House Convenes

I am by the member staff press and gas in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by minister Johnny hobby of mall road church of Christ of Camden I guess representive Andrews and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. What about with me please. Our father in heaven. We praise you for another beautiful day in the great state of Arkansas. Although the sun has risen on a new day giving us an awesome view of your creation. We humble ourselves before you. That you would provide everything we need for life sustenance. Thank you lord for another day of your gracious care about a full blessings we pray for the people of this wonderful state. Bless those who will teach our children today those teachers who are indeed Mulder's of dreams. Even our first responders those who continually put themselves in difficult circumstances to protect us. From the youngest of the young at heart I pray they will have compassion on those in need of care. Although there are many who struggle in various ways today those who mourn the loss of loved ones we pray your comfort on them. Those who are battling health issues we pray for their healing. For those who are in need of food clothing and shelter I thank you for the efforts that are made daily across this state to care for our neighbors we are thankful to call Arkansas home bless this body of representatives award with a special measure of wisdom and insight. Thank you for their desire to see our state be a better place in which to live. Their work I know father can be exhausting overwhelming and at times even frustrating. So I pray today that you would renew their spirits as we begin this the week at the capitol. We pray for knowledge wisdom and insight. Bless these men and women who have the great opportunity to mold the future of our great state we pray in the name of Jesus name. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button the machine madam Clerk. Cast about Manafort. With ninety nine members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Represent more for what purpose request for leave for you're recognized I request leave for representative Brandon acre. Is leave granted representative Baker. So noted. Represent different Wardlaw most we dispense the ring in previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees ISRI and finish business are there any Executive communications. Adam Clark please read House resolution ten twenty three. House resolution ten twenty three by representative Graham was recognized the Trinity Catholic middle school science bowl team for winning the United States department of energy national middle school science bowl regional competition represent Graham what you're recognized to present the resolution thank you Mr Speaker so to date we have a number of students and some staff from trendy calving middle school here to receive a award for their performance in a I skews me full in the United States permittee national middle school science bowl regional competition which is held at the university of Arkansas Fort Smith if I can really quickly recognized former pages over here and miss Isabella in the east gallery who is only eleven but insurers means she's more mature than the boys down here today so if you please recognize them for being here and I did a little work for us today. an employer could you please read the resolution in its entirety. I'm court please read resolution its entirety whereas on January twenty eight twenty twenty three the Trinity Catholic middle school science bowl team competed the United States department of energy national middle school science bowl regional competition at the university of Arkansas Fort Smith and where's the unit the Trinity Catholic middle school science bowl team competed against charter schools public schools and other private schools in place by the United States department of energy national middle school science bowl regional competition and where the United States department of energy national science bowl is nationwide academic competition that tests students knowledge in all areas of science mathematics and with middle school student teams from diverse backgrounds and come from a are comprised of four students one alternate and a teacher who serves as an adviser and coach and we're as the team faces off in a fast paced question answer format be tested on a range of science disciplines including biology chemistry earth science physics energy and math and where as beginning in January this year more than five thousand middle school students competed in fifty middle school regional science of alternates and where is the training Catholic middle school science will see members are coached by Mrs TMR's who has spent countless hours preparing the team for the United States Department energy national middle school science bowl regional competition and where's the Trinity Catholic middle school science bowl team members are seventh graders Elliott Brady Henry Morrison make great price and Lucas with and sixth grader Isabelle Garrett and whereas most teams in the United States Department entity national middle school science bowl regional competition enforcement for eighth graders and with the twenty. I think middle school science bowl team will be traveling to Washington DC for the twenty twenty three United States Department energy national middle school science bowl national finals now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House represent is recognized the Trinity Catholic middle school science bowl team for winning the United States department of energy national middle school science bowl regional competition. Thank you madam Clerk appreciate a good vote. Percent grammar is explained resolution when they would like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution. President Graham what's called for the resolution the question before the House is passive House resolution ten twenty three all in favor say aye. Any opposed resolution passes. Manford please res House resolution ten thirty eight as resolution ten thirty eight by representative flowers recognize the links incorporated for a service to the state of Arkansas. The flowers you're recognized explain the resolute. Colleagues please join me in recognizing the links incorporated which is a women's nonprofit service organization dedicated not only to the bonds of friendship among African American women. But also to youth and service to our youth and if I could ask representatives Scott Springer and Shepherd to join me. Thank you very much Mister Speaker. And I'll I'll I'll ask the Clerk to please read the read the resolution in its entirety thank you madam Clerk please read the resolution its entirety wrestling incorporated an international not for profit corporation established in nineteen forty six by Margaret Russell Hawkins is there strictly and where the links incorporated membership consists of seventeen thousand professional women of color in two hundred ninety nine chapters found in forty one states and the district of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in the United Kingdom and whereas the links incorporated is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching sustaining and ensuring the cultural and economic survival African Americans and other persons of African ancestry and whereas the links incorporated programs are implemented through five program classes services to use the arts national transit services international transit services and health and Human Services and with the links incorporated members and contribute over one million service hours annually and have donated one million dollar grants to six organizations including St Jude children's research hospital Smithsonian national museum of African American history and culture N. ninety Negro college fund and where is the United The Little Rock time left in Northwest Arkansas chapters of the links incorporator focus on making a significant and transformative impact in their respective communities receiving educational in intercultural activities and where as the northwest Arkansas chapter activities include assisting young women transition who have aged out of foster care assessing the needs of abused children of color and subsequently donating friendship goals to support play therapy at a local child advocacy center and hosting an art workshop to educate children three six great on black artists and works of art and we're at the time left after projects include bullying prevention. And intervention strategies educating students about the vast three choices beyond the United States with the global of creating a future job full of young minority students focus on careers in international business and foreign affairs and promoting health and wellness for use their dental hygiene and whereas the literature projects include a mentor program into a fear K. through a preparatory academic health and wellness educational intervention programs focusing on prometic. Chronic kidney disease kidney disease and maternal childbirth mortality in the black community donating over two hundred thousand dollars in scholarships African American high school seniors in two hundred thousand dollars to the four historically black colleges and universities Arkansas and with the links incorporated has identified four priorities for legislative advocacy health economic stability civil and voting rights in criminal justice and public safety now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House representatives recognize the links incorporated fourth service working contributions to the communities in the state of Arkansas. President flowers explain the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution. We would like to speak for the resolution president flowers is close for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of house resolution ten thirty eight all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it the resolution is adopted. Representative Matt Brown moved that we adopt a House amendment number one to Senate bill two eighty eight. I'm Clark please read amendment number one. Amendment number one to Senate bill two eighty eight percent brown you're recognized explain the. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues is just an amendment that means a co sponsor present a good vote. President Brown is explain the amendment would he would like to speak against the amendment when you would like to speak for the amendment. President Brown is close to the amendment question before the House the adoption of a member number one Senate bill two eighty eight all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Represent Brown moves we re referred Senate bill two eighty eight to committee. Proper motion it is debatable represent brown you're recognized explain The motion. colleagues did appreciate a good vote. President Brown is explained the motion we would like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion represent Brown is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral Senate bill two eighty eight back to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Man parks in the bill back. Morning hour is indeed represent Richmond recommends we concur in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill twelve sixty three and Clark please read Senate Amendment everyone in Amendment number one to House Bill twelve sixty three. Represent Richmond you're recognized to explain the amend. Thank you Mr Speaker house bill twelve sixty three was the. Commissioner of state lands bill that we put through here at the beginning of the session the Senate added one word to one line the word cash. Was added as a method of payment and that's all that they did therefore they proved once again that they deserve how much money they're being paid each and every data I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Richmond is explain the amendment. We would like to speak against the. We would like to speak for the amendment representative Richmond is close for the amendment question before the House concurrence with Senate amendment or one house bill twelve sixty three per machine madam Clark. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause has everyone voted for the amendment and the emergency clause everyone voted everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clark by a vote of eighty six yeas five nays and three present you've concurred in the amendment passed the emergency. Members moving on down the red calendar we're gonna pass over house bill fourteen seventy nine or pass over house bill thirteen seventy. Madam Clark please read house bill thirteen thirty eight. House bill thirteen thirty eight by representative McKenzie to amend the Arkansas video service access provide clarity concerning the use of public right away. Ferguson McKenzie you're recognized to explain the bill. Good afternoon colleagues I'm here today president house bill thirteen thirty eight this is an attempt to clarify did this is attempt at additional clarity and state law regarding what constitutes the use of the public way and services that may have a franchise fee applied to them. It is needed for certain cities across the state including one here in Arkansas at eleven excessively student hopes to grow in hopes of having the court granting the authority and apply a five percent franchise fee to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. this would be done by defining streaming services through the cable through the internet cable constituting a use of the right away instead of its historical interpretation of physically accessing the right of way like traditional utilities and telecommunications to Arkansas courts have dismissed the suits but we need to update our law to account for current circumstances and new technology clarity in state law might help to for future litigation for current states one of which doesn't even have does even have a lawsuit pending have already passed the same bill and to clarify the law and have done so nearly unanimously with bipartisan support about a dozen other states are considering this legislation in their current sessions no city or county in Arkansas are currently litigating or currently collecting franchise fees on streaming services all utilities all utilities and telecommunications are either supportive or neutral this bill and municipally has no opposition I've happy to take any questions at this time. Person makes for what purpose questions play recognized for a question so is this effectively going to be a tax increase on our citizens because obviously if you tax Netflix or whatever streaming service that taxes can be passed down to the citizens of that area so. That is correct yes so this would be a tax increase our citizens that. No I'm sorry if if municipalities use the current Arkansas VS Services Act and applied a franchise fee then it would be a tax increase but this law this bill would help clarify the existing Arkansas video services act to take out platforms such as Netflix and Hulu out of consideration the Arkansas VS Services Act so now thank you. Thank you. Person making these explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representatives is close for the bill the question before the House is a passage of house bill thirteen thirty eight prepared machine madam Clark. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clark. By a vote of ninety five Yeas one day and zero present the bill is passed. Members we have a few guests with us today we have. Former representative Bennie McGee from West Memphis and his granddaughter Layla McGee is paging she's a student from here in Little Rock. We also have with us today is pages Ainsley in Easton Berks who are the niece and nephew of representative parks. And I believe we have in the east gallery we have a delegation from new core who are here is the guest of represent Joey car. Adam Clark please read house bill fourteen eighty one. Fourteen eighty one by representative acre to create the healthcare insurers that share the same exact and to create the Arkansas pharmacy benefits managers share the savings that. Cinematics you're recognized to. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues as you know represent maker cannot be here today so he asked me to to fill in and run this for him I guess you know the the rookies get injured you have to bring in the veterans so so that's what we're doing here today so So so this bill is actually pretty simple it would ensure that the patients the patient's percentage of their medication because we based on the net price that was negotiated off the original pre rebate price this bill does not include a resident selfinsured or state employees this a bit this bill will reduce pharmacy costs for over six hundred thousand Arkansans this is a good bill that passed unanimously out of the house insurance and commerce and all of the known stakeholders are supportive of this bill. But I take any questions. Person Maddox is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive house bill fourteen eighty one prepared machine medical. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clerk. By a vote of ninety six ninety eight U. A. zero nine zero president bill is passed Manafort please read house bill fourteen thirty six after fourteen thirty six by representative medics amend the Arkansas securities access to modify the third act actions against a registration under the Arkansas security that. Maddox you're recognized to explain the but. Thank your Speaker and that all of these bills are our age our security department bill so I do want to say that they brought these bills to us my understanding of the process now is these bills are reviewed by the governor's office prior to filing so these have been reviewed by everyone this bill this section all it does is it modifies the disqualifying language provisions of the code to include a guilty or no contest no contest plea for fraud false statements bribery perjury and other criminal offenses so these offenses were not. We're not qualified in the statute previously and so now that's amended and it can be a disqualifying offense so add these criminal charges that's all the stuff we got to take any questions. President Maddox is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. President Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive house bill fourteen thirty six prepared machine metaphor. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about members park by a vote of ninety A. zero nine zero president. The bill has passed by a court please read house bill fourteen thirty eight that's the fourteen thirty eight I represented Madison in the uniformity Service Act person Maddox recognized to explain the bill. Thank you colleagues another security department bill this bill creates uniformity in the definition section of the code all this does is it makes it easier for companies that operate in multi stage to comply it also means that central requirements for streamlining process it's all it does is helping entities that operate in multiple states that's all this bill does it reduces regulatory burden and makes it easier to do business in Arkansas I'll be glad to take any questions. President Maddox is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen thirty eight per machine madam Clark. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted cast about madam Clark. By a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed by a park please read house bill fourteen thirty nine. Fourteen thirty number represented Maddox to modify the families living act to clarify the process is sponsorship under the fair mortgage lending anthem in the requirements for a license under the fair mortgage lending IT person Maddox recognized to explain the bill. Last securities department bill this bill allows this the securities department to issue an approved an active license to mortgage loan officers who are not currently employed by a licensed mortgage company the approved an active license will be solely used for an individual is otherwise qualified for a license is taken all the necessary steps to obtain or maintain the license but does not currently employed by an eligible employer this legislation will benefit loan officers under the fair mortgage lending Act partition wrote the regulatory burden and allow for more streamlined process when folks are changing jobs that's all this does. I appreciate a good vote. Person Maddox is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Maddox close for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill fourteen thirty nine. Jean madam Clark. Is everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. I'm Clark please read house bill fourteen eighty three that's the fourteen A. three by representative Maddox to amend the law concerning retention of criminal background checks. Bill. Thank you Speaker colleagues this is a bank department bill this bill amends the code to state that a background a background check obtained by the Bank Commissioner shall be retained for at least three years that was previously only six months so now the Bank Commissioner can hold this for at least three years on criminal background checks for bankers that's all this bill does this was also popular brought to me by the by the department the lights take any questions. President Maddox explained the bill would you would like to speak against the bill. the Bill. Cinematics is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen eighty three per machine madam Clark. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Asked about Manafort. By a vote of eighty sixty eight seven nays and one present the bill is passed madam Clark please read house bill fourteen eighty four fourteen eighty four by representative medics amend the law concerning the operation of bank facilities president Maddox recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Speaker this is this is the last bank department bill this this bill amends the bank commissioners emergency powers to allow for short term branch closures these closures could be caused by staffing shortages severe short term weather events in these events have occurred in Austin this just allows the Bank Commissioner to come in and close branches in emergency situations it's all of this bill does and as we said this has happened previously in the last few years and I just wanted this language in the statute so that's office because I take any questions. Thank you president Maddox is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Maddox is close for the bill the question before the House is a passage of house bill fourteen eighty four per machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about madam Clark by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed man Clark please read house bill ten twenty. As bill ten twenty by representative Maddox so many uniform limited liability company and it's a revised charging orders into the uniform limited liability company at cemex recognized to explain the bill thank you Speaker this bill is actually not an agency bill this is this the last bill have for now this is is actually very important bill someone explain this briefly so last session we passed the uniform act which amended our LLC law and that uniform act was brought to us by the uniform law commission to a lot of good things but one thing that it did that that we've learned later that we have certainly issues with is that weekend the protection for members of an LLC from creditors so this this bill takes us back to where we were from all the way to the nineteen eighties until last session because a lot of you probably have LLC's you know people who have LLC's the main reason people come to me to form LLC's is to protect them from liability will last session we we can that creditor protection so this brings us back to where we've always been as far as keeping members interest from creditors strong so that's what this does there's no no no opposition to be led to take any questions. Represent park for what purpose question you're recognized now this is just for moving for is is anybody that's created an LLC from the last session the session or they covered you know that that's really a good question I think the only people if there's a loss that's a really good question so if there's a lawsuit pending right now against someone regarding their LLC interest they're gonna try to foreclose on that LLC interest that loss is pending now that would be covered by the bill we did last session unfortunately so this would only protect moving for with no lawsuits been filed then we're going to we're going to be moving forward under this statute that's a great question. Jennifer the question presented of a person Max's explain the bill would anyone like to speak. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Maddox is close for the bill the question before the House is the passive house bill ten twenty prepared machine. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clerk by a vote of ninety seven yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Man Clark please read house bill fourteen ninety seven has the fourteen ninety seven by representative like some to amend the formula rate review actions to modify the term of a formula rate review approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Thank you this bill simply clarifies the ability of a utility to file a general rate case and come before the break it's public service commission. Thank you. Representative Lundstrum has explained the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill. Against the bill representative Lundstrum has signaled that she is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill. Fourteen ninety seven prepare the mission. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked up the ballot Mrs Clark. By a vote of ninety six **** one president. The bill has passed. Madam Clark please read house bill fourteen oh five of fourteen oh five a representative painters amend the definition of election median to amend the definition under election law represents painter you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues this is really a simple bill all it does remove our old terminology like floppy disk and stuff like that from our elections media I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative painter has explained the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative painter as close for his bill the question before the house is the house passage of house bill fourteen oh five prepare the machine Mrs Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot miss Clark. By a vote of ninety seven yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Ms Clark please read House Bill. Fourteen sixty one fourteen sixty one by representative Ladyman to require legislative review of new federal election guidance and some in the duties of the secretary of state. Representative Ladyman you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam Speaker. Of colleagues is very simple bill it's election bill it provides a means for counties to notify the state if any federal enquiring into election issues occur right now the federal election. People could come in the things in the counties the state might not know about that so what all this bill does is it requires that the state be notified if there's new election laws or someone from the national election organization comes in but the state would be notified that's all the bill does the apple take any questions. Representative Ladyman has explained the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill. Representative Ladyman has close for his bill at a. The question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen sixty one per. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mrs Clark. With the. Vote of ninety eight zero nine eight zero present the bill has passed Mrs Clark please read house bill fourteen sixty four as a fourteen sixty four by representative back to amend the law concerning complaints of election law violations and some in the law concerning the state board of election commissioners. Senator Clark you're recognized to present your bill. Colleague's house bill fourteen sixty. Integrity bills designed to make uniform the time in which you have to file a complaint for election law violation currently those are due within thirty days after the election has been certified but what we're. After the deadline to certify so all across the state will have the same deadline it also clarifies the circumstances in which a sealed package of ballots may be open during that two year of storage period after the election has been certified but that I ask for a good vote will be happy to try to answer any questions. Representative Burke has explained her bill would anyone like to speak for the bill against the bill. Representative mark has indicated she is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen. Prepare the machine madam Clark. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Passed up the ballot Mrs Clark. By a vote of ninety four yeah zero nine zero present the bill has passed ms Clark please read house bill fourteen eleven. Fourteen eleven by representative Michael in an act to amend the prohibition of the delivery of unsolicited absentee ballot applications to electors to amend the law concerning absentee ballots to amend the law concerning materials furnished to qualified voters with absentee ballots and for other purposes representative mac Leding you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you colleagues at H. B. fourteen eleven is part of the series of bills that you've been hearing that are addressing increased election integrity this bill does three very simple things first it prohibits the mailing of unsolicited ballots. A second requires that when the ballots are distributed that they are blank so the the clerks can for the information on it that is necessary but otherwise all the voter information is blank and then thirty requires the person who is picking up the ballot to be authorized to do so and to present a valid ID there's no fiscal impact for doing this and if you have any questions I'll be happy to take a. Saying that I ask for a good vote representative Michael Landon has explained the bill would anybody got to speak against the bill. For the bill representative Michael Landon has signified that she is closed for her bill. Question before the house of the passage of house bill fourteen eleven. As everyone voted. As everyone voted cast up the ballot. With. About an eighty five Yeas eleven a zero present the bill has passed. Mrs Clark please read house bill fourteen. S. the fourteenth sixty nine by representative wing to amend the election procedures a month municipalities. Representative playing you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you madam Speaker forty sixty nine really brings the different levels or different types of municipal elections into conformity with each other this is agreed upon language between the cities and the counties and everybody involved it just helps bring simplicity and uniformity to those municipal elections. Create a good vote. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative **** has signified its close for the bill the question before the house is the house. Passage of house bill fourteen sixty nine prepare the machine Mrs Clark. As everybody voted casts up the ballot Mrs Clark with the pack with the vote of ninety seven eight zero nine zero present the bill has passed. This is Clark please read house bill thirteen eighty four thirteen eighty by representative Collins to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages and to amend the law regarding tasting events representative calling to recognized to explain the bill. Thank you madam Speaker so this bill is just a sign to update and modernize the sampling permit at retailers do wine tastings beer tests and things like that it does three things number one it allows a wholesaler or manufacturer's representative to assist with the event but typically in the store I want to show off their product they're they're it just allows them to do what would just be kind of a a natural thing And happens in practice the second thing it does is it cuts the fees for the sampling permit in half currently it's five hundred for one of the three beer wine or spirits thousand for all three this cuts it to two fifty and five hundred just to allow more utilization the permits are typically not very well use because they're too expensive so this would reduce that a little bit and finally it changes the sample sizes that you can have in the total amount so you can have the current law is very detailed and how what kind of micromanages the amounts as you have to have half ounce servings two ounce servings or half ounce servings depending on its wine beer spirits this is lease that has an announcmenet the announcmenet under any of these would not exceed a little bit over one drinks there wouldn't be enough to get anyone anywhere that is important obviously in in one of these bills but it just gives them a little bit more flexibility in how they do that again to make life a little bit easier for these retailers happy to answer any questions. Senate appreciate a good vote representative Collins has explained the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Collin says signified he is close for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen eighty prepare the machine Mrs Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot is Clark. With the vote of sixty six days eight nays and twelve pack present the bill has passed. Ms Clark please read house bill thirteen eighty nine thirteen a number representative Graham list to require service industry license for certain persons or entities related to a casino gaming and to require background checks for service industry licensee is employed by franchise holder or casino license representative Graham let you are. Thank you and Speaker. House bill thirteen eighty eighty nine it does a few things up what it does is it. Will allow the Arkansas racing commission the Department auditors to conduct federal background checks on applicants for service industry licenses under the casino gaming rules without statutory authorization the Department only conduct Arkansas specific background checks which are not as comprehensive as federal background checks. there is a variety of different entities listed on the bill there can be required to get a federal background check the casinos are fine with that there's no opposition this bill is brought to me by the FNA to help ensure we have fair fair gaming practices in the state of Arkansas. Answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote representative Graham like has explained the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill representative Graham okay is close for his bill the question before the House is I passage of house bill thirteen eighty nine prepare the machine Mrs Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted casts up the ballot Mrs Clark. With a vote of ninety five Yeas one nine one present the bill has passed Mrs Clark please read House Bill fourteen thirty two bill house bill fourteen thirty two by representative for need to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages and to me in the law related to the selling of alcoholic beverages with food purchased for delivery or to be consumed off premises. Representative Fortner you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you madam chairman this bill is not a new liquor bill this is to clarify a bill that we passed during COVID to allow restaurants that stayed open and had a valid liquor license to serve a limited amount of liquor with take out food and ABC ask for some clarification because there was some confusion with private clubs it was interpreted the private clubs in dry areas could use this and that was incorrect so that's what I that's what this says is just for. Private clubs in wet areas country clubs. I would appreciate a good vote not answer questions if you got. Thank you representative Fortner has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill representative Fortner has signified he's close for the bill. The question before the house is the house is the passage of house bill fourteen thirty to prepare the machine as a Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted casts up the ballot Mrs Clark. By a vote of four sixty four Yeas eleven nays and fifteen present the bill has passed Mrs Clark please read house bill fourteen eighty seven House Bill fourteen eighty seven by representative wants him to create the ballot security active twenty twenty three instrumentalists in law concerning the handling of election ballot representative Lundstrum you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you this bill allows for the tracking of ballots and the proper delivery of ballots so that is consistent rock across all counties it also adds a process prepares evasion of spoiled ballots. It also codifies the procedure specifically for process I'm. Damage ballots are defective ballots this is mostly what we already do but it again it will be consistent across all counties it also requires an accurate chain of custody for the balance in the transportation of ballots so we don't have any issues. Rivers representative Lundstrum has explained her bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill represents flanger strong has signified that she's close for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen eighty seven prepare the Clark Mrs prepare the. Machine miss Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted cast up the ballot Mrs Clark. By a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed ms Clark please read house bill fifteen ten fifteen ten by representative race amend the law concerning special elections on measures and questions representative ray you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues this is the special election reform bill this bill standardizes the election calendar so that questions for local measures and questions those involving things like a local option sales tax on the property tax increase for your library Xcerra those would be held on one of two dates each year those being the primary election and the general election dates that are predictable and consistent each year in odd number years those local measures and questions would still be able to be presented on those two dates each year corresponding with the primary and general election and then outside of the primary and general election dates the bill allows for an emergency special election if the criteria laid out on page two of the bill or Matt. This bill is needed because routinely local governments in Arkansas have used special elections held at your regular times to raise taxes on our citizens and in many instances that's part of a deliberate strategy aimed at keeping turnout low. So what this bill is going to do in the long run it will lower the tax burden on our cans because let's face it when voters actually know when it when the election is going to be held it's much harder to sneak things past. Our combined state and local sales tax burden is nine point four seven percent which is the third highest in the entire country and a big reason why our sales tax burden is that high is because of our special election problem. I'm sure you all have constituents to complain about sales tax we are never going to get our sales tax problem under control in Arkansas until we fix our special election problem. To illustrate that point there been one thousand and four special elections are sorry that no one thousand and four local sales tax elections in Arkansas since nineteen eighty one and eighty two percent of those have been held on the special election day you might wonder why would four out of five of them be put on a special day rather than with the primary the general the reason for that is simple because the pass rate when I put on a special day seventy six percent. In the past right when they're held in conjunction with the primary is fifty seven percent when I held in conjunction with the general election the pass rate is forty four percent. But if lowering the taxes doesn't appeal to you this bill will also increase voter participation and voter turnout because here's what we know about special elections and voter turnout. The to the average turnout for a special election is nineteen percent. But that is. That is the average there are many many instances where the turnout is single digits it's a an abysmal right just in the last twelve months we've had special elections in Fayetteville with two and a half percent turn out and Prairie Grove with two point four percent turnout Bethel Heights three point nine percent turnout North Little Rock three point eight percent turnout. We should want higher voter participation in our elections greater participation brings more legitimacy to the action actions of government and this bill will save taxpayers money because over the last couple of decades we have literally spent millions and millions and millions of dollars holding extraneous elections this is a good government bill it's good for voters it's good for taxpayers and appreciate a good vote. Press represents McCullough for what purpose question you're recognized thank you madam Speaker representative ray I'm trying to remember is this the same bill that we is this the exact same language in this bill because I don't think we pass this maybe twice last session it's very similar but is not identical. Do you can you tell me I'm sorry for what you're recognized for follow up thank you madam Speaker can you tell me what changed sure so last year we passed ACT six ten I believe that set up the framework for four days per year so the bill that I ran prior to that was basically identical to this but just because we pass that bill subsequent to this the bill looks different it's much shorter so we're just changing basically just amending what passed last session. Thank you. Representative Allen for what purpose question you're recognized this is special election is to include school. It does not include it this does not affect the school board elections now. You're recognized for a false start follows this is group militants it does not affect the annual school board election if there is a special school election to raise the millage then it would affect the special election yes. With that I appreciate a good vote representative ray has explained his bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. You're recognized representative Boyton. This. Of the overall about local control. voters have the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on election. This is bill explains the county will explain it. It will be to the understand if they want to go vote they can go vote if I don't want to the state home. Well. There's we don't need the whole Parker city of speaking up for local control and parental involvement and then turn around and vote against city councils and county governments we just only to do that I have to answer for any proposal thank you have to answer for any tax increase I have to answer for any calls just like we do with the ball. When there reelection comes a. So let them run their business and we take care of our business down here thank you percent wouldn't spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill representative very recognized speak for the. Your Speaker colleagues and I've been excited for this bill to come back and I've asked the representative ray on numerous occasions when he was going to bring it back we exchange selects a few times of the day and night and committee over this with the some of my colleagues on the left and but. One take get out your phone's text. Your county clerks and ask them how much it costs to have a special election. In that county. I'll tell you how much it cost in Franklin County. The special election cost thirty thousand dollars in a rural county. That's for six hundred fifty votes mind you and that comes out to be just a little more than forty six blocks of a. Now that's not of of. Economically feasible way to spend taxpayers dollars specially when my the Franklin County senior center needs a van to deliver food to shut. They could use that thirty thousand Bucks in this is this is not against local control. All it's doing is moving. The election in line with special elections and general elections. It's the right thing to do it's it's it's good government. Me to and I mentioned it in the committee the other day if America or a superintendent way. You're never going to have a special election to lower your taxes. Are to kick alcohol. I do your county is always about bringing alcohol or raising taxes is this all there ever about. So if a mayor or a superintendent wakes up in the middle of the night and says oh honey we need to have a special election we're going to raise a our constituents taxes is wrong. It's not an economically feasible way to spend taxpayers dollars and I appreciate a good vote thank. President berry has spoken for the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative ray you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Speaker in thank you representative very for those words just to address the issue of local control is raised everyone supports local control when applicable right with regard to elections the state state government is the level of government that sets the parameters for elections elections are administered locally but the state sets the parameters we would never tell our season counties Hey guys this voter ID thing you'll just decide whether you want implemented or not right that is not a local control type decisions so with that I'd appreciate a good vote. We do have a pair on the desk represent a group votes yes represent Clowney votes no witnessed by representive ray president Clowney is the president member are there any procedural objections to this pair. DO not vote either of these two voting machines. Question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen ten prepared machine madam Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clerk by a vote of seventy four Yeas sixteen nays and zero present the bill is passed I'm Clark please read house bill thirteen fifteen. House bill thirteen fifteen my representative in it to create the seizure safe schools act. Represent in it. Ferguson Fortner you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr chair. Represented in it and I. Found ourselves at one point early in the session having the exact same bill unbeknownst to either of us we both had a personal interest in this issue. And that she was very gracious and let me come up and presented on her behalf. This bill is seizure safe act for the schools when I say personally Investment in this represented in it. has. Had personal experience with seizures in school as a student. And I have a very precious cousin. Who a little boy who suffers from this right now and I might add that his mother and another mother and another child or up in the gallery right now and I appreciate them coming. But what this bill does. You put yourself in the place of a parent. You want to send your child off to school. You want them to be safe and comfortable. You know that they have the potential of having a seizure school. You want someone there. That knows that child. Knows how to administer their medication. And knows how to make them comfortable that's what this bill does. There is no liability there's a good Samaritan Clause for anyone that administers medication. It is with only with the parents approval. And. This. It is not a mandate it is requirement but if there is not a child in the school. They don't have to have this and there has to be the permission slips and all forms in place before this goes into effect. By the parent and I will try my best to explain questions if you have any but I would appreciate a good vote as would. the parents and the child. This little boy I'm talking about he's a strong little fella. And he's brave and he goes to school. But it sure would make him feel better to know that his teacher or someone in the school knows how to act when he has this event and can get him this medication if he needs. Question Sir recognized. Representative Jack you you and Representative ended today's this is good because I say within the first five minutes of when a child or even a grown person has a seizure as very very very important time and I just want to thank the both of you all for bring this bill of. Thank you representative Ryan I I would appreciate a good vote thank you president Fortner is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Hodges you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I just want to thank representative in it And representative Fortner for sending this bill back to committee to work with me on Amendment I think it's a great bill that's going to help a lot of children in this state that suffer from epilepsy and other seizure disorders so if we made a really good bill just a little bit better nasco join me in voting yes thank you. President Hodges spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against. President Fortner is close for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill thirteen fifteen prepared machine medical. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk. I voted ninety eight zero nine zero president. The bill is passed by a court please read house bill ten thirty to ten thirty two by representative Lanny Fite to increase the amount of the homestead property tax credit president fight right. The mystique or this is the home said the The property tax relief fund that will be issuing fifty dollars back to everyone on their property taxes it comes out of a. Homestead trust fund that is funded by a half cent sales tax does not affect general revenue the first year is thirty four million dollars and twenty four and twenty five is thirty eight million dollars I'd be happy to answer any. They have for what purpose. Of questions you're recognized. Of course representative Leding. One thing about this bill this all comes from a half cent sales tax to pay for play an and we found some room and basically what you going do is changes from three seventy five. Correct. Thank you. This is the bill even representative Gonzalez could go for I appreciate. Fite is explaining the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent fight is close for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill ten thirty two per machine madam Clark. Has everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast a ballot ninety four by a vote of nineteen ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Madam. Members we have the doctor the day with this doctor less Anderson from lone oak against of represent Lynch and the nurse today misprint human. Man park please read house bill eleven forty to eleven forty two by representative Ladyman to create the Arkansas nuclear recycling program represent Ladyman you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. colleagues this is a very important bill. This bill eventually could affect Arkansas the nation and even globally. This bill passed out of committee without any negative votes. I'm I'm gonna give you some bullets on this as to what the bill really does. this bill Bills upon a study conducted under act ten ninety two that was passed by this body in twenty twenty one. Under Act ten ninety two our team working to solve the nuclear waste problem in Arkansas in the nation. Shall supporters in Arkansas and in Washington DC. We have the support of Arkansas delegation in DC. And we also have support of U. S. senators from Kansas to Delaware and West Virginia. ACT ten ninety two has been adopted by the American legislative exchange council and the southern states energy council as model legislation. In a nutshell we have proven. There is support. For doing an R&D project to prove spent nuclear fuel rods can be re claims and used to produce power I want to explain just a little bit about the old the bill that was passed last sessions some you all were new and and may not know about it but basically what the Arkansas we call the Arkansas plan of action working on this for about six years but what it does is it. It wants to do and are in the project construct a plant that would recycle nuclear expenditure fuel rods like the ones that Arkansas one and it would build a plant next to that that would use that reclaim fuel to produce power in in a new nuclear generation for sodium bath not a modular nuclear plant none of those have been built in the world there's four of them that I know of that are trying to be constructed right now but that's what the Arkansas project is but in order to do this. We need to take the next step. The first bill. Was a study. The next step would be to develop plans to implement this project and that's what this bill does. eight a firm these to be hired to develop plans for completing the project. Need to develop a model for commercial application we need to develop a storage plan for residual materials need to develop engineering documents for the process the recycling process we need to perform site analysis for a are in the plant. To verify that it could be commercially viable we need to develop construction cost and a schedule for construction of the plant. We need to establish Arkansas is the only state pursuing a final solution for spent nuclear fuel rods through recycling. We need to be able to request federal funds from the US department of energy to develop these plans. There is currently a fund that has been established by the US department of energy over the past fifty years. To develop a solution to the nuclear waste problem. Funding from this fund was from fees paid by nuclear power generations over the past fifty years. This trust fund currently has a balance of fifty one billion dollars and to my knowledge we are the only ones going after that funding. The main thing this bill does is to allow us to request those funds and to establish a management structure to manage this process and to secure a federal charter which would be the first step a to receive these funds. If we are successful in completing the planning. The Arkansas project there is a potential to create six thousand two hundred jobs. Hopefully in Arkansas. There was a hand out that we had in the Committee of the rolls Royce has done something similar this a study similar kind of verify these numbers. so let me summarize. What we need to do and what this bill would allow us to do create a program obtained a charter obtain funding our contractor develop transportation plan develop an outreach program to educate the public and let me add the University of Arkansas System. Dr Bobbitt who's the president that system is on our team they would develop an outreach program they would also monitor this project to prove the lot the economic feasibility of the Arkansas plan. Lastly. If you have received emails or taxes saying that we're creating a nuclear waste dump in Arkansas that is not true. This would actually reduce the amount of spent nuclear fuel rods in the State of Arkansas we have to have a permit. To store feedstock to this plant. That's that's what the store that's where the storage comes in but it would be much less than what stored Arkansas one and hopefully would come from Arkansas want to reduce the volume at that plant. So with that I would be happy to take any questions. Wing for what purpose question you're recognized representative thank you for your explanation could you just going a little bit more death on some of the concerns that maybe some of us have received as far as will this bring more nuclear waste in Arkansas or less could you kind of drill down just a little bit more on that please. Well I'll try. right now in Arkansas nuclear one that plans been there for fifty years they bring in. Sure nuclear fuel. Which is much stronger than the waste fuel rods that are stored in their parking lot right now and they've done that for many years that that transportation has been proven over fifty years. That Bagram of nuclear fuel. And I've been to the plant where they make nuclear fuel so I understand how this works but they they would have much more volume of new. Higher grade nuclear fuel and nuclear one then we would have at this plant. So we would take some of the spent rods which are much less your. And have that for feedstock. So the volume would would go down if we utilize what's that nuclear one and I don't know why we would not do that that would have to be proven in the executive phase which would be the third phase of this I'm not sure I answer your question. Any other questions. President long for what purpose question you're recognized representative Ladyman and could you explain of the the current spent fuel rods are stored there in Russellville are they stored safely at this point. Yes and that that's a good question all of the fuel rods that have been used at nuclear one are stored in the parking lot with an orange offense around those in their current state they're fresh they're they're they're safe they're in a cast which is the concrete to. If we had a natural disaster. Tornado they could become dangerous. So this is a problem and nobody is working on except us and if nobody does anything that that spent fuel rod pile is going to continue to grow and that problem is going to get worse it's time that we bit the bullet and we come up with a solution to this problem. Any other questions. Represent a core for purpose question. Let me see if I can understand this isn't over over simplified way. I use a lot of double and triple a batteries when they're down to about half way two thirds three course away I have a hold for those batteries that don't quite want to throw away because they're not totally bad but then if I just leave them there they get. Start leaking and everything else I know that's over simplification but is that what we're talking about with the fuel rods that these are already used all the way down we're trying to finish the rest of the capacity that's in them. Yes. That's exactly true. Any other questions. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote. Represent Ladyman is explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent makes. Is recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins I want to come down and first off I appreciate representative Ladyman taking this on this is a potential of I was a gold mine but this is a very A powerful opportunity for the state of Arkansas so I want to try to answer to answer some of the questions that have been raised because I've actually had the opportunity as NCS all's representative on the energy supply task force the business of nuclear power plants and to see these cast in this nuclear waste first hand and a lot of us have seen the sci fi movies and we think nuclear waste we thank you know drums with this you know green who's pouring out that's not what we're talking about here the nuclear fuel that's used in these plants is it's about the size of a wood pallet where do you go to the store you buy pellets for your palate so there pallets of enriched uranium that are about that same size and they're put into a a long line to correct the rods in after two years within the reactor as the fusion takes place. Excuse me vision takes place in the queue my terms right impurities developed within that palette and so after that two years and no longer produces at the threshold that's needed so it's pulled out and because there's no way to deal with that it's basically sitting on out on nuclear one I don't all these nuclear plants all over the country and is this the solid palace nails pallets still have between ninety five and ninety eight or potential energy still within on a huge amount so kind of going back to your example would be like taking a brand new battery using it once and then sitting in a drawer it still has that much potential and and so what we're trying to do here is we're trying to create an opportunity to recycle that material so that it can either be re used in these main power plants or there's an exciting new technology coming along with modular nuclear reactors it's much cheaper much more environmentally safe that these recycled fuels could go into and if that technology comes to fruition this could be a huge opportunity for Arkansas to take advantage to bring that spent fuel in process it and send it out to these nuclear reactors that are more modular and safer and a very good source of green energy for our country and so with that I would appreciate a good vote. Representative makes it spoken in favor of the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Ladyman. You're recognized to oppose the bill one thing President makes I appreciate you coming and speaking about that but just to add to what representative Meeks said the existing spent fuel rods. At nuclear one still has ninety five percent of the potential in those fuel rods as representative Meeks said but those spent fuel rods have a half life of a million years that means they'll be radioactive potentially radioactive for a one million years. With this new process the waste that would come out of these this again for a nuclear plant. with only you would only have five percent waste purses ninety five percent also the half life would be three hundred years instead of a million years so with that I appreciate a good vote. Representative lane is closed for the the bill the question before the House is the passage of the house bill eleven forty two where the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. I guess it the ballot mad Clerk. Ninety seven eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. We're going to move down to Senate bill two fifty five representive Haak. News that we re referred Senate bill two fifty five back to committee at the proper motion it is a debatable represent park you're recognized to explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker we're just asking if we can send this back for an amendment that was brought forward that which is taken up this election integrity bill with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Hawkins explained a motion with anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. Represent hawkers close for the motion question before the House. Is to re refer Senate bill two fifty five to committee all in favor say aye. Opposed nay send the bill back to committee. Representative makes what purpose motion place. Terri motion after the announcmenet of three of the bill is transferring the bills placing the counters on the House members amending their own bills own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move we adjourn until one thirty tomorrow afternoon at the proper motion on the bay non debatable all in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Motions passed are there any other announcements. Represent Holcomb for what purpose. You're recognized for an announcmenet public transportation will meet in the morning at ten o'clock at mac B.. Represent berry for what purpose. Announcer you're recognized of. Judiciary will meet at nine o'clock not ten o'clock in the morning. A in room one forty nine. President road for what purpose. Information you're recognized. We will be doing our weekly Bible study in the old Supreme Court AT seven AM tomorrow morning. Representative vis for what purpose announcmenet. You're recognized how do we have Revenue and Tax tomorrow ten AM room one fifty one. Represent Miller for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized a public health will meet at ten o'clock in the morning. Representative bought for what purpose. As you're recognized the University of Arkansas System Division of agriculture wanted me to remind everybody that they will be doing an event to not reception tonight from five to seven at the red and blue. Are there any other announcements represented eleven for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized House educational meet ten AM tomorrow morning room one thirty eight. Are there any other announcements. Represent rifle uppers yes you're just information Sir you're recognized of Nucor will be meeting today at what time does. From five to seven in the Capitol Hill. Thank you. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourn resolution house will be adjourned until one thirty