you nothing but the best. I wish in God's speed to all of you, and thank you so much for being with me through this process. And again, I respect you, and I hope that you will continue to fight hard for those that need you the most. God bless you. I'm humbled by this opportunity to my community that elected me seven times to come to this Capitol for the last 16 years. I'm most grateful to their community. My family that have supported me through this,
obviously nothing is more special. My birthday was last week and my family came down to have a celebration. But you never know, I'm telling you guys this is still here, the impact you have on your family and what you're doing in the service. You never really know until you're in such a gathering and they talk about your influence on them. that matters as well. So let's make sure we always do that and remember that. Don't take this for granted. Many of us
have been here a long time, as I have. And after 16 years, I'm ready to land my plane. So your turn is coming. Thank you so much for your graciousness, your friendship. God bless you all.
applause Thank you, Senator Murdoch. And Senator Murdoch, when I am home at the farm, I will be calling you for lunch, according to Senator Scott's opening remarks.
Chair
Unverified
40:13
Senator Clark, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. I
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
40:20
want to talk to y'all today about an interim study on unpasteurized chocolate milk. Let me see here, what is it I'm supposed to
Speaker 109
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do? Oh, yeah, Hammer. Senator Hammer, I apologize that you are not well-respected here.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
40:45
Obviously, they would have asked someone else if you were. I did try to show respect though this is the last day of the session and I am not wearing jeans so you can take that as a sign of high respect and Senator Simon I'm going to let you in on a little bit of some of the conversations that go on with senior members and not just you, Senator Petty Senator Dees and Senator Scott and others Senator Hester came to me and said we're going to honor the members
that are leaving and as a senior member we'd like for you to participate and I said I just really would prefer not to and he said but you know we'd really like for you to why not I said I really don't like any of them and he said well still need you to do it and I said well who do you want me to do Blake Johnson he said no we want you to do Kim Hammer And I said, hammer?
And he told me it was going to be this roast and toast. I said, there's no material. There's nothing funny there. You know, I said, let me do Fred Love. You know, I said, let me do Fred Love. Let me tell everybody, you know, how Fred Love and I met. You know, we were over at Capitol Hill for a luncheon. We were both new. He was new in the House. I was new in the Senate. And I extended my hand and thanked him for voting to override Governor Beebe's veto. And we've been friends ever since.
Nope, can't do love. And I said, well, let me do letting. You know, he said, no, can't do it. I said, come on, you know. I said, let me tell how I hated letting. You know, he was in the house, and he's this far-left guy whose tweets made Brian King look tame, you know. And then he came to the Senate, and his vast knowledge on bull castration won me over. and he said no you can't you can't do letting you have to do hammer and I said I'm just not
going to do it and I said you know I said I said well let's go back to love again I said at least love's running for an important office you know and and he said no hammer you're going to do hammer And I said, I just, I don't think so. And he said, you know, he said, Clark, why after all this time can't you just do anything that I ask you to do?
And I said, no. And he said, well, if you don't, we're going to file ethics charges. And I said, you wouldn't. And he said, you know what's better than that. So, Senator Hammer and I met in a phone call. He called me up, it's been some time ago,
and said, I hear you're thinking about running for the Senate, and I'm also thinking about running for that same seat. And we talked about it, and, you know, and I said, you know, Senator Hammer, you would be a formidable opponent, but you're term-limited, and I think you're probably going to be a career politician, you may need to find something else to run for. So, anyway, I would say for one more time, but in all seriousness, the side of the Senate that people don't know, those of you that have
been here a while especially know, we fight.
We don't just fight between Republicans and Democrats. We fight. You know, we're allies, and then we're adversaries, and then we're allies again, and then we're adversaries. But the one thing that never changes... Several years ago, Jenna's mom had a stroke.
