JBC-Special Language
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Transcript
2 documents
Bills discussed (9)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1005
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Corrections - Division of Correction (DJC037) 3. GL#20 - HB1005 - Department of Education (KMW082) 4. GL#20 - HB1007 - Depa…”
|
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: “…L#20 - HB1005 - Department of Education (KMW082) 4. GL#20 - HB1007 - Department of Education - Public School Fund (KMW083) 5.…”
|
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 … |
|
HB1009
Act 118
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…tment of Agriculture - Promotion Boards (BSS062) 6. GL#23 - HB1009 - Department of Public Safety (DJC038) 7. GL#24 - SB3 - Dep…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1009 is now Act 118 |
|
HB1011
Act 120
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…and Administration - Disbursing Officer (JAP069) 2. GL#14 - HB1011 - Department of Corrections - Division of Correction (DJC03…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1011 is now Act 120 |
|
HB1017
Act 121
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…tment of Education - Public School Fund (KMW083) 5. GL#22 - HB1017 - Department of Agriculture - Promotion Boards (BSS062) 6.…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - PROMOTION BOARDS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1017 is now Act 121 |
|
HB1064
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…erred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. GL#7 / #30 - 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: “…mmerce - Division of Workforce Services (CJW033) 9. GL#27 - 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 … |
|
SB10
Act 130
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Shared Administrative Services (JAP071) 8. GL#25 / #29 - SB10 - Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Services (…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB10 is now Act 130 |
|
SB3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…- HB1009 - Department of Public Safety (DJC038) 7. GL#24 - SB3 - Department of Shared Administrative Services (JAP071) 8.…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SHARED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
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- October 5, 2026
Unknown speaker
0:00
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
All right chair she's a quorum will start this meeting of special language I'm going to go through a little housekeeping since this is our first meeting of the session this subcommittee does not have a set schedule as it depends on the number of bills and amendments referred to this subcommittee by the joint budget committee so for now meetings will be at the call of the chair. Please remember to look and check the web as meetings will be posted
there. All items reviewed by this subcommittee will be new member bills and member amendments or governor's letters that contain special language for consideration to be included in appropriations bills. A reminder regarding governor's letters that have sections that include appropriations, personnel, and special language. This subcommittee will only discuss the special language. Personnel subcommittee will discuss the personnel sections and the appropriations will be taken up in joint budget so for the benefit of the
committee we've got secretary Hudson who has agreed to kind of do his best to go through all these governor's letters as much as possible if there are questions for the agencies we can bring them up as needed so we will do you have any comments mr. co-chair no all right so we will jump right in and go to item one governor's letter seven department of finance administration mr. secretary if you both would introduce yourselves
Speaker 7
3:38
then we can get going good morning Jessica
Speaker 15
3:44
Department of Finance and administration. Good morning, Jim Hudson, secretary DFA. Jessica will, Ms. Moore will take care of just stepping through the letters and I'll
Speaker 17
4:04
chime in as needed. So I'll turn it over
Speaker 9
4:07
to her. Governor's letter number 30 is for DFA dispersing officer. It requires that DFA amends rules to ensure administrative costs do not exceed 25% of awarded amounts to pregnancy
Speaker 20
4:15
health organizations. Yeah, and in Governor's Lever 7, which is referred to in the agenda, is strictly appropriation only. There is no special language, and
that's why we're not referencing that. Okay, members, are there
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
4:34
any questions? Seeing none. Oh, sorry. Representative Garner. Thank you, Secretary Hudson. Thank you guys for being here.
I've just got a quick question. I have, we passed an amendment last year to get some reports on the crisis pregnancy centers.
Not due until the end of the fiscal year, but basically it was to figure out the grants and what they're using the grants for. Do you have any of that information already, or do
Speaker 30
5:01
you know? So it's important to note that we've not distributed any grant funds fiscal year
Speaker 20
5:06
to date. Okay. There's not been funding for it, and so there's separate appropriation that would add funding for it. I suspect there will be some
Speaker 22
5:13
disbursements that occur, you know, in FY26. Okay. Once that occurs, then obviously whatever reporting obligations there we'll respond to.
Okay, great. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. Thank you, Representative. Seeing no further questions, any motion for the adoption of the amendment? We've got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Motion is, or the amendment is adopted. We'll move on to
Speaker 9
5:43
Governor's letter 14, pages 13 through 22. Governor's letter number 14 is for the Department of Correction, Division of Correction. It amends Section 17 by removing the inability to transfer funds to the county jail reimbursement fund.
That conflicts with special language that currently exists in the Appropriation Acts that allows us to transfer funding to county jail reimbursement if savings are realized. This amendment also includes a technical correction to reflect the proper fund account name per Arkansas code Okay members any questions representative
Garner you're still lit up. Do you have a question? That's okay Senator Hickey
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
6:14
you are recognized. I just I want to make sure I fully understand here You said there was a conflict is what
and I'd asked this question earlier too. So just would you just explain to me?
So are you once it goes into the county jail reimbursement fund by removing this language? Are you going to be able
Speaker 20
6:34
to take it back out? We cannot take it out. So there's a separate section, separate appropriation section, section 26, I believe, that allows for funds to be only transferred in. That creates a conflict with this language. We're just taking this out. So the only language that will be surviving after this amendment is allowing transfers into the fund. Nothing can come out. Okay. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir.
Thank you, Senator Hickey. Any other questions? That was me. Okay. Seeing no other questions, do you need a motion to adopt the amendment? Motion
and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The amendment is adopted. Governor's letter 20, pages 23
Speaker 9
7:18
through 38. Governor's letter number 20 is for the Department of Education. This updates Arkansas code to designate the Department of Agriculture as the responsible agency for the child nutrition program.
Members, are there any questions on this letter? seeing no questions I need a motion to adopt
the amendment motion in a second any discussion hearing none all those in favor of the motion say aye opposed same sign the amendment is adopted governor's letter number 20
Speaker 34
7:53
again 39 through 43 pages also for the department of education
Speaker 9
8:00
This amends Arkansas Code to comply with Act 909 of 2025, designating that the Department of Education will pay the EBD employer contribution for school districts. Also, it amends code to phase out the teacher equalization funds as per Act 909 of 2025 that requires that we pay the prior year amount in addition to the current fiscal year's amount for equalization funds. Okay, members, any
questions on this letter, this amendment?
seeing no questions I need a motion to adopt the amendment motion in a second any discussion seeing
none all those in favor the adoption say aye opposed same sign the amendment is adopted item number five governor's letter 22 pages 44
Speaker 9
8:49
through 48 governor's letter number 22 is for the agriculture promotion boards it provides the CFO of the state the ability to waive the 3% state central services and constitutional officer fund fee on special revenue funds for those six
promo boards in the Department of
Agriculture. Okay, members, you've heard the amendment. Senator Hickey, you are recognized. Why are we
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
9:10
doing that? So this was really in response to the agricultural crisis.
Speaker 20
9:16
It's about $500,000 a year that is generated from pulling this money out and sending it to the constitutional officer fund and state central services. This would allow the promotion boards, if requested by the Secretary of Agriculture, to retain those funds just because they could make better use of it.
It would not be a standing waiver. It would be point in time, and it would end at point in time as well. You're talking about for the year? That's right. And especially, so it's going to be
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
9:46
for the year anyway. Exactly. So this is actually then going to allow those promotion boards to, we're just going to waive that fee for them so that they're going to actually get more funding. funds. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And you said it's how much money? About half a million dollars a year.
Okay. Half a million more in revenue or the whole thing is they would retain about $500,000 more than what they currently are now.
If the waiver is granted. Okay. Just one
more thing. Does this, I mean, I'm sitting here trying to think, I mean, I understand what our agriculture deal and everything that's going on with that want to help, but is there any, and I'm going to call it unintended consequences of anybody else now going to think well if they've got it we should also be getting a not be getting charged of that have we looked at that or thought thought that through um
Speaker 20
10:35
human behavior is hard to predict uh i think you know this is a fairly sure this is this is a fairly unique set of circumstances
i think that you know i can point to we do have a crisis in agriculture right now and giving those promotion promotion boards more money to work with distinguishes them from any other group that i could think of. Right. I just
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
10:53
know we're saying this for a year, but it's going to be, I would imagine it's going to be hard to put back on after the year, but we'll see how it works in here. I just, uh, the politics of that's going to probably get to the point that that's going to go away forever. Yes, sir.
Speaker 20
11:09
I think, and again, just to clarify for you and all the members, it is language
that allows the CFO to grant the waiver. It doesn't compel the waiver to be granted. I may not be as tougher banker is you, but I'm a tough banker. Well, we'll
Speaker 37
11:23
see how that works. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
Chair
Unverified
11:25
Representative Vought, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
11:31
Could I have Secretary Ward come to the table so he can explain this a little better?
Speaker 6
11:45
Mr. Secretary, if you'd recognize yourself, you'd be recognized.
Speaker 59
11:49
Yes, sir. West Ward, Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
11:54
I know that we transferred these all over to you from Farm Bureau. So can you explain what we're
Speaker 61
12:00
doing here and how come we're doing it? Yes, ma'am. I would echo Secretary Hudson's comments. With the farm crisis that exists across Arkansas and really throughout the country, the governor tasked each of us to look deeper at within our departments what can we do to help the industry.
And this was one of the things that we identified where we could take that kind of administrative collective fee, give it back to the industry. None of that would go back to the department. It would go straight to those boards. Those are producer-led boards. They make the decision on where the money goes to best help their respective commodities. But there are six research and promotion boards in Arkansas, rice, soybeans, corn and grain sorghum, beef, wheat, and catfish. And so it would put money back into the producer's hands, back into the industry.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
12:47
Can I have a follow-up question, sir? Yes, ma'am. Can you tell me if we've always collected a fee on these monies that go to these promotion
Speaker 61
12:58
boards, even when they were at Farm Bureau? Yes, ma'am. There has been. And it hasn't, at least to my knowledge, our records, you know, as long as we could go back and look, that fee had been collected. And so this would be something new and different that would be helpful to the industry. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, members, any other questions?
Seeing no other questions on this amendment, need a motion for adoption. Got a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none. All
those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The amendment is adopted. Moving on to item number 6, Governor's Letter 23,
Speaker 9
13:41
pages 49 through 54. Governor's letter number 23 for the Department of Public Safety allows them to leverage revenues generated from the use of facilities at Camp Robinson. It also requires that those funds collected be used for facility maintenance at Camp Robinson.
Okay, members, any questions on the amendment? Seeing none, I need a motion for the adoption. Go to motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion?
Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The amendment is adopted. Moving on to item number seven, Governor's Letter 24, is on pages 55
Speaker 9
14:19
through 61. Governor's Letter number 24 for Shared Administrative Services. The first part adds special language to allow the department to bill agencies for support services as a part of the Arkansas Forward Initiative.
It also repeals code that is duplicative that requires budget manuals to include the minority contract reports. The Office of State Procurement currently does that report on a biannual basis. Okay, members, any questions on this amendment? Seeing none, we've got
a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. We will move on to item number eight. Sorry, amendment is adopted.
This is on pages 62 through 70.
Speaker 9
15:05
As we spoke on Department of Finance, Governor's Letter No. 25 does not have special language, but Governor's Letter No. 29 does, and that is for Commerce Division of Workforce Services. It adds language to indicate that the Arkansas Rehab Services will be the designated state unit for the vocational rehab grant. Okay, members, any questions on this amendment?
Seeing none, I need a motion for the adoption of the amendment.
We've got a motion. A second. Any discussion on
the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The amendment is adopted. Members, we're going to pass over item 9 because item 10 supersedes item 9. So this is Governor's Letter 27.
Speaker 9
15:53
It will be on pages 79 through 81. This amendment for the Environment and Quality Division hopes to stabilize funding for the used tire program by capping the reimbursement rate at $2.31 effective July 1, 2026.
Yes, sir. Thank you. Okay, members, any questions on this amendment? Seeing none, we've got a motion for adoption in a second. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing
none, all those in favor of the amendment say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The amendment is adopted. Okay, members, that's everything we have on our agenda. All adopted amendments are released from special language. Seeing no other business, we are adjourned.
Agenda
A. Call to Order.
B. Comments by Co-Chairs.
C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:
D. Other Business.
E. Adjournment.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE, Apr 16, 2026 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
| C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee | Exhibit | 81 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator Matt McKee Chair
Unverified
Speaker 7
Speaker 15
Speaker 17
Speaker 9
Speaker 20
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
Speaker 30
Speaker 22
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 34
Speaker 37
Chair
Unverified
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Speaker 6
Speaker 59
Speaker 61