Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (38)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1980
Act 1071
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB 1980 Rapert TO AMEND THE UNFAIR CIGARETTE SALES ACT; TO AMEND TH…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNFAIR CIGARETTE SALES ACT; TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT … | A. Davis | Notification that HB1980 is now Act 1071 |
|
SB522
Act 1079
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB522 #1 J. English TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE…”
|
TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM; TO COORDINATE VARIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS; TO AMEND … | J. English | Notification that SB522 is now Act 1079 |
|
SB535
Act 1080
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB535 #1 and 2 B. Johnson TO REVISE THE METHOD BY WHICH THE ACADE…”
|
TO REVISE THE METHOD BY WHICH THE ACADEMIC FACILITIES WEALTH INDEX IS CALCULATED. | B. Johnson | Notification that SB535 is now Act 1080 |
|
SB537
Act 1081
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB537 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CHILD MALTREATM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CHILD MALTREATMENT INVESTIGATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. | A. Clark | Notification that SB537 is now Act 1081 |
|
HB1619
Act 1015
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1619 G. Hodges B. Davis TO CREATE THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER…”
|
TO CREATE THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER ACT. | G. Hodges | Notification that HB1619 is now Act 1015 |
|
HB1865
Act 1023
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1865 AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DA…”
|
AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DAY FUND; AND … | Jean | Notification that HB1865 is now Act 1023 |
|
HB1866
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB 1866 Hammer CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COMMUTATI…”
|
CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. | Petty | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1876
Act 1024
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1876 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN E…”
|
TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Jean | Notification that HB1876 is now Act 1024 |
|
HB1928
Act 1028
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1928 V. Flowers Elliott TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO REQUIRE ALL OPEN PUBLIC … | V. Flowers | Notification that HB1928 is now Act 1028 |
|
HB1947
Act 1031
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB 1947 Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST REQUIREMEN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE. | Fortner | Notification that HB1947 is now Act 1031 |
|
HB1967
Act 1067
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1967 Watson Irvin TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURC…”
|
TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURCE ACT. | Watson | Notification that HB1967 is now Act 1067 |
|
HB1968
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1968 D. Ferguson Ingram TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CL…”
|
TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT OF 2006. | D. Ferguson | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1969
Act 1068
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1969 Wardlaw Wallace TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL COLLECTION. | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1969 is now Act 1068 |
|
HB1986
Act 1074
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1986 Penzo Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW PROHIBITING SPOOFING; TO AME…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW PROHIBITING SPOOFING; TO AMEND THE LAW REGULATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS AND … | Penzo | Notification that HB1986 is now Act 1074 |
|
SB183
Act 987
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 84 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 85 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 183 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 240 by Senator Wallace. Senat…”
|
TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FROM HOLDING A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST. | A. Clark | Notification that SB183 is now Act 987 |
|
SB240
Act 988
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 85 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 183 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 240 by Senator Wallace. Senate Bill 440 by Senator Bledsoe. Sen…”
|
CONCERNING THE REEMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT … | D. Wallace | Notification that SB240 is now Act 988 |
|
SB440
Act 989
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 183 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 240 by Senator Wallace. Senate Bill 440 by Senator Bledsoe. Senate Bill 451 by Senator Cooper. Sena…”
|
TO BAN USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FOOD AND DRINK EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. | Bledsoe | Notification that SB440 is now Act 989 |
|
SB447
Act 808
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 447, Act 808, Senate Bill 449, Act 809, Senate Bill 464, Act 81…”
|
TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX CREDIT; TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF; … | J. Hendren | Notification that SB447 is now Act 808 |
|
SB451
Act 990
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…240 by Senator Wallace. Senate Bill 440 by Senator Bledsoe. Senate Bill 451 by Senator Cooper. Senate Bill 460 by Senator Hammer. Senat…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAWS REGARDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS TO OBTAIN CONSISTENCY … | J. Cooper | Notification that SB451 is now Act 990 |
|
SB460
Act 991
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…440 by Senator Bledsoe. Senate Bill 451 by Senator Cooper. Senate Bill 460 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 493 by Senator Hammer. Senat…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "FERAL HOG"; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE RELEASE OF … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB460 is now Act 991 |
|
SB493
Act 992
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 451 by Senator Cooper. Senate Bill 460 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 493 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 499 by Senator Hammer.”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT FEES. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB493 is now Act 992 |
|
SB499
Act 993
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 460 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 493 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 499 by Senator Hammer.”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERANS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES; AND TO AUTHORIZE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB499 is now Act 993 |
|
SB520
Act 994
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 658 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 665 by Senator Garner, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 602 by Senator Dismane, Sena…”
|
TO CLARIFY THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT'S REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY CONCERNING PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGERS; AND … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB520 is now Act 994 |
|
SB544
Act 995
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 544 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott, Sena…”
|
TO ESTABLISH PREJUDGMENT AND POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST RATES. | Irvin | Notification that SB544 is now Act 995 |
|
SB560
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB 560 #1 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATION OF STATE TAXES; TO AM…”
|
AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATION OF STATE TAXES; TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCEDURES … | B. Johnson | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB592
Act 996
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 544 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott, Senate Bill 612 by Senator Cooper, Sena…”
|
TO AMEND THE PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1995; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Elliott | Notification that SB592 is now Act 996 |
|
SB601
Act 776
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 601, Act 776. Senate Bill 615, Act 777. Sincerely, Asa Hutchiso…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE AND EXPEDITE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LITTLE ROCK NINE MEMORIAL ON THE STATE … | Elliott | Notification that SB601 is now Act 776 |
|
SB602
Act 999
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 665 by Senator Garner, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 602 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Sen…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE SMALL WIRELESS FACILITY DEPLOYMENT ACT. | J. Dismang | Notification that SB602 is now Act 999 |
|
SB603
Act 1082
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB603 #1 A. Clark TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVI…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO CERTAIN PUBLIC … | A. Clark | Notification that SB603 is now Act 1082 |
|
SB61
Act 768
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…rm you that on April 8th, I approve the following measures. Senate Bill 61, Act 768. Senate Bill 100, Act 769. Senate Bill 105, Act 77…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB61 is now Act 768 |
|
SB612
Act 1000
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…544 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott, Senate Bill 612 by Senator Cooper, Senate Bill 646 by Senator Letting, Sena…”
|
CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF UNLAWFUL USE OF AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM; TO AMEND THE DEFINITION … | J. Cooper | Notification that SB612 is now Act 1000 |
|
SB632
Act 1085
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB632 #1 J. English TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMEN…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A CYBER ALLIANCE IN ORDER TO … | J. English | Notification that SB632 is now Act 1085 |
|
SB646
Act 1001
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…592 by Senator Elliott, Senate Bill 612 by Senator Cooper, Senate Bill 646 by Senator Letting, Senate Bill 658 by Senator Hester, Sena…”
|
CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED RECORDS OF THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY. | G. Leding | Notification that SB646 is now Act 1001 |
|
SB654
Act 1002
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…520 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 602 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Sena…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS; AND TO AUTHORIZE A CIVIL PENALTY FOR MISREPRESENTING … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB654 is now Act 1002 |
|
SB658
Act 1003
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…612 by Senator Cooper, Senate Bill 646 by Senator Letting, Senate Bill 658 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 665 by Senator Garner, Senat…”
|
CONCERNING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, AND THE JUDICIARY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Hester | Notification that SB658 is now Act 1003 |
|
SB665
Act 1004
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…646 by Senator Letting, Senate Bill 658 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 665 by Senator Garner, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Senat…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT OF 2016; TO ADD A FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS … | T. Garner | Notification that SB665 is now Act 1004 |
|
SB84
Act 984
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…mmittee on Enrolled Bills to whom is birthed the following? Senate Bill 84 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 85 by Senator Clark. Senate B…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PERMANENCY GOALS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT AT A … | A. Clark | Notification that SB84 is now Act 984 |
|
SB85
Act 985
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…is birthed the following? Senate Bill 84 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 85 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 183 by Senator Clark. Senate…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SERVICE OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS. | A. Clark | Notification that SB85 is now Act 985 |
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Unknown speaker
0:00
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
5:30
Testing, one, two, three, testing, testing, testing. Testing. On the
last day, the microphones worked. Hallelujah.
Speaker 5
6:00
Let's not add any more beef. Can't we all get along? Can't we all just get along?
Chair
Unverified
6:30
I think we should have put an Al Green statue in the Capitol. He's
actually from Arkansas, not Tennessee. He's from Forest City. I'm so tired of you.
Speaker 18
7:00
you ready who is saying the prayer sir sir
Chair
Unverified
7:29
hey Did you like my kick a dead horse yesterday?
Speaker 24
7:33
No. Hey. Truth hurts. Truth hurts. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
10:08
Madam Secretary please call the roll. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Please silence your cell phone.
Speaker 35
10:37
All those in the gallery, please rise. Everyone, please rise. Senator E is going to lead us in a word of prayer. Would you bow
Senator Lance Eads
Unverified
10:47
with me, please? Gracious Heavenly Father, God, we thank you for this time as we gather together one last day for this session. lord we thank you for your hand of protection as so many have traveled back and forth so many times lord we thank you for our ability to work together to try to get many things done for the state and for our constituents lord we pray that you would just everything that we have done would
bring glory and honor to you in jesus name amen
Chair
Unverified
11:11
amen i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united States of America, and to the republic for which it stands,
Speaker 43
11:18
one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Any items at the desk? Yes, sir.
Chair
Unverified
11:29
We are your committee on city-county local affairs, to whom was deferred House Bill 1980 by Representative Davis, recommended to pass. Calendar.
Anything else before we go to announcements? This is to inform you that on April 9, 2019, I approve the following measures of the regular session of the 92nd General Assembly. Symbol 206, Act 80, Symbol 278, Act 801, Symbol 287, Act 802, Symbol 315, Act 803, Symbol 339, Act 804, Symbol 342, Act 805, Symbol 344, Act 806, Symbol 374, Act 807,
Senate Bill 447, Act 808, Senate Bill 449, Act 809, Senate Bill 464, Act 810, Senate Bill 468, Act 811, Senate Bill 492, Act 812, Senate Bill 504, Act 813, Senate Bill 511, Act 814, Symbol 538, Act 15, Symbol 514, Act 16, Symbol 552, Act 817, Symbol 557, Act 818, Symbol 561, Act 819, Symbol 564, Act 820, Symbol 573, Act 821, Symbol 576, Act 822, Symbol 585, Act 823.
Sincerely, Asa Hutchison, Governor. Follow it. This is to inform you that on April 8th, I approve the following measures. Senate Bill 61, Act 768. Senate Bill 100, Act 769. Senate Bill 105, Act 770. Senate Bill 429, Act 771. Senate Bill 582, Act 772. Senate Bill 583, Act 773. Senate Bill 584, Act 774. Senate Bill 590, Act 775.
Senate Bill 601, Act 776. Senate Bill 615, Act 777. Sincerely, Asa Hutchison, Governor. Follow it. Dear Mr. President, will your Committee on Enrolled Bills to whom is birthed the following? Senate Bill 84 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 85 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 183 by Senator Clark. Senate Bill 240 by Senator Wallace. Senate Bill 440 by Senator Bledsoe. Senate Bill 451 by Senator Cooper. Senate Bill 460 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 493 by Senator Hammer. Senate Bill 499 by Senator Hammer.
Senate Bill 544 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott, Senate Bill 612 by Senator Cooper, Senate Bill 646 by Senator Letting, Senate Bill 658 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 665 by Senator Garner, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 602 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 520 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 602 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by Senator Dismane, Senate Bill 654 by
have compared the enrolled copies with the original and delivered to the governor at 9.45 a.m. for his approval. Follow it. Senator Hendren is
Speaker 35
14:32
recognized. Any other announcements? Line up. Okay, folks, as you can see, we've got a
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
14:37
lot more manageable calendar today because of your hard work yesterday. A couple things, though. Don't
run off right after we hear the last House bill today. We've got a budget calendar. We need to make sure we pass RSA, and then we're going to bring the staff out and make sure we show our appreciation for the work they've done. So please stick around. I still think we can get done in a fairly reasonable amount of time here.
The only other thing that I'm aware of right now, and if you have a bill that's hung up somewhere that we need to change beyond this, please come see me, but we did have House Bill 1980 come out of City County this morning, an agency bill that was late filing for some very legitimate reasons. It came out with a unanimous recommendation to do pass, so I would move
that we suspend the rules to put House Bill 1980 at the bottom of the House calendar for a third reading passage.
Speaker 53
15:22
You've heard the motion. Any objection? Motion carried without objection. Thank you. Any other announcements?
Speaker 35
15:32
We're going to start with Senate bills to concur in House amendments. Senator Jane English.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
15:56
bill, and it adds a person, two people. Any objection to the amendment?
Speaker 63
16:04
The amendment is adopted without objection.
Chair
Unverified
16:07
Senate Bill 522 by Senator English to create a comprehensive
statewide workforce development system to coordinate various workforce programs to amend the duties of the Career, Education, and Workforce Development Board and declare
Speaker 65
16:19
an emergency. Senator English. Thank you. That is a comprehensive. Senator
Speaker 66
16:24
English. Comprehensive Workforce Development Bill, just
Senator Jane English
Unverified
16:30
like it says, The goal is to bring people together to figure out how we decide what our future is going to be.
Speaker 29
16:42
on this? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote if
Chair
Unverified
16:52
the senator has closed, and apparently she has. Thank you. Ready? Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting,
Mallett, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their
vote? Seeing none, cast the ballot 35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed.
Speaker 35
17:22
Enroll it. Senator Blake Johnson, you have two amendments. Amendment
Speaker 74
17:31
amendment is a technical correction. Do you want to do both of them? Do the first one. All right. It's a technical correction in the original bill.
Speaker 53
17:43
Any questions? Any objection? Amendment is adopted without objection. Amendment number two.
Speaker 74
17:51
Amendment two, December 535. The second adds a co-sponsor and helps mediate those losses for those
Speaker 53
17:58
high-growth districts. Any question? Any objection? Member number two is adopted
Chair
Unverified
18:05
without objection. Senate Bill 535 by Senator Johnson to revise the method by which the academic facilities wealth index is calculated.
Speaker 74
18:15
Senator Johnson. This is the same thing. It helps 80% of the schools in the state to get a better match for their facilities and it helps mediate the losses in those who are most affected by the high growth. Any questions? Senator
Speaker 82
18:32
Bond has a question. So last time you had a spreadsheet that showed who
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
18:37
was gained and who was losing, who was stayed the same. Does the amendment change that
Speaker 74
18:44
significantly? Only the thing that changes in those high growth areas where it changed some of those to 0.05,
like some districts that are seem wealthy and they're not and and it helps helps those high growth uh where they're they're two years if they're if if they don't go into high growth then they it cuts that loss in half so so so say if i looked at lrsd and
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
19:07
they had a number there that number wouldn't be changed significantly by the amendment i don't think that would be
Speaker 85
19:13
changed at all all right thank you any other questions
Speaker 35
19:16
anyone wish to speak on this any objection of the vote, Senator Bond, you have an objection. There is an objection. Please call the roll.
Speaker 65
19:24
Ballinger. Aye. Bledsoe. Aye. Bond. Aye. Caldwell. Caldwell. Cheatham.
Speaker 87
19:41
Aye. Cheatham. Aye. Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismain, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner,
Pammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson. No. Letting. Aye. Mallett. Yes. Pitch. Yes. Rapert. No. Rice. Aye. Sample. Aye. Stubbafield. Aye. Sturge. Aye. Teague. Aye. Wallace. Aye. Anyone wish
Speaker 53
20:45
to vote or change their vote? Senator Blake Johnson is aye.
Chair
Unverified
20:52
Senator Hammer is no. Anybody else? Senator Hester is aye. Senator
Hester, was that really an aye? No,
Speaker 97
21:07
not. Okay. I didn't change my vote. Okay. Anybody else?
Speaker 35
21:12
Cast up the ballot. 28 yays, 4 nays. The bill is
Chair
Unverified
21:18
passed. Enroll it. Senator Clark, first of two bills, both have one amendment each, so don't leave us after this one, please.
Speaker 76
21:32
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 537. Senators,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
21:40
recognize on the amendment. This, we took out two words to make the juvenile judges
Speaker 53
21:47
happy. Any questions about the amendment? Any objection
Chair
Unverified
21:50
to the amendment? The amendment is adopted without objection. Senator, we're going to move to the bill. Senate
Bill 537 by Senator Clark to amend the law concerning the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
22:06
We made changes in this committee. In order to form this committee within federal law, it has to be behind closed doors. one of the most important changes we made this time is that we will be able to allow a small number of legislators that are not on the committee in at each meeting so that you can know what's going on. I think that's extremely important. I'll be happy to take any questions.
Speaker 29
22:34
Any questions on the bill? Senator Chesterfield, what might be the last question?
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
22:39
Let us pray. Let us pray a silent word of meditation, please. Tell
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
22:49
me about the behind closed doors thing. Because that some of what the committee does is hear about cases of child welfare cases as investigating DCFS and CACD and to keep the privacy of the children and families, it was required that it be behind closed doors.
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
23:12
Okay. Now, the Freedom of Information Act required when I was on a school board that you had to have it off property such as this and that it could not be made up of people who were on the board. So you're saying now that yours can be made up of people can observe who are members of the legislature. Where will the meetings be held and will that cause a conflict with Freedom of Information Act? The committee's
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
23:40
not new. This is just changes in the committee. We did this two years ago,
and I appreciate the question, Senator Chesterfield, so that we can answer this for everyone. When we did this, we went to the press association, and we went to the TV stations and the radio and got their approval, and also we got the approval at that time of the FOI commission, and they also, this is one of the few bills of this session that they endorsed. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 110
24:11
Chair, and thank you. Senator Garner has a question.
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
24:15
Thank you, Mr. President. So didn't this come out of a situation that there was a legislator who had a very serious issue and wanted to observe this because he thought it had pertinent information for his legislative package and for his district, and when he showed up because of the old rules, which I understand you were bound by, he wasn't able to participate in that. So by doing this, you're giving us the option to do that if this is a serious issue and we think it's a
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
24:38
right thing to observe. Is that correct? That is correct. We even had to put
House Chair of Children and Youth, Charlene Fyte, out because the law is the law.
Speaker 35
24:50
Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak on this bill?
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
24:58
Senator closed? I am closed. I think you all voted for it last time. Most of
Chair
Unverified
25:08
didn't look to be sure. I'd appreciate a good vote. Any objection to rolling the vote? No objection. Please roll. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismaine, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
from Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, T. Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote?
Seeing none, cast up the ballot. 35 yays, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Enroll it. Senator Clark, Amendment 1. Amendment 1
Speaker 76
25:42
to Senate Bill 603. Adds a House sponsor. Any
Speaker 63
25:47
objection? Amendment passes without. Amendment adopted without objection. Underlying bill. This is a pity.
Chair
Unverified
25:54
Senate Bill 603 by Senator Clark to require the Department of Education to provide certain levels of support of certain public school districts based on reading scores and to amend the purposes on which national school lunch state categorically funds may be spent.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
26:12
Senator. Thank you, Governor. This is a fitting bill to end the session on. This is the amended version of 349 that I took so much abuse on. I am thrilled to have Senator Elliott as my co-sponsor on this and because we have worked so much on literacy together and you voted 35 to nothing last time that it was in here and I very much appreciate it, appreciate a good vote
Speaker 69
26:41
Any questions, anyone wish to speak on this
Senator's closed, any objection on the vote,
Chair
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26:47
please roll the vote Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing
none, cast up the ballot, 35 yays, zero nays, the bill is passed, enroll it.
I am told there are items at the
Speaker 56
27:20
desk that you need to read. Notice of the return of Senate Bill 627 as requested
Speaker 65
27:26
from the House. Notice of return of House Bill 1866 from the House as requested. And notice of return of House Bill 1947
Speaker 123
27:39
from the House as requested. Right here, Senator. No. No, the bill
Chair
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27:46
needs to be stated. Senate Bill 632, Senator English.
Speaker 76
27:52
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 632. Senator English,
Senator Jane English
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27:57
you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you. The amendment adds a
Chair
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28:03
line and co-sponsor. Senators, you've heard an explanation of the amendment. Any objection to the amendment? Saying no objection,
the amendment is adopted. Bill 632 by Senator English to authorize the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to support
a cyber alliance in order to reduce cyber risk and encourage economic development. Senator English, you recognize. Explain your bill.
Senator Jane English
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28:22
Thank you. Basically, this bill provides a cyber alliance that's kind of attached to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to begin to pull public and private education partners together to determine how we fight cyber security in Arkansas. Senators, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Is there any questions for Senator English? Saying no
Chair
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28:43
questions, is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Saying none, is there
any objection to rolling the vote? Saying none, Madam Secretary, please
roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Mallett, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubberfield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Any Senator who wishes to change their vote? Seeing none,
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Madam Secretary cast up the ballot. Voted 35 yeas. The
Chair
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bill has passed. Enroll it. Senator Blake Johnson,
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29:29
You're recognized for a motion, sir. This will be on Senate Bill 560. Thank you, Governor. I'd like to expunge the vote for the passage of
Chair
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29:53
Senate Bill 560. You've heard the motion to expunge the vote on Senate Bill 560. Is there any objection to the motion?
Speaker 73
30:01
That's the Tax Appeals Commission. Should
Speaker 134
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say Senator Blake Johnson, not Martin Johnson, but that's all right. Any objection to the motion to
Speaker 138
30:15
expunge the vote? Senator Malik? A question. Now, has
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this already been to the House? Yes, they didn't hear it. The committee didn't meet. And what this whole process is for, so I can get my amendment put on it, It's an extensive amendment, and I work with DF&A to make these technical corrections in the bill,
and so I'll have it engrossed in the bill for next session.
Speaker 134
30:42
Okay. Thank you. You've heard an explanation of the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The motion has passed.
Speaker 74
30:51
Senator Johnson. I'd like to suspend the rules and place Senate Bill 560 on the second reading for amendment. You've heard the motion to put
Chair
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31:00
Senate Bill 560 on the second reading for purpose of amendment. Is there any objection to that motion?
Speaker 134
31:06
Saying no objection, the motion has been adopted. Senator
Speaker 76
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Johnson? Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 560. This
Speaker 144
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is an extensive amendment in a lot of the procedural matters of this bill. and it makes a good bill better. Senators, you've
Speaker 132
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heard the explanation of the amendment. Is there any questions for Senator Johnson? Seeing no questions, is there any
Speaker 134
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objection to the amendment? Seeing no objection, the amendment is adopted. Senator Engrossing.
Does he need to make that motion? At the request of Senator Johnson, that bill then will be placed to interim study as amended. Thank you, sir. Any others before
Chair
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31:52
we move to House Bills for Third Reading and Passage? Senator Hammer, you're recognized for a
motion. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1947, which was the eyesight bill that I really muffed up when I presented it, I'd like to—it's been recalled from the House—I'd like to make a motion to have
the vote expunged by which the bill passed. did it fail
Speaker 153
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or pass it failed okay sorry it failed miserably thank you
Speaker 132
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senators you've heard the motion to expunge the vote by which house bill 1947 failed by senator hammer is there any objection to that
Chair
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32:31
motion saying no objection that motion is adopted thank you and mr
president like to ask for the rules to be suspended for the purpose of putting house bill 1947 at the bottom
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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32:43
of the House calendar today. Members, I brought the Bible. I put my hand on it. I swear, if you'll let me do this, I won't run as many bills next session.
Speaker 132
32:58
Thank you. Senators, you have heard an explanation of the motion, which I will argue is the best motion we've heard all day. Is there any objection to that motion? Seeing no objection, Senator Hickey has a...
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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33:09
You're not saying we have to pass the bill, though, correct?
Speaker 159
33:13
I just want to be clear. I would really hate, Senator, I'd really hate to say anything that would, you know, work against me getting it, but I would like to present it. You vote your conscience.
