JBC-Special Language
Video
Transcript
3 documents
Bills discussed (30)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB15
· 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…SB8 - Department of Commerce - Senator Dismang (CJW039) 21. SB15 - Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM … | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
HB1051
· 2 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “purposes bart hester amendment to house bill 1051 thank you you're recognized all”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REGULATORY DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
SB41
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…Division of Higher Education - Senator Sullivan (KMW089) 2. SB41 - University of Arkansas - Fayetteville - Senator Sullivan…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
SB7
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…HB1036 - Department of Health - Senator Irvin (CJW036) 19. SB7 - Department of Commerce - State Insurance Department - Rep…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
HB1004
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…tration - Regulatory Division - Senator Hester (JAP087) 25. HB1004 - Department of Corrections - Division of Community Correct…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Unger | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1005
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ansas - Fayetteville - Representative McKenzie (HAR145) 23. HB1005 - Department of Education - Representative Walker (KMW090)…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1007
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ministrative Services - Representative Wardlaw (JAP081) 16. HB1007 - Department of Education - Division of Elementary and Seco…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1022
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…stration - Disbursing Officer - Senator Tucker (JAP082) 11. HB1022 - Arkansas Development Finance Authority - Representative B…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1036
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Education - Public School Fund - Senator Irvin (KMW094) 18. HB1036 - Department of Health - Senator Irvin (CJW036) 19. SB7 - D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1037
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ties and Municipalities - Senator Mark Johnson (JAR145) 14. HB1037 - State Board of Election Commissioners - Senator Mark John…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1052
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…avioral Health Services - Senator Mark Johnson (LCW101) 13. HB1052 - Office of the Treasurer - State Turnback for Counties and…”
|
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR STATE TURNBACK FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES BY THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1064
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'. 10. HB1064 - Department of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Off…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1066
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Medical Services - Representative Pilkington (LCW100) 8. HB1066 - Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Enviro…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATION … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1068
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…vironmental Quality - Representative Pilkington (WFP037) 9. HB1068 - Department of Finance and Administration - Representative…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1080
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Corrections - Division of Correction Reappropriation 7. HB1080 - DHS - Division of Developmental Disabilities Services - J…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES - … | Ladyman | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1089
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Commerce Department – Economic Development Supplemental 4. HB1089 – Dept. of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Officer…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1090
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…nce and Administration - Disbursing Officer Supplemental 5. HB1090 – Department of Energy and Environment - Environmental Qual…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1093
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…rgy and Environment - Environmental Quality Supplemental 6. HB1093 – Department of Corrections - Division of Correction Reappr…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
|
HB1099
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Human Development Center - Representative Ladyman et al. 8. HB1099 - DHS - Division of Developmental Disabilities Services - R…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES APPROPRIATION. | Ladyman | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB20
Act 132
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…artment of Agriculture - Representative Bentley (BSS053) 5. SB20 - DHS - Division of Medical Services - Representative Bentl…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB20 is now Act 132 |
|
SB21
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…pment Finance Authority - Representative Beaty (CJW027) 12. SB21 - Department of Human Services - Division of Aging, Adult,…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
SB3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Election Commissioners - Senator Mark Johnson (SRD016) 15. SB3 - Department of Shared Administrative Services - Representa…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SHARED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
SB31
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…y of Arkansas - Fayetteville - Senator Sullivan (HAR137) 3. SB31 - Administrative Office of the Courts - Representative Dalb…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
SB36
Act 135
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ive Office of the Courts - Representative Dalby (JAR128) 4. SB36 - Department of Agriculture - Representative Bentley (BSS05…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB36 is now Act 135 |
|
SB43
Act 136
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…nce and Administration - Representative Vaught (JAP084) 27. SB43 - University of Arkansas - Division of Agriculture - Senato…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB43 is now Act 136 |
|
SB58
Act 138
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…mendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. SB58 - Department of Education - Division of Higher Education -…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB58 is now Act 138 |
|
SB63
Act 139
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. SB63 – DHS - Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Serv…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB63 is now Act 139 |
|
SB67
Act 140
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services Supplemental 2. SB67 – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Supplemental…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB67 is now Act 140 |
|
SB73
Act 141
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Supplemental 3. SB73 – Commerce Department – Economic Development Supplemental 4…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB73 is now Act 141 |
|
SB8
Act 129
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…te Insurance Department - Representative Perry (CJW038) 20. SB8 - Department of Commerce - Senator Dismang (CJW039) 21. SB1…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB8 is now Act 129 |
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- SliQ live captions
- Model
- SliQ live ASR
- Processing date
- October 2, 2026
we'll call this meeting to order back to order. this is I believe we're down to give me a moment to find my place yeahpresentative Perry ispresentative Perry here he may if he's not we can pass overpresentative Perry and we'll go down to the next senator just mean you're pulling that Senator Johnson you recognize to come to the table and present Senate bill fi5? your amendment to senate bill 15 members this is on page 100
through 108. This is item D21 you state your name for the committee if you
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:10
go ahead and state your name for the committee thank you Mr Chairman Mark Johnson, Senate District 17 I'm I'm asked the folks to join us that'll help
kind of hopefully expedite this Ive director wileyardottt this Mckenzie Mcmath Cornell with Keep Arkansas beautifultiful and Secretary Lewis if we could ask they would all like to just come up here and any questions that between all of them they're all agency folks they can come to the table and just state your name and then at
that point do you wanna explain your I won't explain it and then allow them to elaborate go ahead and introduce us
Speaker 17
1:43
for the committee for the record so we'll know
Speaker 18
1:50
Mckenzie Mcmathorronnell with Keep Arkansas Beautiful. She Lewis
Speaker 20
1:54
secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks Heritage and tourism. Jared Wiley, director ofardott
thanks for being here today.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:02
Go ahead Senator Johnson you're welcome you Mr Chairman this special language will do some
shuffling among agencies I think if I were to one thing one point of unanimity in our state is that we do need to pick up the trash both because it's the aesthetically
right thing to do and because it to not do it hurts our tourism which is you know such a big industry in our state and it's it is a problem I I want to congratulate director Wiley on the recent efforts they've had if you saw the the I call it a monument on6:30 but it was a a sign it was a basket thing filled with trash but it it's it was spelled out natural question mark and I think that's a challenge to all of us to do whatever we
can to to maximize our efficiency in trying to clean up our stay and keep it clean re ctor McMath Cornell heads an agency that receives funding from is amendment 875 you know when you go over 100 amendments you start having trouble remembering but but they get 1% of that of the 18 cent sales tax and the that's that's not making light of that
but uhrector Wiley of course has a much higher budget to deal with the the roadside trash and all that so I have to say that I appreciate the governor and her staff for helping expedite this this transfer so it seemed I've talked to several people including RepresentativeRay who kind of brought this to my attention in part in other states they the the primary responsibility is their highway department and it seemed like a logical thing to to bring
these two together I appreciate Secretary Lewis who is in effect sign off on this transfer to to our dot but I believe the net result will be better efficiency Keyarkansas beautiful andardott have worked together hand in glove in the past it just seemed to make perfect sense to to combine that so what this does it makes that change there is no revenue effect on that at least at this
point but there will be the the current commissioners will be replaced they will be members of an advisory council I believe is what it's called to on on keep keeparkansas beautiful I think it's called advisory council I don't have the actual language in front of me but but anyway that's what it'll do and I'm I will try to answer questions but I would think between these three folks we can answer any question that might come up I bet that panel can answer any question that
comes up. are there any questions from the committee? seeing no questions we have a motion do we have a second? we have a motion to second all those in favor say aye opposed your amendment has been adopted. thank you appreciate y'all
Speaker 29
5:13
being here Mr chairman thank you committee to ask let's sees givepresentative Perry a chance to come if he's
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
5:19
here. Yes, we passed over to you go aheadpresentative Perry
you're recognized when you come to
the table if you could just introduce yourself, this is Senate Bill7 amendment to
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
5:36
Bill7 pages 84 through 87. thank you Mr Chairman members Mark Perry representative state representative district66 last year we had Actix51 which was built to help employers with a group health insurance coverage what we did is we required insurance companies
upon request by a policyholder to provide claims data for groups of fi0 or more employees well when we did that we learned there are a lot of small employers that are between 25 and50 where the companies have not provided this information to the to the policy owner or to the business owner which kind of makes it an uncompetitive position so what we've done is asked for a to lower talk to the
insurance department. they were good with 25 and we've lowered the number back down to 25 which would help the smaller groups we learned a lot of municipalities and small businesses are fall between that 25 and50 in they're unable to get competitive quotes which of course saves saves them a lot of money when they're able to lower health insurance rates you know doing this during a physical session allows us to get this enacted
this year as a lot of companies go into open enrollment instead of waiting until next year. So with that take any questions Members are there any
questions forpresentative Perry? seeing no questions when wait we have one question that we
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
7:12
have questions can you recognize so I understand it you're you're increasing the number
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
7:18
of individuals or businesses that will be required to report no sir. so if if the limit was50 and you're dropping it to 25
there's probably more, right? Only when they request it
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
7:34
only when they request yeah so it's not companies it's like you know, Mcee and associates if you're shopping your insurance and you only got 26 employees currently a company doesn't have to give you claims data in order for you to help save money on your group health insurance. thank you yeah nurs do we have any other questions for Representative
Perry? seeing no questions we have a motion we have a second
of the motion to second any discussion on the motion? seeing none all those some papers say aye opposed your amendment's been
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
8:20
adopted thank you thank you Representative Mackenzie you're recognized to
present your amendment to Senate Bill41. This is on pages 109 through 111. if you can just state your name for the committee? Yes sir.presentative Brit Mcenzie District sevenRogers, Arkansas
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
8:31
you're recognized thank you sir. So today I have an amendment to the appropriation for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. it's fairly clear this has been a topic that's been in the zeitgeist for several months now relative to the decision that the University of Arkansas board made asking for additional funds for the purposes of the athletic department. I think it's important to start with the primer of what the mission statement of the University of Arkansas atfayetteville is Ua is determined to build a better is to build a better world by providing transformal transform transformational opportunities
and skills promote promoting a culture of collaboration nurturing creativity and solving problems through research and discovery all in service to Arkansas. I do that not to be dramatic but to say that that no point in that statement is to talk about um6 or seve wins in the SEC West. what it talks about is its sole function as an institution of higher education which is to provide a great education for the sons and daughters of our state in the performance of having a better life in our state or elsewhere this amendment is not anti athletic. what it is is it's pro
academic. it's simply affirms what I have been told as I've engaged with stakeholders throughout the process that as the the funds have been asked in the the metrics and the the mechanisms that this has gone under they're very complicated and many machinations of them but ultimately if there's not going to be an increase to tuition or to to or the creation of a student fee then then let's all agree and shake hands and put a one year writer on the appropriation for one year and then resolved to work hard on this in January of 27 to make sure that
no tuition payer, no taxpayer is taking one dex dollar either out of their bank account or leveraged on a6.5% note over a 15 year term in order to pay for the opportunity to be better at athletics it it again I'm not trying to sound fiery but this is very important in a world where the bubble around higher education is only getting bigger and the burst is going to affect everybody it's probably important for us to figure out a way to manage costs down, not find excuses to increase it going up. So with that I'd be happy to take any questions
Chair
Unverified
10:36
members are there any questions for Representative Mckenzie?
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
10:43
senator hickey you reckon us so they've been doing this? is there a fiscal impact that it so so have they previously been doing this or is this
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
10:52
new? though there there has not been a direct transfer of academic or academic institutional funds to the athletic department so it's never happened. no sir there may have been cost segregation, cost avoidance. there may have been you pick up this tab I pick up the next but
in terms of pure dollar transfer from one organization to a department within that organization? no and that's part of the history of the aca athletic department with coach royles wanting to maintain autonomy and independence they've never asked for it because it's been self sufficientok and this is just
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
11:22
for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. could you explain some of the other universities how theirs work or do you know so
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
11:29
a lot of the other institutions Ua anything pB Lr Fs Northark whatever they do operate their athletic departments at a deficit. We have a lot of statutes that
exist that allow for the institutions to go take that money back through a specific and prescribed student athletic fee to compare and no offense to anyone that may represent Pine Bluff or LittleRock or Fortsmith to compare those institutions to Fayetteville for the purposes of acade athletic performance and outcome is like apples and bowling balls. the I don't know specifically off the top of my head but it's a s above $100 million in terms of operating revenue or expenses for the athletic department on NY
basis at Fayetteville umt contracts, name image and like like likeness contracts brand deals naming rights for every not just some of the stadiums so there are vehicles in which that if a athletic department does operate a deficit they can go and get that athletic fee. The due with that comes caveats whether it be exemptions of procurement law you know the three bid system for different types of procurement and contracts there's a lot that goes into it but that's a sacrifice if you operate at a deficit and you're gonna ask things of people then you're
gonna have to give some of those freedoms and liberties up. Fayetteville currently has an exemption for very broad ly for procurement law and is able to say because we're self sufficient but when there's a when there's a ask for direct transfer to make up a budget shortfall coming from anywhere and it doesn't matter where it's irrespective of that I don't really think we can claim that the title of self sufficient silly pies good explanation I I appreciate that thank you members are there any other questions
seeing no questions is there a motion we have a second we have a motion to second any
Chair
Unverified
13:18
discussion on the motion? all those in favor say aye all those opposed moon
is not adopted Members that brings us to item 23d23 this is Representative Walker you're recognized to come to the table
Representative Steven Walker
Unverified
13:50
Stephen Walker district 27 I know we've been here awhi so I'm gonna make it short and sweet so this doesn't do a whole lot the appropriation has has been there I think since 2019 it's a500,000 dollars appropriation this does not increase that at all what it does is turn it into a a matching grant to where it'll help bring in an incentivize bringing in private funds to help fund this this is the Save the Children's fun
it's a big benefit in our rural areas that money goes back into the district it helps hire people to help with the the literacy piece the the went blank on the the
Representative Steven Walker
Unverified
14:44
reading so it it they're they've incorporate the science of reading which we pa pass kind of with the learns
build and I think department of edd has kind of pushed it out but they align with that and I think6 dollars for every dollar of state funding that goes into this goes into the community section C that's in this will allow Department of Ed to certify the the private cash donations before they have to match match it up to500,000
the department of edd will be able to determine what that paperwork looks like on what they need to certify the funds they currently employ 147 Arkansans around the state and I'm just looking at trying to turn it into a private fund but I'm open for questions if you guys have any. members are there any questions for Walker?
seeing no questions we have a
motion we have a motion do we have a second? have a motion a second all those or is there any discussion on the motion seeing none all those have ever say aye posed sorry your amendment is not adopted senator hester
you just state your name for official purposes
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
16:28
bart hester amendment to House Bill1051. thank you you recognize right thank
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
16:33
you members so what I'm talking about today is something I think we are all very familiar with what you might not have known is this has been going on in Arkansas for four years with online sports betting you've probably became very familiar with it over the last few months when it is inundated your lives and your family's lives and the TV when you turn it on and the radio and every app that you
open and when you walk into stores and billboards on the interstate we became very familiar with what we're talking about here today with the issue that I think is very important for us to address and it is the free play so if you see from the casinos on the online sports betting apps you know you see on the interstate bet $20 or put $20 in and we give you300 dollars free or $250 free and they're all kinds of different scenarios and one might ask is
why has this been going on for four years and we've never really heard much about it or a little bit and now all of a sudden it has taken over our lives umer and the the concern with me is we have said for a very long time as this body that we are not going to support predatory behaviors and I believe what we're seeing right now is for four years we've seen this process work fairly well in the state of Arkansas with unlimited free play and now someone is abusing
the system and what I believe is is a predatory manner and I believe we are offering a subsidy to the casinos that I do not believe is necessary and I'm gonna ask us through this amendment to stop the subsidies to casinos and it's actually very simple it says that the amount of free play that they can offer on online sports betting is capped at5% of their grocery receipts so if they do $10 million the most free play they can offer is500,000 dollars and I believe that stops
the subsidy and here's an example if you look every month every casino has to report todF andA for the amount of profits they made the month before. do you know how much profit two casinos made this past month? $0 right and they're taxed somewhere between 13 and20% but we had two casinos of reported I believe that they made0 dollars and we can get Secretary Hudson down here to testify to that and also recognize that when this started four years ago there were other casinos that
did this and they too showed some losses early on but for but for four years this has not been abused it's been handled what we consider reasonable I don't feel like it's been used in a predatory manner on the people on our college students on everybody everywhere you go and anytime something starts being used I believe in a predatory way their legislature is responsible to step up and act and so that's that's where I'm at and that's what I'm asking us to do I'm happy to take any questions
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
19:33
Senator Disman you're recognized for a question. thank you. I mean clearly I mean because of the thing it was difficult even to find a place for it to fall into an appropriation because the you know the anyway the tough tough to make it work in this is not something that's physical in nature it's not anything that's got to do with the preparation limiting how an agency spends money or whatever it is that it was there a thought to maybe file a resolution at the beginning of session to take care of this and why why is the path special language well I I chose special lans it's
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
20:04
it's very much fiscal in nature, right? like it's not physical in nature the reason that I'm here, the reason I'm here is because I care about this issue deeply I care about my kids, I care about all of our young people who are getting inundated with this so I believe you know if you're a college student, if ask anybody that's in college right now and ask if them and all their friends are are being inundated with this and starting to use an app starting to gamble when maybe they've never gambled before with the enticement to get free money. before
sessions started the first interview me and the speaker did I said at the beginning of the interview and the end of that interview at thelitical Animals Club this was a real concern for me that I planned to address we
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
20:44
chose to do that through special language but why not through a
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
20:47
resolution the normal process because I mean obviously this would fit better in a bill than in a preparation well there's always members can choose to do
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
20:54
it any way they wanted I opted to go with special language all right and then you
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
20:58
talked about a subsidy what explain to me how the subsidy works
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
21:05
well subsidy is we are allowing them a tax break
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
21:08
which is in fact in my opinion a subsidy like all of a sudden they're saying they're making no money. I don't believe anybody in this room believes they made no money last month yet they're reporting they made no money because they can give unlimited free play away whatever they gave away if it was 10 million or50 million dollars or $100 million didn't cost them anything to give that away and because they didn't give it away because you can't cash it out or at least not readily available and I've talked to many people that are using
this right now you get free play you think you can get the money but you've got a gamble over and over and over before you can get it back. So it cost them nothing yet they don't have to pay taxes on it so it's a subsidy it's a subsidy from the people of Arkansas because if they weren't if they were not allowed to use this unlimited they would be paying
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
21:55
taxes is there some special math that casinos are using because I mean if you give someone50 dollars and they give you50 dollars back that's a that's netticum of zero that's
not a subsidy that's net income of zero if you give someone30 dollars and they give you50 dollars back that's income of 20 at what point I don't understand how this could ever be a subsidy this is to me similar to advertising dollars but I don't understand the framing of a subsidy
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
22:23
well senator if you want me to get into a tax argument with you I will'll raise a white flag right now but the difference is I believe that it is a subsidy because they never give them the thing they don't give it to you and you can take it.
they don't give you this and you can walk away or get the money. you never you never get it yet they get to write it off on on their taxes do they claim the income when they get it back who does who claim the income when they get the
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
22:55
casino or the whoever the entity of course they would if they get it back then it's not a subsidy I
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
22:58
think I mean would you agree at that point it's no longer don't think this is normal income taxes either. I think casinos operate by vastly different taxing systems than we do
Senator Hill you recognize sorry Senator I may have jumped you in this line. I pitched the wrong button. you ok with senator senator hill you recognize thank youent
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
23:15
Hester it appears that you've done a lot of studying on this issue what's all the way through since you're passionate about getting it stopped what is the projected estimate income that you see coming to the state of Arkansas through taxes on this I do not know I haven't spent any time looking at that. I'll
tell you the reason I care about this is I
care about the the future of our kids. I care about the future of ourkansans look we we can argue in here and there's a lot of really smart people my friends on both sides of this issue they can talk really they can make it sound really good on both sides on taxes and get really deep into all that. it can be really complicated within this capital. you know where it's not complicated at your dinner table you know where it's not complicated in the line at Walmart talking to somebody you know where it's not complic ated at church. these are not complicated issues outside
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
24:05
of the capitalol. they're super complicated in this room
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
24:09
appreciate that they're very good sales job right there at the end you pushed it right there so good good job there I'll give you an a for sales OK?
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
24:20
Senator hickey you recognize I'm a little confused is this this is different than the original one I wrote this is
Speaker 90
24:25
this is an amendment that's totally different from the other one is that correct? did you have
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
24:29
another one earlier? well it's not it's not totally different but there there was a clarification on this so if you look at page one at the top it says limitation on the use of sports promotions
OK we added in on page two let me see it would be in section B the third paragraph applicable to an online sports pool. We didn't I didn't think that was necessary. some people clearly smart at this issue than me thought it was appropriate to add that in just for further further clarification when I OK well it looked different to me than
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
25:00
the other one because whenever I'd done that I actually called some of the some of the affected folks because that my first thought was something you said and seems to be a little bit of a contradiction from what I was
told. whichever way it may be is that whenever and I'll call them incentives I don't know if that's the correct word but whenever they issue these incentives out there that they're not being actually written off until the user uses those so I think if I understood you right you you think or thought that they were that they're actually being written off whenever they're issued whether or not the end user had had used them or not is that correct or well senator I will tell
Chair
Unverified
25:40
you the same thing I told senator dismay
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
25:43
I'm not a tax accountant. here's what I know the casinos are saying they're making0 dollars right now. The reporting profit of $0 however you want to get there, I don't know. I can understand
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
25:53
the bottom line yes sir and I'm I'm I'm not trying to be
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
25:57
I promise I'm not trying to be trying to get you or anything here it's just that that was different for me so I do struggle I mean just from this from just a from a straight business standpoint I understand that people may have social feelings about it or whatever and we've allowed stuff or hadn't allowed stuff and
but it's like it's almost to me and I understand we'd be talking about a different type of tax but like a you know a a car manufacturer or a car dealer you know they're out out here offering these rebates all the time well whenever they offer these rebates those rebates are available they're available there but in the end they're not the end user of those and then the consumer who buys that has to pay the tax I look at this really the same way just because somebody's you know
issuing an incentive or whatever so that they use it more in the end if it's if they use it to win then they should be the ones that are liable and I believe they are for the tax so it's almost like we're we're trying to place a a tax on so on a revenue item that is really not a revenue out that's the way I see it so just to be fair yeah that's
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
27:08
fair I consider it you call it incentive I call it a you know a subsidy either way but but you're right my concern is
from a social perspective I want to offer less of it and that's and that's really a decision about this body that we continue to offer unlimited with the concern of you know continuing to get zeros no one in this room believes casinos are making $0. thank you senator hester members do we have any other questions
Senator Dismay you recognize if the concern is free play,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
27:39
I mean we have mean I wouldn't call it complicated but we've got a bill here that none of us fully understand what
it means and we can get into the back and forth on the accounting and how somehow casinos don't use debits and credits which makes absolutely no sense to me but we can make accounting is complicated as we want but it's at its core pretty simple and think reason I think it's complicated it's job security for accountants but why not just eliminate free play I mean if the if the goal is is we don't like what they're doing and we don't like predatory practice we don't like whatever this is then just file a bill to eliminate free play.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
28:19
senator dismay if you want to do that I will, I will certainly support it. My
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
28:24
bill does5% and my goal is not to to do away with the practice totally my du my my intent is to do away with my what I consider a predatory practice.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
28:35
my concern is we've allowed other casinos in the state to operate with unlimited free play to a loss to the state of Arkansas actually when they were filing their returns and now at this point we've decided other casinos will be limited while we won't even talk about market
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
28:51
share. Well about three casinos have been doing this for roughly4 years and something has changed drastically we all
know that any any other questions we have a motion motion we
Chair
Unverified
29:06
have a second any discussion on the motion en ator just
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
29:12
may you're recognized thank you this is clearly in no way a physical session item we have the option to file resolutions if we want to go in depth and start limiting the
business practices of really in and the into. I'm sympathetic to the concern of what you know the social aspects related to gambling but that doesn't mean that we sit here and pass legislation that we don't fully understand or what the ultimate outcome is going to be with recent changes that have been introduced as recent as today without being able to have a full testimony and discussion with the public about what it means. Again, I respect what you're looking to do but based on the principle what we try to do in this committee I think this is well outside the bounds of what we normally look
at to be special Mrin of the discussion seeing none all those in favor say aye opposed your amendment
has failed Members that takes us to it takes us down to so we're passing overre representing ungers that takes down topresentative aughtug.
Yeah absolutely if y'all can just both
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
30:35
state your name Representative DAvoug district 87. te t
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
30:42
son painter district3 God's countryuntry you recognize to present thank you
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
30:46
committee members in our state agriculture isn't just an industry. it is a true way of life.
It is early mornings, late nights, weather
worries and faith of what we plant or raise today we'll sustain our families for tomorrow. Farming is the backbone of our rural communities and the driving force for the state of Arkansas to the tune of $20 billion and 11% of our G Gdp and all all of that depends on our equipment working when our equipment is broken not working, everything stops on a farm. The cost of doing business continues to rise for our
farmers the cost of fuel, fencing, fertilize and equipment is making it harder and harder for farmers to do what they love and that is to feed the world this policy isn't about this policy is about recognizing that farmers operate on a very tight margin farmers are actually one major re repair bill plus the tax and labor away from deciding if they stay afloat or they fall behind. so I'm asking that we remove the
burden where we can if we truly believe agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas, then it's time that we stop taxing the backs backbone to death. let's stand with
farmers and get this done to help them with their with their margins think that's a good statement unfortunately the
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
32:15
state of Arkansas has the privilege to be the number one state in the United States for farm bankruptcies. will this cure that? No. but will it help? it will and so it's it's time and like in my district farmers are going
out of state to buy this stuff because it's exempt all and around the surrounding states all we're asking is to help take care of the people that feed us. thank you. Senator hickey you recognize us for a Right this
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
32:46
is hard on me because uhpresentative Vault and now she's a one of my one of my favorite reps in the area have a bunch of ladies that take care of me around there but in this case and I've already asked you this straight business for me of course we want to take
care of our farmers and you know as reverend tax chair you know I know a lot of people always get disappointed whenever they come down there because we don't hear their bills or just don't pick it up that's because as reverend tax chair we all love tax cuts we all want to do those this would be a top priority for me but as far as this body it's usually for the last few years we've leaned towards the income tax cuts but as far as this bill's concerned I think it's heavily flawed and
creates a county nightmare and and also for the retailers because if we say that part on page one right there where it says parts to be installed on a tractor before the installation of a diesel exhaust fuel system this diesel this de diesel exhaust fuel system has been in place for quite a few years farmers didn't want it none of us want it literally hate it want it to go away I've heard the feds may be doing something with that but to raid
in this way what this is gonna do is whenever somebody goes to try to get a replacement part are they gonna have to sign up and say say oh no my tractor was prior to this so I'm a I'm OKok we all know what's going to happen there we're gonna make the retailers where they're gonna be the ones that are gonna try to police that definitely don't wanna come back on our farmers who somebody says look they went and got $100,000 worth of parts all their tractors were
have deaf you know, I just I I think that I think that it needs to be all or none just think that it's riddled riddled with problems and personally, I do believe that this is an item that should come before rev and tax, much like some of the other ones I brought up an I I had an idea on doing one myself and have backed away from that but it's just this this is an item that we need to thoroughly vet needs to come through the house and the senate revenue tax in my
opinion. so but I do appreciate what you're trying to do but again from a straight business standpoint this, I don't think this makes it. I totally understand Senator. you know
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
35:19
when we're trying to work this out talking with DFNA everything else trying to find maybe a time period which you know predef is like from'7 back and so we were just trying to have something there because the financial impact doing it all was significant so instead of just doing that try to meet
halfway which I I understand where you're coming from it's just a point a period of time is where we're trying to
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
35:45
9 years or whatever that may work out to 18 to19 years of death it's going to be the largest percentage of of of these and I think at that point you're going to start getting farmers who are just gonna not understand why in the world that since they were required to have the death which they don't want why they can't why they can't get the exemption themselves so anyway thank you
members are there any other questions so you know the questions do we have a motion Sorry your amendments fail for lack of emotion thank
you thank you members that takes us to the bottom of the printed an original agenda we added two items we suspended the rules and added two items to the agenda the first of those is Senate bill amendment to Senate Bill4. that's that's actually my amendment. I'm gonna let Senator Mckee take over the chair and I'm gonna go to the table
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
36:50
now we can represent Johnson if you'll recognize yourself for the record you're recognized to present. thank
you Mr chairmanembers this would fall under my opinion a technical correction around legislative intent. Senator Hester and I at last session created some legislation to try to address the workforce issue for physicians in the state of Arkansas and we did that by opening up our state for licensure to for what we call the fourth pathway, a different
pathway but in order to go through this slicinger pathway you had to commit to serve three years in what we intended to be an underserved area of Arkansas. the way we drafted the legislation and to say we are really aren't at fault there. I I cited a section of federal code that actually is defined as underpopulated, not underserved and by doing that we actually narrowed the funnel in a way that this legislation is ineffective so we've had at
least4 physicians want to come and practice in Arkansas willing to practice in rural areas including Malverne, Bbatesville, Crawford County but because we had this definition wrong, they were unable to fulfill those threeyear commitments they were ready to do and so we're trying to change this language to to open it up so there's a there's a statement here that that adds the words underserved and also primary primary care health shortage area. these are additional federal stipulations that will allow for
more physicians to come and practice in these areas with the three year commitment and I'd be happy to answer any questions on the amendment. are there
Speaker 113
38:31
any questions from the committee seeing none what is
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
38:36
the pleasure of the committee? got a motion and the second in discussion on the motion hearing none all those in favor of
the motion say aye aye opposed motion is adopted
Members that takes us to what should be the last item on the agenda. This is Senate Bill77. Now we we have an amendment that's we need to suspend the rules so I'll need a motion to suspend the rules to hand out this amendment for adoption to this bill got a motion do we have a second? all those in favor say aye opposed your amendment is adopted and we can pass that out if the committee can pass out that amendment and senator Tucker you're recognized
to acknowledge who you are to the committee and then present your amendment in the bill. Thank you Mr Chair. clark
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
39:40
Tucker, I know we've been here a long time today. This is the good news is this is the last item on the agenda. So I'm hoping the committee members would treat me as Kermit the frogwood or Elmo. I'll take Miss Pigggy but I'm trying to avoid anoscar the
Grouch situation here today so here we're here to talk about PBS with this bill and want to before we get too
far just to clarify I'm I'm trying to clarify from a staff
standpoint we have to adopt the amendment first so just and you may have been about to explain the
mimic because you can start with the explanation of the amendment
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
40:13
that's helpful. All the amendment does is it deletes section two from the bill. Section2 is the fund transfer it just deletes that section and renumbers the sections so members we
need a motion we have a motion second to adopt the amendment all those in favor say aye post your amendment is adopted now
you may proceed thank you thank you
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
40:32
Mr Chair members this is about7 PbS for the people of Arkansas and
you know we could talk about this for a long time. I'm going to try to limit to the high points and happy to go into more detail with any questions for for a long time the way that this was funded is the federal government funded an organization called the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that organization would send money to states and then the states will turn around and send that money to pay their annual PBS dues about a year ago the money from the corporation forublic Broadcasting went away the the dude they sent $2.5 million a year to Arkansas for this year
well before I get to that there you know we have one network that covers that covers public television for the entire state. We have one PBS affiliate for the state. I don't want y'all to think that that's normal. There's actually300 pBS affiliates in the United States, not fi0. most states have multiple so we're we're one of 300 the corporation for public Broadcasting Money was canceled for all300 PBS affiliates as of this point we are the only one in the country to disaffiliate from PBS last fall that decision was made by the then atTn now Arkansas TV
commission to disaffiliate from PBS so what this is is an effort to make sure that we're not the only PBS affiliate in the country for our people not to have access to the PBS content. and I'll talk about the merits of that again trying to keep this as as succinct as I can. so our our dues for PBS this year are $2.1 million. I learned yesterday technically it's 2.15. if we get to the 2.1, I'm making a public personal commitment today to raise that last50,000 dollars for for the dues, OK? So but in terms of today I'm going to talk about
2.1. so I'm not asking the legislative body or the state for $2.1 million. Yesterday there was an announcement that there's an anonymous donor from a foundation that ' s committed to give $1 million a year for three years which is a really wonderful and generous thing by that donor that cuts the gap that we need to fill from one excuse me from 2.1 million to 1.1 million I'm not asking the state for $1.1 million either. what this does is the remaining two sections of this is to increase the appropriate increase the appropriation authority by550,000 dollars from the
state, half of that remaining gap that we need to fill and what it does with the other piece is it creates a this creates a matching fund every PBS affiliate in the country has a foundation that goes along with it we have one here you know we we're all familiar with game and fish and the game and fishoundation. Here's there's Arkansas TV and the Arkansas TV Foundation. when the corporation forublic Broadcasting Money went away last year.rivaiv to the PBS affiliate foundations went up and it was not a temporary surge either that has been sustained over time broadly
in the United States there's one location where that giving went down after that was in Arkansas after we disaffiliated from PBS because we had a lot of donors walk away because what they what they were hoping to pay for with their donations was PBS so what this does is it creates an incentive and a me a mechanism for those donors to come back to the table and reengage them. to to reverse that trend and have the donors in Arkansas recommit to Arkansas TV and and what I hope and expect would be on a sustained
basis. When I started working on this, I went to the bureau in Windy and I said is it illegal to create a matching fund and her answer was it's never been done before but it's not illegal. so that's that's the answer I was looking for that it's not illegal. I think this could be a mechanism that we could use with other partnerships the state has with other nonprofits and you know we'll we'll see what happens in the future but but I do think it's a creative way to approach a situations where the state doesn't want to carry the entire load for something and we we
want other folks to have skin in the game and so that's the way I approach this and I've been working, you know, extensively with the the bureau and and other other members in the governor's office on this and so I think this is this is a way to say PBS in the most streamlined way possible for involvement from the state not asking for the state for the entire amount. it's actually about a quarter of the amount and it's it's only a matching fund up to550,000 dollars. so you know, moms and pops out there are going to need to
contribute uh550,000 dollars. in order for for the matching to kick in. I have gotten a commitment from the Tyson Family Foundation to give $100,000 a year for three years so that actually knocks the amount down that the foundation needs to raise from550 to450. they set up a separate line that I say they the founda I try to teach my children not to use pronouns, OK so I'm going to follow my own advice. The foundation has separated created a separate line item to give to pbS about6 or so weeks ago. they've already raised about $130,000 to that. So I think they will be able to hit
that550,000 dollars mark but the state will only match what they are given. So again we are incentivizing engagement from other folks to have skin in the game in terms of PBS you know, I think everyone is familiar with PBS forgive my bad humor at the beginning with Carmen and Miss Pigggy but clearly this has played an important role in everyone's life the content of that PBS provides is irreplaceable especially from an educational standpoint for kids the PBS kids
content. there was a a survey done recently. PBS is broadly popular in Arkansas over70% approval.70 this is a nationwide survey,79 % of history teachers their go to content for for free content is PBS Kis what PBS Kids provides so in Arkansas there's about 162,000 households that only view PBS over the air. they don't have access for whatever reason from broadband or whatever the case might be so those are inherently vulnerable populations so the to
maintain and preserve the PBS content for the people of Arkansas is very important for a whole variety of reasons. People people love it, people need the PBS kids content for educational value the news is much more trusted than any other news that that exists and that's confirmed and nationwide and state ba s ed polling. So the the value for the people of Arkansas is there. I I don't want to belabor the point but and I'm happy to answer any questions. The last thing I'll last two things I'll say are as I mentioned I've been working
with the governor's office. the governor is supportive of this endeavor and the reason why I feel comfortable deleting section two from the bill is because she's agreed that if the if the money comes through then we'll match this through restricted reserve through ALC in the interim. she she is supportive of that and the last thing I'll say is you know this is one time money only it's not money that's going to go into the budget this is obviously a dynamic situation and we'll have to see where we are a year from now. you know Carlton Wings ahead of Arkansas TV now and he has some ideas to make
Arkansas TV more self sufficient from a financial standpoint, creating Arkansasbased content totally supportive of that and I think he will be successful in that to me this is an and situation we don't have to pick between one or the other. I think we can do both and the way to to save PBS for the people of Arkansas is this way so with that I'm happy to take any questions Senator Dismay you recognize your question. I I just want to make sure that we
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
47:46
kind of restate it. I mean at this point when we deleted the language for the GAd transfer. this is a preparation only it does not
have funding tied to it but do you agree that that's what the outcome was that amendment thank you for stating that
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
48:01
very clearly, Senator. Yes, right now there's no guaranteed funding the the fund the Gd fund transfer went away with the amendment its appropriation that so the bill now does two things it's appropriation it increases the appropriation by550,000 dollars and then it creates the matching mechanism Senator Brant you reckon us thank you Mrchrry is there a commitment from the commission
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
48:24
that if they receive the funds that they'll reengage with PBS I would well, also'll the million dollar
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
48:33
gift that came through yesterday that's contingent on matching money it's it's the only way that the money can come through and it was in it was so in the one reason I wanted the fund transfer languages to guarantee that if the money went to the Arkansas TB Commission and that's the way that it would be
spent so when we deleted section two we deleted that guarantee but at the same time if there there's a couple of things that that are happening one is we're representing to the people of Arkansas that if they give money then we will match that money so I think it would be important for us to follow through on that you know, if and when that happens. but the other thing is we will have a decision to make when the restricted reserve money comes through ALc and we'll need to communicate with the commission at that time to guarantee that if if we send the money over that it will in fact go to pay
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
49:26
the pBS dues I assume these contracts happen once a year typically I guess probably a July like a a midyear fiscal commitment into the PBS PBS has said that again we're the only affiliate that they're really dealing
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
49:37
with in this capacity right now not to say that it couldn't happen with others in the future, but they're really just dealing with us right now and they have said that if we disaffiliate at any time that they will prorate the dues for the year. so we don't have to write a check for $2.1
million if we're we're just I don't I don't I'm I'm saying something I don't fully know but what I don't know is that if whether we have to pay as we go what I do know is if we disaffiliate 25% of the way through the year they were
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
50:11
only paying 25% of the annual dues. so if we if we if ALcs can commit some funds and get it through
the AlC's body and the other donors finally commit their funds and they take a check to a to a Arkansas TV
foundation yeah the foundation you're saying we don't know if they will they'll probably accept the check or maybe not if they don't want to turn it back on PBS I'm just saying if we're going to invest money through Arkansas TV and other programming and other sponsors and then we're going to restrict some airtime because we have a new reengaged partnership does that not put a burden on the commission? And I know very little about the TV world but I know it's in about advertising and so I don't wanna string up the commission on that Arkansas
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
50:57
TV has a variety of content. it's not a it's not pBS only right? there's a lot of content the reason I know is I mean you see high school state championships Arkansasbas documentaries. I mean you see all sorts of content on Arkansas TV formerly atTN that's not PBS right? so there's still a lot of opportunity for Arkansasbas content to be produced even if we maintain the partnership with PBS. Representative Evans you're
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
51:28
recognized for your question. Thank you Mr Chair. Senator Tucker, let me ask Senator Bryn's question maybe a little differently if Money that is that is coming in the anonymous donations this appropriation is created the matching funds are raised we have a transfer restricted reserve all of this goes in to the account for the purpose of raising the funds separately to pay the dues to PBS those dues are paid
ultimately though the decision of what programming that is shown 24/7365 falls upon the CEO and the board of Arkansas TV correct that's absolutely my understanding this does not force them to utilize any of the programming that would be offered from paying those dues this just gives the money to pay the dues yes sir that's right members do we have any other questions seeing no other
questions we need a motion do pass as amended
we have a motion do we have a second? have a motion is second
all those in favor say aye opposed your amendment is adopted your bill is passed as amended thank you emb ers if there's if there's not any further business, I'll say that slowly in case there is there's no further business appreciate your patience today's meetings adjour
wait all approved bills and adopted amendments are released from special language this meeting's adjourned
Agenda
A. Call to Order.
C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:
E. Other Business.
F. Adjournment.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE, Apr 22, 2026 | Agenda | 2 | Official source ↗ |
| C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee | Exhibit | 25 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
| D. Amendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee | Exhibit | 129 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Lee Johnson Chair
Unverified
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Speaker 17
Speaker 18
Speaker 20
Speaker 29
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Representative Steven Walker
Unverified
Speaker 60
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Speaker 90
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
Speaker 113
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified