Joint Budget Committee
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Transcript
6 documents
Bills discussed (3)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB30
Act 134
· 3 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “Mr. Chair, item C1 is an amendment to Senate Bill 30, the Office of the Government, by Senator Rice. It contains…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB30 is now Act 134 |
|
HB1080
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…eritage, and Tourism – State Parks and Tourism Divisions 3. HB1080 by Representative Ladyman, et al. – Department of Human Ser…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES - … | Ladyman | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1034
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…x officio A. Call to Order B. Reports and Communications 1. HB1034 - Treasurer of State – Letter dated March 18, 2026 – Amendm…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's … |
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Unknown speaker
0:00
- We'll get started here in just a second.
Thank you.
Thank you.
members we're going to be getting started shortly if you can find
your seats members chair sees a quorum we'll call this meeting to order
Speaker 5
2:00
Good morning to everyone. As everyone's getting to
the seats, I want to recognize a couple of groups that are here today. Guests of Representative Layton and Senator Sullivan. We have the active citizens of Jonesboro High School, I believe, in the audience. If you could stand and be recognized if you're here in the audience. Happy to have you here
today. Members, we also have here with us today guests of Secretary Hudson.
The Conservative Student Union of Hendricks College,
if you could stand. Appreciate both groups coming and showing an interest in state government. Hopefully we can show you a good example of how it's run today. Hopefully it'll be a quick, easy meeting. First up on the agenda, we have reports and communications, item B1. We're going to pass over this today. That brings us to items.
Speaker 8
3:00
Mr. Chair, item C1 is an amendment to Senate Bill 30, the Office of the Government, by Senator Rice. It contains personnel. We'll refer that to
Speaker 9
3:18
personnel. Item C2. Oh, yes, sorry. Senator Ross you recognize
How long Senator Ross, you know, I'll
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
3:40
a personnel matter. I'd like to address the personnel committee Or excuse me. I have a budget matter. I'd like to address the budget committee You're recognized. Thank you, mr. Chair, I'll be brief I i bring this amendment to make people aware i've had lots of concerns from my constituents
and other people around the state that are displeased with the millions of dollars that are being spent a million dollars has been spent on this is the one of two senior advisors to the governor at a compensation rate with match of almost 265 000 a year this started off as the secretary of corrections and we have spent this million dollars in the last
four years as corrections chief mr joe perfuri could not or would not work with the board He was responsible for pulling back a major corrections contract that ended up costing the state, some say, more than $300 million when it was completed. He could not or would not communicate with concerned taxpayers from Franklin County and across the state, even after his pledge to be more transparent about prison construction.
When the Joint Performance Review Committee that's chaired by Representative Cozart and myself requested he attend that committee that held a very respectful meeting, he didn't even reply. Again, he was Secretary of Corrections being paid by the taxpayer money, not just at that time working in the governor's office. Senate Bill 30 includes his salary, as I said, as a senior advisor for $189,211, plus $75,684, totaling $264,895.
Yes, he could be moved to a lesser position, but I ask that you approve this amendment to cancel that position. Our Kansas don't want to spend another million dollars for his lack of performance. And, yes, this can be sent to personnel committee, and with the way the committees are stacked, you know, it will likely die there. I want the whole budget committee in the state of Arkansas to understand what we're spending this amount of money for.
It was announced yesterday, the prison's put on hold. What are we paying this amount of
money for? Senator, I appreciate those comments on your amendment. I appreciate you letting me state those comments. Yes, sir, and that amendment is being sent to personnel for review. Thank
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
6:55
you. Representative Wooten, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to second what Senator Rice has said. What he didn't add was we had a subpoena motion made in the committee meeting that day
to require Mr. Fury, whatever his name is, to appear. And he didn't appear. He never came. He never notified the chairman, the co-chairman of the committee. He never attended the meeting. To me, that's a slap in the face to the legislature and the people of Arkansas. He may work in the governor's office, but he works for the people of Arkansas, and they're sick and tired of being shunned and pushed to the side. I understand, Mr. Chairman.
This amendment is being sent to committee, and there will be ample opportunity to use chair of that committee to have more discussion around
Speaker 23
7:46
this amendment. I think that needs to be said, and I'm telling you for the
governor's sake that it needs to be addressed. So we appreciate it. Thank you. Senator Flowers, I will say that to this amendment, it's being referred to personnel. If your comments are
to this amendment at this point, I allowed Senator Ross some leeway as the sponsor of the amendment, but we're going to hear further comments on this in the committee process as we have it set up here in joint budget.
So if you have comments for that specific amendment, I would ask you to reserve those for the committee and personnel. If you have another comment, I'm happy to recognize
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
8:31
you. I'm trying to give you a chance to say that. Mine is a general question, comment, I guess. I'm not following what you are saying is on the agenda. You referred to C1.
C1, yes. I'm not, I don't know what you're talking about. The only exhibit C I have is a
GL8. I think you may be looking at the personnel agenda as opposed to the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
9:07
then what amendment are you talking about that Senator Rice is referring to? This
is C1 on the joint budget committee agenda. So
we passed over item B1. So this is item C1.
And I know sometimes we had a personnel committee that ran late. There may be an agenda on your table there
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
9:37
that's not okay do you see where we're at I do now it was a separate little stack of papers so I wish
you would I mean so members we're going to pass on now
Speaker 8
9:49
to C2 Mr. Chair I'm C2 is an amendment by Senator Johnson to the Department of Parks Heritage Tourism this contains special
language we're going to refer that's a special language mr. chairman that takes the committee to item C3 which is a bill House Bill 1080 by representative layman Department of Human Services division development disabilities
it contains special language we're going to refer that special language members that brings us to item D other business senator dismayne do you have something
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
10:20
for other business thank you members they're going to hand out a a special language amendment to the department or adq uh this has to do with the waste tire program
in the governor's letter there was a timing issue that was discovered so this is going to replace the piece of special language in the governor's letter uh with with this it's going to replace that and then this is what we'll actually consider in special language next week again it's just that there was a timing issue on when the fees or amounts were going to be paid and so this corrects that um for clarity i think i think
we'll be able to take it up on tomorrow's special language agenda
with the other governor's letters so there was already a governor's letter uh referencing the tire issue this is going to it's already setting on the agenda in special language that the intent is to pass over that letter tomorrow and this will be the new letter that will now be considered tomorrow in special language yeah and the goal here was for everyone
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
11:16
to have a chance to see it instead of suspending the rules in special language tomorrow. Does anyone
have any questions on that process or on the letter? Okay, seeing none, then we're going to refer that.
I need a motion to suspend the rules if we're going to take that up. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules. A motion to suspend the rules. I have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Opposed? Passes. Now, yes. thank you for my guidance now we can refer this to special language so we'll refer that to special language and it'll be on tomorrow's agenda seeing no of the new business this meeting is now adjourned back here tomorrow morning at
Agenda
A. Call to Order
B. Reports and Communications
C. Consideration of Member Amendment and Bills
D. Other Business
E. Adjournment
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE, Apr 15, 2026 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
| B.1 Treasuer of State | Exhibit | 3 | Official source ↗ |
| C.1 Amendment JAR144 SB30 | Exhibit | 4 | Official source ↗ |
| C.2 Amendment WFP038 | Exhibit | 9 | Official source ↗ |
| C.3 HB1080 Rep. Ladyman | Exhibit | 3 | Official source ↗ |
| SUSPENTION OF RULES - wfp040 - adeq | Exhibit | 3 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Lee Johnson Chair
Unverified
Speaker 5
Speaker 8
Speaker 9
Speaker 13
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
Speaker 23
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
Speaker 28
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified