House Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (3)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HR1001
· 8 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “5. Representative Vaught presents House Resolution 1001 for a joint session of the House and Senate to hear an addr…”
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FOR A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE AT 12:30 P.M., … | Vaught | READ AND ADOPTED. |
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HR1002
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…k resolution 12 that objection read the bill a second time. House Resolution 1002 calendar House Bill1001 that objection read the bill a seco…”
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TO AUTHORIZE RECESSES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE SENATE, OR BOTH, FOR PERIODS … | Vaught | READ AND ADOPTED. |
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HR11
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “house resolution 11.resolution 101 for a joint session of the House of Represen…”
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Pre-2017 bill |
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- October 2, 2026
Unknown speaker
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i check 121234ic check 12345.
Check check 12 Check check 12
Chair
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in accordance with and by authority of the Arkansas constitution Article5, Section5, the fiscal session
Representative Brian S. Evans
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of the ninetyfifth Arkansas General Assembly will now come to order I invite the members staff press and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Richard Hamlin, senior pastor faith Baptist Church of Cabot. Please
Chair
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remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. heavenly fatherther God do you
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invited us to the author of the book of Hebrews to come boldly before you're throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need and first of all God we're so grateful that your throne is indeed a throne of grace and mercy because we need both in great abundance but it is especially for your grace, God that I call upon you for this assembly today because they'll need your grace many of them have gone through
great struggles since last they gathered together many challenges are ahead but God your grace is sufficient and we claim that promise today in
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Jesus' name amen. the States of America and the republic always the sands one nation and another. indivisible
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Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. prepare the machine madam clerk.
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as everyone indicated their presence cast up
Representative Aker
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the ballot madam clerk With97 members present the chair sees a quorum. are there any requests for leave Representative Richardson for what
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purpose you're recognized we're requesting leave for the honorable representative from
Representative Aker
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district66 Mark Perry. His leave granted for Representative Markerry Representative Moore for what
purpose you're recognized forpresentative His leave granted
Representative Aker
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for resident representative Brandon Aker so granted Members I would ask you to rise
Chair
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with me at this time for recognition of some very special guests that we have here with us today I'd first ask you to
Representative Brian S. Evans
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direct your attention to the back of the chamber.wo members of our Arkansas law enforcement team that are here working on our behalf today. We very much are
happy to have them first with us we have Trooper firsttclass Dustin Starkey of the highway patrol Administration and also law enforcement officer Destiny Woods from the
Representative Aker
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Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, would you please make them welcome? Over to the left in the
Representative Brian S. Evans
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back of the chamber we have with us Do Beth Milligan, doctor of familymi and emergency
medicine from LittleRock she is guest today of Representative Andrew
Collins. please make Doctor Beth Milligan welcome. or king alongside
Dr. Milligan there. I know everyone recognizes her. We are happy to have back with us Miss Lee Fazio, our nurse of the day thank you members you may be seated. Madam clerk please read
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house resolution 11.resolution 101 for a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate at 12 ir pm. Wednesday April82026 in the house chamber to hear and addressed by the honornorable Sarah Sanders governor of the state of Arkansas. madam clerk please read the resolution a second time. Houseresolution 1001.
Chair
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madam clerk please read the resolution a third time. House Resolution 1001 Representative Vaut, you are recognized to speak for the resolution.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
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Thank you Mr Speaker. the resolution is exactly what she said it's just so that we can convene with the joint senate and I would appreciate a good vote on the resolution.
Chair
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Members Representative Vauug has explained the resolution would anyone like to speak against the
Representative Brian S. Evans
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resolution anyone like to speak for the resolution if not the question before the house is the passage of house resolution 1001. all in favor say
Chair
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aye oppose nay the ayes have it Following committee is appointed to notify the senate that the house is now in session and ready for business Chairman Representative Sttephen
Representative Aker
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meekspresentative Denise garner Representative Brandon Aker Representative Tara Shepherd Representative Jeremy wooldridge, Representative JessemcGruder would you please notify the Senate that the
Representative Brian S. Evans
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house is in session. chair also appoints the following committee to notify
governor Sanders that the house is in session
Chair
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and ready for business chairman Representative Ron Mcnair Representative Austin McCollum
Representative Aker
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Representative Julie Mayberry Representativeharlan Bro
Chair
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Representative Tracy Steele Representative Brad Hall members will you please go to the governor's
Representative Brian S. Evans
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office notify governor Sanders that the house is in session.
