Senate Convenes

Do me a favor if you're in here to see your family members sworn in it's going to be a wall. For most of the bill wall for the newly elected. Members for their sworn in so we've got a little bit of a space problem so we would ask that if you're in here to see your newly elected senator family member sworn in and if you would just go outside the doors until we get there we've got to have the colors come in and we got to do some other stuff so if you would do that and to we get there which is about halfway through the proceeding and you'll have plenty a warning that the newly elected senators are about to be sworn in at that time will give you time to come in as your family members reform at. Thank you all. Thank you broke this one Senate will come to order out of secretary please call the roll. Boyd Bryant Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Well here Davis these DISMANG Dodson. English. Flippo. Flowers Gilmore hammer. Mr. Hickey Hill. Ingram Irvin. Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King. Leding. Love. The key. Murdock. Page. Penzo. Petty. Rice Stein. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace. Senator Hester is recognized to introduce. Our the pastor who will lead us in prayer today Senator Hester members I'd like to introduce you of pastor Chris Dixon these of my pastor so you can pray for him at First Baptist in Bentonville Arkansas we moved him hearing his family from Georgia about a year and a half ago and I'm glad to have a. Everyone please rise including those in the gallery. Lamont to be here with you guys today for the greatest privilege we have which is free so let's pray together father we thank you so much for the opportunity to be here today And father we come to you the one who could do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask for things and got I. think you personally and rejoicing you for the love the you've demonstrated to us in your son Jesus Christ also thank you for the privilege to Lee of in the land of the free what a blessing thank god today we do praise you for that and today lord I pray for all of those who lead and legislate in the great state of Arkansas further asset you protect them their families and ask that you would bless them as they service on our behalf and what I realize the impact of the moment that we have this morning these men and women who lead this great state have been entrusted with the care of over three million people their hopes their protection and guide their future now connected to those who have been freely elected in lord I know the history is your story and that's why I pray for these entrusted leaders I got I pray for wisdom from you that they would lead us to better days I pray for courage the date would lead us to the challenging days I got I pray for them that they would have love and compassion that they would lead us a god in a way that they sacrifice themselves for the betterment of others and father I realized today that we are facing challenging days but you did create us to confront you did create us to challenge thank god you did create us to know conquering days and so lord I pray for their success is the lead operated they would have the insight and I pray that they would have discernment to make a difference in the lives of people and got I prefer this group leaders may they become a beacon of hope a beacon of light the not only would make a difference in this state the may they make a difference in this nation god may you lead them so that they may lead others effectively father I pray this in the name that is above every. Singled name and operate in the name of the one that absolutely changed my life we pray these things the name of Jesus Christ amen. Everyone please remain standing. State police color guard will now enter present arms impose colors in the Senate chamber. Senate will be let. And the pledge allegiance by Nick Hester. I pledge. All. Johnson. President I would like to know Senator bart Hester Senate president pro temporary online for the General Assembly. Any other nominations floor. By acclamation Senator Hester the President Pro Temp ninety four General Assembly. Congratulate. Senator Hester what my understanding is we are waiting on. Supreme Court justice Karen Baker that's correct. Okay we will law. You go ahead give your speech and then we will have the swearing upon arrival that works for me our members one FC it will be saving. Coating in the gallery. We stand we're good. So members I want to I want to thank you for this opportunity and I like to start by welcoming soon Senator Bryant of Rogers senator Leding Efate mill in the thirty three rest of us in the middle. I want to think Senator Jimmy Hickey for being so generous and helpful me over the past few months through the transition time our state has significant savings almost three billion dollars in large part to how closely Senator Hickey is what's the budget and are spending most of us in this room would spend all that money we know the House would spend all that money I'm certain the executive branch would spend all that money but thanks to senator Hickey's leadership Senate is Maine's leadership we're sitting here today with options in front of us thank you. So education reform prison reform. Tax reform is all on the agenda in the next few days. the days ahead of us. The good news is not one of us in this room or okay with a third of our students reading at grade level. No one in this room is okay with violent repeat offenders walking our streets no one in this room is okay with our county jails being over capacity. No one of the true wants to pay any more taxes than they currently have to pay so today we officially begin the debate with how we're going to overcome these challenges this session. And I've got a few thoughts for new members. thirty five people members in the Senate all like to the same way all with the same mandate. All thirty five to fill out of the loop at some point during session. And what I ask of you is when you feel like you're out of the loop reach out to leadership committee chairs senior members and ask questions. To a you can you will you will be in the loop as much as you're willing to work hard and put your time into it you will be in the loop so never allow yourself to feel like you're not an equal member here at any point. So in the very near future. It's likely you're gonna feel like you're the target of some grand plan to take advantage of you by another member or by leadership or by the House or by the governor. It's better to tribute these actions to unintended negligence by someone in that process rather than grand design. Do your best to assume positive intent from your colleagues. Members do change their mind members can forget they agreed to do something members can decide to do something in the very last minute. Fact it's been set by former house member that if you keep score of everybody that does you wrong during session by the end of session all hundred and thirty four thirty five names will be on that list. So members it is miserable if you're miserable. So it's best what I ask you to do is be quick to forgive do your best to assume positive intent from all your colleagues and we're gonna have a great session. So enjoy your families today let's get Sarah Huckabee Sanders for in tomorrow and go to work thank you have an. We're going to go as far as we can go until we have to swear somebody in but I think we can get some stuff done the director of the Senate secretary of the Senate. Now following senators elected within the respective caucuses servant leadership during the ninety four Joel someone Senator Blake Johnson Majority Leader. Greg Leding minority leader Senator Ricky Hill majority whip Senator Linda Chesterfield minority whip. This. Senator bart Hester president pro tem of the Senate in a minute. It points the following members will follow rules. Following members as scored on with John Thurston secretary of state to the Senate chamber for the purpose of delivering the certificates of election to members of the Senate. Those members of our Senator Jane English. Senator elect Matt McGee. Sir I was just looking to see where your mouth when called on Senator like Fred Love. Senator elect Max down. Okay. Have all of the senators signed the paperwork with the secretary of state's office. Should be all should be on your desk let's take this time to do that while we wait on some of the other things to occur. When you finish please bring it to. Madam secretary. And we'll go through make sure we've got a box. It. Senate. I'm not sure this would be taken. Yeah. So it says. Deliver. Senate will come to order I want to welcome Chief Justice count. Just as Walmart justice Baker here to the Senate. Please show them courtesy they have earned and now. Now what as. Justice Baker if she would please administer the oath of office Senator Hester representing district thirty three and the new president of the Senate. Justice Womack you need to see just can't can take a seat there. It is our. The state. Senator Blake Johnson Majority Leader Senator Greg Leding minority leader called for president the Senate lapel pin. Two Senate bill Senator bart Hester president pro tem the Arkansas Senate ninety first General Assembly. Senator Hester is secretary St Thurston here. Sergeant larvae on the alert we may need to go track down secretary of state. There is welcome the secretary of state John third. Been in here much the secretary of state without a score is welcome here in the Senate and is recognized to deliver remarks to the body all right thank you. You may be seated if you unless you're supposed to be standing Congratulations on your victory winning the winning the opportunity and the privilege to serve your constituents and that's what it is it's an opportunity in a privilege. Mr President Pro Temp lieutenant governor Senators family members friends an honored guest in accordance with Arkansas law it is my honor to present the list of members elected to the state Senate of the ninety fourth General Assembly John Thurston secretary of state for the state of Arkansas hereby certify that each of the following members received the highest number of votes cast in his or her respective Senate district. In the General Election held on November the eighth two thousand twenty two. As certified to the office of the Secretary of State by the various County Board of election commissioners. I Gilmore district one. Matt stone district to. Steve Kroll District three. Jimmy Hickey. District four. Terry Rice district five Matt McKee District six. Alan Clark district seven. Stephanie flowers District eight. Reginald Murdock district nine Ronald Caldwell district ten. Ricky Hill district eleven. Linda Poindexter Chesterfield district twelve Jane English district thirteen Clarke Tucker district fourteen Fredrick Love district fifteen Kim Hammer District sixteen. Mark Johnson District seventeen Jonathan Dismang district eighteen. Dave Wallace this District nineteen Dan Sullivan district twenty. Blake Johnson district twenty one. John Payton district twenty two Scott Flippo district twenty three. Missy Thomas Irvin. Sirvan district's twenty four Breanne Davis district twenty five Gary Stubblefield district twenty six Justin Boyd district twenty seven. Bryan King district twenty eight. Jim Patty District twenty nine Gregory Leding district thirty. Clint Penzo Penzo. District thirty one Joshua Bryant district thirty two. Bart Hester district thirty three jim Dotson district thirty four. And Tyler dis district thirty five congratulations and I guess now it's time to go to work on thank you. Chief Justice Kemp. Is already with us in the chamber. But there is already Committee Senator Hester president pro temp of the Senate appointed. To escort the Justice into the chamber and those four senators are Senator Missy Irvin. Senator Clarke Tucker senator elect John petty center like Steve Kroll. The honorable John Dan Kemp Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and approved court justices will administer the oath of office the following returning to senators individually. First of all Senator Missy Irvin district twenty four. Hi Missy Thomas Irvin do solemnly swear D. solemnly swear the constitution of the United States that I will support the constitution of the United States. Subdivision of this state law and the constitution of the state of Arkansas. It is and I will faithfully perform and discharge the duties of the office of state senator for district. For the office of state senator for district number twenty four the. The official position which I'm about to enter upon which I'm about to enter so help me god. Senator Hester is now presenting the set lapel pin to centers. Senator Clarke Tucker district fourteen. I was looking for your dad. I know your dad. Sullivan square. The constitution of the United States and. And Constitutional Discharge of the all state. The Office of State. Senator has the pope and Senator Tucker. Okay The Auto John Dan Kemp Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court now administered the oath of office to remaining returning. Re elected senators as a group. Following members come forward as your name is called by the director of the Senate Secretary of the Senate. Senator Gilmore. Senator Hickey. Senator Rice. Senator Clark. Senator flowers. Senator Caldwell. Senator hill. Senator Chesterfield. Senator English. Senator Hammer. Senator Mark Johnson. Senator Dismang. Senator Wallace. Senator Solomon. Senator Blake Johnson. Senator Flippo. Senator Stubblefield. Senator Davis and Senator Leding. Arkansas. Senator Hester is going to present the pins to the senators and then that will have Senator Chesterfield come up to be individually for. Yes. Individual. Senator Chesterville will now be sworn at. Senator Hester will presented lapel pin Sir Chesterfield. Chief Justice Wilmers of Office to the. New incoming senators. Following members will come for. Individually with your family or whoever else you gonna bring down. As your name is called by the Secretary of the Senate. So what do these one other time. We have a time for. Fixtures. Socialized Senate mainstem districts to. I'm. Do solemnly swear. That I will support the constitution of the United States. For the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Arkansas and the constitution of the state of Arkansas and I believe this you were discharged the duties that I was discharged for state senator district number two. The official position the official. On which I'm about to enter upon which I'm about. So in. Senator elect Steve crawl. District for. Raise your right hand say aye aye Sir Ralph. Where the constitution of the United States constitution United States and the constitution of the state of Arkansas and the constitution state of Arkansas. And discharge the duties I will faithfully perform discharge the duties of the office of state senator district number three of office state senator. Read the official position the official position upon which. On which I'm not. Central let Max McKee District six. Everybody. Say I. I'm. Where do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States but I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Arkansas and the constitution of the state of Arkansas. More formal discharge the duties of the office of state senator for district number six the Office of State Senate district number six the official position the official upon which I'm about to enter upon so help me god. Thank. Senator Reginald Murdock district nine. This charge. The official. Senator let Fredrick Love. This state of Arkansas. How. State senator. About. So. Senator like John Payton district twenty two. Constitution of the United States House of board constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of our constitution of the state or. One. Perform onstage twenty two of the office of state senator district number twenty two the official position of the official position on which I'm about to find out that. So help me god. All the. Central like Justin Boyd district twenty seven. I. Sullivan square with the constitution of the United States. The constitution United States. To save Arkansas and. State of Arkansas. This George. Now The New. Number twenty seven for the office of state senator district twenty seven the official position the official position on which I'm about to upon which I'm about the. So help me god. Central like Bryan King district twenty eight. Just as Walmart where senator king. Sullivan. Is that I. The United States that. The Office of State. Office the state Senate district twenty eight upon which. Because now. Senator jim Patty District twenty nine. State of Arkansas is charged. Senator elect Clint Penzo district thirty one. You saw. And the constitution of the and the constitution of the state of Arkansas. Sharks. They. The office space. The Office of State centre District thirty one the official position the official position on which I. Which I'm about to. Yeah let's finish this. Senator elect John for Bryant district thirty two. Sullivan square. Institution of the state or. This George. Okay this is our. Thank. The thirty two. On which. Senator like jim Dotson district thirty. I. I do solemnly swear. Institution but also for the constitution of the United states of the United States constitution of the state of Arkansas constitution of the state of Arkansas and that on the face with performing distortion now faithfully performed this charge duties of the office of the office of the state Senate member state Senate district thirty four upon which I'm not but about upon which I am now about so help me god. Senator let our date. District thirty five. I think. For. The Office of State. So Asian is recognized. Please welcome the House delegation to the Senate floor. Thank you Mr chairman. Thank you Mr chairman it is my honor and pleasure to declare that the Arkansas house of representatives is open for business for the ninety fourth general session. While you're here we will notify you. We to organized and ready for business we do. Pointed to tell you this in case you all tell everybody down there that committee is Senator Flippo Scott Flippo center Joshua Braun center Reginald Murdock center Justin Boyd but as you can see we're ready to roll thank you we're only the messenger but I will take that back. I trust you thank you. Senator bart Hester president pro tem of the Senate appointed the following members to notify the honorable shall be standards governor elect to the great State of Arkansas that the Senate is organized and ready for business. Senator Breanne Davis Senator Gary Stubblefield center Tyler duties Senator Kim Hammer Senator Stephanie flowers. To the governor. Yeah. Seven. The centers that are here okay. The centers that are given the responsibility of informing the House let's not count all the birds that were just here from my house please go down there and officially informed the house that we're ready for business Senator Flippo Bryant senators Murdock the board. Got that. Ann Cornwell. Announces the appointments by Senator Clark has to present ridge of the Senate. Of this project of the Senate ninety four General Assembly by commercial district first district senator Dan Sullivan second district Senator Clarke Tucker. Third district senator jim Dotson. For district centre Brianne Davis Senator bart Hester president pro tem of the Senate submits to the Director of the Senate secretary of the Senate the names of the Senate ethics committee to be filed in the Senate journal the ninety four General Assembly Senator Kim Hammer chair Senator Clarke Tucker vice chair. And the other members are sent Senators Missy Irvin Blake Johnson stone Greg Leding Stephanie flowers. Senator Breanne Davis admits to and Cornwell Director of the state. Of the state Senate secretary of the Senate the names of the efficiency committee to be filed in the Senate journal of the ninety four General Assembly Senator Breanne Davis chair center calendar the vice chair the other senators are senators Linda Chesterfield Missy Irvin Jimmy Hickey bart Hester Clarke Tucker Steve Coll Maxtone jim Dotson efficiency committee chair Senator Breanne Davis submits to and Cornwell Director of the Senate and secretary of the Senate the names of the session employees to be filed in the Senate journal for the ninety four General Assembly Majority Leader Senator Blake Johnson submits to and Cornwell Director of the Senate and secretary of the Senate committee assignments to be filed in the Senate journal the ninety four general assembly rules committee chair senator Penzo Clint Penzo is recognized to present the Senate rules of the ninety four General Assembly as amended during the Senate. We're gonna move on past that. Okay. Are there any bills that. Senate re save house concurrent resolution ten O. three by representative Shepparton Senator Hester for a joint session of the house of representatives and Senate at ten thirty AM Tuesday January tenth twenty twenty three to clarify action results to administer the oath of office and to hear an address by the governor house concurrent resolution ten oh three. Counted. Senator Hester Senator Hester. Senator is recognized. At ten members I moved for adoption of H. C. R. ten oh three. Any questions also hang on I gotta suspend the rules the house concurrent resolution ten oh three. All in favor. All those. Is haven't. Rules suspended. That's all that and it is stock to return to the House. The staff there at the. Senate bill one by Senator fission to Committee and that for the expenses for the Arkansas Senate ninety first General Assembly in preparation for the twenty twenty three to office for years Senate bill one. Counted. Senate bill two by Senator Gilmore to create the truth in sentencing and parole reform active twenty twenty three Senate bill two. Judiciary Senate bill three by Senator English to amend the definition of the Department dependent for purposes of higher education scholarships to amend the Arkansas academic challenge scholarship program Senate bill three education Senate bill four by Senator Stubblefield to prohibit a public entity from using the tick tock application or visiting the tick tock website of the state owned device or state police equipment senate bill four. State agencies Senate bill five by Senator Hill to amend telehealth in telemedicine in the practice of veterinary medicine to minor to me or the telemedicine act Senate bill five agriculture Senate bill six by Senator Hill okay to create a restricted lifetime certificate of license as a contractor Senate bill six. The church commerce Senate bill seven by Senator king. To add the criminal offense of prescription drug harm or homicide Senate bill seven. Judiciary Senate bill eight by Senator keen to create the criminal offense of vaccine harm Senate bill eight. Yeah sure Senate bill nine by Senator by joint budget an act for the Arkansas public defender commission appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fiscal year Senate bill nine joint budget Senate bill ten by joint budget an act for the Arkansas catfish promotion board appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four Senate bill ten joint budget Senate bill eleven by joint budget and that for the office of the governor preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill eleven. Joint budget Senate bill twelve by joint budget for the Arkansas beef council preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill twelve joint budget Senate bill thirteen by joint budget and I for the Arkansas ethics commission preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill. Joint budget Senate bill fourteen by joint budget I'm not for the judicial discipline and disability commission preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fifty or Senate bill fourteen joint budget Senate bill fifteen by joint budget and I for the Arkansas state game and fish commission for correction twenty twenty three twenty forty fourth fiscal year Senate bill fifteen joint budget Senate bill sixteen by joint budget and I for the auditor of state operations and I'm calling property program appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill sixteen joint budget Senate bill seventeen by joint budget. And I for the auditor of state deputy prosecuting attorneys preparation with twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill seventeen joint budget senate bill eighteen by joint budget I'm not for the office of the lieutenant governor preparation twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year senate bill eighteen. Joint budget Senate bill nineteen by joint budget and I department of commerce division of aeronautics appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fiscal year Senate bill nineteen. Joint budget Senate bill twenty by joint budget and I Department of Health Arkansas tobacco settlement commission preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill twenty. Joint budget Senate bill twenty one by joint budget an act for the Arkansas minority health initiative of the department of health Arkansas minority health commission preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fits your Senate bill twenty one joint budget Senate bill twenty two by joint budget an act for the Department of transformation cheers services of preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill twenty two joint budget Senate bill twenty three by joint budget an act for the department of finance instruction assessment for the coordination division of corporation with twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill twenty three joint budget Senate bill twenty four by joint budget an active department transformation share services Building Authority Division of preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fifty percent of twenty four. Joint budget senate twenty five by joint budget an act to the Department transmission ensures services Arkansas geographic information systems office preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill twenty five joint budget Senate bill twenty six by joint budget. And I for the department of labor licensing workers compensation commission appropriation with twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill twenty six joint budget senate twenty seven by joint budget an act for the audit for state continuing education of local officials appropriation with twenty twenty three twenty twenty four this year Senate bill twenty seven. Joint budget Senate bill twenty eight by joint budget and I Department of Health Arkansas minority health commission preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill twenty eight. Joint budget Senate bill twenty nine by joint budget an act of department of commerce State Insurance Department appropriation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill twenty nine joint budget senate thirty by joint budget an act for the department of inspection general preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty forty four fiscal year Senate bill thirty. Joint budget senate thirty one by joint budget and after the department of health licensing and regulation boards preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty one joint budget Senate bill thirty two by joint budget an actual department commerce preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty. Joint budget Senate bill thirty three by joint budget an active part of the commerce division of workforce services preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty three. Joint budget senate thirty four by joint budget. An act to make an act for the bureau of legislative research and the Legislative Council perforation twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty four. Joint budget Senate bill thirty five by joint budget and I for the office of the prosecutor ordinator preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth this year Senate bill thirty five. Joint budget Senate bill thirty six by joint budget and I for part of Education Division of Public School academic facilities and transportation of preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty fourth fiscal year Senate bill thirty six. Joint budget Senate bill thirty seven by joint budget and I for the Arkansas Supreme Court preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four this is your Senate bill thirty seven. Joint budget Senate bill thirty eight by Senator Johnson. To amend that income tax provisions concerning the. Income and repeal the throwback rule Senate bill thirty eight Joint Budget. Senate bill so that's revenue to Senate bill thirty nine by Senator bowing to require the gross receipts tax due on the retail purchase of a new or used motorboat to be remitted by the buyer directly to the Department finance ministration Senate bill thirty nine. Senate bill forty by Senator Boeing. To to exclude test strips from the definition of drug paraphernalia under the unit uniform controlled substance act Senate bill forty. Judicial symbol forty one by Senator Hill out out to regulate environmental social justice or government stores or metrics and to allow the treasure of State to divest this state of stocks securities or other obligations Senate bill forty one. Church commerce center forty two by Senator Solomon. Two men the price regulation of counseling in marriage and family therapy and remove the requirements for full time employment and for seeking additional training and specializations Senate bill forty two public health center forty three by Senator Stubblefield. The classified drag performance as an adult oriented business and to add additional location restrictions to an adult oriented business Senate bill forty three city council. Anything else any announcmenet. Yes Senator Hester. Eight members of the the intent is for us to take of our rules on Thursday there's a lot of the amendments three four I think most of more all pretty well agreeable to that I'm aware of there could be some that I'm not aware of but the goal is for us to take up all the the rules with the amendments on Thursday so we're going to meet tomorrow morning at ten AM one when we come we come. Yeah we're gonna come in at ten AM immediately we will we will organize and adjourn we'll go down to the House for joint session where you know all the constitutional officers will swear in. And then there will be a rules meeting at one o'clock tomorrow for the consideration the confirmation of secretaries Senator Chesterfield Senate bill correct thank you Mr chair on my calendar it said budget is at nine in the morning I'm just trying to verify one way or the other. It is not or is it only organizing tomorrow morning on what we do. Well we we would come in at ten the budget would be at nine tomorrow morning budget will meet at nine tomorrow morning. Okay. Anything else. Right. Question. Senate. Yes yeah yeah. Joint Budget me tomorrow morning at nine if anything changes pops up we'll make sure we get in the mail out to members will also be sending out hopefully this afternoon committee assignments and that sort of thing for Joint Budget thank you. Anything else any announcmenet. Ten AM R. C. ten AM tomorrow.