Said in CommitteeBeta

Exactly as spoken.

Joint Budget Committee

April 14, 2026 ·9:00 AM ·Room A, MAC ·2:10:08
Video Transcript 19 documents

Bills discussed (41)
Bill Title Sponsor Status
HB1033 Act 98 · 5 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…e first is a refund of local sales and use taxes that's for house bill 1033. they're arresting an increase of30 million dollars”
 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE - REFUND OF LOCAL TAXES … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1033 is now Act 98
HB1034 · 5 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “amendment JAR133 on house bill 1034. would you”
 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 …
HB1048 Act 99 · 4 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…o counties and the next bill they're requesting to amend is house bill 1048 that's assistance to emergency medical assistance and local…”
 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE - ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL LAW … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1048 is now Act 99
HB1050 Act 100 · 4 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…nd use taxes the second bill they're requesting to amend is house bill 1050 that's for distribution of amendment 74 funds to counties t…”
 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE - AMENDMENT 74 PROPERTY TAX … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1050 is now Act 100
SB32 Act 79 · 4 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “amend senate bill 32 which is jar 139 for substitute court reporters this is for…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS - COURT PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB32 is now Act 79
SB31 · 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…of State – Letter dated April 8, 2026 – Amendment JAR143 3. SB31 – Administrative Office of the Courts – Letter dated Februa…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
SB53 Act 82 · 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…c Safety Quarterly Report on Executive Protection Detail 2. SB53 – Auditor of State – Letter dated April 8, 2026 – Amendment…”
 AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB53 is now Act 82
HB1021 Act 31 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “that's on page eight house bill 1021 is on page eight. Also on page 81024 moving to page nine Ho…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - MID-SOUTH APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1021 is now Act 31
HB1026 Act 33 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ight. Also on page 81024 moving to page nine House Bill1025 house bill 1026 and house bill 1027 Page 9 House Bill1028 House Bill1029 an…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - MOUNTAIN HOME APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1026 is now Act 33
HB1027 Act 34 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…1024 moving to page nine House Bill1025 house bill 1026 and house bill 1027 Page 9 House Bill1028 House Bill1029 and then page 10.”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - HEALTH SERVICES PERMIT AGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1027 is now Act 34
HB1065 Act 102 · 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…JAR131 HB1033 – Refund of Local Taxes – Amendment JAR130 5. HB1065 – Department of Education - Division of Higher Education –…”
 AN ACT FOR THE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1065 is now Act 102
SB11 Act 5 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Page6 is 11 Senate bill 11 Page712 and 13 are ready page 8 Senate Bill17 then we're go…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - ARKANSAS MINORITY HEALTH COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB11 is now Act 5
SB25 Act 9 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “now senate bill 25 Page 11 issenate bill 27”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT MORRILTON APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB25 is now Act 9
SB52 Act 81 · 2 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…through 20. This is a request for an increase of $19,000 to Senate Bill 52. I believe the reason for this is for increase in bar licen…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB52 is now Act 81
HB1006 Act 95 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…artment of Inspector General - Amendment LCW096 7. GL #18 - HB1006 - Department of Labor and Licensing – Boards and Commission…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING - BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPROPRIATION FOR … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1006 is now Act 95
HB1007 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Mountain 20. Amendment KMW079 by Representative Mayberry to HB1007 – Department of Education – Division of Elementary and Seco…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - … Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1013 Act 96 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ng Officer 19. Amendment HAR141 by Representative Maddox to HB1013 – University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain…”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT RICH MOUNTAIN APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1013 is now Act 96
HB1018 Act 122 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Administration 12. Amendment HAR139 by Senator Caldwell to HB1018 – University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College 13…”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS EAST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1018 is now Act 122
HB1022 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…uality 14. Amendment CJW027 by Representative Beaty, Jr. to HB1022 – Arkansas Development Finance Authority 15. Amendment LCW0…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1029 Act 36 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…use Bill 1026 and House Bill 1027, page 9, House Bill 1028, House Bill 1029, and then”
 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE - CITY-COUNTY TOURIST MEETING AND … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1029 is now Act 36
HB1051 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…areer and Technical Education – Amendment KMW085 5. GL #6 - HB 1051 - Department of Finance and Administration – Regulatory Div…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REGULATORY DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1052 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…– Division of Agriculture D. Governor’s Letters 1. GL #1 - HB 1052 - Treasurer of State – State Turnback for Counties and Muni…”
 AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR STATE TURNBACK FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES BY THE … Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1053 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…sas-Fayetteville 2. Amendment HAR138 by Senator Sullivan to HB1053 – University of Arkansas at Little Rock 3. Amendment KMW089…”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL … Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1054 Act 101 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…essment Coordination Division – Amendment JAP067 4. GL #5 - HB 1054 - Department of Education – Division of Career and Technica…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION APPROPRIATION … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1054 is now Act 101
HB1064 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…strative Services 18. Amendment JAP082 by Senator Tucker to 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: “…ollege 13. Amendment WFP037 by Representative Pilkington to HB1066 – Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Enviro…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATION … Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1068 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ervices 11. Amendment JAP066 by Representative Cavenaugh to HB1068 – Department of Finance and Administration 12. Amendment HA…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's …
HB1078 Act 103 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…sing – Boards and Commission -Amendment KMW080 8. GL #19 - HB 1078 - Department of the Military – Amendment BSS054 9. GL #26 -…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1078 is now Act 103
HB1079 Act 64 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…f Elementary and Secondary Education-Public School Fund 21. HB1079 by Representative Tosh – Department of Corrections – Divisi…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Tosh Notification that HB1079 is now Act 64
SB18 Act 8 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…8, Senate Bill 17. Then we're going to move to page 8, also Senate Bill 18, page 9, pass.”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS BOARD APPROPRIATION … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB18 is now Act 8
SB19 Act 76 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ration – Regulatory Division – Amendment JAP068 6. GL #17 - SB 19 -Department of Inspector General - Amendment LCW096 7. GL #…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB19 is now Act 76
SB2 Act 74 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…– State Insurance Department – Amendment CJW030 3. GL #3 - SB 2 - Department of Finance and Administration – Assessment Coo…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - ASSESSMENT COORDINATION DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB2 is now Act 74
SB20 Act 132 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…griculture 9. Amendment LCW088 by Representative Bentley to SB20 – DHS – Division of Medical Services 10. Amendment LCW100 b…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB20 is now Act 132
SB21 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ical Services 16. Amendment LCW101 by Senator M. Johnson to SB21 – DHS-Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Servi…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … Joint Budget Committee DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
SB27 Act 10 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “it's Senate Bill 25, page 11, it's Senate Bill 27”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT BATESVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB27 is now Act 10
SB3 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Services 17. Amendment JAP081 by Representative Wardlaw to SB3 – Department of Shared Administrative Services 18. Amendmen…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SHARED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
SB36 Act 135 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Attorneys 8. Amendment BSS053 by Representative Bentley to SB36 – Department of Agriculture 9. Amendment LCW088 by Represen…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB36 is now Act 135
SB41 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…s and Amendments 1. Amendment HAR137 by Senator Sullivan to SB41 – University of Arkansas-Fayetteville 2. Amendment HAR138 b…”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
SB43 Act 136 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…n of Correction 22. Amendment HAR143 by Senator Caldwell to SB43 – University of Arkansas – Division of Agriculture D. Gover…”
 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB43 is now Act 136
SB58 Act 138 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…s at Little Rock 3. Amendment KMW089 by Senator Sullivan to SB58 – Department of Higher Education - Division of Higher Educa…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB58 is now Act 138
SB7 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…r Counties and Municipalities – Amendment JAR129 2. GL #2 - SB 7 - Department of Commerce – State Insurance Department – Ame…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 … Joint Budget Committee DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

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October 2, 2026
Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 4:30
Members if you could go ahead and take your seats we're gonna get it started with that chair sees a quorum if you need to lobby go ahead and go outside if you can grab your chairs let's go ahead and get started right first up, B1 this is the report on the executive protection detail do we have any questions on the report? Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized for a question well it's it would actually be a motion but I'll be if you'll come back
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 5:22
to me after other questions I'll be happy to make that then Mr chair right now can you say that one more time said that I I have a motion related to one of the items in the reports I just didn't want to skip over it so if you need to come back to me after your questions I'll be happy when
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 5:42
we get to that item hit your button and I'll make sure that you get recognized thank you chairman thank you all right thank you members any questions on B1? all right seeing none the reports filed members what I want to do we have a large number of bills that we're going to be able to take up today. and I just want to make sure to kind of give you an advanced heads up on those. thank you of what we're gonna consider so if you'll go to your house andenate packet there in the back of your folder let's start with the house packet and these are the bills that are ready to go if you can follow along circle them and understand that we're going to take those up for a vote today these are essentially what we drafted per recommendations coming out of the prebudget meetings so again these are ready to go and we've got a large number that are not going to have any changes or requests for changes and so we're gonna move on those so in your house packet page six is the first bill and I'm gonna move pretty quick on these after I start this one off so if you got your house packet page six house bill 1012. that's ready to go House bill I mean page six house bill 1014 1015 and 1016 are ready to go moving to page se House Bill1019 House Bill1021 that's on page eight house bill 1021 is on page eight. Also on page 81024 moving to page nine House Bill1025 house bill 1026 and house bill 1027 Page 9 House Bill1028 House Bill1029 and then page 10. page 10 house bill 1030 1031 1032 moving to page 11 house bill 1038 39 and40 Page 12 1042 1043 1044 1045 Page 13 house bill I can't even see it anymore it may be small enough now I'm gonna show my age House Bill1046 on page 13 also page 131047 1049 jumping all the way to page 15 1056 1057 1058 1059 page six 1060 1061 1062 1063 three more pages n or page nine 1067 page 20 1069 1070 21 1071 1072 1073 1074 Page 22 1075 in 1076 Page 23 resolution 1004 and resolution 1005 right now we're gonna go to your senate packet right our first page is page three Senate Bill5 and6 Page5 is Senate bill 9 Page6 is 11 Senate bill 11 Page712 and 13 are ready page 8 Senate Bill17 then we're gonna move to page 8 also Senate Bill18 page 9 pass all right. Senate bill or page 10 now senate bill 25 Page 11 issenate bill 27 and28 page 12 Senate Bill3334 and35 are ready to go Page 14 Senate Bill37 38 and39 page 15 Senate Bill40. Page 16 Senate Bill44 45 and46 also in 16 is47 Moving to page 17 Senate Bill48 49 and50 page 18 is54 56 and57 those are the bills that are ready to go if there's one of those that you'd like to hold please let staff know and we'll get those removed from what we're going to consider today and then also if you just have questions but are ok with the vote then you can kind of prepare yourself for questions if you have questions on a particular bill all right with that we're gonna start section B and you're recognized thank you Mr. Chair. itemtem B2 is a letter from the
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Chair Unverified 12:34
auditor of state requesting to amend Senate Bill53. It is amendment JAR143. This is a request to increase the appropriation for special deputy expense allowance by370 dollars. they state that there was a model shortfall that occurred when the office converted to aIS. we have any questions on the amendment seeing no questions what's the will of the committee
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 12:56
we've got a motion to adopt or adopt the amendment we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none of the favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries
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Speaker 40 13:11
B3. Mr Chairman, I don't beat3 is a request for the administrative
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Chair Unverified 13:15
office of the courts to amend Senate bills31 and32. the first request is to amend Senate Bill31, that is JAR138. it's a request for court interpreters. It is a request to increase that appropriation by 94,750. they state that that's needed for rising market costs and mileage transportation and lodging. The second bullet point in their letter is in a request to amend Senate Bill32, which is JAR139 for substitute court reporters. this is for 106,929. they state this is also for
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Speaker 44 13:42
mileage transportation and lodging needs. all right thank you members if we have any questions on
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 13:48
the amendment to senate bill31 or the amendment to Senate Bill32 all right seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt amendment one to Senate Bill31 any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries we've got a motion to adopt the amendment to Senate Bill32 to weigh me questions see no questions any discussion on the motion seeing none those favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries B4 and I'm going to recognize before we're going I think Senator Johnson recognizecog promotion
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 14:32
thank you Mr Chairman. I move that we hold amendment JAR133 on house bill 1034. would you
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 14:43
like to pass over that today then as far as discussion right we're gonna pass over the amendment to House Bill1034?
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Speaker 53 14:53
Yes sir. item number4, we will be holding JAR133 for household 1034. the
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Chair Unverified 14:58
remainder of the letter does request to amend three other bills. the first is a refund of local sales and use taxes that's for house bill 1033. they're arresting an increase of30 million dollars to refund the city's share of local sales and use taxes the second bill they're requesting to amend is House Bill1050. that's for distribution of amendment74 funds to counties. they're requesting an increase of50 million dollars in appropriation from the uniform Tax Rate Trustund to support the redistribution of property tax revenues to counties and in the next bill they're requesting to amend is House Bill1048. that's assistance to emergency medical assistance and local law enforcement they're requesting to increase 10,000 each for emergency medical for the Arkansas Ambulance association and $10,000 increase for local law enforcement for the Arkansas association of Chiefs of Police and the remainder of the letter was part of the motion to hold Mr
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 15:54
Chair. all right thank you members we have questions on the amendment to House Bill1048 the amendment to House Bill1050 or the amendment to House Bill1033. all right seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion to adopt the amendment to House Bill1048 in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries we've got a motion to adopt amendment to house Bill1050 in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries we've got a motion to adopt the amendment to House Bill1033 in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries B5. Item B5 is a request from
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Chair Unverified 16:45
the Arkansas higher Education coordinating Board for Northwest Arkansas Community College this is a request from their cash fund appropriation it's an increase of 1el.8 million and they stayed at the bottom of the letter that this is due to increased construction costs for repairing campus facilities from a tornado that occurred in May of 2024. thank you members to be questions on
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 17:04
B5. seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion to adopt the amendment to House Bill1065. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries members on our member bills and amendments the vast majority of these are going to go to committee special language and so I'm gonna read those off just by C12,3, so on of those that are going to special language they don't need an action besides moving them to special language OK? so first so we'll do that first so C1 2 3 4 5 skipping down to 8 9 10 11 then 13 1415 16 1718 skipping to 20 those were all go to special language without objection all right special language We have one bill that's going to go to personnel and that is C12 all right and that leaves us with just so you can circle them67 19 21 and22 that are ready for action today. OK again so that's67 19 21 and22. and you're recognized for6 get tucker Senator Tucker I can't see I think you're on the other side maybe not is he
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Chair Unverified 19:04
Yesir adam C6 is an amendment to the public defender commission. It is on page 18. It is item C6, it is on page eight of your packet. pages 18 through 20. this is a request for an increase of $19,000 to Senate Bill52, I believe the reason for this is for increase in bar license fees for attorneys members do we have any
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 19:25
questions on C6 Seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion to adopt the amendment we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries C7. Mr Chairman, I C7 is very similar. It is also an amendment
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Chair Unverified 19:48
by Senator Tucker to Senate Bill53 for auditor of state deputy prosecuting attorneys. This is on page 21 of your packets pages 21 through 23. This is a is a request for deputy prosecuting attorneys for the same reason it was bar license for attorneys have increased. all right thank
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 20:04
you members do we have any questions on C7 the amendment seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries it's gonna take us to C19. Representative maddox for you here
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 20:34
Senatorice you're recognized thank you it's my understanding representative maddox couldn't be here this morning. This is 12 million federal money that they just needed to increase the where they could take that this is a preparation only there's no general revenue
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 20:52
attached to this appropriation or direction to spin general revenue so it is appropriation only. page64 is where that's at in your C right thank you members do we have any questions onc19. it's a $12 million appropriation only all right seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries it's gonna take us to C21 Representative To you can go fun and grab it from your seat out here is either way is fine you can you can
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Speaker 74 21:41
present it up front or down about your seat whatever you'd like to do
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 22:22
right gentlemen if you could just recognize yourself for the committee and you're welcome
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Speaker 81 22:29
to present your amendment ir state senator Dave Wallace district 19. state representative Dwight To,
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 22:40
District38. Memberss see page73 Mr chairir we're here
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 22:44
to ask for500,000 dollars this year,500,000 dollars next year for a system called ghost this system will go in our prisons two of our prisons I think this time as a as a test trial and it is a gemming device that will block all cellphone usage within that prison. This is designed to keep our inmates and it's estimated that one of every4 inmates has access or has a illegal cellphone and they're doing unbelievable harm and actually running their operations on the outside from within their own prison cell system Georgia did this a couple of years ago it has had tremendous success with it. they actually had the largest Rrico conviction they've ever had in the state of Georgia by the use of this program the program is designed that it will not interfere with some of the staff s cell phones it will not interfere with emergency operations it's designed to identify and block illegal cellphone usage and uhm I will now turn this over to my sidekick best be thank you thank you senator and and
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 24:15
that was well said and I might just add that this this is a public safety issue let me rephrase that rephrase that this is a public safety crisis you know about one in every4 prisoners has access to these illegal cell phones and they're running their criminal operations from their jail cell and I thank all of us would agree that they're in jail for excuse me they're in prison for a reason and now they're continuing to be able to operate their criminal activity outside those prison walls and that is totally unacceptable it it you know as the senator said Georgia implemented this program about a year ago since then they've confiscated approximately 12,000 illegal contraband cellphones within inside their prisons there has been like 1000 appeals to the FCC with the FCC upholding all of those appeals and finding that there is no harm and no no foul and what the Georgia Department of Correction is doing with this software and able to stop this contraband you know these these individuals that are imprisoned they're finding ways the value of those cell phones inside those prisons at that economy price within inside the correctional facilities is anywhere from 2500 to7500. it's basically in my opinion from my experience this rises to the level of organized crime and I think it'd be a very valuable tool for us here in the state of Arkansas if we give our department oforrections the opportunity to use this software and the way that is designed to work is that these are mobile units it's a pilot program it'll be in effect for two years and then we'll come back to the table in two years and we'll see that if the million dollars that we invested in this program if if we received the the dividends that we wanted to get out of it and I truly believe that we will based on what Georgia has been able to do so but what they'll do they'll take a mobile unit park it we're only gonna target two of the correctional facilities at this time that's two larger facilities in this state which is Varner andummins and those units will sit there and they're able to take that software and be able to focus that just on that grid so that it will only get those illegal contrabands within inside those prison walls now there is a for those that's inside that facility that has a right to have access to those to a cellphone such as the director and whoever else he chooses there's a white list as they call it where they can put that cellphone on that list and it will not be targeted but what this system does it doesn't just suppress the phone it actually will terminate that inmate from being able to use that phone and if any information that they sent out before yeah I think it's about a 20 minutes by the time that that system picks it up that they're able to terminate it any text messages or voice messages that are sent out during that during that 20 minutes can be retrieved and obviously that information will be shared with the proper law enforcement agency across the state and then be up to them if they want to continue to pursue an investigation based on the information they've received and so with that we have director Payne here in I believe he's here today. Yes sir and if there's any questions or what's going on inside the walls of our penitentiariesries and why this is such a serious issue and it's critical and it needs to be addressed not only for the safety of our correctional officers but also for the citizens throughout our communities across the state of Arkansas so with that director will wait and see if there's a question that we can't answer and if not we'll bring you to the table so with that Mr Chairman I'm we're ready for
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 28:25
questions and Mr Chair I'd like to add one more thing in the state of Georgia they've already confiscated 10,000 illegal phones none with zero appeals to MCccC approved so they're they're taking these phones the the inmates are appealing to the FCC and the LccC has backed the state of Georgia up on every one of these 10,000 confiscations. alright thank you and also just to remind our members it's appropriation
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 28:54
only at this point there'll be funding may or may not be coming for it but at this point this is just to establish the preparation but not a direct transfer or anything like that with that will open up to questions Representative Woootten you're first on
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 29:11
the list thank you Mr Chairman. thank you both for bringing this bill forward. This this is isn't this a serious problem and it gets worse the longer we delay doing something
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 29:25
absolutely absolutely representative it it is a serious problem and you know like you said if if we the quicker we can address this the safer everyone will be and
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 29:38
they're using one follow up they're using this as a criminal activity also not just cellphones but they're using it for criminal activity. absolutely that's they're they're continuing their
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 29:50
criminal enterpri se from inside the prison walls you know they got caught they got there but they continued to operate their basically like I said earlier organized crime you know the racketeering from fraud to you know zeroing in on our senior citizens from the inside those cells with scam calls and trafficking whether it be human trafficking drug trafficking they're doing it all with these cellphones inside those walls and you know if they get caught they're already in jail
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 30:25
so exactly that's my my my point being that they're already incarcerated and we're as long as we delay we're abiding or helping them to further their criminal activity
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Speaker 93 30:39
while they're in incarcerated. absolutely correct thank you thank you both. thank you Mr Chairman right thank you Senator
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 30:47
hickey you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chairir. love love the thought of this just one question and uhpresentativetash I heard you say text and voice messages since we're gonna put a million dollars towards this does this totally disable the phone because I understand you know these prisoners might try to find a workaround try to go through messenger social media emails and things to that nature so is it a so does it totally disable it or does it just
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 31:16
just focus on the text and the messages no sir it it does not just yes that's a good question it does not this software what what these system will do it will not just suppress the phone it will actually terminate the phone from the time that software picks up that signal inside the inside the correctional facility I think it's about 20 minutes and during that 20 minutes any text message or phone calls that they make before the department of Corrections and go get the phone and but that information is retrieved and passed on to other law enforcement agencies across state but yes to answer your question it terminates that phone where they can no longer use it super
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Speaker 107 31:56
thank you sir yes sir thank you
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 32:01
senator Evin thank you thank you. I'm just curious you you re referred to a software so is there one company that does this
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 32:11
or multiple companies that does this? my belief is there's multiple companies and that comes fromike's business my experience in the business world. I've been with me FEMA operations were different companies and at different disasters did the same thing I've I've been in these large tents where they would jam us and we couldn't talk outside until the meeting was over with and it was done at multiple sites I I believe it is more than 11 company that has this
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 32:42
tech technology ok thank you so my question may be for the department because I wanted to know how this would be procured if this would be soleod or if this would be uhrfP out for bid could you come to the I think that's important information. sorry. is that OK Mr Chair? thank you So I just want to make sure that we're not bringing forward a piece of legislation written specifically for a certain client or vendor if you could just recognize yourself for the committee and you're welcome to
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 33:12
answer the question and I think there's probably going to be another question you should get a hold of is it something that y'all intend to try to fund with your existing revenues or not revenues but your existing budget thank you thank you uhlindseay Wallace secretary department of Corrections. dexter
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Speaker 117 33:25
Payne director for the department of Either I think either one
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Speaker 119 33:34
of us can answer the question for you Senator Irvin. it would be a traditional RfP I think they've met with one vendor. I think Director Payne and I over the last couple of years have met with multiple vendors who can do this so we would need to put a traditional RfP out for this and to answer the additional question that the chair posed, we do not have funding in our existing budget for this. so we would need funding for that as well ok and where what source would that
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 33:59
funding come from don't know the answer to that anyone else want to take a stab at that where that funding source might come from at this time I was hoping you could answer that so we're we're here look in my purse I'm not sure if I have a million is it's 1 million right? right thank you all
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Representative Kendra Moore Unverified 34:29
right thank youpresentative Moore. thank you Mr chairir and I don't know if this should be directed to the bill sponsors or the department but if we were to appropriate funding for this piece of legislation would this be a one time allocation or is this a subscription service that you pay for on an annual basis or would we actually own the technology in my understanding what
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 34:50
we're doing is a a one time for a two year process after that we will need to come back or someone will need to come back and ask for if if if the state decides we want to use this technology we'll have to come back and ask for a more permanent funding right thank youcented flowers. Thank you. my question is
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 35:18
I have a couple at least the mobile unit is that 24/7? yes ma'am that's correct and the other concern I have is is isn't it illegal for inmates to have cell phones at this point and so you mentioned that there would be a referral on the text messages or whatever as a I guess somebody's gonna determine whether it should be prosecuted beyond but there will be prosecution just for having the the illegal cellphone would it not it could be yes ma'am Mr Pay may be able to answer yes ma'am that
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Speaker 137 36:11
that's our goal is is to get prosecution but the they obtained these illegal cell phones through illegal channels through drones visitors staff they bring them bring them in so our goal is to prosecute them I I would love to prosecute every last person that has a cellphone illegally inside of our
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 36:32
prisons well if if they're captured using from this mobile unit there should be a prosecution am I right Yes ma'am that's the goal yes ma'am but I'm about
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Speaker 118 36:43
to prosecutor now I can't prosecute but you have to refer it ma'am
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 36:50
and the other one is I appreciate it those two prisons in my district being in this whatever you call it the trial but I want to know why I mean are you having do you see problems across all prisons in the state of Arkansas and comments and
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Speaker 140 37:22
arner are the greatest in yes ma'am those two
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Speaker 137 37:26
facilities are the greatest in number and it's also a lot easier to do the trial there because they're right beside each other and we can use the technology to cover both facilities at the same
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Speaker 142 37:35
time. all right thank you thank you Mr Chair thank you Representative Richmond thank you
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified 37:43
Mr Chair. I'm over here to your far right I don't care who answers this we may not even know but a while ago in the discussion mentioned that it takes about 20 minutes for this this system to work and pick up does that create a situation where the inmates would know, OK, I'll talk for two minutes I can get away with 2 minutes and and and that they won't be able to track me or or find this or one minute I can come up with a code where it takes me30 seconds and and make this system you know basically worthless, I don't think so but I just want to hear if you know anything about that that's a good question and
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 38:27
what what I was referring to when I said 20 minutes by the time that software identifies that there's an illegal cellphone within inside that correctional facility it it has a 20 minute in there for gives the director or whoever to identify that that is an illegal cellphone it's not one that's on the list that should be inside the prison and then they have 20 minutes to be able to go down and recover that phone in a 20 minutes that phone is completely termin ated so as far as you know there is
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified 39:00
no minimum time that somebody uses that phone, the system will identify that there is a a contraband phone being used and then it just takes the process to to affect that 20 minutes but they can't as far as you know they cannot create a workaround where ok I'm on the phone for30 seconds because I've created this code x means this, Y means that whatever it might be or different words and stuff as far as you know they can't do that exactly and and any if they
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 39:31
attempt to tax or use that phone during that 20 minutes before the department oforrections can get there and before the phone is terminated through this software obviously that information what's valuable about that is if you can retrieve that text message or voicemail that's that's not all bad in the fact that it will lead you to someone on the outside of those prison walls that's involved with this criminal activity all right thank you thank you Mr chair all right thank you there was
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 39:58
a question on I mean I'll I'll speak to funding maybe if we didn't have an answer for that if it's not in your budget, I mean this isn't an RSa item this is man as you know directed by the preparation of trial I mean there's various places that that request could be made and obviously we'd have to come back before the legislature to ultimately be approved for a transfer to fund the program so that's my just if it's not in if it's not something you're planning on doing inside your own budget. then that's that's where it would automatically have to come from Representative Grambling
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Speaker 148 40:32
thank you very much Mr Chair. just a couple of quick questions just data specific so beyond the thousands of cellphones that have been confiscated is there any data that shows a drop in other crimes both inside and outside the prison related to programs like this and know obviously it's in Georgia I don't know how long it's been in Georgia but can we see any data that shows because we've started compensating cellphones we've seen x y and z happen. is there any causal data or correlated data because of it other than just anticdotal stuff yet
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 41:11
representative you know that's information we'd have to get from Georgia but I don't have that information. I know Georgia has really applauded this program and you know the safety for its officers and the effect it's had throughout its communities and obviously the senator alluded to it a while ago that it got involved and it led to one of the biggest Rico cases since that law federal law was enacted in 1970 which it covered over eight states or 10 states and so they they you know it's been very successful in Georgia but to be able to be pacific to answer you know what other crimes are down I'm not I can't do that just to be clear I think broadly I understand like being a school
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Speaker 148 41:50
teacher I don't want kids to have cellphones when they're not supposed to have them. I could see where kids aren't or other people are n ' t supposed to have cellphones so they're not supposed to have them could be helpful so I just wanted to see if there's more data to support so we can either this is good or this is bad and this is
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Representative Johnny Rye Unverified 42:07
why so thank you very much all right thank you Representative ye thank you Mr Chairman. Gentlemen and ladies, let me ask you this cellphone use is against the law in that prison, isn't that right? how are they getting those phones in to
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 42:31
their centres representative tosh wellpresentative they obviously drones are being used that's probably the primary way that they're getting them inside the walls of our penitentiary obviously there's other means that are that they're using also I know and I' ll just share this with you real briefly I know of one case here in Arkansas obviously the state police here conducted this investigation at one of our correctional facilities where an inmate and not an inmate but somebody on the outside actually took a foot and they unseamed that football and filled it full of contraband cellphones and then they resemed it and I guess they had a pretty good arm on them and they were able to throw that thing over into the yard and of course you know they already had an illegal cellphone the inmate did inside and they'd let them know hey it's in the yard go retrieve it so it's we could go on and on with the you know cases like that and incidents like that but that's how those phones are getting inside our correctional facilities. not any lack of work by our department of correction it's just that these criminal minds are innovative and they find ways to get those phones in and usually it's drones are like the
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Representative Johnny Rye Unverified 43:47
example I just gave you thank you Representative
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Senator John Payton Unverified 43:52
Tosha and thank you Mr Chairman. Thank you Senatoreyton thank you Mr Chair. I'm over here to your left. I guess I've got a question if you're monitoring if this machine software is monitoring a certain perimeter around the prison? Is it catching all cell signals and text messages from employees and and people outside the prison that have nothing to do with the criminal activity is it is it gathering
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Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified 44:20
all that at the same time? to my understanding if it's such a the grid will be just on on those correctional facility grounds not not in the surrounding area. Now if someone enters that like if the directors there are or the secretary or and they they're gonna be their cellphone will be put on a list and and that software is not gonna pick it up if I enter that facility it would identify my cellphone if I'm there for a reason and then it's my understanding that you know we go to the rector director he said that's not one of an illeg al contraband and they know who it is and obviously we're not affected by it so I think there's a lot of safeguards in there to prevent exactly what you're talking abouteneyton
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 45:08
I can speak from personal experience I I've been inside those FfeMA tents larger than this area or in buildings larger than this room we're in now and be totally blanked out I walk outside 20 ft away from that that tent I could talk so I I'm they can they can pretty much define the area they want to is
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Senator John Payton Unverified 45:29
this software gonna block it out or is it going to monitor it because my understanding was it was going to monitor it I used the term block
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 45:37
out because I was the person being blocked so let me ask you this it is monitoring as well
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Senator John Payton Unverified 45:46
if they've got these illegal cellphones are we no longer searching their sals for contraband? I mean how is it we missed that when we searched there cells and their their person it seems to me like we should be able to find a cellphone Senator payton
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Speaker 159 46:06
yes sir we still search and and through the over the last seven years
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Speaker 137 46:11
or so we've probably found about 6500 cellphones so we we search and we find them but of course we can't find them all because they're hiding contraband you know in in places that you know we may not know they're hiding them there in that spot it's not necessarily inside their seal they break lights they hide them in the toilets they hide them everywhere so it's not necessarily a simple fix that he's gonna have it in his property where
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Senator John Payton Unverified 46:37
we're searching this software is designed to catch the cellphones but if they're that good at hiding things and we're that bad at finding things I I would think there's other contraband other than cellphones that is also important I I'm just concerned with how much we might gather or monitor information from people who are who it's unwarranted and I'm and I'm concerned as to why we can't solve the same problem with with searches of their sales and their and their persons but anyway thank you I I might respond to that if
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 47:18
there's always a workaround if if our our department of corrections could have solved it they would probably already solved it by now and I know from personal experience in the military, you can search and you can dig all day long and there's some things you're not gonna find but you sure won't find all of it so this is just one more tool in the tool bag for the good guys to use against the bad guys. right thank you senator hickey
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 47:49
thank you Mr chairir sorry to come back and belabor this for the agency first would you consider this to be like a high or a medium or low priority as far as a
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Speaker 137 48:00
safety issue senator, I I personally feel like it's a high priority it's a safety issue that that's all I
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 48:06
needed right there. I'm gonna I'm gonna go a little different on this might surprise some people so I heard you all say that this is a pilot program just for two prisons and I'd want to do some definite due diligences as and as the chair says this is appropriation only do we have any figures if we were to include the entire prison system and to do that we might get some economies of scale because if it's just appropriation and we've got to come back to figure out funding on this you know through restrictive reserve or however we want to do it later I just wonder if we should put a higher appropriation number in there to let y'all do some more due diligence on that and then this body can actually look at it if we might want to try to do it across the system again if we've already had some other states have done these pilot programs and we know what the flaws may be again I'd want to do our due diligence and just do the contract year to year but could we look at something like that or would that be out of the out of the ordinary to request something like that that we could bring this back and I know what y'all are just trying to do a million but you know this thing I think, I think most everybody in here can see the need for that and I just wonder if if we should go that route
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Senator Dave Wallace Unverified 49:30
Senter hickey that's a great question and a great point. my gutfield is go slow see what we've got see how it works here in the state of Arkansas and then come back another time for more money OK? up to you all of course I'm
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 49:46
gonna vote for it either way but again it's just since we're going to be in session here if we did have a higher appropriation and maybe through DFNA we might could appropriate our understand through ALc if we had to do something else I don't know if we could do something that large but again it was just just a suggestion that maybe we do a higher appropriation and then if we just wanted to fund a million of it fined or the total cost was something that we felt like we could then we should. but anyway, I'll leave that up to you all
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 50:19
thank you on that I mean just so that I'm kind of tracking too this is a legislative proposal it is not one that's come from the board and it's not come fromrector Payne. I mean you may think it's a high priority but you've never proposed this to the board or anyone else to be able to implement I mean inside your own appropriation and operations they have the authority to do this today they're choosing not to do it today maybe because of the prior I won't even go down the the political rabbit hole there but there was a you know this hasn't been a priority even though the man that you know sitting at the table says it should be a priority that's just a question of general priorities it it doesn't do y'all have enough appropriation authority if this was something that you were to prioritize not the funding but the appropriation to implement I don't think you're cutting it close on your spin versus appropriation is my point especially in operations where this would fall under this is tried to kickstart something that they've been unwilling to do up until this point that that's really what we're talking about and why the two gentlemen are sitting at the table it isn't a question of appropriation authority it's a question of commitment
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Speaker 119 51:38
yes sir. I think the answer to that is yes. I will say the FCC right now is working on amending their rule that would allow us it's great to pull the data out and do all of those things but it would be better if we could just turn these cellphones into a block when they won't work within the facilities. So, I think we've kind of been waiting and hedging those bets to see where the FCC ruling it's working its way through public comments right now and that would really be the best approach is if there is a cellphone in there for us to just be able to jam it but we've never been able to do that before and it is very, this is very expensive technology, especially if we were to roll it out to the to the entire department. That's that's my understanding. Director Payne I think has met with a whole lot more of these companies than I have and he may
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Speaker 137 52:24
want to add something to that agree it's quite expensive expensive process it's something that we have wanted to do we just didn't have the
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 52:30
proper funding to to do so or maybe a board with the commitment Representativeooton you're recognized I think members there was an issue where everybody went blank so let
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 52:46
me try this againpresentative there you go thank you Mr Chairman. I agree with senator hickey I've I've I've had the unfortunate occurrence in my life to be the three of them as a trooper to control a riot and what is always amazezed me in any of the state institutions of correction is the ability of the inmates to thought to thaw through any effort on the part of the security staff to prevent a problem they can hide stuff they can do whatever they want to to send it to representative Richmond's question the second had found pains. The second it's activated that system is on it the 20 minutes is the time it takes for the personnel to get in there to retrieve that phone and take care of that prisoner now I'm I'm telling you this is a real problem and it's a technological problem that we need and they need secret does and Mr Payne needs all the help they can get and we can find millions of dollars to spend on other programs but we can't find a million dollars to spend on a program that protects the security staff and it protects the citizens and it protects most of all law enforcement in case we forbid we do have another ride but it's to always the possibility and this group needs all the help they can get but is it not a fact that when it pings when a phone is activated it emits a signal a pinge as it was called in in technological world is that not a fact and they can identify that phone
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Speaker 76 55:01
that that's absolutely correctpresenting thank you thank you
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Speaker 177 55:04
Mr Chairman. thank you Senator Johnson so secretary you just
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Speaker 178 55:09
kind of alluded to it I I mentioned this probably two years ago and so this will not jam the signal because of the FCC regulation right now. This will just identify the identify the equipment and my incorrect in state stating that that is my understanding yes jamming is jammings that's what I was told
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Speaker 180 55:35
jamming is illegal yes the the fed so
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Speaker 119 55:39
I think the federal prisons have a little bit more flexibility than we do but the the FCC chair was here with Senator cotton. it's been several months back talking about amending their rule to allow more flexibility with states but that process is quite possibly longer than our rulemaking process and it's working its way through the comment period I believe right now so
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Speaker 178 56:00
he's the intelligent he's on the intelligence committee on in the senate and chairman of intelligence ispresentative Crawford and they've been working on that since since I mentioned this. Yes sir but it's it's a jammer that is not the possibility it now but hopefully in the future it will be yes sir that jammer
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Speaker 119 56:20
will be a lot less expensive will it not? That
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Speaker 137 56:26
I don't know the answer to Director Payne you may know. Yes sir senator from my understanding it'd be a lot
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Speaker 178 56:32
less expensive than this once we get jamming technology so that's that's all the more reason to do this as a pilot so you can handle the situation for a short period of time and then hopefully in the future you can have a list of cellphone identification that don't jam and you can jam in the future thank you
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 56:50
all right thank you senator irvin thank you again along those lines you said you've met with vendors. why haven't you pursued it? If you've met with vendors before about the specific why hasn't been hasn't it been pursued or incorporated into your budgets what was the what was the hesitation from the department or from the board that said no we're not going to do this we're not going to work this into our budget that we didn't find that it was a priority is there a reason why we didn't pursue it? I'm talking about I'm sorry my question was sorry to the agencies if that's ok because it was their budget that and they said that they had met with vendors not I'm sorry that that's a question
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Speaker 137 57:39
for the department some of the technology that we've seen with the vendors didn't necessarily meet what we thought we we got technology that would tell us it may stop60%,70%,50 and it just seemed kind of costly to spend the money on technology that wasn't gonna be close to 100% and and stopping solving our problem ok
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 57:59
and then and then follow up with that like there's a way to write this to where it doesn't come out of restricted reserve but that it would actually then you could dictate that it would come from their operating budget. did y'all all look at doing it that way that would be for your the legislators did you look at changing their budget to say we want you to to approach this with a pilot and use this line item from your own budget instead of an ask from restricted reserve did not senator
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 58:35
that would require special language for that you know to be put in place and again there's there's nothing even with this appropriation that if it is a priority of the department of corrections that they not that and they could use operations or their funds that they do receive to be able to pay for this now I mean and if they're not willing to do that or if it's not the priority then this you know there's other avenues which an example
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 59:06
would be restricted reserve and so then the last question would just then be if I I hear you know pilot programs and I understand that I think it's a great idea, great concept if it will work but also if you're negotiating with somebody in a vendor and you're going through a process again if it's not you know will we and you may have you've already had these conversations with vendors is what you said the agency did you have discussions with vendors with people that have the software that you would get a a better deal if you went with more than just one prison or two prisons yes ma'am we've had those discussions we
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Speaker 137 59:46
we would get a better lower cost overall if we did the entire state but that's a large sum of money you well I just I think
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 59:59
I mean it's very much of a commitment from the legislature to address this problem as as best we can I appreciate the questions for me if it's within the budget then that would urge us to try to use the budget for the department of Corrections for the priorities that this legislature has set forth and I think that's why they're sitting at the table because they see this as a very big problem a big issue my challenge would be let's try to work within the budgets of the agencies that we've given you money we we know you've got operational funding for that and so it's not just a partnership with your board of correction and with the department it's a partnership with the legislature and if the legislature has made this a priority I I understand your response I I appreciate that we're trying to wait for that rule to be changed but if we're waiting on the federal government we could probably make it to Mars before they could at this point so you know my challenge would be let's try to do this where we're not having to go to restricted reserve and give you more money to do the job that we need you to do now with the money we've already given you. that that's my ask. thank
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:01:15
you thank you Senator Johnson thank you Mr Chairman Secretary Wallace and uhrector Payne thank you for working on this and and Senator Wallace and representative thank you for bringing this to our attention I I agree with senator hickey on his thing if it's good at one or two locations it's probably good system wide in all your facilities I just have a a suggestion and we're we're really talking about money we're not talking about technology because hey we got to wait till the FCC allows you to use certain technology and be technology changes and you know these people are pretty innovative and all that but I'm wondering if you have maybe checked with our attorney general who has lots of settlement funds that can be used for certain types of crime fighting things and and again I trust y'all to to to pin that down but I just thinking about the opioid initiative that he is working on obviously a lot of these criminals in your custody are probably in drug dealers or in their business they're running through this is probably drug related so perhaps that might be an alternative to funding because you know I I want to get this done I think we all agree that it's a problem both technologically and security wise but I just I want to offer that as a and and that was just one that popped in my mind y'all got a lot smarter people over there than me to help find something but I know there's a lot of federal money to fight this type of crime and and the organized crime side so anyway thank you for bringing this and and I would suggest maybe you you talk to Generalgriffin about
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:02:58
that thank you Mr Chairman you right members that wraps up all the questions again sponsors thank you for drafting the bill that's appropriation only with that this is a item that needs a motion do pass so I need a motion do pass house bill 1070 we have someone else ok we've got a motion do do pass House Bill1079. we've got a second. any discussion on the motion? seeing no discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion motion carries all right they're just gonna bring us to our governor's letters members Senator Caldwell, you're recognized to present amendment to Senate Bill43. Members, this is section C still page75 I'm good with either way if you want to hit your mic present there you can or you can either place is fine with me right Senator Cadwell you're recognized to present your amendment to Senate Bill43.