Unknown speaker
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Read the bills madam clerk resolution 12 that objection read the bill a second time. House Resolution 1002 calendar House Bill1001 that objection read the bill a second time. House Bill1001 calendar House Bill12 without objection read the bill a second time. House Bill102 joint budget House Bill1003 that objection readad the bill a second time. House Bill103 House management
Representative Brian S. Evans
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Members we are waiting on the arrival of the senate so appreciate your patience
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sergeant of arms for what purpose please admit the senate into the house chamber
Representative Tracy Steele
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Members the chair recognizes senator Dan Sullivan Mr Speaker the
Senator Dan Sullivan
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senate is organized and ready to do business and it's great to be back here in front of my fellow house members thank you thank
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you senatorulllivan.embers of the house will stand in recess until 12:30 p.m.
Representative Brian S. Evans
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y authority of house resolution 1001 and Senate resolution one the joint session of the House of Representatives and the senate is called to order I invite the members staff press and guests in the galleries to stand first for an honorary moment of silence
Chair
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on the passing of our friend and former colleague Representative Stanerry and then to be led in prayer by Richard Hamlin, senior pastor offaith Baptist Church of Cabot. I would ask
Representative Brian S. Evans
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you to remain standing for the presentation of
the colors of the Arkansas statelice colo guard for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean and the singing of the
Representative Aker
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national anthem to be performed by Miss Morgan Warmington from the office of the governor. would you please rise for a moment of silence.
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Our Lord God, you have invited us to be careful for nothing to in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to let our requests be made known unto you with the your peace that passes all understanding would keep our hearts and minds through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. and we do at this moment lift up the family of Representativeerry. we know that they still struggle through their grief and you God who are the God of
all comfort can bring grace not only for them Fa, but for this entire legislative body. I pray that you would remind them in a world that is so full of turmoil as ours he is in a state that is not immune to it and even to a legislative body that can struggle through times of turmoil help them God to remember that the path to peace is a path of prayer and we pray
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Oh can you see y the dawn's early life what's so proudly we held at the twilight's last gleaming who's broad stripes and bright stars through the fight or the
ra ers were we're so ga ll ant ly streaming and the red the bombs bursting air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there say does
that star spangled or the land of the free and the hum of the
Representative Aker
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you may be seated members we have several guests
Representative Brian S. Evans
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here with us today just like to take a moment of pause to recognize them, thank them for their participation in today's ceremony for the duties that they provide. First off in the back of the chamber by the entry doors we'd like to recognize two members of our Arkansas law enforcement team we have with us today trooper firstlass Dustin Starkey of the highway Patrol
Chair
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Administration and we have law enforcement officer Destiny Woods from the Arkansasame and Fish Commission would you please give them a round of applause.
Representative Tracy Steele
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Dustinestiny thank you for your service to us and to the state of Arkansas also with us today in the back
Representative Brian S. Evans
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of the chamber over to my left we have Do Beth Milligan, doctor of familymi and emergency medicine from here in
LittleRock. she is guest today Representative Andrew Collins, Doctor Beth Milligan is our doctor of the day. serving alongside
Doctor Milligan here with us a day after day when we're in session we appreciate her very much please welcome Lee Fazio our nurse.
Members up in the east gallery over to my left we are honored to have guests here with us today.
the Arkansas Constitutional officers that are joining us today up in the east gallery would you please make them welcome? Over to my right your left we are honored to have several guests here with us today. we have family and friends here of newly elected state senator Brad
Simon. We have Miss Cynthia Hill, wife of senator Ricky Hill. we have Logan Millsap guest of Representative RyanRose. here with representatives ofassa and Angy Tate, guest of Representative Jeremyooldridge we have guest of Representative Andrew Collins, Sttephen Person and Max Deutchler and we also have with us today Miss Jenny Stone, wife of senator Matt Stone. Welcome to the house chamber
Representative Aker
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madamlieutenant governor you are recognized Thank you
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Mr Speaker this time members of the senate and the House of Representatives are the ninetyfifth general assembly. please allow me to introduce the new director and secretary of the Arkansas Senate, Sabrinaiay, Evelyn Llewellyn.
madam Secretary, please call the roll. a moment of
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personal privilege if you would allow me to thank the principal of this chamber the best clerk of the House of Representatives of the 99th chambers sherry Stackxx.
Boydryant, caldwell, Clark, Krowll, Davis deeses Disming dotson English Flippo flowers, Gilmorehammer hester hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Kingledting love Mckee Murdockeyton, Penzo, Petty
rice, Scott, Simon Stone, ulllivan, Tucker, Wallace. Thank you madam Secretary.
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and before the house calls roll, I would like to take a point of personal privilege and recognize our esteemed members of the Arkansas Supreme Court who are here with us today. Chief Justicearren Baker, Justice Barbara Webb, Cody Highland, Sean Wommack and Nick Brawney justices welcome to the joint
assembly I would, I would also like to take a point of personal privilege and recognize my fellow constitutional officers who are here attorney general Tim Griffin commissioner of
state lands Tommy Land, auditor of state Dennismilligan treasurer of state John Thurston and secretary of state cole Jester. thank you all so much for being here today. Representatives please indicate your
Chair
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presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine madam clerk
Representative Tracy Steele
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So everyone indicated their presence Cast up
Representative Aker
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the ballot madam clerk there are 97 members present the chair sees a quorum. are there any requests for leave Representative Moore for what purpose? you're recognized is leave granted forpresentative Brandon Aker so granted Representative Scott Richardson for what purpose? Le you're recognized leave request
forpresentative Mark Perry is leave granted for Representative Mark Perry so moved
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Madamlieutenant governor you are recognized thank you Mr Speaker. The president pro temp of the Senate Senator Bart Hester appoints the following members of the senate to escort the governor and to the house chamber for the joint session. Senator Jane English, chairman, Senator Blake Johnson,
Senator Reginald Murdock and Senator
Representative Brian S. Evans
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Kim Hammer. Speaker appoints the following representatives as the committee from the house to escort governor Sarah Huuckabee
Representative Aker
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Sanders into the house chamber Representative Lane Jean chair Representative Fred Allenpresentative Marcus Richmond Representative Matthew shepherd p re s ent ative Francis Kavanaughpresentative Jeff Wardlawpresentative John Eubanks
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announce around you guys lip but I got you
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Ready ma'am I'll announce you and get out of your
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way Mr Speaker Mr sergeant of arms for what purpose admitted
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to the governor of the great state of Arkansas the honorable Sarah Huuckabee Sanders. Mr Sergeant at arms, please
Representative Tracy Steele
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admit the governor into the house chamberlcome ma'am
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governor Sanders you are recognized thank you good afternoon Speaker Evans, President Hester constitutional officers members of the supreme court distinguished members of the general assembly my incredible family, my fellow Arkansans welcome to the start of the 2026 fiscal session
Sadly this year our legislative body is not 135 members but 134 I know we've already had a moment of silence but I ask that you would stand and join me in a moment of recognition forpresentative Stanerry who passed away last month after decades of service to our state. he will be missed and we are thankful for the great work that he did.
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free to stem back up later and cheer again. I also want to give a special thanks to someone who traveled all the way back to
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Arkansas from Israel to be with our family this week. My mom Janet Huuckabee through this year
my dad is still in Israel but he promised he would tune in and watch mom and dad we love you and we're praying for
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you. On Easter Sunday my dad sent our family the note that he had sent to his full embassy staff. he said and I quote this weekend marks one year since I came to serve as ambassador. on my first full day in Jerusalem I went to the western Wall to
place a prayer that President Trump had handwritten and given to me in the oval officefice to bring on behalf of the American people. wo days later, Janet and I attended the Easter sunrise service at the garen tomb. it was a wonderful beginning to the adventure of a lifetime. In one year we've lived through five wars with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis the twelveday war with Iran last
summer and nowperation Epic Fury. Tomorrow will be a very different kind of Easter for us than last year the sunrise service at the garen tomb is canceled for safety concerns If churches meet at all, they will be limited to no more than50 people or less depending on their shelter capacity. Perhaps you think that I'm deeply depressed by such a somber atmosphere and very limited options for public
worship this Easter. but while there is some personal disappointment my faith is fueled not by how full the churches or how special the services are It is fueled by the emptiness of the tomb. signed Mike Huckabee If you hear nothing else I say
today, hear this Jesus is our living hope for each of us, for our state, for our country America was founded 250 years ago. as one nation under God. we have our differences but our shared faith, our shared values and our shared love of the people of Arkansas is stronger and more important than any difference
the people of Arkansas sent each one of us here to work together to solve problems and lead a better more prosperous state 250 years ago our founders put aside their differences to create a new nation forged around the ideals of liberty and justice We are heirs to that great country and we should do the same The immediate threats our founders faced were very different
but the challenges so many Arkansans face every day it's no less daunting despite adversity there is hope We live in the best state in the greatest country in the world and the state of our state has never been stronger. not long ago my husband Brian and our 10 year old son George
were driving to a friend's hunting camp It was late they had the music on and George put down the window to look up at the stars. He said to Brian, it should be a rule that you can never live somewhere you can't see the stars after a successful hunt the next morning, they were driving back home and George said dadddy, I've made my decision I'm gonna live here in the delta when I grow up. It has it all. you can farm
you can hunt you can fish and you can see the stars Moments I share with my kids often remind me of what's really important and just how blessed I am. The work we do here is ultimately not about us but about the next generation to make Arkansas a land of unlimited opportunity. for our kids and our grandkids. congratulations senator. But the
Arkansas we know and love in all of its beauty and it's extraordinary potential will not be the one that our kids inherit if we don't fight for it Since I stood before you in this chamber last year President Trump was sworn in for a second historic term. and he has made quick work of his many campaign promises our country's border is no longer open Tax cuts from his first term are
now permanent our enemies abroad actually fear us. He exposed government waste in the common sense values that made our country great or once again guiding us forward into another golden age of America. and President Trump has no greater friend than the people
of Arkansas. at the end of last year, I started the faces of Arkansas programme which every month tells the story of a different Arkansan who's impacted by the work that each of us do here. they're portraits hang in my office as a reminder of our top priority, the people of our state Today I'm not here just to talk about policies but to share the
stories and the faces of ourkansans who are counting on us to make a real difference in their lives you all know that my first policy priority as governor has been education and three years after the Learns Act was signed into law. We have an incredible story that we can be all be proud of. Reading scores in
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every single grade level but one have gone up
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and literacy coaches are now working in everyd and F rated school in the state of Arkansas. hree years ago, our schools were ranked fortyirrd in the country. now we're36 and I know that we will only keep moving up
with us today is Kevin from Tiller, Arkansas. he's a senior at Cornerstone Christian. before the Learns Act, Kevin's family would never have been able to afford private school tuition so they were resigned to Kevin being in a struggling assigned school. However, two years ago because of the EFA program created by Lawreence. Kevin was able to enroll in cornerstone Christian. thanks to Cornerstone's learning
lab. he saw enormous growth in his academics and for the very first time in school he had hoped for the future he's now taking welding classes at the U ofA's technical school campus in Mcee. at the end of the year Kevin hopes not only to graduate with his high school diploma but also be well on his way to his welding certificate in a great career right here in Arkansas. You helped make that happen. thank you Kevin
Kevin thank you for not giving up and showing the power of grit and hard work. Thank you Kevin.
we hear stories like Kevin's everywhere We Go. Melissa Ferguson is a mom of two who lives in northwest Arkansas The Fergusons are a military family and have two kids with learning differences Melissa knew her kids needed extra care and attention when learning. and who better to give it to them than herself through the EFA program, Melissa is able to homeschool her kids with specialized resources in individualized attention
Another student is a young woman. I've had the privilege of knowing for a very long time Easter s seals student Alie she's the daughter of one of my close friends from college. Although Allie has always been a happy kid it was hard for her parents to find a sense of belonging for her They wanted a place where she could find self- confidence and joy in everyday life. a place where Aie is really seen and known
They found that community at Easter seals last spring, Allie got to participate in the Easter seals fashion show. Most kids would be pretty nervous about something like that but Aie wasn't. She talked about it for days ahead of time and the night she finally got to put on her pink jumpsuit. She could not take enough pictures or practice enough walks down the runway. When Allie finally took the stage for the event itself.
she walked that runway without a care in the world. that may not seem like a big deal but for Allie it's one of those lifechanging never forget experiences and it was something that was only possible because of the specialized education that she receives at Easter seals. You helped make that happen.
a good education is the key that opens the door to a lifetime of opportunity. we cannot allow a child's destiny to be determined by their zip code or the size of their parent's bank account We will honor our commitment to the next generation in in Arkansas, no child will ever again be trapped in a failing school or sentence to a lifetime in poverty.
we will empower ourkansans with the opportunity to be everything that God created them to be. When you send me a budget think of Kevin think of Melissa think of Aie and think of the44,000 other EFA students whose lives have been forever changed because we fully fund the Learns Act. We will not let them down.
but learns wasn't just about investing in education freedom. it was also the largest investment in public schools in Arkansas history. and a big part of that when exactly where it should to our teachers because we know that great education starts with great
educators We raise starting teacher pay from36,000 dollars to50,000 dollars. We we gave every single teacher in the state of Arkansas a $2000 raise and became one of only two states in the entire country
to give teachers 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. That's a big deal Thi I might become a teacher after this. Another program I'm really proud of is the merit teacher incentiveund.
which in just the first three years has already delivered30 million dollars in bonus pay to more than7,000 amazing educators and one of those great teachers is here with us today. Monica Brewington 1/5 grade teacher from Pocahontas Monica comes from a long line of educators
and she has spent the last three decades in the classroom Monica's students love her and she has built a legacy mentoring future teachers Monica says she was always raised to do her best with or without recognition. but when she got a call from her superintendent and heard that she was getting a7,000 dollars bonus through the merit teacheracher incentive fun. she felt like it had all paid
off. She was finally being recognized for her hard work. a nationwide survey was just released this week that shows 89%.89% of our teachers are satisfied with their jobs thanks to the Learns Act, Arkansas now ranks number one in the nation for teacher job satisfaction
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that matters because you can't have great schools without great teachers while
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other states struggle to recruit and retain them Arkansas is now the best state in America to be a teacher. Monica we are inspired by what you do for your students. Thank you for your incredible work.
when you send me a budget think of Monica and every other teacher counting on our work here in LittleRock. but the progress doesn't end there. When I took office, only35% of Arkansas kids could read at grade level. it was a crisis.y3rd grade, a child must be able to read in order to learn and way too many kids in
Arkansas kept falling further and further behind. in case you didn't know, the L in learns stands for literacy We recognized if we don't address this crisis, we will not improve our schools so throughEns we funded and deployed 120 full-time literacy coaches and provided literacy tutoring grant tutoring grants for families. and now in the most recent year for which we have data
2700 additional kids are reading at or above proficiency. Think of that think of that 2700 kids who without learns would have left school completely unprepared to succeed We are making tremendous strides and finally on the right track
to improving public education in our state just just a few weeks ago I visitederelle Taylor Elementary in Jacksonville. Guess whose district that's in? It had consistently been the worst performing school in the district it also serves kids who need more support than anywhere else Over60% of its students come from lowincome families.
but because of learnans in just three years this school has gone from an F rated school to ab and I know that they are headed for an A. and the woman who engineered that change is with us today Principal Brandy Howell. she's the
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she's so good I promise I'm gonna give you a chance
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to clap for her again. she's the type of person I'd like to clone and put in every single school in our state When I visited the school, I got to see her leadership firsthand. as we were leaving one of the classrooms we visited. Principal Howell called out Learning is what I expected the students to say something like fun or exciting instead they responded required
it's blunt but it's true If we want to see every student succeed and reach their full potential learning must be required. but slogans are not the reason that principal Howe has been successful
this is a school where teachers track every single one of their students progress. so that if they fall behind, they have access to early intervention provided by the Learns Act. They teach their kids to read using the dataprovencience of reading not experimental methods that have been tried and failed. and rincipal Howe supports her teachers when she took over the
school, they had 13 staffing vacancies. last year they had0 Principal Howe, thank you for fighting for your students for setting the bar high and showing what is possible when we require learning. Thank you principal.
when you send me a budget think of principal Howe and the students that are great educators serve every single day a few years ago I heard a story from two friends of mine in pine bluff Bill and Sherri Jones Bill and Sherry are successful business owners when their son was younger, Bill coached his baseball team. the first year he coached, Bill noticed that his team was absolutely stacked with talent.
but despite his players' athleticism they couldn't win Bill enlisted his wife to help him figure out what the disconnect was. Sherry came to practice and quickly realized that the players were hungry Many of the kids weren't being fed regularly at home. So Sherry started bringing food to every practice and not just orange slices and juice boxxes. but full meals She told her husband to hold more practices so she could be
sure that they had dinner. She paid out of pocket to feed her son's entire team just so some kids in the delta didn't go to bed hungry That team went on to win three championships one of the most heartbreaking challenges that families in poverty struggle with is food insecurity which is why we made sure with the work of this group that every single student can get free breakfast at school.
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and we set up summer food programs so kids are getting meals even when they're not on campus. You helped make that happen when you send me a budget
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think of every child in this state who would go hungry without our work to prioritize them. uly funding education makes up the largest portion of this year's budget request, but it's not the only priority my team focused on when crafting it Another needed increase goes to those who protect and serve our state Years ago other cities and states made the disastrous decision
to defund their police Arkansas went the opposite direction We fund our police and we will back the blue every single day in this state.
from theE Act to death by delivery to the defense against criminal Illegals Act. we have fought to give law enforcement the tools they need to do their job and protect ourkansans We put a law and order and rehabilitationfocused majority. on the board of corrections We ensured the most violent criminals serve their full sentence We've opened 1500 new beds at
existing prison facilities. and we created a recidivism pilot program to get inmates back in the workforce and kept off the streets once they've served their time In2024, I announced a new state employee pay plan to give our heroes in law enforcement and our corrections officers the raises that they deserve in this year's budget, we are fully funding that commitment
at the end of last year, our latest troop school graduated and was led by Trooper Bailey Bowers. Trooper Bowers started in law enforcement as a state trooper in his home state of Michigan. but three years into his career up north, he wanted a change The pay we pay raise we provided to new state troopers encouraged Bailey to make the leap and enroll in roop school in Arkansas. but money wasn't the only thing that brought him here.
He also valued leadership and when he arrived at the troope school, he was able to focus on his three priorities God family and the Arkansas Statelice He says it meant something that there were bibles in the barracks and that he and a group of other roop school students could gather after lights out and pray Today Trooper Bowers is based at Troopel in northwest Arkansas and he is just one of many state
troopers who have come to our state because of competitive pay, a great environment and a state that will always protect our people and always stand with our law enforcement Trooper Bowers thank you for your
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service. We are so grateful for our heroes in uniform. Thank you Trooperower.
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when you send me a budget think of Trooper Bailey Bowers. and all the men and women of law enforcement who keep us safe and are counting on us to back them up. The budget we worked together to pass doesn't just invest in education it doesn't just invest in public safety it doesn't just invest in our most vulnerable it also holds the line on out of control growth of government.
and I know that that hasn't been easy I tasked our state agencies to do more with less. so we can deliver savings while still providing quality service and investing more in our key priorities. Thank you to the members of the cabinet who are in the back of the room who have helped make that possible. You guys are doing an amazing job
est team in the country my Arkansas forward initiative plays a key part in that effort. for example we had unused phone and fax lines but we were still paying monthly contracts on them Arkansas forward cut those and is now saving taxpayers $1.4 million every year just getting rid of something
we renegotiated contracts with child welfare providers to return5.2 million dollars to the state We brought a costly web application contract at the office of Early Childhood inhouse saving us $2.4 million. in total Arkansas forward has identified at least300 million dollars in savings and is working rapidly toward implementing those efficiencies. in the meantime you and I have worked together
to cut our state income tax by over 20% in the last three years, returning more than a billion dollars back to taxpayers. we worked together and we eliminated ourkansas's most
regressive tax, the grocery tax. so families can afford to put more food on their tables to fuel investment and growth I signed executive orders to streamline state government cutting permitting in half and removed regulations I'veled economic trade missions around the world to secure deals that helped further establish our state as a leader in aerospace defense steel, gy and advanced manufacturing
creating thousands of highpaying jobs for ourkansans thanks in part to that work, ourkansans are producing some of the key components of Israel'sirron Dome and hopefully we'll be instrumental in building President Trump's golden dome to protect America We cut the permitting time on new energy projects from 18 months down to6 months helping ourkansans continue to enjoy
some of the lowest utility rates in the country. the results are indisputable Arkansas was recently ranked the number one state for lowest cost of living. the number one state Americans are relocating to for the second year in a row and the number one fastest growing economy in the nation. and as of this morning we have more people working in our state than ever before in Arkansas. that's a good thing.
Arkansas has never been stronger but we still have challenges for many affordability is still a struggle and some of our most vulnerable are particularly exposed A priority in my budget is the 1033 initiative named after a passage in the Bible, Luke 10:33. The arable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan after he commanded his followers to love your neighbor as yourself.
as Christians and as lawmakers we are called to be that good Samaritan and to care for the least among us we also know that keeping people trapped in a cycle of dependency isn't caring for them it's making them forever reliant on government and that is unacceptable The1033 initiative breaks that cycle Holly Reyes who is joining us today from Russellville is someone whose story we want to see repeated all across Arkansas.
Several years ago Holly was in court and not for the first time She'd been driving for five years with a suspended license was battling addiction, living in a homeless shelter with her kids and had just left a 20 yearlong relationship. It was Holly's rock bottom Tickets had piled upon suspensions suspensions had piled upon fines. She tried to explain it all to the judge he told her to sit and wait
until the end of the docket. Holly was sure she was headed to jail. Instead the judge did something totally unexpected he told her about a community support model that could turn your life around Through that program Holly was assigned an advocate Watasha Holly told her she was overwhelmed by the barriers she faced I don't know how to maintain sobriety I don't know how to pay my bills I don't know how I'm going to
feed my kids but Latasha helped first they applied for Snap to get Holly's kids groceries. They got Holly a driver's license They found Holly a permanent place to live and a job opportunity. the next time Holly was in court to get her license back She wasn't alone Latasha was standing there with her. and today Holly doesn't just have a driver's license she's employed off food stamps
and she's sober. Holly, we are so proud of the enormous change you have made to your life and for the courage
Speaker 132
1:57:29
to let us tell your story. Thank you.
Speaker 129
1:57:56
when you send me a budget, think of Holly and the thousands of other vulnerable Arkansans that we can move from crisis to care to career through the 1033 initiative. we will show that integrated technology and strong community partnerships will decrease the need for welfare. grow our workforce and deliver taxpayer savings through more efficient use of resources Today I'm asking all of us to make the right but tough decisions
We can care for our people and we can still hold the line on the expansion of government. No new medicaid coverage mandates, no additional long term ongoing expenses if we do that together as soon as we pass our budget I will call a special session to cut income taxes for the fourth time in4 years. this will allow us to immediately cut taxes
by another 2/0 of a point and return more than $180 million to taxpayers this year. when we do this together we will
have cut 25% off of our state income tax in just four years and given back more than $1.5 billion to our people. loww taxes and a great quality of life are a really big reason that people moved to our state but I believe the best way to keep our state growing is to protect and preserve our values and our way of life no woke indoctrination in our classrooms. no men in women's sports
no big tech exploiting our kids no catch and release for the most dangerous violent criminals and no foreign adversaries in Arkansas. I am proud to have worked with this body to be the first governor in the country to kick communist China off of our farmland and out of our state and make them pay for it on the way out the door.
Arkansans love God and one another and we must never forget what makes our state truly unique and special. our shared faith. We can be confident in our future not because we are great and strong but because Christ is great and strong within us. During my 2.5 years serving as President Trump's press secretary. I traveled on every single one of his foreign trips.
the most unforgettable was December 25th of 2018. and I'm sure some of you as I'm starting this story, think you've heard it before but just wait until the end My husband Bryan and I had just cleaned up the wrapping paper left around the house by our three kids. When I had to walk out on my own family's Christmas. I couldn't tell them where I was going because it's the place I was traveling to was so dangerous they didn't want anyone to know
that the president would be on the ground even for a few hours We boarded Air Force One in complete and total darkness. there were no lights on the plane there were no lights on the runway we were going completely off the grid. 1el hours later in the pitch black we landed in the war-torn part of western Iraq. ga in
no lights on the plane no lights on the runway. the only light that you could see was coming from about a mile away of where we had touched down. and the reason there was light in that location because it was a dining hall packed with hundreds of US troops gathered thinking they were having dinner with senior military leadership from around the region. they had absolutely no idea
that the president and the first lady were about to walk into that room and when they did it was a sight and a sound that I hope I never forget That room absolutely erupted menn and women from every race, every religion, every political party stood up and chanted over and over and over again in perfect unison US US USA
one of the young soldiers yelled from the back He said, Mr President I reenlisted in the military because of you and the president said and son I'm here because of you as the president made his way around that room that same young soldier came up to me and he said hey Sarah you have a tough job T told him what I do is nothing. take questions we take bombs and bullets
that is a tough job and then in a moment that I know I will cherish forever. That soldier reached up and he pulled the brave rifle's patch off of his shoulder and he placed it into my hand he said, Sarah we're in this together I couldn't say anything so I just hugged him thankful for the heroes who keep us free.
that moment changed my life in ways I'm still seeing nearly seven years later I've told that story hundreds of times over many years but I've never publicly shared the next part that young soldier's name is Dustin Singer Dustin is originally from Texas which I'm still working to forgive after hurricane Katrina, he dropped out of high school and worked in the oil fields
after he got laid off in 2008 he joined the United States Army at age 18. He deployed to Iraq then to Afghanistan then to that last deployment in Syria and Iraq again. He finished his service with the old guard at Arlington National Cemetery. keeping watch over our heroes on our country's most hallowed ground. my retelling of our meeting in
Iraq reached Dustin when he returned back to the states and he reached out to me He shared how he and his wife had settled in Virginia and that he was now raising two young kids. We talked about everything that had happened in both of our lives since that first meeting. and as we were wrapping our call he says my next question caught him off guard. I asked have you ever thought about moving to Arkansas
Dustin had never even been to Arkansas and certainly never considered it a place he'd call home but I knew he was a hard worker he was the exact type of person we wanted to recruit to our state So on January19th of 2025, destin officially left the army and on January25th,2025, he officially started his job at the Arkansas department of Veterans affairs
He bought a bigger house for less money here in LittleRock. He even brought his grandmother to live here and while it's not standing on the battlefield the work he is doing now is lifechanging for his fellow servicemen and women. He personally talks to dozens and dozens of veterans a week telling them all the reasons they should move to Arkansas like he did. He helps them when they exit the service, find a job and a home
and build a great life right here in his new home state of Arkansas. I can think of nobody better to move or work here than those who have worn our nation's uniform in just one year the program that he helps run has become so successful that we're expanding it to help even more of our great veterans call Arkans one of the men, destin recently
talked to is Mason bennett. who served with Dustin at Arlington National Cemetery when Mason left the army, he also moved to Virginia. He got a job but the cost of living was astronomical so we moved to Alabama the cost of living was low, but he couldn't find a job So Mason got in touch with his old friend Dutin. told him he needed help he said he was really looking for a job that could pay him30,000 dollars. Dustin
replied, how does57,000 sound? on a Monday Mason flew into LittleRock and on Tuesday he was hired at the Arkansas Department of Corrections to work as a corporal at the Wrightsville unit. Mason likes his job and the fact that he's able to continue to serve his community but moving to Arkansas was about much more than that so much that his mom and dad are moving here next year too. and when asked why he said
because the American dream is alive that's incredible our nation has unfortunately lost more than 1,050,000 veterans to suicide since 911. that's more than 10 times the number killed in Iraq, Afghanistan in the war on terror combined that's unacceptable and in Arkansas we're fixing it we're standing with our veterans
and we're empowering them with a new mission and a new sense of purpose thanks to the great work of heroes like Dustin. Dustin and Mason are here with us today and as governor, I proudly say to you both welcome home. We are forever grateful for your selfless heroic service to our nation. Thank you.
