House Meeting

The. We are reconvened by authority of a joint proclamation with the senate executed by the president protemp in the senate and the speaker of the house madam clerk please have the proclamation entered into the journal invite the member staff press and guess sustained to be lead in prayer by house chaplain doctor jonathan killing a first paper's church of hot springs and remains standing for the pledge of allegiance to be lead by representative lane gene. The. Bother we bow before you today i'm especially mindful of those in my own community and hot springs who are impacted by the storms just a couple nights ago and those across our state. And so lord we ask for your provision uh as they rebuild in the support of our communities to surround them and up lift them and in. I know it's hard. Is taken out by c. We know that you still care about us and you are god who is love. And father i'm grateful for the work. Given over the last several weeks the energy the conversation. All of their work would be blessed in your favor would fall upon it so that our state was flourish so that all people would be uplifted and they would experience the future that you desire for them god we are grateful to call arkansas home were grateful to be citizens of the united states of america. Certain freedoms that others do no. I take those freedoms for granted and now we ask for all the proceedings today that they will be blessed by you and they will be pleasing unto you and christmas we pre. Members please indicate your presence by pushing a yellow present button madam clerk please prepare the machine. With ninety three members present the chair sees a core on where they request for leave. Representative dollar before a purpose leave your recognized leave for representative clowning as leave granted for representative clowning so noted representatively for what purpose leave you recognize leave represent requests for representative rick back leave grant for representative back so noted representative bought for what purpose to leaves you recognize leave for representative eaves is leave grant representative so noted leave for a representative acre of noted representative brown for what purpose for representative crawford is leave random representative crawford the so noted. Purpose of john ubank's most we dispense with reading in the previous day's journal without objection so ordered are there reports from select committees are there a port from standing committees is there any unfinished business are there any executive communications read the letter from the governor madame. To the speaker of the house representatives dear mr speaker this is informed me that may third twenty twenty four I reviewed and per the following measures from the physical session of the ninety first assembly house but one thousand eight one thirty seven house built since twelve x one thirty eight house will ten twenty at one thirty nine house will ten twenty three x one forty has will ten twenty nine x one forty one house bill ten thirty three eck one forty two house bill ten thirty five point forty three house will ten thirty six at one forty four house but ten thirty seven x one forty five household ten forty one x one forty six household ten forty five x one forty seven house bill ten fifty one at one forty eight house bill ten sixty one at one forty nine household in sixty two at one fifty house will ten sixty four x one fifty one house will ten sixty five at one fifty two house ten seventy four x one fifty three has got ten seventy seven at one fifty four house will ten ninety eight one fifty five house for two ninety seven x one fifty six sincerely sarah huckabee sanders governor of arkansas. Members we do have with this one guest in the east gallery we have represent mckenzie's wife sydney is what this in the east gallery. Yeah. The. The. The. They also have with this former speaker jeremy gillen it looks like at least one of his. What purpose q I mean asking for leave you recognize leave for debit first representative burgers and. Morning hour has ended and court please read senate bill twenty one. Cinnabell twenty one percent jean you're recognized. They must speak or car leagues this is senate bill twenty one. This is the appropriation for the game and fish this is one last effort to pay us this appropriation before we leave here. They do will not have the appropriation they will have the fine schools we gave him a part of that one eight cent sales tax isn't this is not the other go ahead the money they just can't spend it as well as an appropriation of the seventy five both ratio but I have a letter here. But from stay a jounge that uh tells us that uh what director boost our will be until the next fiscal year of course will be back in here in january to set that and it said that a hundred seventy thousand four hundred and thirty seven dollars in any seats and I think that's a couple of thousand lower than the lowest paid secretary. Okay and i'm doing this also because fundamentally and I hope it doesn't happen I am against the suspension of rules two suspend the rules to put it on a member to put it on the floor of the house to put it on the floor of the senate all in one day I think that makes a bad president for people to do further monkey business down the road but anyway this will say that and we've had a letter before for governor hutchison back couple years ago on highway funding when we get some general revenue for highway funding we didn't have it in the bail last minute the speaker he up negotiate it the governor ever member had a letter he a bad bad and I do anticipate the game and fish will about bad things and we'll be watching anyway I most episode and I appreciate a good vote on senate bill twenty one but have any questions first. Representative