Chair
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33:24
Thank you, sir. Seeing no objection to that motion, that motion is adopted. We'll put House Bill 1947 at the end of
the House calendar for today. Thank you, Senator Henry. I have one more, Mr. President. Oh, yes, sir. Mr. President, we have
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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33:37
recalled House Bill 1866, which is the clemency bill. I think some have approached me and had to change their heart about that. I'd like to ask for the motion I'd like to ask that the that the vote that that
the vote by which the bill failed be expunged and that's on 1866 which is a clemency bill is bill the AG and the governor's office like a chance I'm saying it's much do we still have possession
Speaker 134
34:03
of that bill we do okay they return it senator pitch a question
Senator Mathew Pitsch
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34:08
maybe for Steve or somebody is it acceptable to ask for what purpose because we expunge votes
and if we knew they were going to ISP or whether they're going to another vote is that a
Chair
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34:20
proper request? You can ask that question Senator Hammer you can. So
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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34:28
to what end will we expunge this vote? If the vote is expunged I'm going to turn around and ask for it to suspend the rules to put it at the bottom of the calendar for me to represent today. Some have understood the intent of the bill and have asked it is an AG bill and it is also supported by the governor's office so I'd like a chance to represent it. Thank
Chair
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34:46
you. You've heard an explanation of the motion to expunge the vote by which House Bill 1866 failed here in the Senate. Is there any
objection to that motion? Seeing no objection? Huh? Oh there is an objection. All in favor of the motion to expunge the vote say aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. The ayes have it. Senator Hammer also requested for a motion that we put that at the end of the House calendar. Is there any objection to that motion? Yes. There is an objection. All in favor of putting House Bill 1866 at the bottom of the House calendar, say aye. Aye. All opposed?
Speaker 143
35:23
No. The ayes have it. Thank you, Mr. President. We'll
Speaker 175
35:36
put it at the end of the calendar. Senator Malik. Senator Malik is recognized. Members, we're going to consider confirmation of governor's appointments that we've received during the
Speaker 56
35:46
session. I think Ann will read the ones off for the senators that had appointments in their districts. District 32, Senator Bond. District 26, Senator Cheatham. District 21, Senator Cooper. Senate Bill 28, Senator Dismang. District 31, Senator Elliott. District 34,
Senator English, District 17, Senator Flippo, District 25, Senator Flowers, Senate Bill 27, Senator Garner, District 33, Senator Hammer, District 2, Senator Hendren, District 1, Senator Hester, District 11, Senator Hickey, District 29, Senator Hill, District
Chair
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36:23
20, Senator Blake Johnson, District 4, Senator Letting, Senate Bill 12, District 12, Senator Malik, District 8,
Senator Pitch, District 14, Senator Sample, District 6, Senator Stubblefield,
Speaker 56
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District 19, Senator Sturge. Each of those senators have been provided with a list of those
Speaker 138
36:41
appointments. We have had no objections to any of those. I would move confirmation of the governor's appointments that we've
Speaker 175
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been provided. Senator, you've heard the motion
Chair
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36:51
to move for confirmation of all the appointments the
Speaker 134
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governor has provided. Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, that motion is adopted. Thank you, Senator Mallick. Moving on.
House bills for third reading and passage. Senator Davis, House Bill 1619. House
Chair
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37:07
Bill 1619 may represent Hodges and Senator Davis to create the Electric Motorized Scooter Act. Senator Davis, you're
Senator Breanne Davis
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37:17
recognized. Thank you. This bill simply creates the definition of an electric motorized scooter, which is an accepted industry standard definition. And it provides specific authority for regulation by ordinance of the city. So it provides local control. And with that, I'll take any questions.
Speaker 132
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Senators, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Senator T, what purpose? Question, sir. Senator Davis, will you
Speaker 182
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take a question from Senator T? Yes, I
Speaker 184
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will. Only because I have to sit by him. Have you ever seen anything as frightening as Senator Johnson, Senator Pitch, Senator Eads, Senator Hester, and Flippo motoring down the sidewalk? I know that they're not consumers of alcohol, but they sure did look that way going down the sidewalk.
Speaker 186
38:07
I've been told we're the least scariest scooter gang around.
Speaker 132
38:12
Any further questions for Senator Davis? Say none. Is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the
Chair
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38:22
bill? Say none. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Say none. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson.
Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubberfield, Sturge, T. Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change their vote, say none,
Speaker 132
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cast up the ballot. With a vote of 35 ayes, the bill has passed. Return to the House. I am told by Senator Davis that she'd like to make an announcement. Senator Davis, you're
Senator Breanne Davis
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39:03
recognized. It's been brought to my attention that today is Senator Greg Letting's Forty-first birthday, not to mention age.
Speaker 134
39:22
Thank you, Senator Davis. Senator Elliott, would you like to run House Bill 1928?
Chair
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39:30
You're recognized. House Bill 1928 by Representative Flowers and Senator Elliott to amend the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 and to require all open public meetings to be
recorded. Senator Elliott, you're recognized to explain your
Senator Joyce Elliott
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39:44
bill. Thank you. I will point out that right now on the floor of the Senate, we
have a love fest going on. I'd like to interrupt you for the presentation of this bill, Senator Stubblefield and Senator Shesterfield.
All right. As they say, order, order. Members, I know that some of you were contacted last night by Representative Vivian Flowers, and I've talked to some of you. This was a bill yesterday that we had, and I've talked to some of you, I think, who've had some time to think about it and hope we can pass this, what I think is a common sense open government bill. So just for a quick recap, it requires any governmental body that has open meetings to
record those meetings, and if you are a city of the second class, you have until July 2020 to decide if you're going to use a cell phone, if you're going to buy a cheap recorder, if you are going to use video equipment. And in this day and age, with technology as it is, it cannot be a problem, I think, that outweighs the right for the public to know. And just yesterday, without even discussing it, we passed a bill about blockchain technology because that's where technology is today.
And we're not even talking at that level. So I hope you will go along with this bill and understand that people who get public money, people who have open records, have a responsibility to figure this out. I just don't think it's that hard, and if anybody has any questions, I will attempt to answer them. But we bring this to you for a second time because we think it's worth it. Any questions for Senator
Speaker 132
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Elliott? Say none. Is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Say none.
Senator, close for a bill. I am closed. Senator,
Chair
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41:36
close for a bill. Is there an objection to rolling the vote? Yes. There's
Speaker 31
41:42
an objection. Madam Secretary, if you would, please call the roll.
Speaker 65
41:49
House Bill 1928. Ballinger? Ballinger? Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Bond? Aye. Caldwell. Caldwell. Cheatham.
Speaker 87
42:00
Aye. Chesterfield. Aye. Clark. Clark. Cooper. Aye. Davis. Davis.
Dismang, Dismang, Eads, Eads, Elliot, Aye, English, English, Flippo, Aye, Flowers, Aye,
Chair
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42:27
Garner, Yes, Hammer, Hammer, Hendren,
Speaker 87
42:39
Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubbafil, Stubbafil, Sturch, Sturch, Teague, no Wallace
Speaker 132
43:21
Wallace is there any senators who wish to change their vote or vote any senators who wish to change their vote or vote Senator Eads is aye Senator Ballinger is no any senator who wishes to vote or change their vote Senator Sturge is aye any other senator wishes to vote or change the vote senator dismaying is i any others
saying none senator elliott i'll call it in sometime cast up the ballot with the vote of 19 yeas the bill
Chair
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44:20
has passed return to the house Senator Irvin,
Speaker 110
44:25
House Bill 1967. Senator Wallace is going to
Speaker 76
44:28
present the bill. House Bill 1967 by Representative Watson to create the Environmental Compliance
Speaker 204
44:33
Resource Act. Thank you, Mr. President. The purpose of this bill is two purposes. One, One, it's consolidating laws from several different areas and putting in one bill so we'll be able to find the law a little bit easier. The other is, and the primary purpose is to allow the cities and the county enforcement
officers to receive the same educational and the same training opportunities at the SAU Environmental Academy as our IDCOs do. In the IDCO that stands for illegal dump control officers. There's 35 of those in the state of Arkansas. The new environmental officer program is going to work exactly the same as the current IDCO. It will allow city and county enforcement officers to respond to
complaints about illegal dumps, towers, roadside dumping, just like the IDCOs currently do. And this is designed to serve only as additional resource to our county judges and to our our mayors. The current illegal control officer program is mandatory. The new program for these individuals, for the cities and the
counties, is voluntary. None of the cities, none of the counties are going to be forced to do this. The new program does not extend any additional authority, does not extend any more power to ADQ than it currently exists, and the exemption for farms are still on there. And with that, I'll stand by. And there's no, by the way, there's no physical impact in this bill. And with that, I'll stand by for questions.
Speaker 132
46:39
Any questions for Senator Wallace? Saying no questions, is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Saying none,
Chair
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46:52
is the Senator closed for his bill? I'm
closed. Senator is closed. Is there an objection to rolling the vote? Saying no objection, Madam secretary please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett,
Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubbeville, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Any senator who wishes to
Speaker 132
47:20
change their vote. Senator Davis is no. Senator Davis is no. Senator Clark is present.
Chair
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47:27
Senator Cooper is no. Senator Malik is non-voting. Senator Stubblefield is no. Senator Teague is non-voting. Senator Rice is non-voting. Senator Blake Johnson is present. Senator Rayford is no.
Speaker 132
47:47
Any other senator who wishes to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot. Voted 26 yea and 4 nay. The bill
Chair
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47:59
has passed. Return to the House. Senator Ingram, House Bill 1968. House Bill 1968
by Representative Ferguson and Senator Ingram to amend an exemption to the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006. Senator Ingram, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Chair.
Senator Keith Ingram
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48:17
Senator Sample and I talked about this. We first talked about passing over this and taking it up tomorrow. Then we decided that might not be a good idea. But the other day, this was going to be included in a batch, and Senator Davis objected to it. And so we got to talking about it, and we think
Speaker 208
48:34
she's probably right. We'd like to ask that this bill be withdrawn. Thank you. You've heard an
Chair
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48:43
explanation of the bill. Is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill?
Do what? Oh. The bill has been withdrawn. All right. Pulling it down. I understand. Waste
of time. House Bill 1969. Senator Wallace, you recognize, present House Bill 1969.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1969 by Representative Wardlaw and Senator Wallace to amend the
Speaker 65
49:19
Arkansas law concerning Arkansas's contribution to the National Statutory Hall Collection.
Speaker 204
49:24
Senator Wallace. The purpose of this bill is to establish a trust fund for those two statutes that we voted for earlier in the session. It will allow the Secretary of State to monitor those funds, which will all be private funds, and it takes that responsibility away from the Capital Arts and Grounds Commission, which really can only monitor what's going on on our capital grounds.
It does not change the legislative intent of Act 581, and it has no financial impact. And I remind you again that all this will be private money, no government money involved. And the Secretary of State now has the ability to monitor how those monies are coming in. And with
Speaker 69
50:24
that, I stand by for questions. Any questions about Johnny Cash or Daisy Banks?
Senator Joyce Elliott
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50:30
Senator Elliott. Senator, I was just wondering, other than maybe saving state money, Is there another rationale for this
bill? Did you hear me? Okay. Without this bill, the Secretary
Speaker 204
50:54
of State will not have the ability, the office will not have the ability to monitor and work with our congressional folks
on the statue. And again, the office that we think of when we do statues, which is the Capitol Arch and Grounds, they don't have the authority to do anything in Washington, D.C. So this gives us an authority to monitor those funds and to be able to deal with the congressional authorities that will be working with us when we replace those two statues.
Senator Joyce Elliott
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51:34
And so if it comes to it that the funds that we need are not raised properly, does this prevent
us from using public funds in any way to help out with making sure we have the funds for
Speaker 203
51:48
these statutes? There was never intent to use public funds for those
Senator Joyce Elliott
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51:54
statutes, Senator. So what I'm saying, though, is because of that, we don't have a mechanism, if we needed to, to use any public funds. Am I correct in my interpretation?
Speaker 204
52:06
You're correct. There's no mechanism to allow us to use public funds.
Chair
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52:23
questions? Anyone wish to speak on this? Senator closed? I'm closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram,
Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rafer, Rice, Sample, Stubbofill, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing
none, cast up the ballot in 35 yays, zero nays, the bill is passed, return to the House. Senator Dismayne, this bill has an emergency
Speaker 87
52:59
clause. House Bill 1986, by Representative Penza, to amend the law
Chair
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53:04
prohibiting spoofing, to amend the law regulating telecommunications service providers and spoofing providers, and to declare an emergency.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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53:12
Senator Disman. Thank you, Governor. This bill
just, there was some discussion between the providers and the Attorney General in regards to the spoofing bill that we did pass earlier in the session. This just more clearly outlines the rulemaking process that's going to be in place, and hence the emergency clause. we
Chair
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53:29
have to take any questions. Any questions for Senator Dismayne? Anybody wants to speak on it? Anybody object to rolling the vote? Please
roll the vote. There is an emergency clause. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne,
Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubbeville, Sterch T. Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none,
cast up the ballot. 35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Return it to the House. Senator Jason Raper of Faulkner County. House
Bill 1980 by Representative Davis to amend the Unfair Cigarette Sales
Act, to amend the Arkansas Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1977, and declare an emergency. Senator Raper. Thank you, Mr.
Senator Jason Rapert
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54:24
President. Members, I want to first of all thank Senator Stubblefield and his committee for coming down this morning diligently looking at this bill. We had a very good conversation about it. I absolutely don't know of any opposition to the bill at this point. There were some issues that were brought up. They actually were handled with questions. Most of you I think have received, should, a written form
of this so that you could see. Some of the questions thrown out there were a bit of red hearings and so the bottom line is this is an agency cleanup bill uh the length of this bill obviously uh this is dealing with a broad piece of statute related to what they do for the uh the tobacco control board i mentioned in committee that i got to quote my good friend senator linda chesterfield who one of her pet peeves is getting a bill that's got a sentence or a paragraph and nothing else and you have no context and so you definitely have the context with
this bill representative Davis came down this morning spoke Steve Good who is the director of the department came and spoke we heard from the Cancer Society who I usually am always with they really weren't so much against the bill there were things that they would like to see addressed that really aren't relevant to this particular bill and so I'd be happy to answer any questions but I believe we've now got it to a position where we should be able to pass
Speaker 82
55:45
any questions Senator Bond has a question. Is it too late to insert in this bill a tax on e-cig and vape products?
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
55:53
You know what? I always love a rodeo, brother. If you want to just make
Speaker 29
56:05
Probably too late. Too late. Anybody else? Anyone wish to
Chair
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56:11
speak on this? Senator's closed. Any objection to roll on the vote? Please roll it. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample,
Speaker 65
56:31
Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote?
Chair
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56:36
Senator Hickey is present. Anybody else? president is that president no
Speaker 35
56:45
not voting no vote senator teague is no okay anybody else voting senator caldwell not voting anybody else cast
Chair
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56:58
up the ballot 31 yays one day the bill is passed return it to the house
Speaker 101
57:06
Senator Mark Johnson of Ferndale has a motion.
Senator Mark Johnson
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57:13
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that we refer, these are all my bills, Senate Bill 52, Senate Bill 234, Senate Bill 238, Senate Bill 389, Senate Bill 463, and Senate Bill 670 to interim study.
Chair
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57:36
Any questions on the motion? Anybody object to the motion? I just have a question. Well, there's... No,
Senator Joyce Elliott
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57:49
not about that. I'll wait until after we do the voting. Okay,
Speaker 53
57:53
is there any objection to the motion? Without objection, the motion is carried, and there's going to be a
Speaker 35
57:57
lot of studying going on of Senator Johnson and his stuff. Senator Elliott is recognized for a question.
Senator Joyce Elliott
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58:07
A question. If we gave the bills to somebody out there that we want in interim study,
do we still need to make a motion? I just handed it. Okay. Thank you. You
Speaker 35
58:26
can make a motion. Just for practice, Senator Hammer. Oh, Senator Caldwell, we should be recognized. The distinguished Senator Caldwell.
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
58:34
standing on his own two feet proudly thank you yes sir members we had a state agency meeting
committee meeting this morning with DHS and DHS providers who are not getting paid this has become a real problem the last few weeks it runs into the millions and millions of dollars by rule we cannot have another meeting for two weeks so on Wednesday April 24th at nine o'clock at Big Mac a we're going to have another meeting you need to contact your local providers that are not getting paid and have them at that meeting it's a real issue that needs to be solved and so that again
by rule that's the earliest that we can have that meeting nine o'clock on april 24th thank you thank you senator you ready for
Chair
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59:30
senator hammer do you have an item at the desk senator hammer we've got two in a row it is fitting that we would end this session with
Speaker 35
59:42
hammer time you've been so successful in the previous hammer
Speaker 248
59:48
times let's do i love you i love you i love you too. I love you too. Senator Hammer. I'd like to do
Speaker 56
59:55
1866 first, Mr. Governor. House Bill 1866 by
Representative Petty and Senator Hammer concerning executive clemency, pardon, and commutation
Speaker 145
1:00:02
of sentence. Senator Hammer. All right. Before I start, members,
I just want to say briefly as a new senator down on this end, I appreciate the way I've been treated. I appreciate the way that y'all have received me. I appreciate the way in which we disagree. We disagree in an honorable fashion, and I just want to express to the senior members that I really appreciate coming down here
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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1:00:28
and having the chance to represent the people on this end. On House Bill 1866, I'm not going to rehash it too great other than to say this is actually an AG bill that was brought. The governor's office is aware of it. And this is in response to a ruling where a judge said, y'all need to get this thing straight. And this is that effort to make that straight. What it does is that a person would be delayed five years before they could make a petition for pardon. It is the board's opinion
that based on experiences in other states, that's a reasonable length of time. It will also help to unclog the system because individuals can apply immediately the vast majority of those get turned down and then they're still in the churn while the new ones are coming on and so it's really a fairness bill that they would wait five years to apply for this which is keeping as i mentioned with what 20 other six states and providences have done i'll be glad to answer any questions any question for the senator and I'd
Chair
Unverified
1:01:38
like to close anyone let we've got some
people want to speak on it senator Chesterfield would like to speak against the bill
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:01:49
thank you mr. chair members of the Senate I think it's only appropriate that I get up one more time and speak against something but it seems to me that this is a solution looking this is a problem a solution looking for a problem there is actually not a problem with people who come out and have done good stuff even when they began rehabilitation in jail and they continue
it for two or three years it doesn't seem to matter let's keep them from getting any pardon for five it goes against the grain of what I believe we We each believe in the rehabilitation of man or maybe I'm the only one. But if a person has done good stuff and they continue to do well, I don't believe that five years is some magic number that we should use to say you can't even ask to be considered.
Sometimes they're youthful offenses. Young people do foolish things and they get out and they do much better. But we would ask them to wait five more years. I think it's important that we leave it the way it is. It is not something that is not working. And we could ask those folks who are in charge of it to be
Speaker 69
1:03:09
more efficient in what they're doing. Anyone else wish to speak on this?
Chair
Unverified
1:03:13
So we've got anybody for anybody for we've got three again.
So we'll go with Senator Irvin, Senator Desvane, Senator Clark. If you want to speak for it, let me know. Sarah? Members, I did
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:03:24
speak with the Attorney General folks as well, and Representative Patty is a
wonderful person and a champion with me on different issues. I'm speaking against this bill because I filed a bill called Sarah's Law. That was in Judiciary Committee. In Sarah's Law, we couldn't get it passed because there were some issues with it, and the policy just needed to be worked out, and I'm happy to do that with our prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement.
But I want to tell you about Sarah and Sarah's Law. Sarah was a young girl who was trafficked. She was a victim of sexual abuse and sexual trafficking and human trafficking in the state of California. Sarah's Law is based on her story and her individual story. The governor of California, I believe it's California, pardoned her because she murdered her trafficker, because she was in a horrible situation.
And so I speak on that person's behalf, because that may be somebody that may not be known to the governor, and the only way the governor would know that is if they applied for a pardon. So I think the five years is erroneous, too much and too stringent. I would have preferred that to have seen that at a three. But based on some of the cases that I know of, those individuals get swept up in this. And there's no exception for those individuals who really should be pardoned, in my opinion,
because of their horrible situation that they had to incur. What they did was wrong. They should not have committed murder, but the situation they found themselves in was just horrific. So for that, I'm speaking against this bill and voting against it. Anyone for
Chair
Unverified
1:05:07
it? Senator Desmaine is recognized against it. Just to echo, I mean, there are
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:05:16
a lot of very different circumstances out there. And to put something in place that, you know, regardless of some
of the latitude that's given to the governor, in place that could be utilized broadly, I mean, it's something that I'm opposed to personally.
Each one of these cases need to be weighed on an individual basis. And also, we're not talking, you know, part of the argument was victims' rights. And I understand what's being said there, but we're not limiting this, you know, five years' worth of consideration just to those that were violent offenders or whatever it may have been. it's for everyone. And again, I think each one of these items need to be individually looked at, and in some cases, five years is not warranted. Thank you. Anybody,
Chair
Unverified
1:05:58
we speak for it. Senator Ballinger is recognized for it. We're going to alternate then. Senator Clark.
Senator Bob Ballinger
Unverified
1:06:06
Thank you, Mr. President. I don't want to belabor the point, but if I'm going to go and I'm going to seal someone's record, I've got to wait five years after they actually complete their sentence, paid everything off to seal their record. A pardon is a lot bigger deal. Now, we can pass all the laws we want and we can't keep the governor from issuing a pardon if extenuating circumstances weigh out and he decides he wants to issue a pardon. It's his constitutional right. That's actually one of the reasons why I'm actually very supportive. If he's come in and he said, look, you know,
it's my job to do the pardon. I'd like to administratively set it up so that you don't even submit an application until after five years after your your discharge all your obligations to me that seems just like reasonable for us to to set that procedure up so anyway i appreciate good bill senator clark against i want to applaud the
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:07:05
sponsor for recognizing that there's a problem and that this process needs to be cleaned up i think this needs a lot more vetting
needs a lot more work. One of the biggest things that's been brought up is dragging the victims in unnecessarily. I agree with that. But a lot of these pardons are victimless crimes. We need to create two tracks. We need to set up a system. We need to change the system where the victims are brought in later. We can do away with a lot of these without ever bringing the victims in there's all kinds of other changes that need to be made i echo uh senator urban that five year
if three years would be a lot more palatable than five uh you miss out because of a technicality and you got to wait another five years that's an eternity uh and for again i think it's something that definitely needs to be looked at definitely needs to be changed but we don't have it right yet and for that reason we should vote
Chair
Unverified
1:08:03
no today thank you anybody we speak in favor Senator Elliott, again.
Senator Joyce Elliott
Unverified
1:08:14
Senator Elliott. Thank you, Mr. Governor. And members, I may be against this bill for reasons that are a little bit different. I've just become increasingly concerned at how many times as the legislature we are giving away the power we have to fix things that we ought to fix. It seems to me, as I asked about yesterday, we are fixing the wrong problem. If there is a backup, that's the problem we ought to fix,
not put it on the people who have done what we have asked them to do. And the fix should not be that we just defer to the governor. This is our responsibility. and every time we need to fix something almost always with ADC or DCC or the parole board or whatever I can't do it this is too hard well that should not be the problem of the person who's locked up in jail that is not right we don't
know that there's anything that is even research-based that it you should hold somebody in this position of not being able to even ask for a pardon of whatever they're going to ask for in five years. There's nothing magical about the five years. Some of you say all the time, one size doesn't fit all, yet that's exactly what we're trying to do. There are two things that bother me very much about this bill. One size doesn't fit all,
and here we are again listening to the parole board telling us that they have a problem. They did the very same thing this morning on a bill where they could not simply hand a piece of paper over to somebody that was requested because it was going to be too hard. So I suggest to you that as legislators, let's do our part. We have done our part to pass the laws to get the people to put them in prison.