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:05:20
thank you Mrir. committee this and forgive me I don't have my readers on this morning but University of Arkansas vision of agriculture I have tried since 2022 to increase their budget division bag affects every county in the state through the extension office and the division bag is much more than just the extension offices but every county does have one. your extension agents for each and everyone else it's so I am asking for an increase in their budget. and you've got it forgive me I can't read the numbers I I left my readers in in the apartment this morning thank you understand that senator. Members there's a4 million dollars increase is what the request is
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:06:04
to the department right Senator Hester recognized for a question. is this like the last one if
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:06:11
it passes it's just appropriation or if this passes it's increasing their budget they will get the money this is appropriation only there
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:06:22
is you know nowhere else that there's been additional I had asked for this back last session and and we it didn't pass in in the senate. I tried to get this put in when we were looking to have the executive branch pay increases $113 million and we didn't put that in and and we turned right around and forgot to put the benefit package in for the executive branch came back and added $26 million and so but again we it's it's appropriation that they need they have not had a significant increase in their budget since 2018. how much room do
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:06:57
they have in their appropriation versus spend now I would have to get someone from the division to
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Speaker 212 1:07:01
come after that do we have anyone from the division Good morning I'm Jeff Weaver,
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Speaker 215 1:07:19
the director of government affairs for the University of Arkansas division of agriculture
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Speaker 216 1:07:24
right so the the question was so this is a4
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:07:27
million dollars appropriation only increase what what how much appropriate how much room do you have right now in your preparation versus your spend? they were approximately 10 million so you've got $10 million worth of room so this4 million dollars what is it going to provide for the UA or division then if you've got $10 million with a headroom what's the4 million do so so it's going toward salaries
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Speaker 218 1:07:47
mainly we haven't had an increase in general revenue for a while and I know this is not an increase in general revenue but we need to have the room just in
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:08:00
case we were to get it and so there's no
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Speaker 221 1:08:07
room in your salary right Yes sir there's some how much $2 million are you asking
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:08:13
between appropriation and yeah right so this is an increase in appropriation of million dollars which would lead me to believe that you don't have enough appropriation for additional spend right and the additional spend would come through general revenues most likely with because it's ongoing and so it'd be you know a revision to the governor's balanced budget and potential change or would be you know incorporated into RSA. how much room do you have right now for increases Without the4 million dollars increase
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Speaker 225 1:08:49
between cash and authorization about $10 million.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:08:56
so what does the4 million dollars increase accomplish if you already have room in your appropriation for an increase amm I not maybe I'm not tracking correctly and maybe I've got a complete misunderstanding of the preparation process but you know
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Speaker 228 1:09:17
senator, I mean Id we were hoping to get more money than that honestly
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:09:26
There's one thing when we do RSa and we we delegate the state's revenues and how those are allocated and then there's another thing what you're doing right now which is when we set appropriations which are the caps on what can be spent OK? I I don't know how to say it again so I'm not going to members are any other questions yes
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:09:45
all right senator hester you recognize us forqui Yeah I guess Senatorwe I really appreciate you've
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:09:50
been advocating for this for for quite some time but if we're going to have a discussion on higher ed funding in need from my perspective you know, northwest Arkansas Community College if they received $8 million more dollars they are still the lowest funded school by credit hour and it's not even close if we gave them $8 million more dollars so if we want to have a discussion on need for higher ed then that has to start with you know northwest Arkansas Community College from from my perspective, we can all say we have needs most of them are wants but if if we just want to talk about needs or how maybe the UA ag should go visit with Nac on how they make it work because if they received $8 million more dollars a year they are still the lowest funded institution of higher ed in the state for credit hour and
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:10:46
it's still not even close. in response to that senator hester the division ag is kind of the stepchild of agencies out there because when higher edd gets additional funding that does not necessarily go to division of g when the department of agg gets additional funding which it got through the governor's executive pay that does not go to division of vag and you have to specifically make the funding go to division of vac so the higher edd while it is somewhat part ofhyriet it's not really and while it is somewhat part of agriculture department of agg it's not really it sits over here as a stepchild and it it has to be funded I have a document that I I printed off that I took to then candidate Sarah Sanders not governorfo this was before she was ever elected but after the primary and of72 different items I felt like we need to work on the state government and and one of those items was the funding of the division of c so this has been going on for years and we cut back again when when when fuel goes up, electricity goes up all this other stuff goes up they have to take that out of their existing budgets and it's just extremely difficult sometimes to tally where they are compared to where they've been and what other agencies have received money so you know and I appreciate your example but then on higher ed they're really not part of higher ed. they don't they don't get the benefits of pay increases to the department of hire yet they don't get the benefit of pay increases or funding increases to the division of agriculture and yet they are in every county that we have here in Arkansas. Every, legislator sitting in here today has someone in their county that works for the vision of vac promoting agriculture domestic food consumptions and things of that nature4h and and and the other things that the extension office does and and yet we always punt whenever we come back to try to get them more money they actually need about $10 million a year more to get back on level playing field from where they've been for the last 5 or6 years. I agree Mr Cha
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:13:21
my last question you know we continue to look at them because I I I agree and you continue to put it up that there's there's certainly needs and you know I started looking at expenses they've had and particular I I've seen some capital expenses over the past year or so for parking lots and bridges and things to research facility they said they don't use anymore. So I think there are things to look at and higher you know in department of agg on if they're actually using the resources they have for what they claim their needs are thank you right thank you and then we've got Senator Johnson.
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Speaker 178 1:14:03
thank you chairman I've been trying to get this separated out budgetarily for the last three years so we can track this and have went nowhere because it is part of a multiple multiple not just higher ed but multiple systems in government compiled into the this division of agriculture it needs to be separated out so this body can track it and we can oversee it and see the need and so we can direct the money because the university can increase the salaries of all these matches that you the extension has to do and they don't have an appropriation to where they can match because it's not in their budget it's it needs to be divided out budgettarily so this body can oversee it properly like we have in other things and I'm sure the need is there tell me under this progra is it program technician is that is that the extension agent that's in my county is that the program technician there's 120 of them think that would be some of them senator that that would be so so I mean you have a a lot of this money is going towards research and and scientific things and and where since since a lot of agriculture has went private that we don't do effectively the research that we've done but our agents that are are boots on the ground are not getting the increases that they need in my in my community in every community here internally you know that that that's just from a30,000 foot view on my side of the agricultural spectrum but you know our our agents and our officers that are local and are are are really important to agriculture producers we don't need to we don't need to lose that and my opinion it needs to be separated out budgetarily guys. so so the need can be seen and and felt by this body and and overs overs proper oversight I have no problem with this appropriation and would like to see the funding done in in this this session all right thank you so I'm gonna askenator Caldwell the
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:16:54
question is right so there's $10 million with the headroom in the appropriation right now versus spend this would increase that to $14 million worth of headroom what what is the additional4 million dollars going to accomplish that the $10 million isn't accomplished today as far as appropriation level.
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Speaker 218 1:17:23
Yes sir I I I think I know what you're getting at so if we were to receive more funding through general revenue then we would have a little more space in the appropriation you
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:17:32
have $10 million so are you gonna ask for $11 million so that you're exceeding sir the ok are you gonna are you gonna ask for $10 million more we're we're
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Speaker 218 1:17:47
we're asking for four right now that would make the headroom 14 right now you're all you're doing is asking
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:17:54
for a preparation authority right now that that's all that we're that's all that this amendment is doing is not being something out that you've got $10 million worth of heads room in right now to $14 million worth of headroom if if you're gonna ask for $11 million then I understand the reason for the additional4 if we're asking for $8 million then I don't understand
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Speaker 225 1:18:16
the need for the increased appropriation we're we're
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:18:19
asking for 10.5 now OK, this is all good to know now I'm understanding things that's never been explained to me before so you're asking for 10.5. they've got $10 million worth of headroom and this will give them an additional3.5 million dollars worth of head room in the appropriation. OK. now that makes sense Senator
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 1:18:37
King Thank you Mr Chair. So like agriculture is the number one economy so this is a bigger picture too, right?
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Speaker 218 1:18:47
of Arkansas absolutely so we're divided into basically two different sections. we have the research side and you know the research over the years has grown yields found efficiencies in farming things like that and then we have the co op extension side which 4 H falls under and also leadar and things like that on the extension center I mean like like the senator said you have one in every county maybe two or three we coop with theorum courts and the counties and you know right now they're
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Speaker 248 1:19:18
doing a fantastic job supporting the farm economy right now that is in dire need of help OK and then hold on just
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:19:27
a second.en members if you can take your conversations down a little bit. I don't want to lose control of the committee as far as members being able to hear without that you'reenator King. and then the last is just basically
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 1:19:39
a comment to what Senator Hester was talking about higher ed funding and not getting out there. So when I first came in higher edd was 16% of the budget this last proposed is just 12% so if higher ed was at 16% higher ed as a whole would be getting over $250 million more and since this is a budget session and watching money you have to understand how much your vote impacts how much. so if you're complaining about your college getting less money you probably need to look at yourself first. Senator Davis
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:20:19
thank you Mr chairir when we really had this debate last session with the state employee pay plan what we realized is that employees with the extension office are under the higher ed budget so they were not included in the state employee pay plan and this may be a question for higher ed I don't know but I think higher ed is the one that makes the recommendations for non formulary entities and so my question would be did higher edd make the recommendation for an increase and if not why and were there any other are there any other institutions or groups that are asking for a large increase outside of what was presented from higher ed and what was agreed on and then like I said this may be a question for higher ed since they're the ones that propose the non formulary budgets but I'd be interested to know what they recommended and why they maybe didn't recommend this increase and why you guys are going outside of it outside of that to ask
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Speaker 218 1:21:26
Senator there is one important point that I'd like to make is that even though University of Arkansas is in the front of our name we don't receive tuition we don't have bonding authority. we don't have the ability to increase our revenue outside of federal compet competitive grants and things like that which are not things that you want to base your salaries on they're temporary they come and go you know we in the last few years we've we've increased our competitive grants and then they fell off quickly so we're building that back slowly but surely but but the grant situation has completely flipped on us in the meantime but again wed we wouldn't want to put
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Speaker 248 1:22:06
day in and day out employees on federal grants So is your request
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:22:11
above and beyond what higher ed recommended for you as a non formulary but what were the discussions like coming to that decision for them to make that recommendation to make that did you have
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Speaker 218 1:22:28
conversations with them about it mean we we told them that we wanted to get increase in authorization and and in general revenue they they knew that but they don't necessarily do everything
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Speaker 248 1:22:38
we ask them to do whenever it comes to requesting funds.
