Senate Convenes

please call Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace please stand including those in the gallery. Senate take a listen for. It's private. Four were here today hopefully we're going to be about your work and that is the work of taking care of the people. Making sure the. Government is on their side. And not against. What we ask you to watch over us as we go through our days here keep us safe. Help us to make good decisions help us to remember that you love a saw each one of us and that you call us to love our neighbors and our enemies the council of the saw lord blesses. We thank you for Jesus. We look forward to Christmas we thank you for the media creation this morning. We love you we praise you in Jesus holy name amen. I pledge. The. One. You will. Straw. Any announcements. Any items at the desk. No Sir no Sir. Start the ms agenda Senator Dismang SP one. Senate bill one by Senator Dismang to amend the state income tax to change the name and finding of the long term. Reserve Fund and declare an emergency certified thank you and members I just wanna give a real quick over the on the tax plans foundations or what I believe to be the compact key components to what we're doing with this bill first it's fairness second there simplification and also I think it makes us more competitive the median income tax will total over a quarter of a billion dollars in when fully implemented it will save taxpayers nearly a half a billion dollars by fairness every Archean Senate pays income taxes in the state of Arkansas will benefit from this plan the bill the bill will combine the low and middle tables it will lower the top rate to five point five percent for the year twenty twenty two and more responsibly reach four point nine percent in at five point three percent for corporate payers income taxpayers it will automatically adjust the standard deduction to match inflation and provides for non refundable sixty dollar credit for those making twenty three thousand six hundred dollars. With a significant focus on working families upbeat believe that this bill strikes the correct balance for helping our working are key instance and also our job creators I backed simplification Arkansas has the most complicated tax code in the country we currently have three tables in this bill is going to bring that back down to two in one side benefit to doing so it will provide tax relief to those have been pretty left out of my previous reductions additionally every taxpayer that makes about thirty nine thousand seven hundred dollars and state of Arkansas we'll share in the savings of the continue dropping the top rate. When considering the mix of sales tax income tax and property tax it is very clear that were falling behind our neighbors I believe this bill helps close that gap but with a commitment to reach a five point five percent immediately and then ultimately four point nine percent again we're going to be able to reach and try to achieve and and make sure that we're competitive on a national level. Additionally it's your where this bill contains several provisions to ensure that these care tax cuts are carried out responsibly at first it remains in the long term reserve to the catastrophic reserve fund the reason for doing that is not just for us in this chamber and to make sure that we understand what that fund is intended for but also future legislators is to make sure that we understand that that is something that is not to be touched with the exception of emergencies additionally there are triggers in the bill does begin on page twenty eight I'm in those or both if there is a economic downturn DFA determines that we're gonna have to utilize catastrophic reserve fund the ongoing tax cuts would cease and then also if we have the legislative body decide that we want to try to tap that fund the future tax cuts will cease until we're able to come back and reach an agreement on how to move forward I beginning in twenty twenty three corporate rates will trail the individual income tax rate cuts can be reduced to five point seven percent that'll go to five point three percent in twenty twenty four and then for ultimately again five point three percent in twenty twenty five the bill clarifies that the corona virus food assistance program or any of its successor programs are exempt from state income tax there's been some concerns that they'll be and and name change or maybe code second change on the federal level and so this will provide clarification for DFA regarding that program and then also adjust the elective pass through entity tax to mere the top rate changes that are being done for the a state's trust in individuals I can go on by lines of the bill I'll save you from that for from that I think most of you had a chance to review it and you have any questions I'd be happy to answer those. Thank you what is the breakdown once the full implication of the corporate tax cut it is soon when they meet the triggers what they were actually going to affect what is the breakdown between domestic and foreign companies so the question is what is a breakdown between this domestic informed I do not have that exact number with me today I can tell you that the total total corporate tax cut would total five or fifty seven million dollars when fully implemented and just for clarification we're talking about domestic does or corporations have been organized and state of Arkansas in foreign actually just means those corporations that have been organized in states outside of Arkansas but again be able to receive the benefit from the corporate rate reductions you have to be doing business in the state of Arkansas second question I may think of. What are the qualifications to receive the non refundable tax credit. The qualifications first you have to follow timely tax returns and that's with extensions to be able to qualify for the credits and again that credit is going to be pulled paid so I don't. That's going to begin at I think it was twenty three thousand six hundred dollars is going to phase out for every hundred dollars if income above that by five dollars until it's ultimately phase out I think it's around twenty four thousand seven hundred dollars thank. Anyone wish to speak against. Senator Leding and then we'll go to. Senator Elliot. Thank you for calling the Joint echoes and concerns are presented committee yesterday by some people who just can't be here with the Senate chamber this morning I watch the Committee on line there were nine people signed up to speak on the bill eight of whom were there to speak against it and all of whom spoke to the needs of our Kansans with disabilities now senator mark Johnson pointed out this bill does nothing to cut any services but everybody spoke against the bill yesterday in committee pointed out that it is taking at least half a billion dollars out of state revenue that is couple years that's money that we could use to improve services are canceling with disabilities one of the most moving storage the father please name Mister Freeman he was there with his daughter at the table six years ago at the age of twenty two she was placed on the DD waiver list she was number thirty five hundred six years later she's now fifteen hundred I don't think anybody in this room as opposed to wiping out that list and this money is something that we could do to invest towards that and making sure that these people have the in home services they need and Senator Rapert is credit echoed that concern we've all talked about eliminating that list at some point in the last few years but we got to make sure we keep our eye on that project the only other thing I would say is that yes we want to help working families and working our chances but I think a more constructive way to do that is to invest in programs that could help keep hundreds if not thousands of dollars in their pockets child care is obscenely expensive as I have learned in the last five and a half years. you know making sure sometimes the being able not being able to for the child care you need means not being able to take the job you want or having to work extra jobs you're not they're at home with your child whether to invest in universal affordable pre K. investing in robust paid family leave programs are just so many things we could do that I think we have a more meaningful impact on the lives of working accountants and families thank you. Favor the bill senator are. Prior appropriate time because of likely to vote for the bill but this is more speaking on the bill I got a copy of this bill one word popped in my head. Consistency. That word jumped in my head for a lot of reasons I member during the extended special session as we discussed giving protections to the those who could be fired because the vaccine mandates. There's a lot of questions about consistency occur. My good friend Senator Dismang Senator Hickey to the architects of this bill. And to the strongest opponents of adding those protections to those workers spoke about that consistency. Let's talk about the free markets and how we should allow them happen. That we as capela should interfere or allow the government to have interference. In those companies and how they operate. I got spoken Thomas I agree with that sentiment one percent. You will go to a true free market system allows a fair I'm for. Also spoke about the miss. There were actually in that kind of system in Arkansas. If you need an example don't look no further down the agenda. Where we have a massive. This. Direct payment of government taxpayer funds to a corporation over others where the government is picking winners and losers. We're very likely to support that bill I get it to govern Tim Griffin actually does good spiel about this and speeches where you talked about where we live in this environment where you have to give these guys so please give these companies I get it we have one self Arkansas reached a number just like Senator Wallace would. But consistency. It's important. This bill what jumps out to me is. Always been consistent to those principles. We know right now that many corporations are feeling the sting of making decisions. The labor market which a is shortened Sturch have a plow on them this or make a real difference in how the people they fired those consequences start to come back home to roost a federal money is running out. The court which to use any excuse to fire people over and over again and construction down as many as predicted would happen. During that. Right now when those chickens are coming home to roost. I see a bill. We're consistently. We give a tax break. Right now when those decisions are coming home to roost we know when FY thirteen thirty two twenty three they're gonna get a ballot. I ask Senator Dismang a specific question because I can't get up for your break down how much is money will go Arkansas to the corporations we have here Senator Dismang did a description of a small family form as a corporation yesterday those are real. But you know what else is real. Those foreign companies. Let's be real about where this money's going to go. You're going to be giving a tax break tonight. Two employees slave labor essentially and is scared to go against China. So they get a tax break. That's money that could be going. To that mom who calls me weekly. She lost her job in Canada for Christmas presents we impasse and mercy calls. We're giving money. To be injurious. Who will serve their ice cream in Israel. Because occupied Palestinian territory. We're hooking him up. That's money that could be going to your mom and pop shop. As I drive across south Arkansas I don't see those big corporations shut now. I see mom and pop shops who do pass Senator Dismang apart is probably or do pass throughs LLCs which is included in the corporate tax break. I think about companies in Georgia who pulled all star game and who did issues on that. I think we could use that money to support law enforcement. As our murder rate. Expand and grow in every city in Arkansas at a time we have a problem retaining them and keeping them in those jobs. We could be helping them out. But we consistently do the same thing up here. I'm not anti corporation I'm not anti corporation tax break what I'm asking is this the time nor the place to be doing that or call would be singularly focused on helping our Kansans reduce their income tax burden to get zero something many in this room has talked about before would be singly focused on that one go instead this piecemeal approach what we do these different ways now get to my second point for me where. This is non refundable tax credit. When I heard this I thought here we go again here's the B. I. see we try to do it to abate Tax we try to do it too many different things I hate III since the initial process whenever they passed a mental publicans didn't pass was that you incentivize people to work. So if you earn a certain amount of income at a certain point your tax increase would increase the credit would create a thought process is we we get people back into work force up to a certain income level then it will trail. This also has social good attached to it at the federal level so if you're married you get a bigger the I. see if you have children you get a bigger yeah I see. I don't think that's true I think there studies of disapprove it actually works to incentivize people to work I think that most people get this credit on a work either way and I think there's actually studies that show that this has a twenty six percent fraud rate at the federal level twenty six percent one for actually a fraudulent activities on these kind of counts in any from some right wing side I'll look it up that's from the IRS's website. But we're not putting the I. see in place. There's no there's no qualifiers to get his credit. If you earn. Eight thousand dollars under Senator Dismang the plan. You can apply for the sixty dollar refund. If you earn twenty three five whatever that an abroad office you get the same amount of refund if you're not married you get the same amount of refund if you don't have children you get the same amount of reform at the federal level they try to expand iasi similarly this. That starts. Current tax conservative we try to do this. Was president Barack Obama in two thousand fourteen. To try to expand it to childless single people the same amount of money. Now I had ideas on a better way to do it. Now I hope or twirl skills can keep up with this I know I'm gonna be given a convoluted complicated and confusing idea. And if you have any questions of the go Senator he'll just look at me I'll make sure. Here's my idea. Step one. You let them keep their dang money in the first place. That that's the state you know what I had a minute to do. Move up that lower credit as your rate to eight thousand dollars. That would be the same amount of money as this non refund rebate. And it would not only affect the political four under the new table it could affect the middle class as well. Now I'm sorry Senator sample that ended this number from the FNA I know that's a deadly sin tax rate of. But I did get this from the alarm president will your of Legislative Research. And they said just a cost of around thirty three million dollars to allow people to have more the money into moved that zero percent income tax instead of this non refundable refundable credit. So I'm a vote for this bill very simply because I made a promise when I left out vote for every tax decreased we ever put in front of us thank you be happy about it. Nine oh like you. If there's a way we get to zero percent income tax and guess what guys this thing is. What we take questions Senator Garner. Okay Senator Elliot. For the purpose of German Rights Center Hickey. He said there was something that was not correct okay cool let me put you on the list Senator Elliot. So just to get the list here and you don't have to stand over your you. Have you don't have to stand in line because I'm writing a list down so whom was referred you okay Sir. We go Senator Elliot the Senator Rapert in favor. Then Senator Clark against and then Senator Hickey on. Senator Teague. Senator just to fill. Okay all right several it you've got for thank you Mr governor colleagues probably anybody else in this body there's not a single one of us who is against a tax rate. It is also true I could have a tax break in my own home. If I chose not to pay my mortgage if I chose not to pay the payment on my car if I chose not to pay my utilities. I can have my own tax what what in my own home but as it turns out those are the essential things some of them that I have to have to have just a decent life. I look at this bill the same way. Of course we can't afford a big tax break if we are not taking care of so many of the things we need to take care of another state for our Kansans. One point eight billion dollars over five years what could that do for the good of Arkansas as a whole. I recognize we have different priorities and I respect that. But what I do struggle with more than anything else are the things we are not doing. And this is not a new speech for me this is not a new way of thinking for me this is something I have worked on for years. Over different governments for me is not democratic or Republican it's just that Arkansas is one of the poorest states in this country and we have a great needs and we are going to spend one point eight billion dollars over five years. And be told. That that's going to be okay what I heard yesterday in testimony and I went to those the Senate committee meeting and most of the House Committee meeting. I think I feel good about we're going to be able to do this and not put the state. In grave danger. I'm feeling I feel good about it and you know what you know Senate moody's analytics said it would be okay. I went to the hearing when booty and when voting at a lex was here to give their report. I was nothing compelling. That told us that we are going to be able to give this tax break and still be okay even as we are but think about this what we are not. And we still have been taken care of those things that people need taking care of so badly we have right now and appropriation of five million dollars just to have just to have and this won't do at all housing trust fund it at five million dollars that's going to be a measly amount if we could just do that. Can't get it funded. Appropriations there. It is we have come to terms with the just with housing what was savings as if it's normal we're always gonna have homeless people why well this is the result. We're always gonna have homeless people we have homes that are affordable for people as it turns out many of them are not affordable and if they are because I've done the research on this with the better business bureau. One of the main this is out there that's doing the affordable homes you read about what it's like and it's not a home you'd even want to stay in but that's okay. As long as we can have our tax rate. This year for the first time in our Education Committee when we did adequacy. For the first time the consultant. I suggested to us that one of the things we ought to do is look at the factors outside of education that affect our education system and a and also affect the idea that we are going to be okay as long as we're doing adequacy yeah we're doing something we call adequacy. I don't believe a single one of you in this room would be okay my child has an adequate education bor I'm so thrilled about that I don't think there's anybody here who wants that. But the reason we have that suggestion. What we have said we're going to follow that we look at those outside forces because if a child needs to eat a child should not have to go to school to eat. If a child needs a good home a child should not have to stay after school late and get there early to have a decent roof over his or her head that should not be the case. Yes. We look at patients simply in the Education Committee and then you know what we say we've been spending these billions billions of dollars of all these years and things haven't gotten better why not because when your child goes to school your child doesn't go to school with all the baggage that most of the kids that we are promising adequacy to. If you get that you gonna be lucky they don't go to school with all that baggage but you know what we need to address all that baggage like a good home not having a tax break we're going to spend one point eight billion dollars. There's so many things we could spend it for and when when I pay my bill at home when I paid my current open that by a grocer is when I pay my mortgage they don't. I can do these other things I wanted to. We're doing. We would say to any other person especially people of low me. You're not being responsible you're doing that you're buying this your bond oh my god you have a big iPhone and as if they've done something horrible. This is our big iPhone people. Do we have to have a thirteen. When we haven't paid for seven. We don't. And this is for the issues of competitiveness and and fairness. There are people who want to look we convinced that the fairest tax we have is the sales. And they say that is the case because everybody pays the same thing that's exactly the reason it is not fair. Because everybody has to pay the same thing. When it comes to fairness in this tax bill. I'm not sure how we're defining it but I asked the question over and over. Should we have a tax system that is equitable for everyone that is equal. And that does not get discussion. And I wish it weren't equitable because I think we think more about fairness and a waiver fairness is really fairness. If I had I don't know let's just say Senator Dismang since he's right there Senator Dismang lines up with. Host well Hendren install. Are you guys going to have to dump this fall. Anything fair about that may be because maybe our Dismang can jump really high and I'm sure he would say he. But you're going to have to figure out a way to dump this fall without anything extra. This. Everybody they have the dog in a goal at the same height. But who has the best chance here without having something else without having something else happened. You know what we have the three point play one of the reasons we had a three point play because people could really should those balls from a long way and the tall people talking all over him and that help level the playing field that's what I'm talking about. What a bull these people get what they need. Not what's fair when you say it is everybody has the same thing. I'm going to try to wrap up here but I don't know why but. It's pretty close I tell you that. So everything fairness. When it comes to competitiveness. We've talked about Texas and Tennessee not have an income tax. It's not hard to know Texas has if you read about a little bit I have relatives in Texas systems nephews nieces. And they pay property taxes under the white suit but they don't have an income tax they get it from somewhere. And the other place they get it do we have oil as Texas has oil no we don't. So we're not comparing apples and oranges here. And Tennessee has long had the no income tax. They've now grown that into their system. We don't have that. But we can talk about this in terms of we've got to have these taxes like this to lure people to Arkansas. They will come just like they come right now when we hand them out money they will come thank you when we hand them out money. But those things that I just talked about that we are not funding. That is really what will get people to be in Arkansas. And people come to live more cheaply. Because we're cheaper than just a state conference. But the people we want in Arkansas more than anything else all right kids and our grandkids to remain here and not leave us. So for years started in two thousand nine when I first got to the Senate I have tried these proposals of doing something about all these things didn't happen on the democratic. Governor. And on the Republican governor so for me this is certainly a partisan I just disagree with this to the bone and we are not doing what we should do for the people we talked about with disabilities and the response they got was we are not cutting anything no we are not cut anything but we are not adding. And people on that list in the thousands. So let me suggest to you perhaps. If you've got something that looked like this on your desk I'm sure some of them have made it to the trash can but there was a person yesterday this is this is a report called Alice and the when the Rockefeller was a big part of it this is Arkansans that was report. But it makes gestiones about what we can do. To make sure we move everybody I hit. But there is a woman who testified yesterday and mentioned Allison thanked the committee for the tax credit that people are going to get that sixty dollars sixty nine dollars whatever was sent we were just talking about. And they spoke for the bill because you don't have any option to speak on the bill you had to take a for or against so they spoke before the bill. Saying that right the lease so it's always a good thing when people can get some more of their own money in their pocket and they spoke about this yes but for for the bill in terms of that credit. And then we talked about all the other two bills that we have passed at least in the House over the years that gave the people at the bottom in a tax break. But you know if I have a tax break of twenty one dollars and if I have a credit and I'm not saying it's just nothing for sixty dollars. Think about it this way suppose we took all that money and combined it and did something really great. For people who are hurting suppose we did that and these are just philosophical differences I guess. Which is one of the things without saying it outright that way that's not that's not of analyst says Allen stands for asset limited and folks are. Asset limited. Income. Limited. And income constrained. But also in weight. Now what does it have to do with this but the tax rate. We're talking about people making twenty three dollars one thousand dollars or whatever getting back to us sixty dollar credit. They can buy gasoline probably four to fill ups that's helpful. But the problem is that these folks we're talking about folks who are not working we're talking about folks who are working and not making it. And they have been for years and years and years is it time for a tax break. If people have been working and working and working and we tell them if you work hard things will be okay. Well slash. What your people people are working and they are not okay and this is not going to make them okay. And they could do something else though that would we can do something else like to spend that money on the things and help people address some of the issues they have just trying to make it day today. This is these things from these are the things from this report. How so household survival budget sources. For housing for example. Many people don't have the money for housing that's why they're in the streets many people don't have the money for housing that's why their kids they are moving from place to place come rent time. Then those kids have to find a school to go to wherever their parents moved to. How would you feel if you know when you get ready to go home you didn't know her home once. You don't even know where you're going. Kids got off the bus and their parents are waiting there for them because they have to leave some of the home because they can't pay the rent many of you in here our landlords you know exactly what I'm talking about. When they haven't paid the rent and they've got to move to have some place for their kids. To lie down tonight and they are literally living in their cars the department of education can give you these numbers. They have. Child care is another one on their list we're talking about people not going to work. But yeah there are people not going to work. There to really good reasons one a lot of chair childcare places have shut down to if there is a child care place. I can't afford. And then I made some little amount of money I'm going to be cut off from getting child care because I'm making five dollars too much. And you tell that person to make it while we get a tax break. Food insecurity we've accepted food and security as if it's some kind of festival where we have events about it. It's good that we do. But is that okay. Because these people have the opportunity to have some consistency in their lives. And we can do something about that. They would have to subject themselves to the everyday indignity I've got to get to the food bank and I don't even know how I'm going to get there. Is that your life if that's not your life I'm not sure we should have a tax break. I know what is enough people's lives at least where I live that we should have a tax rate. Transportation. I don't have that. Many of the folks so we're talking about I'm going to get a tax break don't even have transportation I talked about filling up the gas tank. You probably lucky if you have a gas tank because maybe you have transportation. And the health care that's happening with our families technology that they don't have that we've been talking about for the last twenty years. And all the other things that you think about in your life that makes your life rich. Which takes me back to where I want to stop education we haven't had that study yet. What would it take because of people. In the. Namik Development Act economic development. Issue for you not just the Education Committee. Not just the Education Committee. The people in public health take up some of the. But all the rest the committee on the committee is look right back of education go you'll fix it yes all the things happening in that child's life online H.. Countries who have the highest performing education systems in the world. Who look at a child's life and what it's like weighing he before they get to school. And address issues kids go to school to be educated. I should have to go to school to see the doctor. Well. These are things. Right these are the things we ought to be doing rather than give a tax break but I am not philosophically against. I just have a different priority system I guess. Thank you very much I still don't know. Okay I apologize what was Joe Morales have a motion sir the gentleman would like to be recognized for motion I'm Lou immediate consideration. You for the motion. To not debatable motion. All those in favor say aye. Close eyes have it. Just that required twenty four votes but the ayes have it. I'm secretary called. Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Elliott. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. You. Garner. Gilmore yes Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Health. Ingram. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. You wish to vote or change their vote. Cass. Senator Ingram by anybody else. Cast about thirty eight four days the bill is passed transmit. Emergency calls a doctor transmitted House second. What purpose shall rise. Twenty years I'm always here to. That a guard. It's not going to sign that I'm going to consider that a point of personal privilege as opposed to a job but. Okay Senate is mine Senate bill two by Senator Dismang to amend the law concerning the initial appointments of the tax appeals commission and declare an emergency. Sir this is a courtesy to the. As a courtesy to president Pro chapter. Senator Hickey do you would you like to take a moment on the floor to clarify something as a courtesy to you. Because. What you're telling him is probably good for the. Again your yes the comment was made that LLC's and to escort or not included in the in the tax reduction bill that we're doing you have to think of it this way the profits of those escort LLC's will of what they're going to do this is passed through to the individual so they will actually be taxed at the reduced individual rate so I just wanna make sure that we do get that clarification so there's no confusion. Thank you senator Senate is mine is recognized as the two. Server. Ross I don't think so did the. Did you read your G. okay members there were some inconsistencies on the appointment process for the initial appointments after their eggs were pointing later on this strikes the initials that would match up throughout the bill. For any questions for the senator anyone wish to speak again for. Search close. I secretary please call. Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. DISMANG. I. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Garner yes Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague Tucker. Wallace you wish to vote. Sir Clark sign for change of a voter changes but. Please cast about thirty forty eight zero days. the bill is. Pass emergency clause is adopted. Transmitted out supervision rolled out. No comments. Senate is. Senate bill four. Senate bill four by Senator Dismang to clarify the ability of the uniform omitted liability company act to confirm and retain the limited liability status and limited liability protection of certain limited liability companies and declaring an emergency any questions but I'm sorry what was that any questions Senator design on this. Anyone would speak for against any objection rolling the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Elliott E. English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace in which the voter injured vote. Sir Clark not voting anyone else. Cast a ballot thirty three A. zero nine days the bill is passed for two calls up to transmit to the House Senator Solomon as the server Senate bill seven by Senator Solomon to repeal the law concerning pharmaceutical discounts for insulin and declare an emergency Senator Solomon. Thank you governor first of all I thank the governor for putting one of my bills on the call a lot of you try to get bills on the caller thank you get this in on their. Their intent was to get the lowest price on insulin a lifesaving drugs we had good intentions trying to leverage that far all our Kansans the language wasn't good we tried to work with the insurance department and the law and the pharmacy folks across the nation and we couldn't change the language the best thing which is to repeal the bill and start all over so we will be coming back with this I think the goal is good to get the lowest price for all Arkansans and with that I'm close any questions they always speak against and for any objection on the boat please roll vote madam secretary. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to vote or change vote cast up the ballot thirty forty eight zero nice bills passed vertical stop to transmit to the House Senator Wallace this is This B. ten it does not have an emergency clause Senate bill ten by Senator Wallace to amend the income tax credit for waste reduction reuse or recycling equipment. Tucker Wallace recognized thank you. Positive cost benefit analysis. You all remember those words because I will probably screwed up a couple times and I'm up here. We get the opportunity to bring a great addition to the state of Arkansas. With another addition by big river steel US steel. They want to bring a three billion dollar capital investment. This is in addition to the two point two billion dollars. They've already put the ground in Arkansas. Which is a total five point two billion. The three million dollar investment. If it passes will be the second largest economic package the United States this year. I grew up in my time the army. Enlists the folks in California New York kind of poor math Arkansas. We've got a chance to have the second largest economic package. The whole state the whole country. This package is going to bring. Seven hundred. Jobs. P. at least a hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year. Seven hundred more jobs. In the bill. With people. Parents or grandparents were sharecroppers making a hundred twenty thousand dollars a year. Two more jobs. With the vendors of the steel mills making sixty thousand or more. That's all good but issues a problem we've got this to other southern states. Right behind us pushing hard for these projects Alabama Mississippi. They're saying we can do we can do it come here come here. The good news is with a driver C. we want to go to a couple things. We're gonna bring this home. The fifty me the Senator Hickey already talked about in tax credits. Tax credits which we have done two times before with very successful results. And I will talk more about these tax credits in a little while. But for someone talk about the bill to. What is still bills have met to Arkansas and what the steel mills have made to the Mississippi Delta on the side of Arkansas. Not good in the delta thank you for use in the fifties and sixties I made sixty cents an hour chopping cotton. That's probably overpaid so guys only got fifty. It may determine look pretty good thirty years later. Minimum wage in Arkansas was three dollars and thirty cents an hour. Not much change in the delta we still have share croppers. But some of them have been replaced by machinery so no jobs at all the still bills change that. Mississippi County in for Christine county in for cricket council in Poinsett county all those counties surrounding. The city council. We have young men and young women now. With a year college two years of college with no college we have young men and women I just hit one straight out of high school go through it partnership it is now working at big reverse. This story. Make your hundred thousand dollars a year. Who is family years before worked on a farm. Sure property. That's the difference though still bills or making in Arkansas. The show for new homes. Good homes. New cars good food. New and better schools that's what the steel mills or bring Arkansas. This social living a better life our young folks than their parents and their grandparents that I grew up with. So what's it going to cost. In the long run very little. When I was growing up when the chores I had every day I had to go out and prime the pump those handled pumps in you poor little water in there and you put that Then we get gallons of water back. Well that's what we're gonna do this how this tax credits we've got investment tax credits. Bill to be very little and we'll get back. Billions and billions of dollars. From these tax credits we do this. Hello I know this within twice before tax credits this work very very well live improvements just as I explain what's happening. The cricket the city council Poinsett. These tests Krishna costs eleven million dollars a year over the next fourteen years. If the state bison back or if our teachers retirement fund bison back we buy them back in the twenty percent discount becomes eight point eight. Eight million eight hundred thousand dollars over the next fourteen years. So for as little as eight point eight million dollars a year. US steel is going to put. Three billion dollars into the ground. The state of Arkansas. create directly or indirectly nine hundred more jobs. Here's a money back guarantee. When they do that. Before they qualify for the tax credits. The infrastructure to be done the plan has to be done the jobs have to be filled with people before they get tax credit one. And then they have to show. The that positive cash. Development and I missed the. Two D. F. A. in two. Arkansas Economic Development folks. They're going to analysis to make sure. That in fact. Big river steel used to has done everything they said they would do. Thank you for more than those not heard. Senate people simply do the math with me times a hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year that's eighty four thousand eighty four million dollars a year. Two hundred people time sixty thousand year that's. Twelve million more dollars a year. That's pretty close to a hundred million dollars. Tax rate of five percent one hundred million dollars that's five million more dollars a year coming back to us. If it's a hundred twenty thousand dollars this year ten years now that salary be a hundred thirty or hundred forty thousand. This twice before we've been successful. This is a winning play let's run it again with that I'll stand by for your questions. Question. Representative Johnson for. Senator Johnson skews me I'm still talking appear going. Yes. Senator Wallace thank you for the economic development in the city council in relation. Thank you a moment to remember when that was the third country. And it was registered as a lot of a lot of money in the Delta but it is concentrated more top. This is spread the wealth around a lot is it true that Mississippi County is now the largest steel producing county in the United States to believe that we are and we know for a fact when we get this next edition we will be in the whole country what court committee because I've I'm so concerned about the loss of a manufacturing. Not just overseas but to our competitors I mean that in a capital C. the better but thank you for all you're doing and I'm happy to support the bill thank you. Are there any other questions. Senate. Yes Sir After they meet the initial requirements if they fail to follow over the jobs after they meet the initial requirements and they failed to say in the future to meet the requirements of jobs or any call back provisions in this yes Sir okay there there are city conditions clawback provisions provided in this I didn't see when I look through my mind this and second is USD or or the group is to require vaccine mandated for employment. I. I don't believe so I'm I'm pretty sure not by don't know for sure thank you. Are there any other questions for senator Wallace. Would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill Senator Rapert you're recognized. All members of the right to speak for the bill in fact and I can't recall senator Wallace if you were actually here for the first package or not but I was here when the very first package like this was actually put in play we debated on the floor it was a very big deal and. As much as we'd all like these in our own districts we're glad it's come in Arkansas I'm going to be helpful because that area of the state needs it. My comments for the bill today in on the bill I will share with you and hopefully be a little bit up lifting for you we all come down here we have strong feelings we have strong will about these issues in a matter of just one hour here. We just passed. The largest individual. Tax cut bill that's ever come through that I'm aware of in one session and one bill. I'm proud of that. But over ten years we've also passed the largest. Historical tax cuts in our state's history. And I'm proud of all the work that each of you have done on that as well. So this is a big deal. I started my day off we had a day yesterday were we had a lot of opportunities to try to see if we can get policy crafted that would represent even greater will. Just as I got here the capital this morning my youngest daughter he was eight years old when I started serving here seventy emissions she said that just wanna let you know I'm praying for you. One encourage you with the verse do not grow weary of doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Don't let any hate it you're getting upset your call well I've never done that and I want. And so. I am for this bill senator garner raises some. Important issues. As I sit and listen to all of this I will say that I did speak with Senator Dismang only other bill. This is a delivered to lottery body it's a process that we go for it. I tried yesterday to see if you would add an amendment to the SP one not because of a lack is the one I actually love it I'm glad that we're doing tax cuts. I wanted to see that this body would stand up and also where the twenty five million. We're doing fifty million here. We're giving money away to all sorts of things it's just a matter what we wanted to do. And all I wanted to do in rising here today is to tell you that in this process that we have and I know the senator Wallace I can remember a bill last session very significant bill dealing with solar. And with that was a delivery process that was called as chair of the committee at that time to come in and sit down and ma'am we work through that and we got a good bill passed people got behind it. I just wanna urge all of us. Because I do love the Senate. I love what we do to not be rushed. When each of you want to speak. You all represent you all or are elected by Arkansas citizens in each and every single one of you have a right to stand up and speak on behalf of your citizens. And advocate for policy into not be squelched when you do it. And that. And I'm proud of the fact that the first time I walked into this for one of our former senators brought me in here by myself he looked around he said what you need to understand is whether you were elected yesterday or you've been here for twenty years you are individually each and every single one of you a senator. With the exact same rights and privileges as any other Senator. By privilege we nominated pro tem. To service ceremony here. But no one here works for our protean of the passion on their current. We answer to the people of Arkansas. And when I see that some people's forces are squelched in this process orders. Words spoken that it's disrespectful for us to run motions are filed bills or amendments is not disrespectful as part of the process any number of times Senator Ellie and I have school vigorously against issues. But on human trafficking on disability issues we speak together and if shared laughs and to be able to be friendly outside of that. That's important to me. So as we get ready to pass this bill out of here and I support fully senator Wallace and. I've taken a little bit of liberty and invoicing my concerns because I didn't get an opportunity like several members to speak. Just now but in an hour. We've passed all these things will not waste anybody's time. We stood here. I have a hole and I will say this because I'm going to continue advocating because nearly fifty legislators wanted to do something for law enforcement. If somebody had a better idea we could have done that and what I'm saying is that we always have time to pause before we close the doors down here to do the right thing there's never a right time to do the right thing areas Truman's is not closed it's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit we should oppose things when some people actually do care who gets the credit thank you Sir. What do you would like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Senator Wallace would you like to close for your bill I'm close their bill senator Wallace is indicated he's close for the bill are there any objections to rolling of a. Seeing none madam secretary please roll Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Do any Senator desire to vote or to change their vote. Seeing none Madam Secretary cast about. With thirty forty eight zero nine eight S. B. ten has passed and transmitted the House we are going to transition into the budget calendar. Senator Dismang. Is think Senator members first of it sorry if you want to. Senate bill three by Senator Dismang an act to the department of finance administration disbursing officer supplemental appropriation. Members this is an increase in preparation just about hit the limit for the federal funds coming through this increases that to three billion dollars or by three billion dollars a supplemental appropriation all the same requirements and oversight will you know play into these funds just like we have in place today. Take any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Dismang Senator Rapert you're recognized. Senator do you happen to know where the any intentions or any intended allocations for this appropriation I think a significant part of it is what we talk about in regards to broadband which this chambers the very best so three billion more dollars. The you're not saying what we we will not know until it's brought a force and I'm not sure that we know exactly how many additional federal dollars flowing this is just a preparation and all the same requirements where they will come and ask for approval to spend our employees will be a big part of that conversation. In all of the grant to make sure is is chairs every saying appropriate RPK on the okay and so the A. R. do you happen to know how much we've already spent on broadband I've heard and I keep yesterday when you're asking for the report thank you meeting we got it so I think you've got those numbers but if you look at the end of the actually our committee I didn't get it I didn't ask this this specific bill of rights. Same same report that you receive if you had read through it it actually stipulates how much was for each project in the type of projects but if for any member that has concerns or wants to know a little bit more about how this does expand so if you miss the meetings or whatever so that would be at your meeting or even the full A. L. C. meetings if you miss those you can go and look and see what's historically happened at the end of the your report online the river there's a report that outlines exactly how those dollars have been spent in what in what's left okay so the three million dollars appropriation of preparation supplemental preparation okay we typically don't make appropriation that expectations on just asking do you know of any specifics on the full three million dollars appropriation at all that we might want to know about. No event in where we are going to know so this is very non typical we're all aware of that that's why we put stipulations in place in required approval by AOC before the sponsor spent about the you still have to have the authority to spend the funds this is what's granting that but we will still in be a full part of that process there's no side stepping or whatever may be in regards the utilization of these standing this is still going through the governor's. Committee that he formed and then comes back for review or is is coming straight up all approval which is the process that you voted on and you were a big part of back in the regular session but my point is it's still going to the governor the governor's committee he is the executive branch and imminent and that is how that works and you know typically we set a preparation Rachel's and in fact this would be different from what we normally do when we inject ourselves even at the end for not just review but actual approval of expenditure of those funds so the yes I mean but again the executive branches the executive branch and that's their function I would say we've added it will be the next on the back back in the you know through the previous thank you for clarifying so that everybody knows the process this listing as well thank you okay. Yeah. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill for the bill center is closed the objection to rolling the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote cast the ballot thirty forty eight zero nays the bill is passed required twenty seven votes and clear that threshold emergency clauses adopted transmit the bill to the house Senator Dismang S. B. five has emergency clause I'm like this B. three only requires eighteen not twenty seven vote track. Senate bill five by Senator Hickey to transfer funds to the restricted reserve fund general revenue allotment reserve fund And economic development development incentive quick action closing fund and Claire an emergency service thank you members of this is tied back to the recycling tax credits and that particular project that we're trying to get up and going in the State of Arkansas there's potential transfer up to fifty million dollars to be able to help with infrastructure projects or call backs tied to that to ensure that this project does take place and in again this is this is part of the bill that we've already passed if that project is not take place that money would sit in the general law in a reserve fund and not be spending we would be able to transfer that back or do we would like at a later date. Any questions for thank you to governor so removing fifty million dollars from the long term reserve fund which we just rename the catastrophic form correct yes if we were to do this in twenty twenty four the same maneuver when that violate the triggers and the trigger for the income tax would be available for actually as of July first twenty twenty two yes Sir okay I'm exhausted if Y. tweet tweet that the triggers take place that there's actually provision that if we try to take money out of that after July first twenty twenty two then then it would not allow the taxes my question on that no on the bill this. If we have future funds like this we're going to access I know within the catastrophic phone you put a clause in there were you could use it for super projects like this. How can we be assured those triggers were going to affect if we need to fund a future super project without violating of triggers well in a minute one thing I don't like to say is that that bought this body can change the rules even related to the catastrophic for the reserve fund eighteen votes and fifty one votes on the other side but my assumption is that we will be able to adequately fund various you know fund balances to ensure that we have the money available for that time super project if one does come up in this state this is a little bit different in I mean I don't want to. Force you to come down but there there's some moving parts this one or was added automatically going to flow the long term reserve fund to to take it to my phone but in general on plan for gets out to the. Quick action closing fund what I am correct I am correct if we were to do this after FY twenty twenty one to that would violate the triggers are not head of income tax reduction yeah we'll we'll have to come up with a different mechanism the whole point of the catastrophic reserve funds have that backstop in in also set a floor of twenty percent of prior year I spend and so that that's that's the purpose that fun what we like to stick to your stick with as we move forward. Speak against four centers close injection on the vote please hold a vote. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace it always change their vote. Cast a ballot thirty forty eight zero days the bill is passed emergency clause is adopted transmitted the house in a house of Phil Senator Jane English and then with us Senator Irvin the mortgagee centering on I feel like you gonna talk about broadband we just got. She's just just some. You mentioned there okay folks. Broadband everybody has one and a copy of this on your desk passed out this morning I got the last road yesterday but if you would go on this you know what we're trying to do we hired broadband development group to do surveys to get figure out exactly where we are in the state so that we can develop the be informed to develop policies for a long term plan for the state of Arkansas for broadband so we had across the state one of the things that really is necessary is that people fill out these surveys so we know exactly where we are in the hinterlands so there's there is this little to Ark Code on here and if you would take a picture of that. The questions are right here and fill that out and so that we get a picture of wherever everybody is in and where you live but the other thing is is if you would even take a picture of this and put it on your Facebook and encourage all kinds of folks to be able to do the same thing take that survey that would help us immensely to be able to gather data from across the state everybody here is from a different part of the state so we need to be able to gather as much information as we possibly can there a lot of people out there that don't have it. we need to know who those people are we also need to know who has it who has really bad service. And I'm to say also that if you want to set up a meeting in your area we have legislators that are doing that and that's very encouraged and we have the contact information if you want to do that it's really important that we can get these surveys out to as many people as possible so contact either as Senator English or myself if you have if you would like to we will assist you and help and set up a meeting with the consultants in your area in fact I have three places on my cell phone I need to eight out of where lieu McAlister's going to be in the next week so and so I'd like to get with those legislators make sure maybe just so you know that he's going to be there and hopefully some of you would be able to attend those meetings to hear what's going on. You have a question Sir John go ahead. Senator English did you know that I was able to complete the survey with the Q. R. code on my phone while I'm sitting here this. Everybody can do that. Everybody can do that thank you not rocket science. Bye okay thank you. Senator Ingram and then we'll go to the queue over here so Centering. Just recognized. This weekend certainly Henry Anderson the superintendent at Marvell Elaine school district passed way. Henry was a remarkable man you know we we talk about those football coaches it can take there's Beecher's and is in Beecher's Henry was one of those gas he was a leader of within three years he brought the Marvell Elaine school district search officiating head out of fiscal distress. He was an example of the superintendent that made a difference in his kids lives and it is a tremendous loss I would just ask that y'all keep his family in your prayers and I pray for the marble school district and thank god that they had someone with the leadership ability and skills like Henry Anderson and may the whoever follows Henry being that same old thank you. Thank you senator centering on. Yeah. Henderson was also a. Part of the special school district in the north little rock school district it was an exceptional person thank you for that senator flowers. Senate Chesterfield's recognized thank you in his freshman year I had the honor of teaching across the hall from. The teaching English and teaching social status when he went on to the cloud. Even calling from and after school to a C. school so this is a young man who is worthy of being remembered I was gonna say and I'm glad you senator was able to say it to but I would be remiss because I've known for a very long time when he began his career he worked in Little Rock worked in Pulaski County in wherever he went he left the imprint of improvement and I think all of us look at children and think they can learn in legal product from in the line. Thank you Sir Chesterfield Sir for voting you have several into this for you just in line with everybody else. Okay okay. Members of the White House today is Senator Sturch is per day I think James is just about twenty five years short of a qualified personal securities of members if you will join absent Senator Teague with an assault in a rendition of Happy Birthday Senator Sturch. Follow news site where to put it in the law clip of senator garner. Thank you to governor congratulations Senator Sturch remember when I turned twenty one as well We will give a big thank you to this over at a high school football team whose actually here today but we will actually be able to bring him in here because our time crunch day but they won the state champions and so that their golf team let's give them a big round of applause I conservative later. Members for state agencies Committee Senator sample been discussing this he actually pulled a bill down that we need to handle and I'm saying that is coming from the house and he said there's gonna be some comments on it so we have been prepared to meet immediately upon adjournment state of the Senate but I'm told that may not happen to later today so I just wanted the members to be aware that I will get staff to reach out to you the best that we can to make sure so we want to accommodate Senator sample man on be able to hear this bill so. Senate seven may have an idea. There's. I'm sorry I was not. I knew you never reserve blood never never heard from a friend Senator flowers we have members this was a campaign and build a house to the house bill would just the side of the road taking and run in the Senate portion of it again we're just gonna run the house bill and so as soon as the house passes the bill out and sends it down to us I will go to state agencies and president by house bill. Senator Bledsoe. Thank you president ladies and gentleman we are going to have public health committee meeting at one thirty if that changes I will let you know individually thank you. Senate. Thank you governor US insurance and commerce we're going to the odd time at two forty five again to try and sneak in the house version of the bill we saw yesterday so people can get to the revenue tax on the House bills in the state agencies Sir so to forty five. Anybody else. Senator sample at the Senator Hickey. Thank you for. Senate. His soon as we get a House bills down in their room. I know what is as soon as sent down read across the revenue tax Senate Revenue and Tax Committee will meet and was Supreme Court chamber built. Saltspring gore chamber. Senator Chesterfield. Mr Morgan one winning the barrels more enter code to be. The Germans coring of the day.