Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (2)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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SR13
· 5 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR13 - TO RECOGNIZE APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN ARK…”
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TO RECOGNIZE APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN ARKANSAS AND TO COMMEND THE COURT … | J. Dismang | Sine Die adjournment |
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SR1
· 2 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “would you please read it a third time? Senate Resolution 1 by Senator Hester, a joint session of the Senate and the Ho…”
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FOR A JOINT SESSION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT 12:30 P.M., … | Hester | Sine Die adjournment |
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- October 2, 2026
The2026 fiscal session of the ninetyfifth general assembly is now called to order. The president pro tempmp of the Senate Senator Bart Hester has appointed the following members of the Senate to escort Sabrinaikai, Evelyn Llewellyn into the Senate chamber Senator Kimhammer, chairman, Senator Blake Johnson, Senator Gregledting and Senator Scott Flippo. Senator Hester
you're now recognized for a motion nominating Sabrina Llewellyn as director and secretary of the Arkansas Senate. Thank you Lieutenant
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
10:01
governor members like to present to you M Sabrina Llewellyn and make a motion that she be hired as
the director of the senate thank you Senator Hester. would anyone like to
speak against the motion Any anyone like to speak for the motion
Senator hester has closed all those in favor of the motion please signify by saying aye any
congratulations madam Secretary and presiding officer would ask if you have any comments that you would like to make
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
11:25
to the body thank you madam President. I was raised to do what I could
Chair
Unverified
11:33
to make sure that the work I do, the service I give and the life that I live speak for me and I certainly hope the last 23 years of being with all of you and other senators who are no longer here has done just that that has led to this day. thank you for
Speaker 21
11:49
the opportunity to be in service to you
and3.2 million Arkansans thank you madam secretary it's an honor to serve with you and at this time the Secretary of the Senate will call the roll any senators wish to request leaveb. Senator Rice, you're recognized leave forenator hickey
Chair
Unverified
12:20
thank you madam Secretary. please call the roll Boyd Bryantcaldwell clark, Krowll, Davis deeses, Disming dotson English flippo flowers, Gilmorehammer hester hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love Mcee Murdockeyton,
Penzo, Petty, Rri, Scott Simon Stoneulllivan Tucker Wallace thank you madam Secretary. if
everyone in the chambers and the gallery would please rise. Thesenate will be
led in prayer by deacon Tom Pomeyer. This will be followed by the pledge of allegiance if everyone would remain standing
Speaker 33
13:29
they can pollmeyer you're recognized Lord God, you are the author of life and the giver of every good gift. in this moment of prayer we recognize that you desire the good of the human family you desire and ordered society that works for the good of each of your beloved children You call every person to make sacrifices for the good of others and the use of their
talents for a noble purpose. We ask your blessings on each person here. Give them the gifts of your holy Spirit so that they are guided by wisdom infused with knowledge moved by understanding and strengthened with fortitude. Howcom helped them to recognize their brothers and sisters, the people they represent bear fruit from their integrity and help them overcome personal weaknesses bring them to the sense of
shared mission in creating laws that truly serve the people of Arkansas.ive them both a strength of conviction and a willingness to listen Give them the eyes to see the most vulnerable among us and discovered your plan for human thriving in our communities. create a true sense of collaboration in their decisions and in a sense of purpose for the common good for every challenge in the path ahead guide them loving father we also place in your care the families of each
person here and the intentions dear to their hearts fill them with grace and peace and ease their hearts of every worry that come with their work and life in this world. May this work be for the
Speaker 35
15:23
glory of your name and care for all your beloved children. Amen. and and stands invisible with a very reading
Thank you deacon for those uplifting words President protemp of the senate Senator Bart Hester has appointed the following members of the Senate to escort the secret of State Co Jester to the Senate chamber for the purpose of delivering special election results to the members of the Senate. Senator Kimhammer chairman Senator Tyler Deeses, Senator Allanclark
Speaker 41
16:22
Mr. Secretary, you're recognized certainly glad to see you today go has called each of you here for a special purpose in this session but I want to recognize a new member of your ranks so Mr. President pro tempore senators family members friends and honored guests in accordance with Arkansas law it is my duty and privilege to present the winner of the special election in Senate District 26. Iojester, Secretary of State for the state of Arkansas hereby cert ify that Brad Simon received the
highest number of votes in Senate District 26. the special election held on March3,2026 as certified to my office by the various county clerks. Senator, congratulations Thank you Mr Secretary. at this time
the president pro tem of
the Senate Senator Bart Hester has appointed the following members of the Senate to escort Chief Justice Karen Baker to the senate chamber for the purpose administering a ceremonial oath of office to the newly elected senator, Senator Jim Petty, chairman, Senator Stephanie Flower, Senator Matt Stone and Senator Dave Wallace.
this time I'd also ask for leave for newly elected senator Simon's family and friends to be on the floor who have joined us today. thank you sanders
Welcome madam Chief Justice Karen Baker to the Senate Chief
Justice Karen Baker will now administer a ceremonial oath of office to the new senator. Could you
Speaker 46
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raise your right hand fredimmond do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that
Speaker 47
19:14
I will support the constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United and the
Speaker 48
19:21
Constitution of the state of Arkansas and the constitution of the state of Arkansas and that I will
Speaker 47
19:30
faithfully discharge the duties and will faithfully discharge the duties of Senate seat district 26atestrict to the best of my ability to the
Speaker 46
19:39
best of my ability. so help me so help me congratulations
you're welcome thank you madam Chief Justice. at this time Senator Bart Hester will now be joined by Senator Gregledting, Senate minority leader and senator Blake Johnson, Senator majority leader to present the Senate lapel pin to Senator Brad Simon.
congratulations Senator Simon. President protemp of the senate Senator Bart Hester appoints the following members of the senate to notify the governor that the senate is organized and ready for business. Senator Josh Bryant, chairman, Senator Jim dotson, Senator Clark Tucker and Senator Brad Simon and please return to the chamber
following your appointments the president pro temp of the senate, Senator Bart Hester appoints the following members of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives that the Senate is organized and ready for business Senator Dan Sullivan, chairman Senator Fred Love, Senator Gregledting the president pro temp of the Senate Senator Bart Hester appoints the following members of the Senate to escort the governor at the proper time and
the chamber of the House of Representatives for the joint session Senator Jane English, chairman Senator
Speaker 4
22:47
Blake Johnson, Senator Reginald Murdock and Senator Kimhammer of the
Speaker 11
23:31
I failed to mention earlier but to our ladies and gentlemen in the galleries welcome to your Arkansas state senate. it
is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings we're glad that you're here you brought and senators we will wait just a moment until the senators who are have been appointed by the
Senate president pro temp to make those notifications until they
return. Senator Hester you are recognizedember since we have since
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
24:09
we have a few minutes while they're going to do that theres there's there's going to be two things that that that I ask when we come back after the governor does her state of the state one is today is casa day so I'm going
to ask or senator Dismay will ask that we suspend the rules to allow to hear a CSA resolution and then I'm going to ask to suspend the rule on the intervening day rule
which is common practice in the fiscal session but if anyone wants to talk about any of that between now and then those are the two things we'll ask to do when we come back whichever is later so we we will have joint budget today at 2:30 or after we adjourn the
joint session whichever is later. so 2:30 yeah we have to be adjourned here and they have to be adjourned before we go
Speaker 67
25:03
meet but anyway that's some expectations
today Sender Mark Johnson you're recognized for an introduction
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
25:25
Thank you madam President. it is my honor to introduce our doctor of the day, Dr. Beth Milligan.
she's a family practitioner. I'm proud to have her here and also our nurse Lee
Fazio is back with us again and please give them a warm welcome forward they'll come to the well and say the business
This time I'd recognize members of the House of Representatives who have joined us on the Senate floor p
Speaker 78
26:23
re s ent ative mates you're recognized thank you
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
26:27
madam lieutenant governor Honorable colleagues of the Arkansas Senate. I'm here to let you know that the Arkansas House of Representatives has convened and we're ready to do business. looking forward to working with
you all. thank you. thank you Representative meeks and other members of the house for joining us on the Senate floor today
Speaker 98
29:42
it's senators if if if I could ask the body to please take your
respective seats so that way we can move through the other agenda item prior to a joint session madam Secretary,
are there items to be at the desk to be read across. Yes, madam President,
Chair
Unverified
30:35
Senate resolution one by senator hester for a joint session of the senate and the House of Representatives at 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday April8th,2026 in the house chamber to hear an address by the honorable Sarah Sanders governor of the state of Arkansas Senate resolution Senator Hester you're recognized members you've heard it's a resolution so
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
31:00
we can recess and go down to the joint chamber joint session asked me to read
it a third time director would you please read it a
Chair
Unverified
31:11
third time. Senate resolution one by Senator Hester a joint session of the senate and the House of Representatives
at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday April8th,2026 in the house chamber to hear an address by the honornorable Sarah Sanders governor of the state of Arkansas
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
31:27
Senator hester you've heard it it's it's so we can recess
to go to a joint session. Any questions saying no questions anyone wish to speak against the resolution, anyone wish to speak for seeing none all those in favor of resolution one please signify by saying aye aye and he opposed ayes have it resolution is adopted
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
31:48
Senator Hester, you're recognized for another motion I just make a motion that we recess until 10 minutes upon
adjournment of the joint session. any questions anyone we should speak against or for Senator has closed all those in favor of the motion to recess and to adjourn 10 minutes following adjournment of the joint session. please signify by saying aye any opposed
Speaker 13
32:19
ayes have it motion is adopted. Motion carries rather
with that we will be in recess until 10 minutes following joint session
senate will be called back to order Senator hester you're recognized madam
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:10:52
President, I move to suspend the senate's intervening day rule for the fiscal session in the ninety5fth
Speaker 106
2:10:59
General Assembly. Any questions? all those in favor please say aye aye and he opposed habit motion carries madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes
Chair
Unverified
2:11:12
madam President. Senate resolution 13 by Senator Dismay
to recognize april as child abuse prevention month in Arkansas and to commend the court appointed special advocateassa programmes Senate resolution 13 Sener dismaying you're recognized think you'd like to make
a motion to spin the rules
to add SGR13 to the calendar all those in favor of the motion to
suspend the rules to add SJR13 to today's calendar. please signify by saying aye
Chair
Unverified
2:11:46
any opposed ayes have it motion carries madam secretary Senate resolution 13 by Senator Disma to recognize april as child abuse prevention month in Arkansas and to commend the court appointed
Speaker 114
2:12:07
special advocateassagrames. senator dismayne you're recognized
yeah it's worth it you want to introduce your guest
Asked leave for them on the floor I'd like to let
Chair
Unverified
2:12:31
or ask for leave for representatives fromassa whereas the children of Arkansas are among the state's most valuable resources and their safety, well-being and the success are vital to the strength and future of our communities and whereas child abuse and neglect remain serious concerns that affect the physical, emotional and developmental well-being of children across Arkansas and whereas preventing child abuse and neglect requires the commitment of families,
communities, nonprofit organizations and public leaders working together to ensure children are protected and supported and whereas april is recognized nationally as child abuse prevention month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness, strengthening families and promoting community involvement in the protection of children and whereas Arkansas is home to 23 court appointed special advocate casa programs that serve children in foster care system by recruiting training and supporting volunteers appointed
by judges to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and whereas costs of volunteers provide vital advocacy by gathering information, making recommendations to the court and helping ensure that children have the opportunity to achieve safe stable and permanent homes and whereas in 202,520,780 children in Arkansas were served by more than 1 served by more than 1300casa advocates demonstrating a strong
commitment by volunteers to professionals to improving outcomes for children in foster care whereas the senate recognizes the importance of raising awareness about child abuse prevention and commendsoa programs their staff and volunteers for their dedicated service to children and families across the state. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate of the ninetyfifth general assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate recognized april as child abuse prevention month in Arkansas and encourage all citizens to support efforts that
strengthen families, protect children and promote safe and nurturing environments. Senator diss man you're recognized
a motion that we adopt joint resolution 13. all those
in favor of adopting Senate resolution 13. please signify by saying I any opposed ayes have it Senate resolution 13 is adopted.
members so that we kind of put this resolution together at the very end so sorry about how that works because I know that we would have had Unius support even as sponsors of the resolution today but today we had cost a day at the capitol hopefully you've had a chance to visit with some of your representation from your local communities. this is a critical organization that helps our children and provides them with voices that they would otherwise not have it's a complicated world that they're in and they're doing their very best to make that as simple as they can and provide all the
assurance they can to children that are going through some of the toughest times in their lives so with that again we want to say thank you and hopefully everybody's had a chance to get around and if you haven't seek out your local cost representatives have a conversation with them and one little plug here that I'll say this group doesn't have lobbyists right this is a volunteer organization. they are not paid. they're doing this because they want to do the right thing let's take the time to have the conversations that we need to make sure that we give the value that we should to the service
that they provide. so with that thank you all very much thank you
senator dismaying and thank you to all of ourASa representatives for being here today and appreciate you all's work thank you
Chair
Unverified
2:16:37
got a question for you very much senator dismaying you are recognized again and we did go ahead and pass we
did pass that motion just want to
Speaker 125
2:17:01
make sure you're scared but I've got a question chairman
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
2:17:04
of budget and you realize thatcasa struggled for
funds and everything to operate as you said a while ago there not paid they're volunteers and they are struggling for those needs. Are you aware of that? Yeah, there's been
a federal cut in voca and that's the outcome of that and we need to be working with our federal delegation to make sure that they're adequately funded and also in the short term we have responsibilities too. thank you sir thank you but I do have an announcement to make Senator Di man you're
recognized for an announcement. Any anyone else who has an announcement, I would encourage you to come stand
along this wall so that way I can recognize you following the senator dismay. so the first one's not as important we're going to meet
at 2:30 joint budget's going to we've got one bill to take up we have to wait until 2:30 because the House didn't suspend the rules so that's why that is and so just here shortly we need to go over we're going to vote on one appropriation bill and hopefully wind up our business pretty quickly. Seats are already selected so if you're worried
about that don't. Second is and I'm gonna steal your thunder so I don't know if y'all know this or not but Senator ster hester is a grandpa.
I mean I was sitting behind you on the floor today and I see the gray hair and I was like yeah it's time it's time. So but with that also so what we're gonna do during the session is there's going to be a ballot we'll pass it around and we need to come up with you know normally the grandchildren name the grandpa, you know whatever the nickname is we're gonna do that for him on the on the floor here we'll have a vote at the very end. I met Paw Paul right now y'all come up with your own
and and we'll work through but anyway, congratulations Senator hester
thank you senator Disma and Senator Hester, I would like for you to give us the name of your new your granddaughter
Speaker 133
2:18:54
and brag on her for a minute because we want to we want her to have her name Well
Senator Matt Stone
Unverified
2:19:00
I very much appreciate that. I know many of us in here have grandkids but as of last night I haveeliza
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:19:06
Ann Laney was born at Baptist and we are super thrilled so thank you thanksandra Hester and you're recognized for announcements.
Senator Matt Stone
Unverified
2:19:18
Does that mean I can like make any motion and get it right now maybe here's what I think our
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:19:25
understanding is of course the body will do what
they want to do the budget should re be expected to be quick tomorrow morning at 9. so I'm gonna call us in at 10 a.m. tomorrow without objection we'll do that we'll come in 10 but the normal process will be 9 a.m. budget 1 pm. in the on the floor but tomorrow will be 10 a.m.
OK any other announcements? Senator dees you're recognized thank you madam
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
2:19:58
President. Members make sure you get your payment for the jerseys that we've ordered for the softball game the charity event. please get the payment to Miss Sabrina to make sure that we get those jerseys ordered correctly we've got to make sure we defend our title and beat the house in this year's new event at the softball fields that'll be coming in here in a few weeks so get your
payment in I appreciate it thank you any
other announcements seeing no other announcements subject to the reading
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
2:20:32
of items across the desk the Senate will adjourn until Thursday, April9,2026 at 10 a.m.
Agenda
Call to Order
Senate members to escort Sabrina NeKay Evelyn Lewellen in to the Senate Chamber
Motion to Nominating Sabrina NeKay Evelyn Lewellen as Director and Secretary of the Arkansas Senate
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Secretary of State Cole Jester escorted into the Senate Chamber and to delivered special election results
Escort Chief Justice Karen Barker into the Senate Chamber for the purpose of administering a ceremonial oath of the office
Senator Brad Simon ceremonial oath of office
Senator Bart Hester appoints members of the Senate to notify the Governor that the Senate is organized and ready for business.
Senator Bart Hester appoints members of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives that the Senate is organized and ready for business.
Senator Bart Hester appoints members of the Senate to escort the Governor, at the proper time, in the the Chamber of the House of Representatives for the Joint Session.
Introduction of Nurse and Doctor of the Day
Rep. Meeks informing the Senate that the House is Ready for Business
SR1 - FOR A JOINT SESSION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT 12:30 P.M., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026, IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER, TO HEAR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONORABLE SARAH SANDERS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
Motion for the Senate to recess for the members to attend the Joint Session
Recess
Reconvene
SR13 - TO RECOGNIZE APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN ARKANSAS AND TO COMMEND THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA) PROGRAMS.
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair
Unverified
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Speaker 13
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 21
Speaker 33
Speaker 35
Speaker 41
Speaker 46
Speaker 47
Speaker 48
Speaker 4
Speaker 11
Speaker 67
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Speaker 78
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Speaker 90
Speaker 93
Speaker 98
Speaker 106
Speaker 114
Speaker 125
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Speaker 133
Senator Matt Stone
Unverified