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:22:41
I'm familiar based on the institutions in my district as well but I was curious if if maybe somebody with higher red could come up and shed a little more light on those conversations. all right thank you senator we have someone coming. I'm not gonna cut you off I asked if he would come up and maybe shed some light on their conversations as to why higherre make made the recommendation that they did for the agg extension office
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Speaker 262 1:23:14
if you could just recognize yourself for
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Nick Fuller Unverified 1:23:16
the committee Nick Fuller with the division of higherducation. So at the point of the the fiscal session request when the institution's made those the division of g asked for an increase of $8.7 million so it's a little bit higher now at this point but they they had made the request for 8.7 increase in funding and that is what we recommended and it was based off of the request that was sent into our office. Now whether that's included in in a a balanced budget or anything that is beyond our scope as making a recommendation from the coordinating board but we did make the recommendation for an increase of 8.5
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:23:51
million. OK, so you made the recommendation for 8.5 million and you're requesting an additional4 million on top of that is that how I understand it so that's 12.5 million in increase
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:24:06
they're asking for $10.5 million now they were asking for 8. whatever it was5 I thinks what was said now they're asking for 10.5 The difference is they have about $10 million worth of room in their appropriation in the 8.5 would not have necessitated an increase in the appropriation because they want to go to 10.5 which is I don't know where the number came from versus what y'all presented it seems a bit odd that $2 million jumped but now they're asking for that which would they would need additional preparation authority to go above
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:24:37
what is currently there so is that twenty.5 million? No
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:24:44
they're asking so they currently have the 10 million in room they have 10 million in room and they were asking for an $8.5 million increase in preparation levels stay the same nothing needs to do to happen we discussed whether or not that that increase does occur. now they're asking for 10.5 million is what I understand they only have $10 million left in their preparation and so they're going to fluff it another3.5 million above what they need. if they were to receive the full 10.5 but they were made a request to hire red for 8.5. it was you know, agreed to now they're coming before us and saying they need 10.5 which is $2 million more than the original request that was agreed to. If I'm tracking everything correctly and had not say yes that is tracking and so where's the4
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:25:35
million dollars? Is that the original request?
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:25:40
dollars is an increase in their overall appropriation by Senator Caldwell. and that's what we're considering today which would give them about $14 million more than they need today inappropriation and that's in addition to the 10.5 that they're asking
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:25:56
for and in addition to the 10 million that they have in their budget things are happening and it got a little confused about
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:26:05
how it was explained earlier you know I think it was explained that we're asking for4 million dollars in new funding that's not what this is this is4 million dollars in increased appropriation which means they have more money or more ability to spend money so long as it is given to them OK and so that's that's what today is I think it was originally said they were asking for4 million dollars in new funding that's not correct what I think we finally fished out was the originally asked for 8.5 million and then today for us they're asking for 10.5 million of new funding not appropriation funding that's new dollars to actual spend they need the authorization to be able to do that through an appropriation and because they're going beyond the 8.5 to10.5 you would need additional preparation if you were to try to spend those dollars. ok I believe I understand now.
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:27:05
thank you. en ator e y ton thank you Mr Chair. Senator
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Senator John Payton Unverified 1:27:14
Caldwell, I appreciate you bringing this appropriation suggestion or however you want to look at it. I understand that there's some headroom and there's extra appropriation in almost every agency we deal with but when you bring bill or an amendment like this it puts the focus on something and and I love the fact that we actually have the focus here on the county extension offices which since I've been down here for th3 years has hardly had any mention but in my lifetime in Cleburn County we've we use the extension office a lot and we're in the hills we're not the big delta multi 1000 acre farms we're we're 20 and40 and 80 acre farms and you can go to the county extension office and get help with soil sampling if you drill a well you can you can get your water tested if we're if we have a drought like we have right now and and you're trying to reestablish your pasture land they'll help you with with that if you have a noxxious weed you need to identify it and you need to know how to how to eradicate it. they can help you with that they have equipment seeds wood drills that they can that they rent to the small farmers because these drills are very expensive and a farmer with40 or60 or 80 acres can't afford to own one, but the county extension office will rent one to you so in the fall you can plant winter rye or winter wheat and have some winter grazing for your cattle the county extension office throughout my lifetime has been an important help and an important aid to small farmers and and I'm not I'm talking about the local golf course getting help, you know from the extension and and it's knowledge it's information it it's contacts you can go to used to you can go to the county extension office and they'd come out and survey for a pond in in a valley where you're gonna build a pond and and they do the survey and give you a plat that I don't know if they still do that or not but folks I really appreciate the fact that we have a focus here for just a little bit on what the extension service does. I was a4h shooting sports coach and over the three or four years I did that had over 100 students come through our our program and the county extensionervice was the key to that because they managed4 each there's just a lot that is done through the extension service that most of us wouldn't appreciate if we hadn't experienced it one on one if we can do an appropriation and it's and just like the chair pointed out it's not any new money it's so that's going to come from somewhere else that's just appropriation and we can somehow give an indication with our vote on this right here that we support the extension service and we'd like to try to find some more money to keep it going and keep it up to date I'd appreciate y'all vo voting with me to pass
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:30:41
this amendment. Thank you. and we'll get to for and against in just a minute so senator macgruder you're recognized for a question I's representative
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Speaker 274 1:30:50
whatever sorry it's not what thank you sir thank you so much for for the opportunity to ask this question I heard something in regards
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Representative Jessie McGruder Unverified 1:31:00
to salaries in regards to this could you please elaborate on that for me sir our last
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Speaker 218 1:31:07
general revenue increase was before COId and it was realized really at the beginning of COVId as you know salaries have be increased over time just because benefits have increased and and there's more pressure on paying people more money. frankly they can go work in their local school district as an ag teacher and make more than 9 months than they can make with us in 1el. and in terms of the research people who are very specialized in what they do seed breeding efficiencies in production and things like that it's very competitive for those people if we're competing with Mississippi State, Clemson, Texasyennaum etc. it's it's very competitive and we we are not competitive in salaries right now at all. so
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Representative Jessie McGruder Unverified 1:31:54
are you saying that you have lost some people to other states because of our salaries weekly well thank you I know I visited with the office in Lee County and they shared some of their concerns about salaries and how they had employees who couldn't afford things within the community and Lee County is a very impoverished area and that's a major concern of mine so I wasn't aware that this was going to salaries. thank you for elaborating on
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:32:25
that for mepresentative Mcgreder one thing that Mr Weaver touched on was being able to go back to the local high schools the pay increase that we gave teachers through the Learns Act has made the local offices noncompetitive with the schools they again they could go to the school and make50,000 dollars on a nine month contract versus what they make now at the extension office on 12 month contracts and that's one thing that's put us in a bind again they haven't had a a quality pay raise since before COVID either so that's another reason we're asking for this additional funding thank you thank you Mr chair I'm just going to make sure that I'm tracking
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:33:06
so when I look at this amendment here there are no changes to the line on a maximums to salaries whatsoever no sir there's not so this talk about paying ok it that you're not changing those and if you're not you understand my question we feel like there's enough room from
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Speaker 225 1:33:28
the line out of maximum to what people are being paid now if we were to get an increase we feel
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Speaker 218 1:33:33
like there's enough headroom to to make that work. It is I'll let y'all
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:33:56
So just to make sure I'm tracking though we just kind of talked about how we're not paying people enough even though you've got your maximum set at a point that are that you're good with paying to be competitive you're just not utilizing your maximums is there places elsewhere in the budget we should be looking when we're not prioritizing maybe the pay for employees understand we're I mean we're behind in deferred maintenance
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Speaker 218 1:34:28
we are not building new buildings that we don't have the funding for we received a30 million dollars earmark from Senator Bozeman to build a new food science building the northwest Arkansas or the northeast Arkansas ice Research Center was built from primarily with promotion board money from the rights promotion board so we're trying to be good stewards of the money ok thank you senatorda there's just some
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:34:48
there's a lot of contradiction in what we're saying and I'm starting to get frustrated with it but I'm going to stop because we've belaboed enough and I don't, I mean I kinda I don't think this is intentional in any way for Senator Caldwell. he was requested to make an increase of4 million dollars appropriation. he's done it may not have realized that you already had plenty of headroom for the 8.5. maybe he did, maybe he didn't. I don't know. May have understood that the mono maximums that are in this appropriation or at an appropriate level to be able to be you know make pay and be competitive. I don't know but senator, I'm gonna try to hit someone that's not had a question can't do that. Senator Davis thank you
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:35:33
Mr Chair. my line of questioning is a little bit in that vein with positions I remember when we looked during session when we were going through the state employee pay plan that there were vacancy in positions and there was also quite a bit of room to pay more what we were just talking about there were there were I don't know that there were very many if at all employees that were at their max and so there was plenty of room to be able to pay employees more so when you're talking about you know being able to be competitive and pay you certainly have that ability currently and have had it for the last several years so so I guess that's my question too if if you're getting an additional I assume 8.5 million based on higher edd's request so you'll have the money and you already have the room to take people closer to their maximum and make them more competitive then what is the need for the additional appropriation request if you'll be getting actual funding requests and we'll have both the money and the appropriation to be able to spend it and pay people competitively so to answer your question you're you're you're correct in
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Speaker 225 1:36:44
all that we don't have the general revenue to make those get close to those
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Speaker 218 1:36:49
line item maximums for the most part what this would do would allow us if we were to get funding give us more headroom for you know private gifts or things like that so we wouldn't have to come back to you to ask for more appropriations. OK, so the additional the the4
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:37:10
million dollars appropriation request is in case you guys get private gifts to be able to maybe spend on buildings or something else but you're asking for 8.5 million maybe 10.5 million hard dollars actual funding to be able to pay your employees more and get them closer to their line item max. I
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Speaker 283 1:37:33
think I think most state agencies have a little space between the cash
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Speaker 218 1:37:38
they receive from general revenue or the RSA and their actual appropriation and that's what we're trying to
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:37:48
maintain OK thank you all right senator
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:37:51
Irvin thank you Mr Ta just I'm right here in front of you right here I'm so sorry thank you just question you have a76 million dollars capital improvement appropriation on page se is that primarily funded by what federal state what is that think I think that's for the
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Speaker 218 1:38:15
food science building that I mentioned before so that's a55 million dollars building we received a30 million dollars earmark. we've saved money over several decades to replace a 1958 building that's really falling apart and we're gonna that's what we're gonna do with that those that that particular amount but
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:38:31
again it's state and federal or who how is that funded?'s it's mostly
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Speaker 218 1:38:36
but some of it is our money
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:38:39
that we've saved so it goes back to the last issue that we just had like I guess for me if I'm saying this is an important thing is that we need to pay our people more if I'm the legislator, I would rewrite your appropriation bill and I would say we're going to decrease this by4 and increase this salary line item by4 million and I will take it from within your budget that's what I would do and it's the same issue that we just had previously. if that were me I would say instead of a million dollars out of restricted reserve or wherever I would make you use the money that we've given you for the priorities that we feel like needs to be a priority we have the ability to do that as legislators we can rewrite your appropriation and say we think you need to spend it here and not here and I guess for me I I support the previous efforts for that and I support this but at one point we've got to understand as legislators that we can rewrite your appropriation to where4 million is moved within your appropriation and redirected into what we believe should be the priority you you have that we have the ability as legislators to do that which is what I would have done on the department oforrections so again I guess for me I would say to you like rewrite your appropriation, figure out if you're really losing and I agree with Senatoreyton, we need our county extension offices. I'm not sure that a food science building that you're talking about as great as that might be helps me in my district but my county agency does. my county you know extension office does and the people there matter more to me than a big fancy building. it just does and so we've got to understand our ability to rewrite appropriations and not continue to ask for more and that that's my point and and I'm for these issues. I am against the process. does that make sense? but I'm still gonna vote for the appropriation but I would pull it down and rewrite it. that's what I would do that that's that's just my two cents' worth as being a member of this committee and being on budget and I was vice chair of the joint budget for many many many years. we've got to understand you we've given them a huge amount of money. direct them to where you want it to be spent instead of giving more money, more money, more money or more flexibility or more ability to spend the way they want to spend. No, we should direct that that's my two cents right thank you Representative rye
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Representative Johnny Rye Unverified 1:41:40
thank you Mr Chairman let me ask you this Senator Caldwell I know that there's two budgets there's this budget here and then there is a local county budget What what percentage of of this budget for the salaries is actually paid for on our level here and what percentage is paid for by the counties p re s ent ative so the counties
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Speaker 225 1:42:06
the cooperative part of the extension service is working
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Speaker 218 1:42:11
withor courts in the counties so I think the the county's helped determine the staffing levels at each county and they also offer us office space but in terms of salaries they pay about a third of it thank you
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Speaker 288 1:42:23
Mr Chairman thank you for the question Representative wooten. thank
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:42:32
you chairman is it my in I agree with Senatoreyton. that this is a vital services provided to my constituents and people throughout the state are you telling us that the your service is provided presently and I've and I've been a benefactor of it for years are you telling are you telling this body that you're you're your service is threatened and and it's a fact that we're not competitive in pricing and and salary and compensation and so it needs to be addressed in order to be able to continue the service to provide the service to the people of the state of Arkansas it's not necessarily higher education is that is that correct sir we are
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Speaker 218 1:43:28
we are 2/3 of the land grant mission so one third of it is obviously teaching the other side of it is is research and and extension which is a code word for outreach and so what you're talking about in the counties is the outreach and we're losing people because we can't pay them
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:43:47
I realize that we have problem areas in higher education colleagues but this is something that reaches out to the people of this state and provides an important service to the foring of 15 to60 acre form not it that they're a big help to everybody all the plantation the owners or whatever you want to call it's 100,000 acres or so in East Arkansas if they need the service it's there it's provided and so like I said I realize there's other difficulties in topics of conversation about higher education but also know that they haven't received the funding necessarily that they needed now what you want and what you get is two different things and and I agree with senator Irvin and senator King we we have to we have to be cautious but at the same time the outreach that this program has is a benefa beneficial to all state people all of them whether they're homeowner or farm owner or whatever is that correct? Yes sir absolutely.
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Speaker 177 1:45:02
thank you thank you Mr Chairman. right thank you Senator Hester
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:45:06
yeah checking you guys have about 1500 employees in UAag if we if we did this because a lot of this discussion is has been around our extension services if we gave you this money is that for the extension services or you could use it for anything you
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Speaker 218 1:45:24
wanted. well we would we would use it for extension and researchers and and staff and you know administrative assistants and across the board and we're and we're we're down about I think we're about 1250 employees right now even though we're authorized for maybe the 1500 and and
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Speaker 220 1:45:40
if and if you wanted to you could use this money
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:45:44
for a parking lot at a hunting area
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Speaker 218 1:45:54
I mean it's for salaries I mean we're we're we're increasing the salary lines so it would go towards salaries
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Senator Bart Hester Unverified 1:46:00
that's that's all this money would go to is towards salaries and but it wouldn't just go to the extension offices which seems to be the priority I mean I kind of like where senator Irvin was going if that's if that's the priority we ought to be very specific on what these funds should be
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:46:15
used for thank you and and that is not correct again we're talking about multiple things we're talking about appropriation the appropriation increase right here is for salary and match it's gonna and it can be used for additional spin for everything that's above that so all those salaries you see there as long as they're not the line amount of maxx. I mean we should probably be asking who's what where, how and how much but when we get into RSA and we're which is where we're talking about the additional money that you're actually requesting the 10.5 it can go for everything ok senator so that was not correct if if they get an increase in RsA it can be used for everything now we've given them more authority to spend here which they've already said they've got plenty of room but anywhere else they could also spend those dollars that we've authorized with appropriations so it would not just be limited to what this conversation is in this room by any means all right with that I think that takes us to the end of our questions Senator Cadwell you're recognized for a motion Thank you Mrir Abu for a due pass. We've got a motion do pass. we have a second. we've got a second in the discussion on the motion. seeing no discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries right members at Texas to sectiond our governor's letters in we make a motion for adoption what we're saying is that we're authorizing you know a a a bill to be drafted or an amendment to be made one of those two things so with that we're going to start on our
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Speaker 36 1:48:08
governor's letters governor's letter one yes sir thank you Mr
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Chair Unverified 1:48:11
Chairman Adamd these are governor's letters governor's d one is governor's letter number one which is an amendment to House Bill1052 for the treasurer of state turn back for counties and municipalities. this amendment increases 150 million for real property tax reduction you'll see that at the end of the the letter they state that this is increased in the homestead property tax credit. all right thank
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:48:32
you members do we have any questions ond1. all right seeing noun need a motion to adopt. I've got a motion. I've got a second in discussion on the motion, seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries d2. Mr Charman
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Chair Unverified 1:48:49
itemdamd2 is governor's letter number two which is a request to amend Senate Bill7, commerce, statesurance department. This is an amendment for reallocation of 23,000 from the operating expense to the conference and travel and the letter states this is for op
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Speaker 63 1:49:02
to provide for the department's annual sponsored conference. All right thank you
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:49:06
members do we have any questions on d2 seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carriesd3. that's
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Chair Unverified 1:49:22
for governor's letter number3 Mr Chairman which is a request to amend Senate Bill2 DFfa assessment coordination division. this is an amendment to add $100,000 to their operating expense line item they state that this is necessary to support contractual services associated with the analysis and review of real property appraisals. all right thank youd3 members
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:49:39
do we have any questions ond3? all right seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt. we've got a second any discussion on the motion. seeing no discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion motion carriesd4 adamd4 is governor's letter
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Chair Unverified 1:50:01
number5. it's a request to amend House Bill1054 Department of Education Division of Careing Technical Education. This is an increase of 1.5 million. it increases their operating expense appropriation allowing the agency to provide professional development to students and counselors for college and career advising. all right thank you members do we be
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:50:18
questions on D4 seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt. we've got a second in discussion on the motion, seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carriesd5. think Mr Chair
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Chair Unverified 1:50:33
Adamd5's governor's letter number6. this is a request to amend House Bill1051 DFfa regulatory division. there are two requests here the first on the first page is an increase of300,000 in their regulatory federal appropriation and they're operating expense and this will align the agency's budget with the federal grant award then on page two of the letter is a request to amend the racing commission casino gaming section appropriation this would be an increase of uh5,000
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Speaker 40 1:51:00
in new overtime and an increase of 10,000 in their operating expenses for a total of 15,000 they state that this is necessary to increase overtime and operating expense appropriations to address rising supply costs and support continuous 24 hour casino
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Chair Unverified 1:51:13
operations. thank you members we have questions on
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:51:16
D5 we do not we've got a motion to adopt. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carriesd6 Mr Ad ond6 is governor's letter
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Chair Unverified 1:51:31
number 17 which is a request to amend Senate Bill19, which is the Department of Inspector general. This is for a new online item of5 million for program integrity. it states that it's needed to conduct independent fraud investigations in accordance with professional audit standards. all right thank you members any
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:51:47
questions on D6? seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt. we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carriesd7. adam d7 is governor's letter 18.
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Chair Unverified 1:52:06
It is a request to amend House Bill1006 for the department of laborbor andliccensing Boards and commissions the request is to delete three separate appropriations for the appraisers abtractors and home inspectors and combine those into one appropriation which you'll see there on page two and this is a response to act 949 of2025 which was passed by the general assembly. by
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:52:27
Senatorryant members any questions ond7? see no questions we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carriesd8. Mr ChairmandA
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Chair Unverified 1:52:45
is governor's letter number 19 which is a request to amend House Bill1078 for the department of the military. The amendment is to delete the Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation in its entirety. The letter states that that appropriation has been completed and the portion of construction project is done. all right thank you members any
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:53:03
questions ond8? seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries D9
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Speaker 40 1:53:19
Mr Cha out ofd9 is a governor's letter number 26. This is the request for
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Chair Unverified 1:53:24
reappropriations for various infrastructure projects for the 2027 fiscal year this letter has been revised the revision is on page two. It requests special language to be put in the department of Corrections appropriation bill which sets out fund usage restrictions on their requests for the73.7 million dollar reappropriation for prison expansion Mr Chair. all right thank you
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:53:49
Senator King you're recognized for Thank you
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 1:53:55
Mr Chairman. so to be clear originally this was the75 million that was supposed to years back to expand calico rockck the525 beds is that right? That's correct and then it it it is it still designated to that or some of these funds it's it's currently today the75 million is going towards just clarify for us
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:54:16
yet governor Hutchinson actually put an end to the calico rockck project and then this has special language added on page two that stipulates that essentially it's recipi I don't have it memorized in front of me but it's for anything to do with the Department oforrections capital improvement wise with the exception of something happening in Franklin County. yeah I understand that and so just basically it's
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 1:54:38
just and I don't have a problem with stopping this or anything but or I'm not stopping it but it's just to start the discussion of maybe having a different use for this money other than the calico rock expansion. yes, I think the previous was for capital improvement projects
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:54:55
in general which it still could be used for but this would tie the hands of how it could specifically be used. OK so it's just the
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 1:55:03
start the discussion of a different avenue with this money then. so OK, so it's probably a little too early to talk about special language if a facility is built that we need to at least make sure there's enough water to flush a toilet twice a day or is that probably later I need
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:55:21
to bring that up. you're setting member and you're welcome to bring all the special language you'd like. I'm just trying to be funny on this you go thanks Try harder I'm
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:55:34
kidding right all right members do we have any other questions on D9 Representativeooton. Yes Mr Chairman is is
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:55:44
is any of where are we relative to the situation in Charleston in the3,000 bed stadium it's it's it'll be a stadium and a prison is can this75 million be used or is it already earmarked for that facility the governor in the letter has
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:56:01
proposed special language that would prohibit from being used in Franklin County that's page two of governor's letter
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:56:14
26 I've got that so it cannot be used up there all right thank you
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Speaker 101 1:56:19
thank you all rightsenator hickey just at just clarification
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 1:56:23
from this should should we not should we not run this governor's letter through special language first before we pass it in here this is to allow us to get it drafted
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:56:32
and then there'll be a whole separate process that we'll go through with that yes sir all right Senator Irvin yeah and just looking at this there's gonna be special
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:56:44
language for all these different appropriation bills is that correct? I think it's just
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:56:49
that one that had the rest of them are just reappropriations and this was a reappropriation too but there was the the idea to include special language for it got you but what's attached is what
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:56:58
I'm asking for so that's the only one that's got
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:57:01
special language attached to it the rest of them are just reappropriations for all the projects got it
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Speaker 193 1:57:05
thank you all right thank you members any other questions
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:57:09
on D9? all right seeing none we've got a motion due pass we've got a second by Senator King in the discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries and that's that's funny
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Speaker 41 1:57:34
all right right D9 D you mean D10d0d
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Speaker 40 1:57:36
Mr chairman autam d 10 this governor's letter number 28. This is a request for supplemental appropriations for fiscal year
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Chair Unverified 1:57:44
26. There is a summary if you go about three pages you'll see the letter and in the booklet you'll see those listed there. you want me to go fund transfers there are for the committee's information there are5 requests that are requesting fund transfers. there's DFfa for the pregnancy s transfers from general revenue allotment reserve which is a surplus transfer that is for DFfa for the pregnancyourents for3.5 million for DHS for senior centers for 2 million for Department of Commerce assistance grants for 10 million for energy and environment used tires for 2.5 million and the last request for fund transfer would beuaMs for pregnancy and strokes and the for5 million so that would be a total of 23 million in fund transfers Mr. Chair. all right thank you
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:58:33
members any questions ond0 all right seeing no questions we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries aren't members now we're going to move to our house bills and again we read through these earlier umm I'll just start it off this way hit your button if you've got one that was in the list in the house bill packet that you'd like to pull out that you've not combined talked to staff about there was only one we got what was that one 16 House Bill1016 which is Arkansas Tech has been pulled so we're not gonna consider it today all right right members if it's ok with you I wanna I think we want to take this one page at a time so for instance the first run will be page6. I'm going to read the three house bills if there are questions if you could hit your mic we'll take questions if not the motion will be a due pass on each of those items that I read and we'll do that by page so we don't get too far ahead but maybe we can condense it down just a little bit if that works for everyone all right all right so go to page six in your house bill packet house bill 1012 1014 1015 and that's it.embers may me questions on 10,12,14 or 15. all right seeing none we've got a motion do pass for house Bill10121014 and 1015 we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries we're going to move to page7. there's one bill on page se that is house bill 1019. do we have any questions on house bill 1019 seeing none we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page8. we have two on page 8, House Bill1021 and House Bill1024. do we have any questions seeing no questions we've got a motion to pass on House Bill1021 and 1024. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries or page nine page 9 is House Bill10251026,1027 1028 and 1029 if we have any questions on house bill 10242526,27,28 or 29 seeing none we've got a motion do pass on house Bill1024, House Bill1025, House Bill1026,1027,1028 and29. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page10. Page 10 we have three bills house bill 1030, House Bill1031 and 1032. do we have any questions on house Bill10301031 or32 seeing none we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page11. we have three bills House Bill10381039 and40 do we have any questions on 103810:39 or 1040 seeing none we've got a motion to pass on those three bills in discussion on the motion and second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page12 page 12 we have four bills house bill 10421043,1044 and 1045 in discussion or any questions on those bills seeing none we've got a motion do pass on House Bill10421043,1044 and 1045 we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page13 we have three bills house bill 10461047 and 1049 any questions seeing no questions we've got a motion do pass on House Bill10461047 and 1049 we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page15 we have 4 l bills I believe House Bill10561057,1058 and 1059 any questions on those bills seeing none we've got a motion to pass on House Bill105610571058 and 1059. we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying I all those opposed motion carries all right motion carries page six we have four bills 10601061 that almost got me. 1062 and 1063 any questions on those bills seeing none we've got a motion to pass on 10601061,1062 and 1063. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page191 bill House Bill1067 any questions on 1067 seeing none we've got a motion to pass. we've got a second any discussion on the motion. all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page 22 bills House Bill1069 and 1070. Any questions on those bills seeing none we've got a motion do pass on 1069 and 1070 we've got a second. any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page21. we have House Bill10711072,1073 and 1074 any questions seeing no questions we've got a motion do pass on House Bill10711072,1073 and 1074 we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page 22 we have 1075 and 1076 any questions on 1075 or se76 seeing none we've got a motion to pass. House Bill1075 and 1076. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page23 we have house or house resolution 1004 and Houseresolution 1005 any questions on Houseresolution 1004 or Houseresolution 1005 seeing no questions we've got a motion to pass. we've got a second any discussion seeing no discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries right we're gonna move to our senate packet Page3 Senate Bill5 Senate Bill6. any questions? seeing none we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page5 Senate Bill9 we've got a or we've got any questions we've got a motion to pass we've got a second any any discussion seeing none all those in favor signified saying aye all those opposed motion carries page6 Senate Bill11. Any questions seeing none we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second in discussion seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries that was a good one page se what was that? I need to go back and look. right right page7, senate bill 12senate bill 13 any questions seeing none we've got a motion do pass we've got a second in discussion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page 8 Senate Bill17 Senate Bill18 do we have any questions seeing no questions we've got a motion do pass in Senate Bill17ent Bill18. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those a favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page nine ok we're skipping page nine right page 10 we've got Senate Bill25. Any questions on Senate bill 25? seeing none we've got a motion to pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries Senate or page 11 Senate bill 27 and28. do we have any questions seeing no questions on Senate Bill2728. we've got a motion to pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page tel we have three bills Senate Bill33, Senate Bill34, and35. Any questions? seeing none we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page143 bill Senate Bill37,38 and39. do we have any questions? seeing no questions we've got a motion do pass. we've got a second you discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page15 Senate Bill40. we have any questions on senate bill40. seeing none we've got a motion to pass. we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page six we have three4 bills uhsenate bill444546, and47 any questions on those seeing none we've got a motion do pass for Senate Bill4445,46 and47 we have a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries page17 Senate Bill4849 and50. Any questions seeing no questions we've got a motion to pass on48,49, and50. We've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries Senate Bill18 I mean I'm sorry page 18 Senate Bill5456 and57. do we have any questions on Senate bill 5456 or57 seeing none we've got a motion to pass we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries. all right with that members we wrap
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Speaker 313 2:09:36
up our work for today what do we have coming up and JBC at OK claims at adjournment of house
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 2:09:43
management that's about as far as I can get if you are on house management would you let us know when you adjourn because I don't think we're going to be waiting to to see when you get out exactly so if you can let our members know when you adjourn so we can come on over. with that we're adjourned
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Agenda

A. Call to Order

4:58
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B. Reports and Communications

5:02
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C. Member Bills and Amendments

17:20
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D. Governor’s Letters

1:47:42
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E. Consideration of Bills Referred to Joint Budget (House and Senate Captions)

6:37
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F. Other Business

2:09:28
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G. Adjournment

2:09:55
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Speakers

Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified
191 segments
Senator Mark Johnson Unverified
8 segments
Chair Unverified
28 segments
Speaker 40
5 segments
Speaker 44
1 segment
Speaker 53
1 segment
Senator Terry Rice Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 74
1 segment
Speaker 81
1 segment
Senator Dave Wallace Unverified
17 segments
Representative Dwight Tosh Unverified
24 segments
Representative Jim Wooten Unverified
16 segments
Speaker 93
1 segment
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified
10 segments
Speaker 107
1 segment
Senator Missy Irvin Unverified
35 segments
Speaker 117
1 segment
Speaker 119
7 segments
Representative Kendra Moore Unverified
2 segments
Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified
5 segments
Speaker 137
11 segments
Speaker 118
1 segment
Speaker 140
1 segment
Speaker 142
1 segment
Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified
3 segments
Speaker 148
3 segments
Representative Johnny Rye Unverified
3 segments
Senator John Payton Unverified
13 segments
Speaker 159
1 segment
Speaker 76
1 segment
Speaker 177
2 segments
Speaker 178
10 segments
Speaker 180
1 segment
Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified
18 segments
Senator Bart Hester Unverified
12 segments
Speaker 212
1 segment
Speaker 215
1 segment
Speaker 216
1 segment
Speaker 218
23 segments
Speaker 221
1 segment
Speaker 225
5 segments
Speaker 228
1 segment
Senator Bryan King Unverified
12 segments
Speaker 248
3 segments
Senator Breanne Davis Unverified
15 segments
Speaker 262
1 segment
Nick Fuller Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 274
1 segment
Representative Jessie McGruder Unverified
3 segments
Speaker 283
1 segment
Speaker 288
1 segment
Speaker 220
1 segment
Speaker 36
1 segment
Speaker 63
1 segment
Speaker 101
1 segment
Speaker 193
1 segment
Speaker 41
1 segment
Speaker 313
1 segment