when you send me a budget think of destin and Mason and Kevin and Melissa and Allie and Monica think of principal Howell and Trooper Bowers hi nk of Holly and every single one of the 3 million people who are privileged enough to call Arkansas home. As Mason said the American dream is alive in Arkansas and it's up to each and every
one of us the heirs of pioneers and patriots to keep it alive for generations to come. our vision is for an arkansas where strong families thrive in safe communities where jobs are abundant and paychecks are rising where the freedom that our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman and child. we're schools
get back to teaching, reading, writing, math and science and where our children learn that the identity that truly matters is the one we all share our identity as children of God and citizens of the United States of America 250 years ago our founders put aside their differences and established the greatest nation the world has ever known. this session let us remember the lessons of
that founding generation and build a state that honors their legacy and stands strong and free for 250 years to come. May God bless you and may God bless the great state of Arkansas. Thank you.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:13:27
Representative meeks for what purpose motion please I hear your motion Mr Speaker madam lieutenant governor I move that we
Chair
Unverified
2:13:40
adjourn this joint session of the nine5fth General Assembly. Representative meeks says a proper motion it's non debatable all those in favor say aye pose nay the ayes have it the joint session is adjourned. members of
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:13:53
the house will reconvene in5 minutes. The House will reconvene in5 minutes.
Unknown speaker
2:14:00
and the senate will reconvene in 10 minutes.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:24:24
Representative meeks for what purpose? Motion please. hear your motion pursuant to House Ru33m, I move that we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon
Speaker 180
2:24:31
that's a proper motion it's non debatable
Representative Aker
Unverified
2:24:34
all in favor say aye pose nay the ayes have it. do we have any announcements any committee announcements Representative Lee Johnson for what purpose announcement you're recognized joint budget will meet at 2:30 and Big Mac A and then
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
2:24:47
again tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Big Mac A Joint budgetge Big Mac A at 230.
Representative Aker
Unverified
2:24:55
any other committee announcements seeing none the desk
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:25:02
will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution the house will be adjourned until 1 p p.m. tomorrow
Agenda
1. Call to order by Speaker of the House Brian S. Evans.
2. Invocation by Pastor Richard Hamlin, Senior Pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Cabot, Arkansas.
3. Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean.
4. Electronic Roll Call of the House.
5. Representative Vaught presents House Resolution 1001 for a joint session of the House and Senate to hear an address by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
7. Speaker Brian S. Evans appoints the following named Representatives as the Committee to notify the Senate that the House is in session and ready for business.
Representative Stephen Meeks, Chairman Representative Denise Garner Representative Brandon Achor Representative Tara Shepherd Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Representative Jessie McGruder
8. Speaker Brian S. Evans appoints the following named Representatives as the Committee to notify Governor Sanders that the House is in session and ready for business.
Representative Ron McNair, Chairman Representative Austin McCollum Representative Julie Mayberry Representative Harlan Breaux Representative Tracy Steele Representative Brad Hall
9. Reading of the Bills that have been introduced.
10. Announcements.
11. Recess.
1. Call to order by Speaker of the House Brian S. Evans
2. Moment of silence for the late Representative Stan Berry
3. Invocation by Pastor Richard Hamlin, Senior Pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Cabot, Arkansas.
4. Posting of Colors by Arkansas State Police Honor Guard
5. Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean
6. National Anthem by Morgan Warbington, Office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
7. Roll Call of the Senate by the Secretary of the Senate
8. Electronic Roll Call of the House by the Clerk
9. President of the Senate Leslie Rutledge announces the following named Senate Committee appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, to escort Governor Sanders to the House Chamber:
Senator Jane English , Chairperson Senator Blake Johnson Senator Reginald Murdock
10. Speaker Evans appoints the following named Representatives as the Committee to escort Governor Sanders to the House Chamber:
Representative Lane Jean, Chairperson Representative Matthew Shepherd Representative Fred Allen Representative Frances Cavenaugh Representative Marcus Richmond Representative Jeffrey Wardlaw
11. Governor Sanders is presented to the General Assembly by Speaker Brian S. Evans.
12. Address by Governor Sanders.
Recess
13. Joint Session adjourns.
reconvene
adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Chair
Unverified
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
Speaker 45
Speaker 50
Speaker 53
Speaker 56
Representative Aker
Unverified
Speaker 58
Representative Kendra Moore Chair
Unverified
Speaker 67
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Speaker 77
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Speaker 91
Speaker 104
Speaker 107
Speaker 115
Speaker 123
Speaker 81
Speaker 125
Speaker 129
Speaker 135
Speaker 142
Speaker 140
Speaker 128
Speaker 144
Speaker 132
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Speaker 180
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified