House Convenes

Yeah. This. And by the member state press and guests in the galleries to stand to be lead in prayer by reverend roy raglin of the welcome home community church in welcome home arkansas and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be lead by representative lane. Thank you i'll it's a it's a privilege for me today because almost twenty years ago bousmans and nailed as media as a member of the freshman class to come up as the blessing forward star itself it is almost twenty years later in edit how this plays and I really been blast in the whole bin great group to work with four let's go to lord and prayer heavily father we thank you for a blessed day that you've given us operator you're blessing upon this body today up on this state and it citizens. The leadership of the state we ask you to bless our country we'd ask you to bless there the peep the people that are standing for our country for our freedom today and keep them protected forgive us ever sands and again we give you the praise in jesus name a man. Members please indicate your presence by pushing a yellow present button prepared to machine matter part. Passed about man clerk with ninety eight members present the chair sees a quarmer there any requests for leave representative cabin off what purpose leave you recognize leave for representative barker is leave grandfather's embarker or noted representatives for what purpose leave you recognize leave representative definitely sleep grant representative duffield so noted. Perhaps some jeffrey wardle of mostly dispensed for the reading of the previous day's journal without objection so ordered are there reports from select committees or the reports from standing committees sorting and finished business are there any executive communications. Madame clerk please read house more resolution one thousand one house or more resolution one thousand one by representative hot to honor the life and contributions of mr curtis all in ferguson parking recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you miss speaker at this time speaker I asked that representative fight firm and broke in maybury join me in the well. College the state of arkansas and selling county has lost a larger than life legend course ferguson was a man that was very humble and would give the shirt off his back to help his neighbor curse with a true visionary when you think about the american dream which I speak quite often about curse with a shining example of that correspondence and came to bitten from a small area in sling county called cross station in the late fifties earlier in his curry made a living selling appliances and tires for good year and downtown better he was so good at that they made in the youngest manager in the membership region. In nineteen sixty three curse decide to go out on his own and open fergusons town and country farther teeth in appliances. Today if you're in central arkansas many people still know that that business by first ferguson furniture and downtown bent his work ethic and love for the art of the deal was something to be admired his two sons wide and bart who are here today have cared that work at the gone in their business and it was instilled that work ethic and their children corresponds and never met a stranger he love people he love telling stories and when you left an encounter with courtesy ferguson you always had a a pause about look on life. Curious is largely responsible for the development and growth of both bent and brian when you want when you drive down interstate thirty if you look left a right curse cars first and probably had his finger on that in some way shape reform peck your if we embry we would never have a warm order or cracker barrel to warm for courtesy. At the end of the day curious love helping people he loved helping people succeed if they show the good work ethic a passion he was always going to be in their corner i'll leave you with a quick story you know one thing that we we learned yesterday at his at his funeral was that he was he loved aviation right he had helicopters he had airplanes well back in two thousand and fifteen the brian hornets were planning for a championship game against the cabinet panthers that representative evans probably remembers and the night before there was a massive monsoon rain that came through and tom former who's now the bent mayor. He called shane broadway and said hey we need to forgot a way to drive out of these kids are gonna be able to play this championship game was the shame called curtis since that hey could you bring your helicopter over and drive this mud pit of hornet stadium and he said I will but i've got one request can I bring a friend well so tom and shane thought that he was just going to have a co pilot but instead of curtis brought his helicopter in a buddy and he brought his health copper they sat for five hours on top of hornet stadiums these kids could play football that night and they ended up planning and brian won the football game the state championship evans is not here to remember that because he wants to real race that from his memory. But it did a day losing someone like curse fergusons very sad but his legacy is going to live on not only installing county but across arkansas. He's a great man of integrity and honor and i'm i'm proud to be able to sit up here today and do this for him at this time i'd like to bring up representative landing fight to say a few words. As represented hard to say he was very active in the community we got ready to build an airport and courageous come to my office and was full support of it he was that ever meeting nearly for the next two years as we built this airport well one day we were at we had our meeting and and one of the pilots said when can we land at the new airport and they were told they were not vehicle land at the airport for a couple of weeks and they all wanted to be first the land at the new airport well two days after that came out I hope not the paper and this is what I find first to land at the airport the first allen at the airport news lay moral I was sleeping regional airport on monday was kirk person courtesy's grandfather. And and a at the bar with this article it's a special photo special to the courier you can guess who that picture was taken by. So I get on the phone and I call courtesy courtesy said I was expecting this calling did his patent their laugh in the family knows what i'm talking about and I said you were at that meeting you heard that you were not supposed to land at this airport he's that I didn't send my grandson dear and I said cartis he says not hurt wouldn't there you know with that meeting he didn't know and laughed real bank but as was never at any event that he didn't have a grandchild with him and he loved his he loved this community he loves his family he loved his church and he loved his god he'll be greatly mis. Colleagues at the time if you could the family is up in the east gallop we could please stand and give them around a plan. Mr speaker at this time could you please have the court read the resolution by title only and i'm clear please read the resolution by title only to under the life and contributions of mr credit ferguson hark has explained the resolution when he. When anyone likes speak for the resolution. For the resolution the question before the house is adoption of house memorial resolution one thousand one all in favor they are any opposed the resolution has been adopted. Yeah. The. Yeah. The. Yeah. Madame clark please read house resolution one thousand one house resolution one thousand one by representative later to recognize and congratulate the valley view high school blazer is baseball team on its class five e state championship representative later many recognized explain the resolution. Thank you mister speaker i'd like to have representative tosh come down. Members this team that we're honoring here today has received a lot of awards and recognition so I ask you to please hold your applause until the resolution has been read and voted on. I'm going to read a quote from the jones son and I quote a baseball season that began with the highest goals for valid view ended as the blazers envisioned with the dog powell in the infield at bear stadium in conway. A I want to recognize the valid blazers high school baseball team who's in the east gallery up gas made just the under for their accomplishments this past season. They are the five a state champs they defeated more mail in the state tournament finals by score of five to nothing state tournament mbp last davis pitched six scoreless innings nationwide rank from the season start with the talented roster one that included four seniors who have signed with the nca a division one teams. The blazers with a record of thirty one and two met high expectations the blazers were ranked the number one overall team in arkansas the number one team in the midwest region they were nationally ranked number eighteen in the post season a top fifty pole by perfect game and number fifteen nationally by max pr. Valid esport for certain four state tournament phones by combined score of thirty eight to three to finish the season twenty five and zero against in state opponents the blazers had thirteen shut outs the season eighteen run rule games and with the championship victory they have a one hundred and seventeen to twenty record since the start of the twenty twenty one season to quote the jonesborough son again coach just anderson who's with us today said he had happy tears after watching his team prevail in its fourth consecutive appearance in the weekend of champions. Slay call well i'm not sure where the slate is with us are you there slate then make it slight car well and all missing who is listed as the nineteenth best prospect for the july baseball graph by major league baseball raise the trophy at the end of the game slave was also named the arkansas gatorade player of the year for the second year in a row the other three players who have signed with the vision one lance davis with arkansas electrically with arkansas and loss and word with theirs on the state and I want to recognize head coats josh anderson and the rest of his staff for their work I know even with great players you need great coaches when a state championship. Uh john toss if you're out there would you come in please represent it who actually graduated from valley view and actually played baseball wanted to grad congratulate you all the way. Thank you representative laney by and then i'll just say he's right I did graduate from bally view and I did play baseball the only difference is we didn't get an invite to the state capital because we'd want to stay championship so i'll just i'll leave it at that appreciate representative ladyman and boding my wife and culture boys II know most of you know your family is your parents your grandparents and of course my grandson played ball with some of you for a few years and i'm extremely proud to be mawaf is also a graduate of ballot she told school at ballet view and she following the matter of me for telling you there's but she was actually miss valley view so. They are she. Yeah. No no what you're thinking how did I end up with miss ballet view you guys have we won't go there but not that but i'm extremely proud of you thank you for representing my alma martin my wife's email model like you have coach extremely proud of the program that you built there and you know my sons on the school board at ballet views are taught about the view I think i'm correct in saying this but either a member of my last family or my family has been a part of the ball abuse goal system probably since then that fifties and we still we've got a granddaughter about you now so I can't tell you how proud coach you do an amazing job I think my good friend coach jones is up there somebody say it so gas thank you so much we followed you were so proud of you and thank you for the way you've represented the school you've made all of us extremely proud and it's a great honor for me to stand here today before my colleague and present you as the state champson and for me to have the opportunity to decide thank you thank you maybe extremely proud thank you. Yeah guys I also have connections are our coach soccer for five years at value guys you got you guys have done a fantastic job this year great season you've made me and everyone else who has worked at valley view or attended valley be very proud mister speaker would you please have the clerk read the resolution by time only madame clark please read the resolution by title to recognize and graduate the valley view high school blazers baseball team on its class five eight eight championship person bladements presented or explained the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent ladyman is close for the resolution the question before the house is a pastor pause resolution one thousand one all in favor say I any opposed the resolution pass. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Please read house resolution one thousand two. House resolution one thousand two by representative with a to recognize that farming same high school lady cornells as the twenty twenty four class four eight grow software state champions reps and whitaker you recognize to explain the resolution. Good morning colleagues I am absolutely thrilled in proud to bring to you house resolution thousand two to recognize the incredibly conference of minutes. Are now for a state softball champions the farmington lady cardinals. I would also like if you could join me in offering a very warm house welcome to arkansas atlantic's association softball coach of twenty twenty four coach jason firing of the farmington lady cardinals. Yeah. Yeah. And without further reduce mr speaker could you have the clerk read the resolution and it's entirety i'm clear please read the resolution it's a thirty whereas the farms in high school lady cardinals defeated the price high school lady by card six to five so become the twenty twenty four class for a girl stopped all state champions on me seventeen twenty twenty four and whereas the period high school lady blackout scored five straight rams in the home hair of the game but that was all they would get as the farmington high school lady carnels held on for the six to five week and whereas freshman picture morgan reese was named most valuable player and she passed a complete game striking out four batters and giving up five hits three words five and rants and whereas the other key players include it morgan you're here going three for three drying a walks going around and driving in three more rents two resharely going to perform and scoring two rams kimbly meet going one for three with two ran home ran in justin justine davidson and kennedy greeks each going one for three and scoring a ran and whereas the farmers in high school lady cardinals were learned by coach jason charlie and where is jason sharing was voted by his peers as the arkansas activities associations outstanding software coach for the twenty twenty four season and whereas the pharmaceutical high school lady cardinals concluded their season at 23 and whereas the farmers in high school lady cardinals have had an impressive history in focus accounting four state champions ships between nineteen ninety nine in two thousand eleven and now again and twenty twenty four now therefore be it resolved by the house representatives of ninety four general assembly the state of work I thought that the house representatives recognize the farmers in high school lady carness as a twenty twenty four class for a girl start while stay champion. Thank you madame clerk i'd appreciate a good vote for some what occurs explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution representative whitaker is closed for the rent solution question for the house as the passage of house resolution one thousand two all in favor say are any opposed the resolution is passed. The. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Man clerk please read house resolution one thousand three house resolution one thousand three by representative rose to oppose the arguments out of washington amendment of twenty twenty four and encourage all registered by just a vote against the arkansas abortion amendment of twenty twenty four. Timbroche recognized to explain the resolution thank you mister speaker thank you colleagues. Well thank you for your time as I present resolution one zero zero three today it's resolution aims to oppose the arkansas abortion amendment of twenty twenty four some has said that this resolution is interfering with the initiative process and I think that's about is absurd is trying to say that the resolution we passed HR ten forty two and support of israel during the fiscal session would be interfering in the war in the middle east little background is that we are the number one most pro life state in the nation we have elected overwhelmingly a majority of legislators who are pro life as well as pro life governors. Some historical context before nineteen seventy three uh the rovy wade decision by the US supreme court arkansas had enacted laws to protect women and unborn children from abortion and then from january of seventy three to june of twenty two rovy wade prevented arkansas from import enforcing these protective loss. On june twenty fourth of twenty twenty two the supreme court overturned the rovy weighed with the dob's decision and this allowed arkansas implement act one eighty of twenty nineteen which prohibits abortion except to say the life of a mother in a medical emergency. The current issue I truly believe along with all the co sponsors on this resolution that lives genuine windley are hanging in the balance and that the arkansas abortion member of twenty twenty four seeks to legalize abortion on demand during approximately the first five months here in arkansas and in some cases up to nine months this amendment is ballot title indicates it would prevent the state of arkansas from prohibiting penalizing delaying or restricting abortion during this period it would affectively enshrine unregulated abortion into our state constitution. A couple of key concerns that I want to share with you again I want to say that this is not anti democracy this is not undermining the process I believe that we are actively participating in democracy and in the process this amendment would legalize as I said abortion on demand during the first five months of pregnancy and in some cases up to birth depriving unborn children and other fundamental rights in his president reagan referred to it as higher rights to life liberty in the pursuit of happiness and this goes against the values of the majority of our can't are kansas hold dear which prioritized the sanctity of life from consumption couple public health and safety concerns is that this amendment disregards the safety of women it does not specify who can perform an abortion or where that must be performed the language in the amendment opens the door to unregulated abortions which could be could perform by individuals without proper medical qualifications endangering women's health and safety. The amendment aligns with an extreme pro abortion ideology that does not reflect the values and priorities of the overwhelming majority of our communities also prevents the arkansas legislature from enacting common sense regulations that protect women and unborn children i'd also like to say that I believe that HR one zero zero three is crucial in the work that we have done in the state to protect the lives of the unborn and it's approach support pro life values of our state this resolution opposes the arkansas abortion amendment of twenty twenty four and I urge you to support this resolution to safeguard the health and well being of women and unborn children across our state thank you for your time precious good vote perhaps rose has explained the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution representative of college you recognize the speak against the resolution representative pilgrim for what purpose motion let's hear your motion motion for immediate consideration i'm not going to accept that motion at this time representative of college you recognize to speak against the resolution anything that's for speaker so this doesn't sit right with I think a lot of us and i'm not just speaking for democrats or republicans I don't really think this is a partisan concern the big concern I have with this is that we are purporting to tell the voters the citizens who elected us how to use their vote in that distorts in and inverts the typical relationship between the government and us. There are bosts we don't usually tell them what to do with their vote when they vote in elections but here we are doing that and I just don't think that is appropriate I don't think it's warranted and I do think it comes off to a lot of people myself included as arrogant and so I think it has nothing really to do with the substance of the ballot instead of a question here this or the other one that's going to come up later today or necessarily the substance of the resolution other than it is addressing the people of the state in a way that I don't think is appropriate or warranted and so for that reason I know on this not because of views that I may have about the underlying resolution or about the underlying ballot initiative but because this is just not what we should be doing in this body in my opinion thanks for your time some cards have spoken against the resolution when anyone likes before the resolution represented maybe you recognize speak for the resolution. In march of twenty one I proudly voted for SB six the arkansas and born child protection act I would do it again and again and again it does not need to be changed in any way and I spoke about some very personal stories back then I know some of you weren't here at that time so i'm gonna repeat a little bit of it if we're to rerind the clock thirty years I would have been on the other side of this debate but thankfully I had a praying husband who prayed for me to see things differently and I was so wrong in my thoughts but grateful that I became aware that life does truly begin at conception and luckily I realize that before the birth of my second daughter we found out at nineteen weeks into the pregnancy that she was going to be born with spinal bifitor many people would advocate and if I were to rewind the clock to thirty years ago I probably would have said that her life would be better not having life as wrong as I was then I made those statements I believe that you might be doing the child a favor by not bringing in them into the world because the quality of life would not be. I was so wrong we need to improve the quality of life not in the life let me tell you about my daughter we were told that she wouldn't be able to do very much she's twenty two years old now and she's getting ready to graduate from college next semester. And my faith would not be where it is today without her yes we've had lots of challenges and I know you all know many of those challenges we been in the deep valleys but without those deep ballies we wouldn't appreciate it the high peaks i've gotten a front row seat to see miracles mirror cole after miracle after miracle and I consider that a privilege because many people live their whole life and don't get to witness god at work like i've seen got it worked through her. Let me tell you about three other ladies families really because keep in mind this is not just a woman's issue min are involved that life was created by main and woman it is a decision together. My friend's sky my friend lindsey unfortunately was raped when she was in college and she was very pro life and she made the decision it's not the child's fault and she knew she was going to bring that child into the world an argument that you hear all the time well if someone. Little bit further into the pregnancy she found out that her child was going to be born with skits and separately which is a very rare brain abnormality she was told her child would never speak would never walk would never eat like we do and you know why her child never has spoken walked or eaten like we do she's eighteen years old today she has had an unbelievable impact on the people around her and her story her mom has advocated here at the capital to help other families who were going through difficult times with children with special needs getting children off of a waiting list in getting services and let me tell you skyler has been on hospice care more times than I can remember and doctors have told her mom get ready it's probably going to happen any day now. When most people look at sky they see weakness when I look at skyler I see the strongest person I have ever known because she has been at the beat the odds over and over and over again and gives me hope then her mom got married had a second baby and she was told that that child would be born with spinal before you know what saw was born perfectly healthy doctors don't know which no many times they're wrong. Let me tell you the story about jessie and joding mcginley they were expecting twins after a long of many opted costed just even get pregnant they've finally find out they're having twins elion walker walker they're told perfectly healthy in the women eli is going to be born with spinal bit for no doubt in their mind they're going to have this baby when eli was born he was born with more complications than just spinal before and unfortunately he passed away a few days later. But their family was told that they can donate elize heartballs. And they did and two other human beings two other children are now living in the world today because their family jody and jesse gave life to eli. They are living because pack family chose life. The. Pat in chantel also very good friends of mine I have amazing friends by the way pad and shantell were given the news fifteen weeks into the pregnancy that their child would be born with anacephally which if you don't know what that is it's a neural two defect but basically the child's going to be born with about half of a brain to simplify things and usually sometimes a child doesn't make it sometimes the chat only lives for an hour and that was the case with pat and shuntel but maybe lived in our but the baby lived in hour marmadad and family got to hold the baby to see what that child looks like jenna grace does she look more like mom does she look more like dad pick up a whole bet baby and during the entire pregnancy they rejoiced it every little kick because they knew that time was limited a lot of done that baby as much as they could and then they had a proper burial they can go to a grave side and put flowers on that grave because they gave life. It is actually a healthier way than determinate the pregnancy they were able to give hope to their ch. I wish that we could change the dialog here and all across the country to instead use all the money that is spent on in the abortion industry. To in life inside the room two instead improved the quality of life outside the womb if we can change this dialog to talking about how do we prevent birth effects how do we find a cure for these birth effects how do we improve technology how do we improve medicine so that we have a better quality of life once the baby is born we need more conversation about making sure mom new mom and baby are taking care of that's where our conversation should be we need to make sure we have more safe haven baby boxes representative terror shepherd would love for us to do a fine razor to have more safe have been baby boxes for those moms that feel like they just can't anymore they can't do this that's where the conversation needs to be used that money to passage of things improve the quality of life and I might also add improve access making sure someone can get into a building in their wheel chair making sure they can get into a bathroom that's how we improve the qu. I order you to support this resolution and I asked the people of our consort to decline to sign this amendment it does way more than what they're telling you it's going to. And maybe it's spoken for the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution representative deborah ferguson your recognized speak against resolution. Thank you mister speaker I am part of a group of health care providers that is supporting this referred amendment to the people to restore abortion rights in the patient doctor relationship for women up to eighteen weeks. Uhm I completely agree with reps any maybe at I want people to have complete information and I want them to be able to make that personal decision what to do with their pregnancy and with their health care as support her decision to do what she did I support other women's decision but I also want other women to have the right to make that decision for themselves um i'm glad the resolution was brought because I want the public to be aware that came as service are gathering signatures now to pass the amendment in you can contact me if you want to know how to sign a petition I think it's important every story you restore this particularly for a rape in in cs which are still does not allow now in uh I hope that you were but vote against it in allowed the people of arkansas to make the decision what to do with their health care represent burgers and has spoken against the resolution when he would like to speak for the resolution represent duke your recognizes speak for the resolution. Thank you mister speaker. This week I got another lesson and how guy changes plans. I did not plan to be here today many of you knew that I was looking to pair about how vacation bible school back at home and that's where my heart was today. Until guy changed my plans and here are amp this resolution wasn't on my radar as I was driving down on monday and I had a make a quick decision on whether to sign up to something and most of my colleagues know I don't sign under things very lightly and i'm but it did and what brought me to that conclusion pretty quickly to sign on to it is what does the lord require for me when I ran for office pro life was my number one issue it's it's the one for me that has eternal consequences many things we do down here we can undo that a special session just a few weeks ago but this one and this decision that young ladies make is not something that you can just undo and so for me I changed my plans. And now here I am in front of you guys again and part of that is because there's a difference between beliefs and convictions I believe my dad is super man if you know my dad you probably know why I think that. Now I don't have a well have some evidence to prove that but it's just a belief and i'm not going to die on the hill who someone who disagrees with me about whether my dad is super matter not but pro life is a conviction for me and as I was trying to decide whether to say something has lots of folks have lots of reasons why you don't say something and I have a lot of conversations in my head of why I don't want to come down here and talk sometimes. But where it landed for me was this is a conviction. And the question is how can I know it how can I not say something if this is a conviction for me if life beginning a conception is a conviction not a belief but a conviction then how do I stay silent when the opportunities to let people know what is going on and to help them better understand the question I have more for myself is how am I not doing more is this enough if I believe life begins a conception. Is just signing onto resolution resolution being willing to speak for it and voting for it is that enough well you all should ask me that question to even my friends on the other side if it's a conviction for you hope why are you not doing more so that's why i'm here is because it is a conviction I believe life begin a concept begins a conception and because of that because that's my belief I need to do everything including encouraging people to client to sign the amendment because I believe it protects life and if that's what I believe then that's what I need to be standing for and willing to fight for and as far as to whether we should be telling our constituents that I don't know what you're all's experiences are but in district twelve in bit my part of it county folks asked me all the time what do you think about amendments I get texts and phone calls before they go to the ballot saying hey can you explain where this to me and I understand that because I need help explaining sometimes too many of you have to tell me what's going on with your bills and I joke around sometimes if you don't explain it very well i'm going to vote no because if I don't know i'm not going to vote for it and so we have a job to explain to our constituents what these amendments are and where we stand on them many of us were elected on those issues and so to night encourage and use our opportunities to explain our point of use to them I think we're doing a disservice to them and so that is why I would encourage all of you at all to consider arthur arguments in our thoughts and encourage you to support this resolution and I encourage the folks in arkansas to decline to sign the amendment thank you. Anyone like speaking its resolution anyone like speak for the resolution. Represent long recognized. I believe laugh against it conception in southern citizenship risen for the government exist is to protect the laugh liberty and property the citizens I think at the very least can raise awareness to the effects of this proposed abortion rights amendment the voters my distributor are very proud that are consultant one of the most pull out states in the union I think they would want to know that if this amendment they'll pass that uh partial birth abortions would possibly be allowed under certain circumstances. I think we would all agree that we want rolling form voters making the decision on the matter such as as there's it's a lot of death decision and we're not telling the voters how about and this is just raising awareness so they can make a co- informed decision we present a good vote of long has spoken for the resolution with anyone represented pilkington for a purpose motion motion for immediate consideration. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say are any opposed. The. Question before the house is the passage of house resolution one thousand three all in favor of sar any opposed to the eyes have it made a clerk please read house resolution one thousand four house resolution one thousand four by representative heart to recognize colonel welldashmac and his positive impact on the state of arkansas and especially the northwest arkansas region through k u r m radio in righteous. Represent the mac line and your recognized explain the resolution. Thank you if I northwest arkansas legislators would like to come down and let me have joint me in the well representative hawk wrote this resolution and she was unable to be here today and asked me to present it for her. Currently is everywhere. Yeah. So um this is a resolution for colonel curmit wall mac colonel walmart hope again has me media career in yell county over seventy years ago his career spanned arkansas and missouri but for the last forty five years he's been on a radio station called current in northwest arkansas the colonel as he was called has been heard all hours of the day he has morning new shows talk shows weekly broadcasts a local livestock auction bones he broadcasted sporting events for many of legislators children that are here today and he also had great shows like dialer deal and party line the colonel has been a staple in northwest arkansas but agriculture was always at the four front of the station current was recognized as a farm station but now at almost ninety years of age the corner will be signing off on july first in the station will go silent west evans from farm bureau said current station is the one thing all the local still have the feel like home anytime of the day that you tune in his voice will be missed in northwest arkansas mr speaker please have the clerk read the resolution and title only matter card please read the resolution by title only to recognize colonel well mac and his positive impact on the state of where I can sell especially and especially the northwest arkansas region through the k u r m radio and roger. Thank you asked for a good vote in mcland in his explained the resolution when he would like speak against the resolution would anyone like speak for the resolution reps and mac line and it is close for the resolution the question before the house is a password house resolution one thousand four all in favor say I oppose the resolution passes. Yeah. Madame pork please read house resolution one thousand five so house resolution one thousand five by representative piloting to recognize the cards to the high school panthers as the twenty twenty four class for a boy sacristate champion represent any recognized explain the resolution. Thank you mister speaker colleagues I come here today to recognize the clarks for high school pamp thirds for their four a boy soccer state championship over twenty years ago when branch wales the coach came to clarksville he had a dream of winning to stay championship and their hard work perseverance and a team that's built like a family they were able to achieve that dream this may it's a really a testament to johnson county and clarksville are soccer team it's a group of hispanics anglos and care ends who are a group from southwest asia and they come together from different backgrounds different languages different home lives different religions but work together for a single goal and it's have been very admirable to see so with that i'll keep it short i'm very proud of of the clarks for high school panthers twenty years and then making they find the able to accomplish this dream and i'm i'm very happy for them and so I just asked the clerk to read the title only madame park please read the resolution by title only recognize the classified high school panthers as a twenty twenty four class for a voice sacrifice to pilgrims explain the resolution when anyone like speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent poking is closed for the resolution the question before the house is the past passage of house resolution one thousand five all in favor say a any opposed the resolution passes. I. Yeah. The. The. This. We're going to pass over house resolution one thousand six madame clerk please read house more a resolution one thousand two. How some resolution one thousand two by representative macroway to honor the life and contributions of g ernest cunningham. Perhaps the macroy recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you mister speaker colleagues I bring you house memorial resolution one thousand and two. To honor the laugh in the contributions made by a friend and former speaker the house earnest cutting here. Now mister ernest india sorry about that. Speaker the house he said of the people of hell in the west hello in philips county as their representative for thirty years you heard me right thirty years. How to put is in context I can imagine that probably the majority that the people in his chamber hadn't been married thirty years. It's a lot of elections squad accomplishment. And mr after serving thirty years in the house. Foreign day labbying firm and spend another twenty years. Here in the capital and if you do the manhillnet that's fifty years of public service so I would consider mr ernest counting ham a public service by anybody's measurement. If his present will be missed here at the capital but I assume you that his legacy or remain you and years afterwards our hearts go out to his family and we remember man our prayers mr speaker will you have clarked to read the resolution in his entirely. Represent macros explain the resolution before we have the resolution read its entirety i'd like the house to stand and take a moment of moment in silence in memory of the late speaker earner's current handle. Read the resolution whereas gonus can account former speaker of the arkansas house of representatives and long serving member of the general assembly bad on june eleventh twenty twenty four and literally I can sell at eighty seven years of age and whereas g earnest county ham grew up in bitten barton arkansas and where is going is counting him attentive the university of arkansas where he was a member of capacigma for time to reserving a term as president and graduated with a degree in accounting in nineteen sixty and whereas after graduating from the university of archithology and is cunningham retired to helena where he worked for cunningham ink for many years first with his father gordon and later with his brother john and whereas germans county have representated helena west comma and part of eastern arkansas in the arkansas house representatives from nineteen sixty nine to nineteen nina and whereas after he left the arkansas house representative g owners cutting him with a lobbyist for clients that included arkansas healthcare association walmart store is incpere and arkansas for better schools and whereas g arnest county ham spent many hours working to improve the quality of life for everyone in helena phillips county and the delta and whereas gone is cutting him was instrumental in the development of the helena with hello phillips county port authority helena river park delta called to a center civil war trail as a member of the arkansas civil war there's a quick seals commission krpp delta public schools in restoration of several historic fights in helena and whereas g I is counting him received many honors including introduction to the arkansas tourism hall of fame the phillips county chamber of commerce citizen of the year and the rottery paul here's fellow and whereas g artist counting him a survive by his wife kathy kenningham his two sides countercutting ham and baker counting him in five grandchildren now therefore be it resided by the house representative of ninety four you know similarly state of arkansas at the house representative express sincere can go dollars since to the family of the honest county having come in his contributions to arkansas. The. Perhaps a mac roy has explained the resolution when anyone like speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution person mac roys close for the resolution the question before the house is the passage of house memorial resolution one thousand two all in favor they are any opposed the resolution passes. The. The. Yeah. Morning hours ended members were going to go to the yellow budget calendar before we take that up representative macroy in referencing being married it reminded me of something that I wanted to to a couple I want to recognize. If a sergeant arms could get carl in betsy richie. Horrible maybe outset that door over the areas. I was informed this morning that next week the richies will celebrate sixty years of marriage. Okay. The. The. The. The. And carl is from betsy is originally from malvern and they had to go all the way to california to meet in anahome california church sixty years ago congratulations. The. The. Some jean you're recognized percent the budget count. Thank you speaker carlos this is the game in fifth appropriations senate bill to what it does some people say that in the paper it confused him the game in fish director salary is currently at a hundred and fifty two thousand. What this does gives the game in face the far percent so his salary can go to a hundred and sixty thousand. It answers maximum to a hundred and seventy thousand he cannot go over the five percent without approval of either legislative council or joint budget if we're in some type of station that's what this builders any questions and that's the special language that was added to it. The. Seeing no questions. Your one vote is for the bill and the mercy clause must speak or the clerk read the bill for the time i'm clarked please read the bill for the third time anybody represent jeans explained the building when like speak against the bill would anyone like to pick for the bill reps and jean is close for the bill the question for the house is a passion of senate bill to prepared machine made a clark. Voting on the bill and emergency clauses everyone voted has everyone voted asked up the ballot madam clerk by vote of ninety two year's four days and zero present the bill emergency clause is pat. The. Made a part please read senate bill one. The. Senate bill wine by representative to reduce the income tax levied on individual stress estates incorporations to transfer surplus finds that arkansas are phone set aside into declare an emergency reps and be used to recognize the exp. Thank you mr speaker colleagues this is just the senate version of the house bill that we pass the other day exactly identical other than a senate sponsor but without i'd take any questions being known i'd appreciate a good vote perhaps their beefs has explained the bill when anyone like speak against the bill. Would anyone might speak for the bill representative of eaves is closed for the bill the question before the house is a passage of senate bill wine prepare the machine madame clark. The. Only on the bill and emerge the claws as everyone voted has everyone voted. Cast up about madam clerk by vote of eighty four years eleven days zero present the bill in mercy clause is passed madam clerk please read senate bill three casino bill three by representative shots to increase the homestair property tax credit answer require report concerning the home state of property tax credit and the balance of the property text relief trust one representative shorts you recognize to explain the bill. Thank you mister speaker good morning colleagues senate bill three is the exact mirror of the bill we adopted yesterday on the homestead tax credit with ninety eight yay votes with that I appreciate a good vote today. Represent shortest explain the bill would anyone like speak against the bill would anyone like speak for the bill representative shorts is close for the bill. Question before the house is passed of senate bill three prepared the machine madame clark. Has everyone voted as everyone voted cast of the boundaries clerk by the ninety seven years zero name when present the bill is passed members before we adjourn and when I went recess for five minutes just to make sure we're taking care of any loose and so the house sustainable recess for five minutes. Yeah. Yeah. The. Yeah. The. Call the house back to order. Speaker shepherd you recognize. Thank you mister chairman members before before we adjourn just want to have the opportunity to honor a few people and I did candor check before I decided to do this and as far as we know this is the last time we'll we'll be here in session before the end of the year which by me doing this I realize probably ensures that we'll be back right but as as we always do first and foremost want to thank our staff for all of their work particularly this week in the midst of of an ALC week and then on top of that having special session so the house staff the the euro just coming together in relatively short period of time and allowing us to do our work in an efficient manner so feel joined me in honoring them. Yeah. And I mean this is a good example of you come down here to say something and then you're back we honoured roy raglin a month or so ago but here we are we're back again but roy as you know it's is leaving the house at the inter june. The. And and so I would encourage you that to stop by sp- give wish roy well but also check your email tomorrow there's going to be a special event here on to to honor roy and so hopefully we'll see a lot of you back here tomorrow and then additionally when and jones who is worked here in the house for thirty six years is a planning to retire at the end of this year and. The. The. Yeah. I'm not i'll see you know I believe it when I see it because I feel like lynn is always here it doesn't matter there's some morning's a few mornings where i'm over here really early and inevitably I can't beat line into the capital in the mornings and i'll be appeared he'll stick his head in in hill save a speaker work in early this morning if limit it's nine o'clock now just getting but no I appreciate linen has been tremendous we have such great facilities that that previous legislatures have helped provide for and that our staff in and lennon have lynn and principle in in leaving that has has helped us to have you know facilities that robble any any legislative chamber across the united states and I want to thank him personally in on behalf of the house. I. Yeah. The. The. And then II would also like for the members that know they're not coming back next time if they would stand and at I didn't get a list of everybody but. Some are going to the senate oh you're already taking your nameplate with you but stand those that are that are not returning to the house and if you look around and you know we were there's a lot of experience here and a lot of members that have done a great job and we're going to we're certainly going to miss them so if you'll join me in recognizing all those who are including their service. This. And then finally you know if if you would indulge me to just say just a fair few very brief words as this is as we plan is my last time to preside over the house you know a lot of things have changed when I when I ran for speaker and was elected lane told me before I went to give my speech he said I think you'll be okay as long as you don't cry in the well i'm not sure where that came from. But then here we are at the end of six years and represent ubank's just tells me to keep it short so I don't know if that what that says about the trend of service but I just want to say thank you first and foremost I want to thank god for just this opportunity it's just been tremendous you know I i've shared with people that I interned for governor how could be back in nineteen ninety seven so I worked at the capital three days a week during his first legislative session and I and i'll be honest it wasn't it it was a great experience but wasn't as if there was something that that I said I have to be here you know II mean it was okay but and to end up in the legislature teamed up in the house is something that you know is turned out to be a blessing more than I could have ever imagined uh serving his speaker has been tremendous blessing and I can say that as many of you know that you know I ran for speaker one time before and was defeated and II really decided like II don't want any part of that like that's enough but I had that several individuals that that asked me three of them are still here that but several that that came to me and wanted to ask me to do it at another time and so felt like I had a good team and and hopefully a built upon that but I can say this that you know god's timing is perfect just disaster that that you know if if if i'd been successful the first go around and wouldn't if I don't know that I would have been able to do the job that I was hopefully able to do this time and that I can tell you that I don't know that there's anything that i've been a part of in my life certainly professionally that I have felt that guide prepared me in such a way to be at the in the right place at the right time now that doesn't mean it was easy and that doesn't mean that everything was a perfect doesn't mean that every one of you was happy with me all the time. There's times I wouldn't happy with myself but you know when you come in a speaker and in your first week or two I think this past sunday was six years. Since being sworn in a speaker and then within two weeks. You know we have a member that's arrested and then aspin the good part of my first year and a half dealing with that and not to mention that for those that were here in many of you who were paying you know following along when I was elected speaker the biggest issue was not any of the things that we've worked on over the last six and a half years the biggest issue was just being ethical and that was the question when I was sworn in the house chamber believe was being uh renovated so I actually was elected across the street and big mac in all the press want to ask me about was ethics and you know at that time we had some former members that were in trouble and it was really a stain on the institution and and all I said was you know we can't last I checked you know taken broads and kicked backs as illegal you can't pass any more laws or rules that are going to make people act right we have to we have to set a higher standard for ourselves and that starts with me as speaker and so hopefully that's what we've been able to do you know we've we were able to come together in even in the midst of very difficult times such as expelling a member and having to go through that for along his second time in the history of our legislature to go in three covid particularly the early days of covered in the uncertainty that existed to then coming out of covered I just I can tell you that every morning has been a lot of prayer and that every day I at am thankful for the the the opportunity to serve and hopefully I have been able to with the help of each of you we've been able to do something that is has honored god in and has been an honor to the citizens of the state you know adding as I said I never thought really I would be here. That's ubank's told me it's time to go never really thought I would be here. Um. Because you know it's a republican for a hundred and fifty years there what you didn't really have a hope of being speaker and today uh kind of in I guess kind of a belated father's day i'm wearing a arkansas us flag pin that belonged to my grandfather my grandfather was a republican for forever and this pin pride dates back to the fifties or sixties. But in south arkansas there weren't many republicans in fact II don't know that I knew many besides my family so never thought that and so it's been very hard warming to me to think that I have that i've been able to be the speaker of the house as as a republican knowing that fifty years sixty years ago that probably would have been unfatherable to my grandfather and i'm very thankful for his legacy and I would say that also i've been treated very well speaker robert more speaker david carter speaker jeremy gillum were all very good to me I you know I was asked one time in a newspaper article you're one of the few people that has been both in the minority and the majority. And I think that that experience is also framed some of my speakership the experience of my family in being some of the few republicans in south arkansas and yet still being able to have friends across the al the experience of being a month in the minority here in the legislature and have been speaker more appointment to the lottery oversight committee those things stuck with me but let me say this too i'm also proud that i'm a republican and i'm proud of the accomplishments that we've been able to to accomplish as well but at the end of the day I just want to thank each one of you I it's it's a it's been a tremendous honor uh i've each every day it it's not often you have something in your life that she feel like you're devoted to every single day and I have to thank my family alley ela american liberty my parents my brother maintaining a law practice law spend a lot of time up here they've been very good they've allowed me to be able to respond to text messages at all hours of the day in the middle of family dinners have been a willing to sacrifice time that we would have together and so I can never thank them enough and hopefully hopefully particularly for my children they know that the sacrifices that that i've made maybe in time and and even materially just in terms of taking time away from a law practice just like each of you hopefully they recognize that ultimately I and I know each of you were doing that for the future of arkansas and so I want to thank you I want to thank you for your support I want to thank you for your friendship still got some feeb a few months here and hopefully i'll get the opportunity to come back you know some people say well how can you come back how could you want to come back if you're not the speaker and I just say. Yeah it's going to be a change but you know be in the speaker is a great experience but it doesn't define me and I look forward to continuing the opportunity to serve so thank you very much thank you for your friendship and thank you for all the chief done for our state god bless you and your families and god bless the great state of arkansas. Mm. The. The. Representative makes what purpose motion please let's hear your motion for something speaker thank you for all you've done on behalf of the legislative body we really appreciate the work you've done you've been a great speaker all these years most in is having completed all the items on the governor's pocket and having concluded our business I moved that the house a representatives adjourned signing down the second extra ordinary session of the ninety fourth general assembly and grant consent to the senate to do the same that's proper not motion it is debatable hearing no debate all in favor say are any opposed. The motion passes the house of representatives is adjourned sanitar. The. The.