State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

There has been a new bill filed and We're going to let the sponsor of that bill for this is a bill that The sponsor has but from our meetings yesterday she's had some legislators and different ones on this committee reach out to our and have some input into it we are you know we're going to stick with the process that I laid out yesterday but is part of that process you know things are always changing and moving so I think it's only fair to the this body is basically this committee that we hear this new bill and then it's my understanding that also some of you on this committee have reached out as the bill that was number came out with the most points yesterday which was believe house bill seventeen nineteen seventy one that you've made us some suggestions to the sponsor of that bill which we talked about in committee yesterday would be okay to do that because the goal of this committee is to send out the very best bill we can and if it means adding a car on Amendment to do that so what we'll do this morning is a go back over this again because we're going to hear this new bill that representative speaks has piled we will not be doing a vote on it will come back at two o'clock today I thank representative speaks at that time will have the amendment to our original bill of nineteen seventy one and then we'll have discussion at that time by the committee as to how you want to move forward so any questions just Polish representative back question. I just heard the clear things up a bit so when we come back at two o'clock are we going to revote on all the bills again no not now we are not. So would it a bit unfair because now we're going to be comparing another bill in the other bills would that might have gotten different consideration had this bill been in the mix or something it seems like we're kinda it almost seems like we're going backwards at this we're we're we're saying okay this is the best bill that we want okay so now here's another bill but it's not going to can be compared to the to the previous bills that we look that sell here's what I'm saying and I appreciate those comments but what I'm saying is is this bill from the suggestion of deferred the committee members and different ones this bill has been drafted we're not going to vote on it but I do want to committee to hear it I think it's only fair representative Beck that every member of this committee hears that in fairness and then if it is the will of the committee to want to move forward with that bill then that's opposite something this committee would consider but I wanted you to hear it and then that decision will be made if not we'll go back to our original plan that I laid out yesterday and how we voted on those we came up with the three and I think there is a slight amendment to that bill and when the sponsor brings that back in the day with those amendments it'll be up to this committee to either approve in both those amendments out or go back and vote the original bill out. Any other questions from committee members. Not representative speaks. You're recognized to present. House bill nineteen seventy six. Thank you Mr chair. The bill I have here with you today nineteen seventy six some of us met together last night with the senator some of the senators. And they want to cut Hopin to the second district so as you will see with this map it has poked in it we also had some wanted Madison put into the. That's a third district so in order to make all of our figures come out which you're gonna have to do then it was the it came out of Pulaski County now the part of Pulaski County that we took out was had to do with that sure would and North Little Rock so all of them are out of this bill out of this went in the bill. I'll take any questions. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr and now miss speaks ME understand. So additionally you just saying college station Wrightsville. And so now we have college station Wrightsville. North Little Rock sure would. Is Jacksonville in this. In this within our you know that you're put on the fourth congressional I'm not really sure about Jacksonville someone that was in there last night there was so much going on I'm not sure. But it it did you answer that question. Yes Mr you're recognized answered questions per sponsor thank you Jacksonville is in the fourth in this matter Jacksonville sure would North Little Rock is in the second Little Rock is in the second. Stays in the second. Thank you for answering questions representative of Egypt five Apollo representative of. Okay so is his college station Wrightsville still going to be in the fourth it is yes yes Sir. Okay. Thank you. Further questions from committee representative make sure recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman represent I know it that to you you've been in discussions with the Senate and the Senate has their things that they would like to see which are incorporated in this map but in your discussions the the one concern that I have on the third district is right now the population deviation puts it up ten thousand a ball of kind of the standard or after and as we know that areas is growing was there any concern about. The growth of that area and how it would continue to skew that number more and more into the future we did talk about that and I think it stays under the two two percent and so. That's why it was left in there okay. Further questions from committee members. Thank you Mr chair okay thank you representative to speak to anyone. Here's speak for against the bill saying none representatives picture close with the bill per change but in the bill committee members is. Here's what we're going to do and I'll let me restate what we're going. Let me make my statement first and then if you still have a question I'll be glad to try to answer it we're gonna meet back at two o'clock. And you know yesterday we passed out and representatives pictures bill was got the most points. like I said earlier of restating what I said out thank you at the on the committee did ask her to make a couple of those changes and I think I might by sherry brought that up yesterday if there is a bill that we lacked of but we felt like you we could tweak it a little bit then that should be the goal of this committee is sent out to very best bill we can obviously we were open to those amendments but also obviously this is committee has to be there we able to come back and and vote that amendment out and if you choose not to vote to amend that out then we would go back to the original bill the one that got the most votes yesterday and it would come up for a vote and then that would be at the will of the committee so with that stated I just wanted you to kind of have a hole through an understanding of what you could expect and how this was going to go but again I emphasize that I plan to stick with our original plan as to how we were going to handle these bills and not deviate from that so with that said that to somebody on the committee have a question. Wardlaw. Representative left. Mr chairman I do have a statement It and I would say I'm kind of an agreement with representative back now in the reason the reason being is because I did score there this original bill. I think I did scored higher any fitted the bill would look like this what escorted lower because I'm not I'm not Fordyce not Pulaski County and so I am in agreement with representative big because this does kind of change my of my perspective of what the bill what I think of the representative not cut you open up a little bit of confusion here but bill that you just tired is a brand new bill ideas for that presented to the committee okay we're going to come back in here at two o'clock is the bill that you voted on at at yesterday the only change in that bill will be I thank the sponsor has one amendment to it that was at the suggestion of some of the committee members the only way I wanted this bill presented in the event that if it was the appetite of this committee that they wanted to pursue this bill then somebody can make a motion and then this bill would move forward from that connection okay but I felt like it was only fair the committee have a percentage of that have cleared okay we did get that cleared up thank you thank you any further questions from committee members anything else. We are in rate we are in recess until two o'clock committee members thank you. We need to do. Committee members would does go ahead and believe everybody's taking the state let's go ahead and get started share saves across. Totalement. We. Okay I just remember that we are returning from this morning's meeting shall we break combined Should have in front of you before we move forward you should have one amendment I want you to make sure I know there was another one that was inadvertently handed out the but this is the one that will be dealing with today and for the very bottom to make sure you have the right amendment and the four left on the left hand corner on the bottom it should have emailed a four oh six that should be the amendment that you have if you've got something different then let me know and I'll have staff to get you the correct. Version of the amendment. Okay but we're okay with that. We have an amendment that committee members Two house bill nineteen seventy one as you've never had discussions about the possibility of an amendment from input from some on the committee that would like to House Bill nineteen seventy one but wanted to see maybe just up some minor changes any representative speaks has listened to the members of the committee and she's made those changes is my understanding at this time now that she's ready to present that amendment representative speaks if you just have a seat there at the end of the table. Thank you Mr you're recognized you're recognized to present your amendment thank you Mr chair. I bring to you. Of an act to amend a it's an amendment with two different amendments on it. What we've done what I've done I took Madison County. And I put it back into the third district. And the elderly other thing we've done was take a little bit out of Pulaski County they've in the city's whole. And moving that down into the fourth district to help with moving that other out there is no split counties except that one everything's in whole. So I really appreciate. A good some support for it. And if there's any questions okay voted presentation of the Amendment from representative. Page sure there any questions from committee members. Representative McCollum you're recognized for a question. Thank you and thank you for showing us to that committee today and on the Madisyn going into the third on this amendment you know her I know that we heard a lot from a lot of different members on why that might be a good idea and is it true that one of the reasons we thought this could be a good idea specifically because the Washington County judicial circuit keeping that whole not split between more than one congressional district that is correct and it fits better up there than it did down in the fourth thank you. Representative ro Wardlaw you're recognized. One I got a couple questions for the chair first question is if we adopt this amendment now does that does that mean it goes to engrossment before we would take up final action on it at a later date that's exactly right. So. Mr when we met yesterday we ranked a number of bills and this committee voted pretty overwhelmingly for a a certain bill representative speaks is the sponsor of that bill if if those members that voted for that ranking feels strongly that map should stay the same they would they should vote no now correct that's correct the bill that they voted on yesterday did not have this amendment I will recommend to the committee that if they feel strongly about not adopting this amendment because of their vote on the original bill then they need to be they need to vote no on this amendment but if they realize it is a matter changes and are comfortable with them then they need to vote yes I would also add to that representative that any of the rankings of three that finished in the top three if any of the sponsors those bills feel like they have an amendment that would like to bring before this committee obviously that committee would entertain and obviously you openly receive those amendments for the will of this committee to decide Mr thank you and thank you for laying that out for the committee to understand thank you thank you for the question. Any further questions from committee members. No one signed up you okay hold on. What is signed up to speak no one signed up to speak for against the bill. So I. Do I make a motion that we adopt them saying no further questions from committee members representatives speech do you make a motion for a do pass on the amendment I do have I ask that we have a do pass on weights Amendment we have a motion to do pass problem representative speaks on the amendment to adopt the amendment is there any discussion on the motion of a do pass representative love you're recognized for discussion on the motion. Thank you Mr chairman and I will I'll be voting no on this map in this because I truly believe that we can we can do better not split counties up I'm just I just feel strongly specially that Pulaski County is my home county I just feel that we don't it's not necessary for splitting counties but I appreciate the work did notice representative speaks did on the map but I will be voting no thank you. Thank you representative love any further discussion on the motion of a do pass. Saying no further of. Motions I believe I've already said I do no one signed up to speak for against the bill watts the will of the committee we have a do pass all in favor say aye. All opposed say no the ayes have it congratulations your bill has been amended amended is adopted. Thank you Mr chair. Committee members the that takes care of today's business we have adopted the amendment we will now lead the The bill the we're just going to leave it we're chat it is time for of the public to view it indication of answers any public comments on it I think it's only fair we will take this major up again tomorrow it'll be at the call of the chair I will notify you when that time occurs and if there's no further business here before the committee then this meeting is adjourned.