We need to do our part to make sure they're treated fairly once they've served their sentence. if there's a problem with backup for the parole board, fix that problem. Don't
keep punishing people. I hope you will vote no on this bill. Anyone
Speaker 53
1:10:35
wish to speak in favor, against? Senator Ray to close. Members, in light of
the controversy of this bill, I think this would be a good one to move into ISP, and so I'd make a motion to
move this into ISP. Any objection without
Chair
Unverified
1:10:53
objection. Without objection, it's going to be studied. Senator
Speaker 87
1:11:03
Hammer. House Bill 1947 by Representative Fortner and Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning eyesight test requirements for the issuance of a driver's license. Interim
Speaker 69
1:11:13
study's not full yet, so we've got room for
Speaker 53
1:11:18
one more one more it can be yours it's a first class seat to recess
setters recognize thank you by the way that was a king james bible i put my hand on a while ago i just want
y'all to know okay all right so here's what this bill does um ask to bring up part of Department of Motor Vehicle because they have gotten a lot of complaints in their local offices
about people coming in and get their driver's license renewed. So what this does is it does not require you to go to the eye doctor, okay? What this allows you to do is to go into, get your
driver's license, you look in that little box, you pass the test, and if you get your driver's license for
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:12:09
eight years, you don't have to come back on the four-year mark. You can actually renew online but you would have to come back on the eight-year mark
and get the test inside the driver's office what this does is allow you to renew your driver's license halfway through that eight-year period of time and they're doing that to make it more convenient for you now some are concerned or would bring concern well what about grandpa out there they can't see to drive there's
already a bill there's already a law in place and here's the form that you can fill out in order to have that referred that situation referred to the Department of Motor Vehicle and they deal with it so that issue is already addressed this is a bill that's going to make it less restrictive for you you'll still have to get your driver's license but you can renew
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:12:57
it online halfway between the times and I'll be
Speaker 53
1:13:00
glad to answer any questions any questions Senator Hickey is is uh recognized for a question and I'll go to you Senator Johnson
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:13:07
You ready? Senator Hammer, I'm 52 years old. If I'm reading this bill correctly, the way it's written, that I could wait 16 years, that would make me 68 years old. Is that the way you
understand this, too? If you were 52 years old, Senator Hickey. Which I am.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:13:31
it. And you're going to get a 16-year license, or an 8-year license. I'm sorry.
you're going to get the 8-year license, or 16-year, you would not have to come in until the 16th year. That's right. I'm sorry, the 8-year license. The next question is, at that age, I
would be the same age, basically, as Senator Sample and Senator Caldwell. Can you put your hand on that Bible and tell me you think that's a good idea, that I don't have an eye test between now and then? Not this Bible. Senator I have
a form that you can fill out on them if you'd like to and turn it
in but I can't say whether they do or not I have full confidence that those men can see well. Thank you sir. Thank you.
Speaker 29
1:14:15
Any other questions? Senator Mark Johnson of Ferndale this will be the last time.
Speaker 271
1:14:22
Senator Hammer you're my dear friend and it really gonna hurt me to vote
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:14:28
against this bill but to kind of I'm going to get one more shot at trying to get my arms around this thing. Unlike Senator Hickey, next month I'll be 65 years old.
And I feel it too. And I'm just curious, does this mean when I'm almost 79 that I can still game the system and not get an eye test? Now I realize that form, and we can send it in and say, hey, y'all need to take a look at Grandpa. He doesn't need to be driving. But I'm just really, I think when people, from my own experience, get to be my age, then we need to maybe check their eyes just a little more often
because I can tell you the changes in my vision that have happened just in the last two or three years. So I'm just really concerned about this. I could see the idea, the administrative idea of it, But that's one of the most dangerous things we can have on the road is someone that really just can't see the signs and things happening ahead well enough. Senator, the
way I'd respond to that is I hope you love the citizens of Arkansas enough that you as
a family member would intervene and take responsibility to make sure that your loved one, if they have eyesight problems like that, would make sure that they get the proper eye exam and not leave it up to a little box in the Department of Motor Vehicle to make that determination.
So this opens it up to where it allows an opportunity for you to be able to renew your driver's license online, but to the issue that you're pointing out, I assume personal responsibility for my loved ones, my family, and I would hope it wouldn't take us a lot to do that or to address that issue. Yes, sir. But would you agree
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:16:11
that there are unfortunately and sadly people out there that don't have a loved one around to actually monitor something like that? I would say that that could
be a fair statement on any piece of legislation we pass, and I would just ask you to vote what you feel is your conscience.
This is brought as a request of DFA because of the requests they have had in order to do this from our constituents. Whether you agree or not, that's what we're about to vote and
Chair
Unverified
1:16:46
find out. Thank you, Senator. Any other questions?
Speaker 74
1:16:53
Senator Blake Johnson. Senator Hammer, I think this may be the hardest debated thing where an agency is asking to lift some regulation from folks and help the public and streamline this process to the complaints that they've received.
It may be the hardest debate I've ever seen on relaxing regulation. if your bill contained an eyesight test every two years after 68 do you think it would be more palatable to this body today it may or may not
be we'll see what the future of this bill does and go from
Speaker 53
1:17:35
there thank you Senator Hammer any other questions anyone wish to speak on this
Chair
Unverified
1:17:40
against or at all Senator ready to close Senator has closed
I know the answer but I'm going to ask it one last time Is there any objection rolling the vote on this? There is
Speaker 31
1:17:54
an objection. Senator Johnson of Ferndale, please call the roll.
Speaker 65
1:18:03
Ballinger? Ballinger? Aye. Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Bond? Aye. Caldwell? Caldwell? Cheatham? Aye. Chesterfield? Aye. Chesterfield? Clark?
Speaker 87
1:18:15
Clark? Aye. Cooper. Davis. Davis. Dismang. Dismang. Eads. Elliot. English. Flippo. Flippo. Flowers. Flowers. Garner,
Speaker 87
1:18:57
Hester, Hickey, Hill, Hill, Ingram, Ingram,
Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Letting Mallet Pitch Rapert Rice
Speaker 87
1:19:23
Sturch Teague Wallace Easy now. Easy. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Bledsoe
Chair
Unverified
1:19:42
is aye. Senator Hill is no. Senator Ingram
Speaker 35
1:19:49
is aye. Senator Flippo is no. Anyone else?
Chair
Unverified
1:19:56
cast up the ballot 20 a's eight nays the bill passed return to the house senator you have any items at the desk is this did
Speaker 53
1:20:13
we go over this okay senator t moving on to
Chair
Unverified
1:20:19
the budget calendar the moment we've all been waiting for senator t Members, two bills left
Speaker 229
1:20:25
to wind this up. It's the House version of the Rainy Day and the Revenue Stabilization Law, but we sent to them yesterday, they sent us their copy. I'd answer your question.
Speaker 183
1:20:38
I appreciate a good vote. Mr. President, I move that we roll it and batch it.
Chair
Unverified
1:20:43
Two House bills. Got a motion to roll them and batch them. Any
objection to either? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismaine, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Malik, Kitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield,
Starch, T. Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot. 35 yays, 0 nays. Both of the House bills pass. Return them to the House. Senator T. Members,
Speaker 229
1:21:29
that winds up budget for us. Thank you for your work. I appreciate
Speaker 184
1:21:34
you coming when I needed you, and I appreciate you always being there for us. Thank you. And just an observation, this is the last time I wear a coat, tie, and slacks for 10 months, no, 11 and a half months.
And we come back in April, so I just want you to know that don't
Speaker 289
1:21:50
expect to see me look in the... Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 291
1:21:56
President. Senator Hendrick. They're happy they won't have to
Chair
Unverified
1:22:07
see you again for 12 months. Senator Hendrick. All right, members, we're going to have a
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
1:22:12
lot of the staff and folks roll in here to the chamber. And while they're doing that, I just want to make a couple of comments.
First off, I want to add my thanks to the chamber to Senator Teague. I've known him probably longer than anybody else in here. Still don't like him, but he doesn't. But he's done an amazing job, as he always does. And for him to wear a jacket and tie this entire session means a lot to all of us, Larry. so okay so you're going to see a lot of folks filing in here because I just want to this is this is we voted on our last bill we're getting ready to go into recess and come back on the 24th
for sine die but I want to just do a real quick review because I think it's important for all of us to understand what we did here the last 87 days and realize that we could not have done it without the folks that are here. So let me just kind of give you a couple of facts and figures. There were 681 Senate bills. And the folks at BLR are going to be so thankful that that's down from about 1,100 last time. So the removal of the filing deadline and all the avoidance of shell bills was really a huge factor. I still don't know why we took so long all these days.
Well, I do know why, but we won't talk about that. There were 986 House bills, and we passed a total of about 875. by the time it's all done new acts let me just kind of review some of those because again I think we can all take pride in the fact that Arkansas is going to be better because of the last 87 days of work we passed a highway program we've raised teachers pay we passed legislation to cut the top income tax rate to increase the pay for state police to strengthen the ethics
Commission and pass new ethics laws to transform the state government a huge undertaking, to transform our corporate tax rate, to fund the Cancer Institute, to make Arkansas one of the leaders in cancer research, to do reform on our juvenile justice system, and just today to have an electric motorized scooter act. But the fact is we've done a lot of things here and it's easy for us to think, look what we in the Senate have done, but I think all of us know we wouldn't have done anything, anything without the group of people that are standing around here.
So I'm going to kind of go through this list. There are so many people to think, and I'm going to try not to miss anything, so I'm not going to call a lot of names. I'm going to talk about the sections, and I'm going to ask you as I talk about the group that you're involved in. If you're standing, raise your hand. If you're sitting back here in the back, please stand up so we can recognize you. I want to start by somebody who's probably stood longer and talked more, reading all these bills
off. I mean 1,500 of them, and just done an amazing job, as she always does, Ann Cornwell, Director and Secretary of the Senate.
All right, I'd like, also, of course, we know we have our full-time staff that does constituency service and does all the things, the administration of keeping the Senate work. I'm not going to name them all off. Sabrina runs a lot of that, but would all of you on the full-time Senate staff, please lift your hands so we can thank you.
Speaker 15
1:25:47
We're going to, that's right. i want to also make note of uh is will in here so
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
1:26:00
you all probably saw that tall guy running around you think we just got him here for our basketball team but uh will rose our intern he's going to go grab him he worked the entire session did an incredible amount of things for zero pay in fact he did so well i was going to i told him i was going to double his pay next
time he came back but I think he's out there probably doing something right now but thank Will for his
work here. Okay and then as you all know we had an incredible group of people who came up for this session
and they were here when I got here in the morning and if you came by at nine or ten o'clock at night they'd still be here and that's the ladies on the line located at the front of chamber ladies we
also had what we call our session support staff the people that we plus
on the outside offices who did so much there's so many correspondents so much mail so many things to be dealt with. So all those who work in our session support team, would you raise your hand
so we can thank you and recognize you. And then I think a group that needs some special attention because they had the largest bill I've ever seen
to engross, thanks to Senator Hickey and Senator Hester and the governor,
But engrossing a 2,000-page bill, they worked till midnight, they worked over the weekend, they put incredible hours so that they could not stop us. When we'd have a bill up here to get engrossed, they'd still have to stop what they're doing, come back, and then get on this engrossing this huge bill. But we did
not stop because they did not stop. So the engrossing team, where are you all?
And then we've got those who take care of our journal, which, again, is so important, the journal staff team. Are you all down here or upstairs? Oh, there they are. Another outstanding group of folks who we just take for granted that they're going to take care of our security, that they're going to stand at the doors, that they're going to be here when we come and
when we go, and that they're going to buy us barbecue for lunch. The sergeant at arms teams. Let's thank the Sardin audience.
And again, we had a lot of pages this session. The page team did a great job on giving us some
personal information about those pages, making them feel welcome. Are the ladies of the page team here? I don't know if they're with us or if they're outside. Okay, but thank them when you see them.
The production team, the folks down here who make this stuff actually work after we pass it, let's thank them.
Our custodial staff, you guys are a bunch of pigs occasionally, but the custodial staff Jeff does an amazing job, especially Benita who brought us delicious food. And then finally, I don't know if you all have noticed, but
almost always we've had a state trooper stationed at the back back here doing an incredible job. Let's thank the state troopers.
What's that? team where are they okay we've got
we've kind of already included them but let me let me move on to BLR at this point what's that all right before I move on to BLR seems like we need them more and more every year the nurses that we always have here to help us with our
And this next group, again, all of us who've been down here
a while know there are a lot of things in state government that sometimes don't work too well. But there's one thing that consistently has done an amazing job, and that is the folks over at BLR. Marty does an amazing
job with the people over there. They work incredible hours. You all know you get emails at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night when they're up here working on your legislation. They just do top-notch work. I mean, some of the best attorneys in the country, and they're here helping us with legislation.
So the BLR staff, the committee staff, legal, fiscal, IT, research divisions, I think Richard's here, all the BLR staff, would you raise your hands and let us thank them? Now, I'm
sure I've missed somebody, and if I have, I apologize, guys, because I just think all of us, the 35 of us who are elected, realize that you make it possible.
We come down here and vote and debate policy, and we just take for granted
that the line's going to be open, the bills are going to be transmitted, they're going to be engrossed, the journal's going to be kept, the bills are going to be drawn up, the security's going to be good. There's so many things that happen in
order for us to do some of the things that we call off here today. And I just want to, again, give one more round of applause for all those who helped us make this session possible.
and I guess as much as it pains me we ought to thank the lieutenant governor for standing up
there in the chair and yelling since
Chair
Unverified
1:32:08
you mentioned my name I want to say the doctor of the day is and I was given this by Senator Hammer. Doctor
of the Day, Dr. Jennifer Doyle, Ophthalmology, Little Rock.
Speaker 35
1:32:24
And the nurse is Brenda Sherry, is that correct?
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
1:32:32
Okay, and having said that, members, it's in compliance with House current resolution 1006. I'm going
to move that we go into recess at the finishment of a business today, as will the House, and that we come back at a time to be agreed upon by myself and the Speaker of the House for the purpose of considering vetoes, correcting errors or oversights, completing work on any proposed constitutional amendments, or I hope this one never happens, completing the need for a further extension of the regular session, 92nd General Assembly. On the 24th of April, it's what we're expecting.
Speaker 309
1:33:04
So I'd move we go into recess at this time. Any
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
1:33:10
objection to that? any questions without objection motion carried and finally to my colleagues thank you all for a great session we we we had our back
and forth we had our challenges but we got through it and again I think when we get back and
after the dust settles we're going to be a look back and say Arkansas is better because of the work that we did so thank you all again
Speaker 35
1:33:37
for a great session Senate is adjourned, subject to the clearing of the desk and to recess.
Unknown speaker
1:33:59
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Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Announcements
Items to be read
SB522 #1 J. English TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM; TO COORDINATE VARIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE CAREER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB 560 #1 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATION OF STATE TAXES; TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCEDURES FOR STATE TAXES; TO CREATE THE TAX APPEALS COMMISSION ACT; AND TO CREATE A FUND FOR THE TAX APPEALS COMMISSION.
SB535 #1 and 2 B. Johnson TO REVISE THE METHOD BY WHICH THE ACADEMIC FACILITIES WEALTH INDEX IS CALCULATED.
SB537 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CHILD MALTREATMENT INVESTIGATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
SB603 #1 A. Clark TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO CERTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BASED ON READING SCORES; AND TO AMEND THE PURPOSES ON WHICH NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH STATE CATEGORICAL FUNDS MAY BE SPENT.
SB632 #1 J. English TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A CYBER ALLIANCE IN ORDER TO REDUCE CYBER RISKS AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HB1619 G. Hodges B. Davis TO CREATE THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER ACT.
HB1928 V. Flowers Elliott TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO REQUIRE ALL OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE RECORDED.
HB1967 Watson Irvin TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURCE ACT.
HB1968 D. Ferguson Ingram TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT OF 2006.
HB1969 Wardlaw Wallace TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL COLLECTION.
HB1986 Penzo Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW PROHIBITING SPOOFING; TO AMEND THE LAW REGULATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SPOOFING PROVIDERS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB 1980 Rapert TO AMEND THE UNFAIR CIGARETTE SALES ACT; TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT OF 1977; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB 1947 Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
HB 1866 Hammer CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.
Budget Bills
HB1865 AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DAY FUND; AND TO ALLOW THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR STATE AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS APPROPRIATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
HB1876 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Announcements
Adjourned
Documents
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Speakers
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 5
Speaker 18
Speaker 24
Speaker 27
Speaker 29
Speaker 35
Senator Lance Eads
Unverified
Speaker 43
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
Speaker 53
Speaker 56
Speaker 60
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Speaker 63
Speaker 65
Speaker 66
Speaker 74
Speaker 82
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
Speaker 85
Speaker 87
Speaker 97
Speaker 76
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
Speaker 110
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
Speaker 69
Speaker 123
Speaker 132
Speaker 73
Speaker 134
Speaker 138
Speaker 144
Senator Kim Hammer Chair
Unverified
Speaker 153
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 159
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
Speaker 143
Speaker 175
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Speaker 182
Speaker 184
Speaker 186
Senator Joyce Elliott
Unverified
Speaker 31
Speaker 204
Senator Keith Ingram
Unverified
Speaker 208
Speaker 203
Speaker 222
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
Speaker 101
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
Speaker 248
Speaker 145
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Senator Bob Ballinger
Unverified
Speaker 271
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Speaker 183
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Speaker 15
Speaker 309