ray for what purpose you're recognized representative jean what how does this year's appropriation compare to the previous fiscal year and turn is at higher or approximately the same or I think it's got some adjustment for the the standard pay raise there may have been a few that and I didn't bring the budget the bill with me but but it's it's it's it's pretty much in lan with exception of the the uh uh cost of adjustment and insurance and personal matching follow up as I understand it if you could correct me if i'm wrong the their budget is primarily a combination of special revenue federal fines and the the conservation sales tax since we also act as a big chunk of it federal funds and then their fees and and is there any general revenue there has never been any general revenue and game thank you the cabinet for what purpose thank you mr speaker I just want to clarify they have an appropriation through june the thirtieth they need this appropriation to start july first correct okay they're fun ballots what they have has nothing to do with if they this gives them the authority to spend money on their budget. They know other questions I appreciate good boat represent jane has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative line str. I appreciate the letter from game and fish that's helpful however i'd like to point out a couple of things that we need to think about is the legislature this bill was properly filed on april the second a four session then april the tenth it was read across the desk and there were fifteen days before any activity was taken this could have been handled all along and then another five days before it was actually worked on that had been amended twice this could have been moved along a lot faster in a appropriate time before it landed here today this shows a real we did have a reality check all the other directors and agencies they managed to get all their stuff done and in and a timely fashion to ask a member to push this through is an appropriate and I think it needs to start also the shows a complete either incompetence or arrogance on behalf of this agency that's wrong that is completely wrong with your holding up a whole budget for all these other people that have to get salaries to come july first for one person and it could have been handled earlier so we're now putting this situation of emotional black mail much like we've all been at the grocery store with our two year old as they reached for a piece of candy and were told no you've got two choices put up with the crime spank and tell him know whatever if you give in guess what it happens again the next time i'm glad to see this letter I think it's a step in the right direction but now they've been put on the radar as willing to push this to the very limit to get what they want I think that sends up a red warning flag and with that I would appreciate I don't know what's going to happen and this letter i'm glad to see it but it's still processing a really bad situation thank you thank you speaker for your time. It's building when I speak for the bill represent ubank she recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you mr speaker i'd like to clarify a few things because I don't know that we can necessarily put the blame on game and fish for the delaway on on the process and how this work and in fact i'm partially responsible for that because I had a hold on the budget. And on a separate issue and are representative shad peers can can attest to that as well because we've been working on something for for for some time. Representative ward law also had a hold on it because he was trying to build support for a special language amendment that would allow the the foundation to supplement the director salary rather than going this route after I released my hole senator rice filed that amendment to go through personnel because it became a parent that there was no support in the senate for this special language to allow the foundation to supplement this salary. And that was the leadership but the senate and house met when it became a parent and they said we're not we're not going that route they propose that this route and the budget chairs vice chairs were in the meeting so people were aware of it so soon as that's a decision was made that there was no support work for the special language amendment this amendment was filed and I went through personnel it went to budget after passing out a personnel came back to budget the second time which was last tuesday and it was the senate bill so it had to go to the senate floor and then it was not planned that it fall on our floor on the last day but the agency didn't have anything to do with the timing of that or how that worked like I said it's partially my fault and it was allowing board law to try to build the support to allow the special language amendment that would allow the foundation the supplement. A big glad to take any questions. What purpose a question you recognize I don't expect you to be able to speak on behalf of the senate but can you explain to me and maybe other members who are here in hearing this for the first time that the senate did not want the foundation to help with that can you expand upon that a little bit more certainly it goes back to when mike preston was the director at AEDC and his story was was was supplemented by private funds and there were there was quite a few people that had issue with that which I guess I can understand because it you know I guess you can make the argument that maybe they have under influence on on that director with regard to this situation it was the same thing they were members in the senate that did like that they remember the house that didn't like that that arrangement I don't know if it would have been the same because of the way the constitution reads and game and fishes somewhat autonomous the director still answers to the the commissioners so but that was the reason they goes back to the situation with my preston that's the way it was explained the me. Question you recognized thank you mister speaker representative of ubank's I just want to clarify something when this spec when this language came through for the max increase there wasn't a personnel meeting held for that is my understanding my belief because we had already had our last personnel meeting in it went to four joint budget for question for their in it passed for joint budget and I was and I was one asking question the only reason I remember that I was in what asking questions in the amendment went to four joint not personally I was that correct I believe you're right because I was confused as cost winter normally went like out of special language when amendment comes and it's at it to the bill you immediately take up the bill saying it's ready and I was confused that they asked why that happened so I apologize you could just want to make sure okay thank you but at the same time it was in budget twice the amendment was could have been you know a debate at then and then it could also been debated when it came back on tuesday for final approval. Members II think this is I think the game and fishers received a very stark awakening as to the sentiment of of the legislature i've never seen a appropriation go down like that when did I think they're showing good faith and trying to maybe build better relations with this uh this body and like representative jean said. We're gonna be watching and that they don't follow through we're going to be back in session in january and II would hate to be in their situation if they didn't follow through with this and that can be adequately debated at that time as well so i'd appreciate a good vote thank you represent ubank's is spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill representative loading your recognized speak for the bill. Clarify that it never came before the personnel committee we'd ever had an arbitrary review that are look at it. And also on a community bank representative cabinet for her tonight the income and forward bringing it forward. Now here's where we are this is this is a long insurer if we do not approve this go along with this appropriation today is representative jean has put it forward we're going to end up spending a hundred thousand dollars a tax payers mo. This is known college if twenty thousand is just grown up is any member in here relative to that situation out there and their allegiance we won't deal with it we deal with it and the regular session and it won't cast an extra thousand dollars and how respect. Representative last woman and her comments and I agree with them they're arrogant. Well more no as put it out why then we won't deal with that i'm with you but as I don't think it's right price to spend the hundred thousand dollars to send a message out there they got message and they feel like you say what ever they want to but I tried to pull football terms at the end around on earth they put us in a buyer then i'm the first to tell you there and i'm the first to say I don't like. About the constitution to hold their won't but right right they pulled it trying to pull it and they got a car and they got surprised so just remember we're going to cause the tax payers a hundred. In this deal here we can sell it for twenty and then deal with it again and. Represent what is spoken for the bill when anyone like speak against the bill. Parliamentary question you recognize for a question thank you can you walk us through what would happen if it fails and today besides a special session the possibility of an amendment of some sort the steps would that would have to be taken can you walk us through that so we're all i'm. Speaking. It would remain on the counter now that being said. The days final day to get it out of the house it could be vote again you can vote on preparation b. As far as amending suspending rules all those are hypotheticals and i'll be honest with you and checking with the bureau and kevin anderson we have an american in recent history not saying ever but as long as current steps. Some suspension of rules and a. Our friends on the other end would have. When it passed the house in. Brought. I guess just beyond that then the governor would have to sign it today or would we she had the option of just five days excluding signings which would exclude in which take action the difference is we will you leave with the signing that you won't have the option to you know come back if if something more to happen. Thank you. They wish speaker colleagues as I said last thursday or whatever it was game if you should have a budget the question is what are we going to do in the special session that can be any better than what we're doing right here at the cost of a hundred thousand dollars and remember the s we're gonna have another special session later on in the year to come back and review cutting taxes so you get to have in so many special sessions you may well be a full time legislator which I do not want to be but I think this is a good deal and and I i'm i'm not made it anybody i'm not a big faint family of game and fish hire architect the way they respond to thanks but you know there's going to think about this or six hundred and thirty six employees they work hard though we got to thank about so sometimes you got to put your personal grief personal debt as personal prior to sad and do what's right for the whole and out appreciate a good vote represent jane has closed for the bill the question before the house is the passage of senate bill twenty one prepare the machine madame clark. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam clerk by a vote of sixty two a twenty one days and eleven present the bill is fail. Members the house sustained and recess for five minutes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The. The. Also come to order. Represent meeks for what purpose motion please let's hear your motion I move that after any announcements and in accordance with house for a solution ten fifty one the fiscal session of that house of representatives of the ninety fourth general assembly be adjourned signing down that's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor they are any opposed the eyes have it. The. Any announcements represent bart thank you a announcement who recognize a in your mailbox is back there is your serving up solution uh postcard if you please fill it out and either give it to myself for representatives of headset we were greatly appreciated that thank you very much announcement jpr meet two steer mac at one o'clock in members if you have if you haven't already I would encourage you to review the netflix documents unlocked a jail experiment that's going to be the topic of discussion thank you. Any other announcements. Members the house will reconvenient caucus fifteen minutes after adjournment the purpose of this caucus will be to elect the speaker designate for the ninety fifth general assembly any other announce. During nine upon a communication with the senate and saying no further business necessary the physical session the house representatives of the ninety fourth arkansas general assembly is adjourned significant. And. Yeah. This house caucus is convened for the sole purpose of electing the speaker designate for the ninety fifth general assembly please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button madam clerk please prepare the machine. Cast up about madam clerk. With ninety one members present charities a core are there any requests for leave. Representative dollar for what purpose leave recognized leave for representative clowney. Reps important or put purpose leave your recognized leave for representative defergent is leave grant representative. T but noted. Reference involved for what purpose leave for two you recognize leave for representative eaves. Leave for representative across the baker represent bentley for what purpose leave you leave for representative back leave grant represent ba. Representative brown for what purpose you recognize representative crawford is legal representative crawford. Members house rules ten AB establishes the process but which the house of representatives elects a speaker designate for the following general assembly we are convenient today for that purpose it is extremely important that we have the full attention and cooperation in the house as we continue this process in court with the house rules owner about february fifteenth twenty twenty four house membership was notified of a meeting a march fourteenth twenty twenty four we're any eligible returning member could present his or herself as nominee for speaker designate in addition to house staff and myself remembers attended representative brian evans represented johnny ron representative jack ladyman. They were breaped on the speaker designate election process and drew for positions relates to the order in which they would address the membership and their position on the election ballot representative evans through the first position representative ride second position represent ladyman during the third position since that meeting and after absentee balloting began representative ladyman with through from consideration despite his withdrawal represent lady. The names of representatives evans ryan ladman are the only names appearing on today's ballot. Pursuant to house rules the election will be conducted as follows each candidate will be allowed up to fifteen minutes to address the house following the addresses by each candidate designated staff will be assigned one wrote each for distribution of ballots staff will pass out the ballots and check off the name of each member as the ballots are received each member should select the name of the candidate of his or her choice place an x by the candidates name and fold the ballot and half please keep in mind that guest in the galleries may be watching and monitoring your v. After ballots are completed staff then will return to the beginning of each row and retrieve the ballots checking off the names of members as the ballots are returned and placed in collection envelopes members who voted absentee are excluded from the dis- from the ballot distribution and retrieval process after all balance of retrieve they will be transferred from the collection envelopes into a ballot box to begin this process the sealed envelopes containing individual absentee ballots will be open and the bouts placed in the box in the ballot box there are six absentee ballots further without any objection email absentee ballots were restrict were received and will also and will be also uh opened reopen and placed in the ballot box and I should mention that this was also. The knowledge of. There is one emailed absentee ballot the ballots will be counted as follows each candidate may designate a monitor of to oversee the count each ballot will be open the name of the candidate receiving the boat will be read in the ballot will be set aside if about does not have a name mark it will be set aside and consider to be a non boat if a ballot has multiple names marked it will be set aside and consider to be a non boat if a ballot is cast for representative lady minute will be set aside and not count it our chief clerk share stacks in our director of member services martha jero will service tellers after the votes are counted I will announce the number of votes in the name of the candidate receiving at least a majority boat of the membership of the house should no candidate receive a majority boat of the house membership the names of the two cants receiving the highest number of votes cast will be placed on a runoff ballot in distributes to the house membership in the same manner mentioned. Any questions about the process or anything else that i've covered. Seeing none without objection representative evans you're recognized you have fifteen minutes to address the body. Thank you speaker shepherd in members thank you for the next. Now before I get into my car minutes I would like to take a moment of a point of personal privilege i'm gonna ask you each to stand in join me as well as our guest in the galleries and join me in prayer as a unified body or the family excuse me for the family of representative jack ladyman would you pl. I must greater have any father lord we get praised to you today for which all blessing. Whether we stand here together the members of this body and those who are here in our presence today with bowed header number hearts lord and we live this family up to you bother when you take all politics our you take all personalities out you take our positions out we are all servants of you and servants are the people who are. We have a family our presence today lord through representative ladyman who has recently been faced with some very challenging tom slower and we lived him and his family up to you today while there are pray for grace healing comfort understanding and strength. For its your son's name I pray. Members I want to personally thank representative ladyman and represent your for their statesmanship during this campaign I appreciate their professionalism and they're willingness to enter this race and take on the responsibility. Of speaker of the house. Socrates told us that the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not fighting the old but building upon the new this is a new process for well over fifty percent of this chamber today because for the first time you're casting a vote in a contested speech. My prayer has been it continues to be for a four commitment from each of you on building upon the new during my time in your time in this house I have sought to work with you my fellow colleagues to provided representation and leadership that the people of arkansas expect and deserve together I believe we have worked to do that but there is much more work to be done. I would not have entered this very important race had I not believed that we could all work together I have a deep conviction that we can unite as a body and uphold the sanctity and the honor of the house of representatives I will work tirelessly to uphold the oath that we take and to stand with each of you as we improve the great state of arkansas now how do we accomplish this needed great work first we must build we must build upon the great foundation provided for us by over ninety general assemblies before us generations of legislators have created a pathway for us we don't have to recreate the vision of our forefathers we simply use the gifts that they have provided us together we must build secondly we must strengthen we must take those gifts provided us the foundation of state government and strengthen our laws for all our kansas. We are an elected deliberative body we strengthen our outcomes by and evenly paste smooth session allowing ourselves the time to deliberate key issues facing our cansons while being ever respectful of those for whom are decisions in our legislation. We become stronger by conducting ourselves in a manner which earns the public's trust and we do that through respectful dialog thorough debate and honourable discourse all voices must feel like they have been heard we must build and we must strengthen finally most impower we must empower our colleagues to take bold steps with honor as they represent their electors we will provide opportunities for leaders to rise and make their constituents proud of the work they do here at their capital billed strengthened and empower the three pillars and my platform leaders must never forget the obligation which is to lead people they must show the way create a visible and desirable path and attainable destination and then through an act of leadership provide a general but decisive touch that contains honesty trust openness vulnerability and no less skin in the game in the book leaders eat last author simon said it stated that the true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own great leaders truly care about those that they are privileged to lead and understand that the true cost of leadership privilege comes at the expense of ones on s. I have promised to lead you with a direction of firmness fairness and consistency and that promise spreads across this entire body leadership is not a solo effort to team every. A leader is only as good as the team that they lead and good leaders understand the importance of working together communicating well and building strong relationships built upon trust and respect it is my goal to empower this body of members to delegate effectively and create an environment where everyone feels valued and support general douglas macarthur won't say that a true leader has the confidence to stand alone courage to make terrificitions in the compassion to listen to the needs of others he does not set out to be a leader but the comes wine by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. Members I stay in here alone in this way. I stay in here with the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen. I pledged to you the equality of my actions and the integrity of my intent and while I stand here alone and as well I ask you to join me in this journey so that no one feels alone in their service to their district to this state into this party. I unless for your vote. I asked for your vote to choose me as your speaker designate for the ninety fifth and my god bless each of you this body of the elected in my guide blaste. The. The. The. Yes. The. Thank you representative evidence representative right you're recognized and have fifteen minutes to address the. First of all our one water privilege idiots to be in this house with you or the representative every part of our state it's a wonderful site we have wonderful folks and I just wanted the privilege it is to be here just to make thanks considerable on the bronin half of my life has been devoted toward public office and was thinking about it last week thirty four years seventeen terms and our love the word to help out that's a good and number two the times there are within our state that our people are asking for its where we need to deliver and I just want you to know that i'm the person that can do there in that and the person that actually wants to be a part of your not from yourself but for you are to make sure that the times that the people of the state of architect are asking for their way to come through and I really do believe that there were something that ourselves the other day apparently many many times. Oh it was a sound by bob dealing and it was called the times they are changing says come get around people wherever you're on and it made that waters around you have grown in it and accepted are soon you'll be dressed to the vote if your time to you is worse saving then you'd better start swimming or you will st stone for the times they are changing and they are changing their changes and I need to as myself what can I do to make this body of what it needs to be which is just one person but one person can do a lot in especially if you take everyone in this in this house today and you say you look where you have a hundred folks. Those hundred people represent thirty thousand people thirty thousand people and I know that later she up is so are important but you have the leadership you have the leadership already you just need to sin the person who is speaking the right message in that message years the heart of the state the hard of the state now when I think of every member in this house which I know everyone you guys ladies. It's. A tremendous tremendous amount of bulks that have so many different spiels say well this person might be good it is this person and another every one in this room has something to deal to this body and I think in market as we go forward we need to do of everyone in this room but we make a decision. We need come out front when it is whether one know what's going on at all times. In a and I think they're so important especially with you all there are making the decisions for your paypal back home I mean they're on a few questions of why you did this and you did that with the reason I better reason and you give them a good reason for what you have done and you know you can't just say that we leave it here we can't just say that we leave it here in the wale because the well represents one out of a hundred. Now what I would really really like to do is have more transparency more transparency for every thing that we're doing I know the speaker. Transparency what do we need to do we need unless i'll say there's a couple situations that we need to look at that we might need to close it or every now and then but I will say this morning if there's confidentiality that's between a member and I can see that where that needs to be killed in a horse your situation if you have a governor if you have secretary state that has a something they say need to speak with the speaker about asking to debt that that should come in there where we we don't always need to broadcast it across the board okay but I think that we do need to be so much more transparent and what we are and and i'll say this morning. Why do you are a democrat or whether you're a republican. Every single one of you here something to give in I would really really like to see yours stay away as much possible from the times that calls controversy within our within our body I appreciate yourself might can imagine how much our respect is situation I mean today I do need your vote in our problems using it there is no big a little you every single person in this body is of the most important in i'll leave it with you and i'll appreciate yourself thank you. The. Thank you representative rock both candidates for speaker designate of spoken in accordance with house rules we will now conduct the election members please take your seat. At this point it is imperative that everyone take and remain in their seats. If for any reason you do not wish to be in the chamber during the election please leave now if you intend to remain in the chamber you must be seated and remain seated while the ballots are being distributed and collected as mentioned staff will pass out the ballots and check off the name of each member as the ballots are received each member should select the name of the candidate of his or her choice place and x by the candidate's name and bold the ballot and half it will then be collected by staff m. Immerse just as a reminder when she voted please fold your ballot and have. Staff can go ahead and collect the ballots. Please proceed with opening the ballots. These proceed with counting the votes. Would they rest the designate members to serve as monitors and the boat count please come forward while the votes are being counted. Members the votes have been counted with manning when votes representative evans has been elected speaker designate of the ninety fifth general assembly. The. The. Yeah. The. The. Yeah. The. Yeah. Yeah. The. There being no further business the caucus of the architects all house representatives is