Senate Convenes

Are there any requests for leave at this time. Madam secretary please call the roll Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis DES dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stones Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Thank you madam secretary of everyone in the chamber in the galleries would please rise. For the pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer by Reverend a prayer by Senator love. And then followed by the pledge of allegiance thank you senator. Chamber that's been added to a prayer heavenly father first and foremost want to thank you for just allowing us to put up this morning. Thank you for blessing for the day that we were not promise not heavenly father as we come to you we just ask that you impart wisdom upon us us make decisions that are good for the the upbringing of the State heavenly father just help us just to see the. The problems that we have in this state and to address them help us to uplift people it's a prank Jesus name amen. The plan. Of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries welcomes the Arkansas State Senate. Expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings without objection the rules will be suspended and the Senate bill Spencer reading of the Journal the morning hour has now begun are there any announcements or introductions at this time the center boy you're recognized. Thank you madam president if you look up here in the west gallery we have thirty plus pharmacists have taken a day off for in patient care to come learn about the capital and and so just if you will help me will make them feel welcome. And then additionally just a reminder the Arkansas pharmacists association from six to eight is having their legislative event tonight at their their headquarters just across the street thank you. Thanks invoice Senator Flippo. Thank you governor members like most of you I had a lot of help office support when it came to a running for public office to get in here to the Senate and perhaps nobody more stronger supporter than my dad who is with us today appear and his good friend Ronnie caster and as we all know the time is kind of limited life in a supplement known as time that we have and so I'm very happy to stand before you all today is a member of this body and a recognized my father I hope you'll join me in thanking him for all the hard work that he did get me here data thank you I love you. Integral. I also have my wife and my two daughters here observing today they have no school so what better to could take years children to work day. It asks. It's for leave for Brody Goodwin who started a political student political committee at magnolia high school he sat on me today. Senator Mark Johnson. Thank you madam president please welcome our doctor of the day to let our guard just from Conway and a friend of mine Dr Patrick Fraley. I don't even know is all right how to learn colleges but I do now. Great thank you coming past and course Sherri Bernard nurse thank sherry every day. While I'm here I'll say this since some time introduce my page for the chance brochures he goes to a little rock Christian his dad Galen brochures is a long long time friend of mine welcome chance. Senator Tucker. Thank you madam president I hope you'll have a lot of notes to send today because I have a number of pages here with me today I've got six and I want to thank them for being here and introduce them we have miss Caroline Anderson. Who's a freshman and to tennis at the French club. We have miss Catherine Anderson who plays volleyball and and cheer their sisters in case it's not obvious we have missed Jett Joe Hanson who's also into cheering plays volleyball and then we have another set of brothers. Hartford low who's a freshman plays football and baseball he's the child some of y'all may know his parents Mitchell okay perfect over here I'm sorry this is Bailey my apologies they're the they're the boys of Mitchell and Sarah Beth Lowe who are in it and the gallery here with us today we have bailee Laux who's a seventh grader back here plays football basketball and baseball with someone else who will introduce in just a minute and then heart furlough who's a freshman in place base baseball football thank you low voice for being here today and along with Senator Flippo and senator Kroll it's a family affair today because my son is also joining us today who is a seventh grader and plays football basketball and baseball with Bailey on like Senator Flippo as dad and senator Cole's family Ellis is here to work for the Senate today so. I hope you I hope you all put put him to work please join me in welcoming these young people to our chances. Any other announcements. Mattis secretary or other items at the desk. Yes madam president. We are committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill one twenty one by Senator Johnson report that we have carefully compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Agencies we are committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill one twenty seven by Senator Hickey report that we have carefully compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed retirement we are committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill eleven sixty three by representative Bentley our report that we have compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed state agencies where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill twelve sixty three by Senator Stubblefield report that we have compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. President will your committee on joint retirement team is the first Senate bill one sixteen by Senator Hammer recommend due pass counted we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill one ninety nine by Senator Stubblefield recommend due pass counted we are committee on transportation to whom was referred house bill eleven seventy one by representative half recommend due pass counted we are a committee on transportation to whom was referred house bill thirteen twenty one by representative Holcomb recommend due pass counted. Senate concurrent resolution six by Senator Rice to recognize one hundred years of Arkansas state parks and proclaim two thousand twenty three AS Arkansas state park centennial years Senate current resolution six calendar Senate resolution eight by Senator Caldwell to recognize the Hazen high school Hornets football team as a two thousand twenty two to a football state champions Senate resolution a calendar. Senate bill two forty eight by Senator English to create the Arkansas challenge plus scholarship program Senate bill two forty eight education Senate bill two forty nine by Senator English to mean the source of funding for in state tuition for veterans and military personnel independence under certain circumstances Senate bill two forty nine education Senate bill two fifty by Senator Hammer at all to amend the law concerning paper ballots to me the law concerning marketing and counting paper ballots to amend the law concerning the declaration of election results and to declare an emergency Senate bill two fifty. State agencies Senate bill two fifty one by Senator Caldwell concerning the administrative office of the keep Arkansas beautiful commission into amend the duties of the State Parks Division Senate bill two fifty one. Agriculture Senate bill two fifty two by Senator crawl to amend the definitions of manufacturing and processing for purposes of the use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used to retread tires to match their definitions for purposes of the sales tax exemption Senate bill two fifty two Revenue and Tax Senate bill two fifty three by Senator scroll to amend the law concerning damage ballots into the law concerning election procedures Senate bill two fifty three state agencies Senate bill two fifty four by Senator Kroll an act to eliminate write in candidates in elections to amend election procedures and to amend the law concerning election Senate bill two fifty for state agencies Senate bill two fifty five by senators the key to amend the law concerning the allocation of election expenses and to restrict the source of election funding Senate bill two fifty five state agencies. Any further business to come before the body in the morning hour. If not. Morning hour has expired we will now begin the business agenda. House resolution ten oh seven by representative Speaker Shepherd and Senator Hester to provide for an extension of the regular session of the ninety fourth General Assembly and to provide for a recess of the General Assembly. Senator Hester you're recognized. Thank you Mr president members this right now Corning constitution we recess on March ninth I do not believe nor does the Speaker that will be finished with our business by March ninth it takes a vote of seventy five percent to to extend that a more asking to extend till April seventh it is possible we don't need all that time but that's what we're asking for happy to answer any questions. Any questions. C. ninety one wish to speak against a question. Quality center you're recognized. Thank you. So. You say. Because I had to read this resolution so. But I heard something in regards to the extension or have an emergency. Right now if we do not do next an extension we end on March the ninth. So while we're all still getting along and require seventy five percent vote I'm asking for is to extend April seventh. Two thirty two thirds sorry the next will be seventy five percent this one's two thirds sorry. All that. Thank. But. Any other questions. Anyone would speak against her for. This does require for both of us any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please role that. Boyd Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark role Davis these dismay Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson keen Leding Love Me T. Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice does Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Is there any senator who wishes to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By the thirty five eight zero nine. H. the R. ten oh seven passes with Senate concurs returned to the house. S. B. one ninety six amendment one. Amendment one to Senate bill one ninety six. Senator Tucker you're recognized thank you madam president this amendment only adds co sponsors those co sponsors being Senator Gilmore and then also representatives Howard Beattie and David Ray I describe this and committee as the Republican seal of approval amendment so hopefully I can get a positive vote on on the floor today for the. Any questions for Senator Tucker. Anyone wish to speak answer for. Senator Tucker is close to all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. As. Transmitted apologize. Amendment is adopted grossing. How does it make myself the wrong at. S. one eighty nine Senate bill one eighty nine by Senator Irvin to clarify the definition of intellectual and developmental disability in the Arkansas code. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you members of. In Arkansas statutes there were four or contradictory definitions when it came to intellectual and developmental disability and so what this language does and what this bill does is that it clarifies it brings it all together into one definition so that it can be consistent throughout the codes the Amendment was already engrossed in the bill and that was to address concerns by some of the providers which we listen to and take care of I'll be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Irvin. C. nine does anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator you're pretty close I'm close to present good vote. Thank you senator any objection to rowing the boat. And secretary please relevant Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis DES dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stones Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty five any in zero name. S. B. one eighty nine passes please transmit to the House. S. B. one ninety three. Senate bill one ninety three by Senator Hill to amend the Arkansas occupational licensing of uniformed service members veterans and spouses active two thousand twenty one. Senator Hill you're recognized. Thank you madam chair. Colleagues this bill pretty simple been working on this since twenty nineteen ran a bill to improve licensing for military personnel we we work again in twenty twenty one they were looking region in twenty twenty three as far as the department offense goes Arkansas is known as the most of pro lessening state for military personnel the based off of their request we're looking at adding that filtered certifications to be considered toward occupational licensing and extending it to the spouse as well into to keep this going with the DOT about greatly appreciate a good vote on this. Thank you senator anyone had questions for senator hill. C. nine anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator you're free to close and closed centers close. Any objection to rolling that. Madam secretary please role that Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis dis dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Katie Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wishes to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. Right thirty five eight and zero nine. The one ninety three passes please transmit to the House. S. one ninety four. Senate bill one ninety four by Senator Hester to amend the law concerning the secretary of the department of corrections. President Clinton you're recognized thank you madam governor. Members this this makes the Secretary of Department corrections the same as all the other secretaries and answers directly to the governor instead of the board. Happy to answer any further questions. Anyone have any questions for president pro tem. Anyone wish to speak against or for. You're free to close center has closed any objection to rolling about. Madam secretary please role that. Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis dis dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By a vote thirty five Yeas zero may. S. the one ninety four passes please transmit to the House S. Meeks two zero nine. Senate bill two O. nine by Senator Irvin to amend the law regarding liquefied petroleum gas and to amend the law regarding the discretionary suspension of inspection and registration fees Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you madam chair members this is with the Arkansas department of energy and environment and the liquefied petroleum gas boards with this change in this language does is it allows this board to do a year to year analysis of their fines and then make that determination at that point on a year to year basis if they can suspend the fees or keep the fees in place the currently the only way that they can do that is if it drops below a five hundred thousand dollars threshold the current fund balances owed as above five hundred thousand and adequate to maintain their board operations so waiving the fee results in a net deduction of approximately three hundred twenty thousand dollars per year at the current time. And so this just allows the board some flexibility in their accounting and their abilities to waive fees if that balance is sufficient for their board operations I'll be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for senate inventor Payton you're recognized. Thank you Mr president so currently if the fund is over five hundred thousand they're compelled to waive the fee. And they keep it waive the tell the funder drops below five hundred thousand so with this change even if the fund remained over five hundred thousand. The fee would be reinstated. Well that's what they're changing the language because it would have to be just a year to year and Alice's so the only way that they would be able to change that if if it dropped below the five hundred thousand this time this is so if they have above five hundred thousand this year then they can waive it this year but then they would the only way that they could consider that the features if the fund drop below five hundred thousand so if the fund is above five hundred thousand again they would want to waive those fees in the future they just want to be able to do a year to year analysis and accounting of the fees. Or more of the following it seems to me that with this change even if the farm remained above five hundred thousand the second year they would have the option of reinstating the fees is that how you say it. Well. And yes so that they would be able to make that adjustment if they needed to but again their aim is to try to reduce and waves of fees because they have plenty of operating money for the border with the authority to make it would only be a raise because they already have the option of dropping. But that that's not how I understand the bill as it is written so I can get more info I can get somebody with the department of energy and environment to answer the question for you if you'd like with further information but are there Amen purpose is to be able to waive these fees to give some savings back. Thanks any other questions. C. nine anyone. Wish to speak for. You're free to close and close at present good vote thank you. Senator has closed. Is there any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please wrote about. Boyd Bryant's Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis DES dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson came Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to change his or her road centre Payton is voting nay any other senators Senator Blake Johnson is a name any other senators. Senator Hickey is a native Senator Solomon is in a. Any other senators. Saying no others please check the board. Please cast a ballot. By a vote thirty one eight four nine. SPHL nine passes please transmit to the House. S. Meeks to ten. Senate bill two ten by Senator Irvin to amend the underground storage of gas law to include certain other gases. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you members of this is legislation again with the oil and gas commission and the Arkansas department of energy and environment and what this language does is allows for the oil and gas commission it gives statutory authority to adopt rules regulating underground storage of hydrogen carbon dioxide and other gases the commission would have the opportunity to adopt class six rules and seek primacy for carbon capture utilization and storage this bill also helps our hydrogen efforts which is referred to as halo by granting the commission the authority to regulate the underground storage of hydrogen basically this expands the use of underground storage facilities beyond just natural gas but to include other gases that are now and part of the industry this allows for advances in technology to be considered when we are storing these gases and it really opens up a new Avenue I think for storage for different gases for our state of Arkansas which we do have and the ability to to do so be happy to answer any questions just a reminder any rules obviously would require legislative approval and that would come through Legislative Council. If any questions for Senator. Senator Rapert you're recognized. Page two. A line seventeen. I'm okay with says contribute market right. Help the environment will that please. Section patient on the commission wants to do. That's a really good question I think you know I don't think it will but I do think that it's just making sure that we're following in lines with the EPA and different organizations that ensures that there's not any type of environmental impact from the storage of these gases most of these most of the storage gas facilities are going to be probably seven to nine thousand feet underground but again you know they just want to make sure that it's the rules that are put in place contains the particulars of that gas that they're working with so to ensure that we have a a safe environment for the people that live in that area and I think that's just a simple statement to make sure that we're in compliance with the. It's a really good question. Any other questions for Senator Irvin. C. nine does anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator Irvin you're pretty close and close from a bill appreciate a good vote thank you thank you senator center has closed is there any objection to rolling the vote. Madam secretary please well that. Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Are there any senators who wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. Fite thirty five yea and zero nine S. B. two ten passes please transmit to the House. H. B. twelve sixty five. House bill twelve sixty five by representative Delphian Senator Rice to amend the real estate license law to modify the definition of licensee under the real estate license law and to allow a broker or salesman to do business as a professional limited liability company. Senator Rice you're recognized thank you governor members of representative now is HB twelve sixty five a short and simple. It allows an individual who is a broker or a salesman in real estate failed to be able to incorporate is professional limited liability liability company. a I have not heard of any opposition on her and are this be glad to answer any questions. Questions for Senator Rice issued a good vote. Anyone wish to speak against her for. Senator is closed any objection to rowing the boat. Secretary please role that void Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis DES dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast the ballot. Five thirty five eight zero nine H. B. twelve sixty five passes returned to the house. Senator Dismang you're recognized where to the budget and the. I thank you members we have to bills that need to be amended Senate bill thirty one amendment to the Senate bill thirty one. Thank you members appreciate a good vote. We do pass on the amendment. Question any other questions on the amendment. Against her for. Senator has closed. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. I have an amendment passes. Senator gross. Thank you members second amendment is to Senate bill seventy five about what I think the previous one was Senate urban's amendment this one is an amendment by. Senator Wallace section thirty five vision higher education it was a little previously recommended code amendment pertaining to Arkansas legislative audit capabilities for institution of higher education amendment to the to Senate bill seventy five. Any questions. Any questions for Senator Dismang. Anyone wish to speak against her for. The center is closed. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. All right. Passes centers are members with one and two sections today we have Senate bills and house bill so we'll look to do those in a bad Senate bills first some read through the listing pulled up I read through those if there's one you'd like to pull out I just let me know so Senate bill thirty four. Thirty seven. Sixty nine. Seventy. R. two fourteen. Singman. And at the bureau of legislative research and the Legislative Council appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty seven by joint budget and that's for the Arkansas Supreme Court appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill sixty nine by joint budget and that's for the by the and next for the ministry of Office of the Courts court personnel appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill seventy by joint budget and that's for the administrative office of the courts appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill two fourteen an act for the department Human Services Division of Medical Services supplemental appropriation. House bill ten fifty nine by joint budget and that for the office of the treasurer animal rescue. Shelters a preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year. Any questions for Senator Dismang. Anyone wish to speak against her for. Lows there any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please well that. Boyd Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis D. ease DISMANG Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson keen Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who is not voted wish to vote or change his or her vote at this time. C. nine please cast a ballot. But at thirty forty eight zero nine and one not voting. SP thirty four S. the thirty seven SP sixty nine S. B. seventeen S. B. two fourteen. I've been adopted with numbers loss. To transmit to the House. H. B. ten fifty nine. House bill ten fifty nine by joint budget and not for the office of the treasurer of state animal rescue shelters appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year. Senator Dismang thank you for the go ahead to have Senator Flippo come down. Okay members this is a license plate program so the Department treasuries just a pass through for the program last year there was three thousand three hundred ninety two dollars that were raised to the license plate program Senator Flippo said he did not want to repeal that license plate Act and so we do need this preparation in place to be able to have the pass through happen or occur so with that I'd be happy to take any questions. Any one have any questions Senator Mark Johnson. Thank you Mr president Senator Dismang is there a formula spelled out in the license plate bill that describe the allocation process yes not to decide who gets how much money it's fifty fifty in the law itself is what dictates that allocation for within the state yet statute I don't know permit thank you senator thank you ma'am president. Any other questions. Anyone wish to speak against her for. Senator Dismang your clothes I'm closed center has closed any objection to rowing the boat. Secretary please rowboat fully Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis dis dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson keen Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who is not voted in which just about for any senator who wishes to change his or her vote at this time. C. nine please cast a ballot. Right thirty forty eight zero nine and one not voting H. B. ten fifty nine passes as those emergency clause please return to the House. Other announcements. Senator Penn center Penzo you're recognized. Thank you Mr president rules committee will meet upon adjournment for to reduce more appointments. Other announcmenet. Other items at the desk. Yes madam president Senate bill two fifty six by Senator B. Johnson to include machinery and equipment used in research and development and the sales and use tax tax exemption for certain machinery and equipment use and manufacturing Senate bill two fifty six revenue tax Senate bill two fifty seven by Senator B. Johnson to create the access to credit for our rule economy A. C. R. E. act and to provide an income tax deduction for certain agricultural loans Senate bill two fifty seven. Revenue and Tax. Any other announcements. No other announcements the Senate will stand and adjournment subject to clear to the desk until at one PM tomorrow February fourteenth two thousand and twenty.