Speaker 119
45:24
Late at night, we're in the hospital, and she's dying. And
Speaker 120
45:35
I don't know how he even knew. And we looked up, and there's Kim and Karen. That's the side people don't know. How we may battle it out over leadership and over bills, but how much people in this chamber love each other
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
45:55
and how they stand beside each other. I have never in
all my years in politics experienced anything like what it's like continually to go around in Selene County. Kim and I both represent parts of Sling County. And every time someone finds out I'm in the Senate, I mean almost every time they find out I'm in the Senate,
they say, do you know Kim Hammer? And then they tell me a story like the one I just told you. So when people attack Kim, I take it
personally, as you know. One of the finest men I know, him and Karen, two of the finest people that I know. Great addition to the Senate, although he had to wait a while
because I wouldn't let him move into my district to run. So, Kim, we appreciate you. We all do. And I
didn't want to say this, but I think I have to say this. During all the ethics crap, friends who knew both of us would ask me about Kim and strangers.
And through one of the worst times in my life, I always had to say, not necessarily because I wanted to say it,
Because I don't think you can say anything better about somebody than this. I said, Kim Hammer
will always do what he thinks is right. Regardless of what I think, Kim Hammer will always do what he thinks is right. And that's
what's going to make him a great Secretary of State. That's what's made him a great House member, a great Senator.
It's made him a great person. Kim, thank you for being my friend. Senator Hamer, you're recognized.
Thank you, Madam President. Just a second, please. I've got a few things I want to say. I'm sorry, that's legislation I didn't get to run. Never mind, okay. I
Speaker 126
49:03
want to start, first of all, by, you know,
anytime you have an opportunity, I think as a Christian and God puts you in a position that you have the opportunity to do so, I think it's, I don't think it honors our God if we don't give him first and foremost recognition. I am where I am because God has graced me to be where I am. God appoints people to their office. He takes them out. He builds kingdoms. He tears them down. And for his good grace and reasons maybe only that he knows he's allowed me to serve for 16 years
in the legislature. I thank Jesus Christ because he saved me not only from my sins, but he also forgives me for my flaws, as many of you have had to do from time to time because none of us are perfect. And I know from time to time I've dropped the ball. And, you know, I'm thankful like you, Christ is always there to forgive and to pick me up brush me off and say okay son let's get back in the game and do it better this time and then the Holy Spirit that guides and directs, convicts
participates in the decisions the votes that have to be made knowing that the knowing that the pulpit can never be exchanged for the podium and knowing that no matter how people think we vote whether they agree or disagree we are all going to answer to God one day for everything that we do and even down to I think sometimes the positions we take in our God appointed positions are constituent affirmed positions that we hold. I want to thank my family
and I'd like to ask leave for my wife Karen if you would please I'd like to ask leave for my wife who's on the floor you heard them leave go one thing we've never done and I haven't understood that word but my wife Karen I want to thank her all of you that have spouses understand what it's like to have somebody back home that has to pick up the slack while you're gone that has to scroll down the Facebook post and all the things that spouses have to endure
just sometimes to be a listening ear a support when it's been a long day a long week a long session at Capital I want to give my wife Karen a special expression publicly of gratitude for letting me do when I'm when I first came to her over 16 years ago and I said I think God is leading me to leave for office and I think that's what he's telling me she said well God hasn't told me that so after about two or three months of the Holy Spirit working on her she
finally gave me her grace and her blessing and she has stood beside me this entire time that I've been in the legislature to my kids and to their spouses you know kids always want to take up for their dads and and family always wants to take up for for their family and i've had to tell them how many times just no just let it slide leave it alone let it go uh don't get drug drug into it and they they've been good to stand by my side and to uh love me as as a father and for uh my son-in-law my daughter-in-law is to love me as a father and so i want to thank them and my
grandchildren um you know grandkids are special for those of you that have them uh but as they get older they begin to realize things and and uh they have always stood by as well and i hope everybody that is not a grandparent gets to experience that one day i want to give a special thanks to my church saline missionary baptist church and tall when i decided to run for the legislature over 16 years they were trying to call me as their pastor i said no let me let me run and see if i'm going to be uh elected into the office and then you decide if you want to call me and
so i get elected and they they said we want to call you and i said no let me get through the first session, see how much time it's going to take, see if I can manage it and everything. And so got through that. And then they went ahead and called me. So the entire time that I've been at the church that I'm at now, Saline Missionary Baptist Church in Tull, they've always had a legislator as a pastor. And they have been very, very, very supportive. And I want to thank my church personally, because if you've got a strong church family standing behind you, you can endure a lot of things otherwise. I also want to thank our staff. Our staff makes us look good and that
applies to the house staff too because for those of us that have had the privilege to be you know down in the house to come up here we're blessed as legislators to have the staff that we have that that takes the heat and helps keep things flowing and I want to thank our staff. I also just want to thank the house members I've had chance to serve because I started on the other end. I might need to go before one of their committees one day, so I don't want to say they're the lesser chamber, but we are a great chamber on this end. So I want to thank all the House members and all the
senators that have had the privilege. And then just to wrap it up, I want to say that I know that my reputation has involved sometimes maybe being late for committee, maybe running a few bills, maybe asking a few questions. You know, I know that's some of my reputation. I get it. But above all, Well, I want to quote an old-timer that said something that always stuck in my mind. I hope that I'm leaving the pile a little higher than I found it.
You know, those old-timers, when they gave those old cliches, they really knew what they were talking about. And I hope my reputation is that I've left the woodpile a little higher than I found it. It hasn't been about taking, but it's about giving and adding back and leaving it great for the next generation. And for that, I will say, for me, there is no more morning hours in this chamber for me, but the sun will always rise for those who look for God's will in their life every day that God blesses them to live. And that's what I'm looking for, is God's will for future chapters.
The last thing I will say is one of the great honors that you get to have being a senator or representative is representing and recognizing great people in your life and in your communities. And if I may, Madam President, I'd like to close by recognizing, taking a point of personal privilege to recognize all these folks in the gallery. With us today in the gallery, the National Senior Games, Senior Olympics, is a biannual multi-sport competition for ages 50 and older designed to promote healthy lifestyles.
The next event is scheduled for June 30th through June 11th, 2027 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, featuring over 25 sports requiring most participants to qualify via state-level competition in 2026. Last year, several senior Olympic basketball teams proudly represented Arkansas at the 2025 National Senior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa, where 12,407 athletes competed in several sports representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 10 countries. I'd like to ask all of the basketball players and all the athletes in the West Gallery above me,
if y'all would, please stand up there at this time. Would you please stand? Those who competed in the 2025 nationals included Arkansas AROK 55-plus women's team finished fifth. I want you to remember now, 12,407 athletes. This team finished fifth. Arkansas AROK 60-plus women's team placed fourth.
The Arkansas Diamond 65 women's team placed tenth. Now, these are ones I want you to recognize especially. Arkansas Gem 65 plus women's team play silver medal second place. And the Arkansas Diamonds 70 plus women's team gold medal first place. There you go. The Arkansas Big Dogs 50 plus men's team gold medal first place as well.
And then Senator Sullivan, this one you can recognize. Also recognized, though not present today, is the Arkansas Diamonds 80-plus women's team. So 80-year-old plus women, okay, women's team who earned gold medal first place at the national level. 80-year-old plus. And additionally, we are proud to have with us the Arkansas Diamonds Blue 50-plus women's team and the Arkansas Diamond 60-plus women's team and all teams present have qualified for the
2027 Senior Olympics, which will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and also present today, Greg Ebert, Arkansas Senior Olympics Executive Director. All the things I've done down here, the bills I've run, legislation passed or health passed, one of the great privileges we have is to bring in those who we represent and give them the recognition until recognition is due. Would you all please give them one more round of applause. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Hammer. Senator Flowers, you're recognized.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
58:34
Thank you, Madam governor. And I'm here at the request of our president pro tem a couple of days ago. So I don't have a whole bunch prepared. Thank you, Bart. But I'm here to honor my seatmate, the
Honorable Senator Greg Letting, and I asked him to run on down here.
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These shoes, these tennis shoes, they're Oshkosh B'gosh. They
Senator Stephanie Flowers
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59:12
represent a little child running, maybe at one year old, maybe two.
Now, you know, I think everybody in the chamber knows Senator Letting is a marathon runner. And so I thought this was appropriate. I'm not going to give these to you, but I've ordered some, or will order some. I don't think these are really running shoes. They're kind of slick at the bottom. I don't think they'd fit. Well, but you're going to have some size 11s. Okay. Maybe. But I'd like to say this first about my seatmate.
But before that, I've been here a pretty long time, came in here in 2011. And this day to honor and celebrate our parting senators was quite different than what we're seeing today. It was a time for those senators that were retiring or leaving to come before us and tell us and give us some of their wisdom
and experiences that they had during their time. And I must tell you, it was a grand thing to hear from those legislators, those senators. I remember the Jeffreys brothers singing up here at the podium and just so many different things. Senator Hendren, Kim Hendren, everybody had a story to tell that was lasting.
Percy Malone, it was a wonderful time and it was wonderful to hear their reflections on what they experienced here and how they got along. And we did get along, it was not a partisan, you couldn't tell really most of the time who was Democrat and who was Republican. I remember
meeting in just one office, and all of those senators, we gathered together to discuss budgets or whatever.
That was something that may have been contentious. But we gathered together, we had committees that
were appropriately balanced, four and four. And it was just a different time, Something that I don't see anymore. But Greg, Senator Letting, has been my seatmate. He's been in here, he's number 16. I don't know how many years you've been here,
but you came in from the house and you chose a seat next to me. And I was so glad of that. I was wondering who the heck is going to come over here. You know, I just lost Dave Wyatt it, and he was a wonderful seatmate. And I had Ubalde, Lindsey, and Greg reminds me a lot of Senator Lindsey. But I want to say that you've been a wonderful seatmate. I think you've been a wonderful senator and legislator. You're a wonderful editor, writer. He has
his little newsletter and i read it sometimes but uh he's quite smart he's smart and i like that i'll miss you sitting back there and seeing on x or twitter or whatever it was when some senator would get up in the row before you and you'd post a little note go hogs or whatever the thing was going on around and it was uh it was something that kind of lightened the air for me and stuff
because sometimes things can get really kind of uh contentious in here and worrisome and i just love when he lightens the the chamber up with his uh humor and but that being said I go back to what it used to be like and you had those senators that were leaving coming down here and saying their peace but we'd also give them a
special gift to remind them that we loved them for their service in the Senate now you can't have my son's shoes but I'm gonna try to order you a pair as soon as these terrorists stop. But, you know, because they're probably going
to come from China. So anyway, I want y'all to hear from our beloved Senator Greg Letting.
Forgot to mention how his daughter Ava has grown
since Greg has been coming down here and that's a wonderful thing. He's a family man too and he's a traveler. So Greg, go. Senator Letting,
I'm sorry, before I recognize you, let me personally say thank you, Senator Letting. And
Speaker 8
1:04:46
for those of you all who don't have this view, Senator Letting loved to hold up signs while the former senator would be speaking.
And so it amused me, but I just wanted to say that on record. So thank
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:05:03
you, Senator. Well, thank you, Madam President. Being a very big believer in Irish goodbyes, I wasn't even sure I was going to show up today. But, you know, 16 years, you do think about the people you've served with and all the things you've done. Yeah, Kim, Fred, Reggie, we all entered the House together 16 years ago. It's kind of hard to believe. Here in the Senate, Senator Hester, you've led this body for half my time in the Senate.
And another thing that really bothers me is Senator Dismank just sits here and has the nerve to age like a fine single malt while I continue to curdle like a bucket of milk left out in the sun. But, you know, that's life in the majority, right? I guess it's the wind at your back, especially when you're the second most powerful Republican in the state. The first, of course, being my seatmate, who's uncharacteristically absent today, Senator King.
I did tell him for the five minutes he was here on Monday that I've talked to Sabrina, I've talked to Philip. There's no way I can vote for you next year. You're going to have to have somebody else do that. Maybe that's going to
be you. But while I'm back there on that back row, Senator English, it's been an honor serving with
you in the House and the Senate on Senate education. If I thought I could have gotten away with it, I'd have brought a pack of cigarettes down here and lit one up right now in your honor. Maybe you and Stephanie and I can go take a smoke break after this.
Senator Flowers, I did originally pick that seat because it had been Senator Lindsey's. Not knowing the friendship or the responsibility that would come with sitting there. I love you. I'll miss you. I think the Senate was going to miss me sitting next to you. But I'm always just a
phone call away, which is true for all of you. I'm not the best about answering the phone. But, you
know, it's common to say that there's much more that unites us than divides us,
and that is mostly true. But we do also have our fights, and there have been times when I'm just like, how can that person look at themselves in the mirror? But the one thing I always hang on to or think about is, if nothing else, the one thing that does unite us is the fact that we have all done this job. And only those of us who have held up our hand and taken the oath truly knows what it means to carry this weight. No matter how closely you might be to it, unless you've actually done the job. You just don't know what it's like. And so, you know, no matter how much, if I voted against every single bill you've ever
run or if I've campaigned for your opponent, it doesn't mean you can't call me up and say, hey, look, I really need a big favor. Can you meet me in 15 minutes and bring a shovel? I won't come help if I can. I don't know that I have a whole lot of wisdom, but I do have just one quick story along those lines of, like, you never know where you're going to get the help. Senator Irvin and I worked for a couple of years to end juvenile life without parole here in Arkansas. We tried in 2015. I carried the bill in the House. It died on the floor, largely due to opposition from former state representative
Rebecca Petty, who had lost her daughter to a brutal murder. Understandable. But Senator Irvin and I tried again in 2017. She carried the bill down here. We kept my name off of it just to make sure that there wasn't any kind of, like, liability there. That can happen from time to time. But we couldn't get any traction in the House because we knew that Representative Petty still opposed the bill. And again, for very personal and powerful reasons. So we arranged for a woman named Dr. Linda White to fly up from Texas. She was in her 70s at the time. She's on oxygen. But for several years, she had gone around advocating for criminal justice reforms,
particularly for juveniles. She saw it as restorative justice. She had lost her own daughter to a brutal murder back in the 1980s. But she eventually came to know one of the men responsible. And she learned that like no amount of grief or anger would ever bring back her daughter, but that this man could have, if he earned it, a second chance at life. And so we arranged to have her talk with Rebecca. We had the meeting in Senator Irvin's office. She wasn't able to be there. But for an hour, those two women talked, sharing very painful personal stories.
And at one point, Rebecca looked at Linda and said, how did you ever get past the anger and the grief. And Linda looked up at the ceiling and said, Grace. And I'm more religious than a lot of you probably think. I've never felt his presence here at the Capitol more than I did in that moment. And after everybody kind of collected themselves, Rebecca turned to me and she goes, well, what's the status on this bill? And I said, well, Senator Irvin, we haven't run it yet because we can't find a sponsor in the House because nobody wants to hurt you. And she goes, well, you haven't
asked me. And so Rebecca walked into that room being opposed to that legislation, but walked out as the House sponsor. And that's why that bill passed. That's why Arkansas became the first state in the South to end juvenile life without parole. And there are now people walking free who would have otherwise died in prison had those two women not been able to come together and have that moment. And that's just, if I had accomplished nothing else during my 16 years here other than being a part of bringing those women together and playing a small role in passing that legislation, it would have all been worth it.
I learned to chase those kinds of moments and look for those kinds of opportunities. And I've tried to let that guide me during my time here. So it has been an honor. 16 years went by pretty fast, although some of the days around here drag out. I feel like a lifetime. Yeah, my daughter was born while I was down here. She's never known me, not in office. She is going to miss coming here and being on the floor and all of you handing her ice cream treats constantly. My wife, we started dating while I was running for the house the first time. She's also never known me outside of office, so it is going to be nice to be back home on a more regular basis.
But it's been the honor of a lifetime. I truly appreciate
it. I'm sure I'm going to see you, obviously, between now and the end of the year, but maybe not. Again, I've always believed in Irish goodbyes. Why interrupt the party by telling people you're leaving? It's better just to kind of, like, disappear and let people continue
to have their fun. But I will say, remember, you never know where you're going to get the help. Take care of each other. Make
good choices and definitely do not forget the staff because they dedicate their careers to making sure that this body interiors, whether we're here or not. Thank you. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
1:11:48
Senator Gilmore you're recognized. Thank you
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:11:50
Madam President. Greg I just would like to follow with that by saying you always told me that y'all were
a small but mighty band as the minority leader. We had to put up our own champion Blake Johnson. So members I have the honor and distinct pleasure to say a few I don't know insults. Love if you roast his way and maybe say a few nice words. But again, Greg was such a formidable foe as minority leader, we needed a Blake Johnson,
so here he is. But I was thinking about all the things that I could say about Blake, and I can't neglect some of the great stories. If you've never seen a big man on a little scooter, you miss something really enjoyable. In fact, I think the city of Little Rock had to change policy due to liability concerns after city officials saw him on said scooter careening down the sidewalks. If you may or may not remember, there was a time when he decided that he was going to go on a diet
one session. Much to all of our regret and concern, it was a chicken broth diet. That's a man that didn't eat meat for about three months. It was tough for him. Many, many times we had to console him I offered to bring him candy he would refuse it because he was on that chicken broth diet but if he was a little more edgy or a little more angry or whatever just you know bear with him because he was drinking his chicken broth uh through his meals um I was really concerned about
him uh but he managed you may or may not have noticed a few times occasionally I'd have to pull him off the floor and there's a little closet over there that worked out really well for us to have some calm down moments after something would happen on the floor, and I thought I was actually consoling him. Turns out he was actually doing that for me, because we both get the high blood. But, you know, there's so many great stories that we could tell about Blake. I mean, I can't neglect his athletic prowess as exhibited on the softball field last week. I think
he forgot that he wasn't back on the farm, and he was still trying to plow the field, but he used his face to do it. But, you know, there's so many things about Blake, and, you know, I can stop the jokes now because Blake deserves a lot more than that. As a dear friend and man that I would consider a brother, I'm proud to have, I think, coined his name, his grandfather's Papaw. Y'all might have
heard me call him Papaw around here a few times, and it turns out that that's what his grandkids also call him. I think I started it, proud to say. But I have a lot of respect for that man. Book of James tells us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Now, little did we know that Blake was going to take that literally when he said be slow to speak. Because there are times when I have to tell him, all right, Blake, use your words. But I will tell you, he was a man who's very thoughtful is a man very thoughtful when he speaks it matters
he doesn't speak often but when he does this body listens that's why when there was a certain heated moment on the floor you might remember he walks very slowly down to this well got behind this podium and suspended the rules to help alleviate the concern little did we know he suspended all the rules at that time we had to go back and fix that but we gave him a lot of grace because he doesn't often come down here but again when he speaks this body listens he's a man of integrity and psalm 112 talks about
what it means to be a man of faith a man of integrity and he exhibits those it says it's a man of that is firm and steadfast trusting in the lord he shall not fear if you know blake you know he's firm. You know he's steadfast. You know he's someone who doesn't have a lot of fear. You know he's someone who's going to do the right thing and do it always. He's a man of integrity, as I've said many times, and I will keep saying it because it is probably the thing that I value and respect the
most about him. You get to know a lot about somebody when you get to see them with their family and get to know their family and get to know their kids. I've had the pleasure of doing that. They respect him. They honor him. He's done well in that regard, and that speaks highly as to who he is. He's a man of strong faith. You know that because it's what drives everything he does here, from when he speaks in the well to when he's just hanging out at dinner. His love for the Lord and his faith just
comes out of him. He will be missed. I will miss him very dearly. So with that, Blake Johnson, and come to the well, say a few words.
Speaker 158
1:17:11
- Ben, you know I'm gonna be a babbling idiot now. So,
Speaker 159
1:17:17
I spent, this is the 12th year, I spent eight years on the city council, so 20 years of service. That's a third of my life. I've spent the other third of my life going six miles an hour on a tractor. So if anybody ever wants to come up there and be really bored and watch me, that's where I'll be. Whatever third I've got left, that's where I'll be on that tractor.
But it's been an honor. you know Trish has been down here three times since I've been in office and she's put up with a lot and I want to say how much I appreciate her and my family for allowing me to serve and my colleagues for allowing me to be your leader
that's what I was supposed to be I was a sinner in football that's the one that says huddle up I wasn't ever a quarterback I'll plow the way I'll gather you up but I don't want the glory. I appreciate y'all and the years of service with each one of you
and Joyce and Linda and all those I argued with. It's been an honor of my life and you guys know I probably wasn't most likely to succeed whenever I was in high school because I really didn't try. And I think I've done, with you guys' help, I've succeeded in life with my family
Speaker 162
1:19:18
and my service to my state and my city.
Appreciate y'all. thank you senator johnson senator davis you're recognized thank you madam president i have the honor of talking about Senator English and just honoring her today. And I just, you know,
I've been involved in politics for a very long time, elected to this body for about eight years now. But back in the day, I call them the original Republicans when we were back fighting in the early 2000s when you were just begging for a conservative to run for sheriff or quorum court or something like that. And, you know, times have changed so much. But there are people who are the original Republicans, the OGs that I call them, that were paving the way, doing the hard work
day in and day out in county committees and Republican women's groups and running for office, standing up when other people wouldn't and doing the work that others were unwilling to do. And Senator English is one of those people. She's really a person in the Senate that I value so much. She's somebody that is consistent. She's practical. And I can just always kind of get a temperature of what's going on and about an issue based on her feedback and her advice.
And the people that are consistent, I really appreciate and respect. There's a lot of chaos and fast-moving parts here in Little Rock, especially when we're in session. And if you sit down long enough and take a minute to talk to somebody, for me, specifically Senator English, I always learn a lot. She's not flashy and a lot like Senator Johnson's not seeking the glory or the headlines like a lot of people down here.
And when I've taken the time to slow down and just sit and have conversations I've learned a lot, not just about what you believe and where you stand on different things, Senator English, but about your own life before you came to the Senate, which is pretty incredible in and of itself, the life that you've lived and the legacy that you set well before you came to the legislature. But I love your unwavering passion for education, for our kids, for workforce.
There's a great quote that says, never mistake activity for achievement. And in Little Rock, here in this capital, a lot of times we mistake activity for achievement. But Senator English doesn't. She shows up every day. She does the work, puts her head down, doesn't worry about the headlines, doesn't worry about what other people are saying, but knows what she believes, why, has the research to back it up, and just plows straight ahead to get the work done. And that's something that she's done for years and years.
She's committed her time to doing that here in Little Rock. And our workforce is better for it. Our kids are better for it. And generations will be impacted because of the work that you've done, Senator English, while you're here. So thank you so much. I know that you've been a great mentor to me and somebody that I know I can always rely on, always count on whatever's going on. I can always come to you. And I appreciate that. It means a whole lot.
There's not a lot of people you can do that with here in Little Rock. And so I think we all know one of her favorite sayings is, what's the plan? What is the plan? We're always down here doing all this stuff. Why are we doing this stuff if there's no plan? And so we will miss that because sometimes we do need to be asked that. And we need to ask some more questions, some deeper questions about some things to really figure out what the plan is and why we are doing all this stuff. So thank you, Senator English, and I promise moving forward we will do our best to always have a plan.
And come on down. I'll yield the well to
you. Oh, thank you very much. i'm not the orator that we have lots of in this room i really appreciate it yeah i i don't know that many of us look back maybe 20 years and think i'm going to run for the state legislature
all of a sudden that was upon me and i ran and i won and it was a new chapter a different chapter in my life and it has been a wonderful chapter i've learned a lot i've met a lot of really neat wonderful people that are in this room and also in the house where i was for four years i i appreciate every one of you um i think we don't really realize a couple weeks ago i was at a thing where tim griffin was uh we were installing uh young people into the national guard and one of the
things that he said then which which we all need to remember is he was telling those young people to think about and enjoy every single day of your life and your career that's to follow and that's sometimes I think we forget how important that is to enjoy and relish every day that we're here because it goes by pretty fast that 16 years goes pretty fast and it's a part of your whole life So I appreciate every one of you. I appreciate my family, who has always been a very big supporter,
and all my friends and the constituents
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:25:25
that we have where we serve. So thank you very much. Madam Secretary, I
Speaker 169
1:25:46
believe that we have an item at the desk. Yes,
Speaker 13
1:25:50
Madam President. Notice of the passage and return of Senate Bill 1 from the House.
Speaker 12
1:25:55
Please enroll it. And Senators, I'm going to take a moment of personal privilege to
first thank our law enforcement officers, the state police, as well as the Game and Fish officers who have been with us every day of the fiscal session, as well as this special session. And these fine men and women who have been with us, they may be in the back of the room, but they are always on the front lines protecting Arkansans. And we thank them and appreciate each and every one of them.
Speaker 141
1:26:27
Thank you so much. And my second point of personal privilege as the presiding
officer is I would like to thank the staff of the lieutenant governor's office who have been with me and supported me and you all throughout this session and every single day. This staff has been with me for a
number of years. Laureen, who had to step out, has been with me since 2013. John Austin has worked with me on and off since 2014. And Sandy has been with me since 2015. This team, not only do they manage my time, and that is the entire staff, with the exception of our security officers. This team, not only do they manage me, which is a handful, they manage my time and responsibilities inside this Capitol, not just preparing me to sit at this desk and to be prepared on every single
bill, whether it's during the fiscal session or in a regular session of 2,000-plus bills that we study in the event that we should have a tie vote that small team prepares me for each of those they also prepare me when we go out across the state whether it's to attend the memorial service of one of our own they're there with me whether it's to open up and celebrate and support a child advocacy center in your district they have been with me in every single one of your districts across the state in every one of our 75 counties.
They also handle constituent services, as you all can imagine, having the most well-known governor, with perhaps the exception of former President Clinton, when he was first elected president and was still serving as governor. We have the most well-known governor in the country, or one of the most well-known. And so that overflow comes to the lieutenant governor's office, and they handle all those constituent services. And every school group, every chamber, every one of your constituents
who walks through this building, they are usually met with a smile and a photograph, and they come to the Senate chambers with a member of my team. And so I just want to take a moment to tell them thank you for all of their hard work. They do it with incredible grace and smile. And so I just want to say thank you to the staff of the Lieutenant Governor's office for being incredible to me and to the state of Arkansas. So thank you all so much. And senators and staff, let me add that my team and I love working with you all.
We've learned so much from each and every one of you, not just about the bills and the policies, but about life experiences. And so thank you for sharing that with us. And with that, it is my great pleasure to recognize our pro
Speaker 172
1:29:30
tem for the last motion as president pro tem.
But thank you, president pro tem Hester, for your leadership the last couple of sessions. I've enjoyed working with you, and I appreciate you very much.
Thank you. Okay, well, members, you know, over the last hour or so, you sit here and listen to our colleagues, talk about other colleagues and talk about their last minute, and you realize that maybe we never forget what a privilege it is that the people of Arkansas send us here to do this work. And with that, after reviewing the governor's proclamation and determining the Senate has sufficiently addressed all items on the call and having confirmed this determination with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with no further business before
Speaker 34
1:30:12
the Senate in the first special session of the 95th General Assembly,
I move the Senate adjourn sine die subject to clearing the desk.
Speaker 168
1:30:21
All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Ayes have it. We are adjourned. Signing down.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Announcements
Doctor of the Day
Staff Photo
Items to be Read Across the Desk
BUSINESS AGENDA
SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
HB1001 EAVES J. Dismang TO REDUCE THE INCOME TAX RATES FOR INDIVIDUALS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, AND CORPORATIONS.
Items to be Read Across the Desk
Announcements
Adjourn - Sine Die
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Senator Bart Hester Chair
Unverified
Speaker 7
Speaker 8
Speaker 9
Speaker 12
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Speaker 18
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
Speaker 2
Speaker 34
Speaker 13
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
Senator Dan Sullivan Chair
Unverified
Speaker 29
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Senator Jamie Scott
Unverified
Speaker 102
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Speaker 109
Speaker 119
Speaker 120
Senator Kim Hammer Chair
Unverified
Speaker 126
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
Speaker 132
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Speaker 158
Speaker 159
Speaker 162
Senator Breanne Davis Chair
Unverified
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Speaker 169
Speaker 141
Speaker 172
Speaker 168