Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)
Video
Transcript
33 documents
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- SliQ live captions
- Model
- SliQ live ASR
- Processing date
- October 2, 2026
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:58
Good morning members thank you for being here we're gonna go ahead
and get started calling legislative council to order p re s ent ative Wade Andrews if you would kick us off with a prayer.
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
2:12
let's pray dear Father in heaven we're so grateful for everything that you give us, Lord. thank you for being able to live in a free country and worship you freely and come together to do government in your name Lord I ask that you bless us all bless us in this room that we
make good decisions that your will be done that we can help the people of Arkansas and do things that are beneficial for them Lord we ask for against for our sins. Watch over all of us when we depart here in Christ's
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
2:49
name amen. Thank you Representative Andrews members will go ahead and entertain a motion to adopt the September 26 minutes have a
motion I have a second. any discussion? see none all in
favor sayy aye any opposed ayes have it doctorsilva if you would please come give the
Speaker 16
3:20
revenue report if you would recognize yourself for the record and you may proceed. Thank Mr Chairman Carlos Silva, Burereau of legislative Research and
Speaker 17
3:26
shouldda here to present the September 2025 monthly revenue report as we look into our gross
collections we have $2.02 billion collections that's an increase of $13 million for the first quarter or0.6% above the last fiscal year today as we look down we'll see net available for distribution $1.76 billion that is an increase of $27.1 million for the first quarter of 2024 there's a 1.6% change in there as you see on the last line of page number one
Speaker 18
4:04
as we move to page number 2 see the cumulative deviation from DFNA net general revenue available for distribution that's a slight decline there of $1.8
Speaker 17
4:15
million that's standard things are gonna fluctuate and and we see that here on that on that month but we're still above at73.9 million dollars for the first quarter of 2025. as
Speaker 18
4:28
we move from page number3 and page number4 we have general revenue collections not many
changes there we still have some fluctuations for the first three monthsan there as you move from page number5 we have those special revenues I'll bring your attention to page number5 on the state police have those questions of the driver search fees you see there's a lot closer now we have some those large percentage changes last month on the thousands because we have fluctuations we'll see some fluctuations as we move forward but as you can see things stabilize as we move on
for this month we we continue to monitor delinquencies we still have seen an increase in delinquencies for student loans the rest is stable as we move now to seasonal employment you're gonna start looking to the holidays employment and see how spending is and how employment is and that's gonna be our focus moving in here to the end of 2025 because that's gonna tell us a lot how things are gonna move on for the last fiscal year and with that I'll take any further questions.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
5:39
Well don't everyone light up at once. we'll start with uhpresentativeladyman thank you Doctor Silva for that report. Sopresentativeladyman you recognized thank you Mr Chairman. I'm over here. question
on page five there under highway and transportation department the natural gas severance is up quite a bit there can you kind of expand on that a little bit yeah so
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
6:06
that one tends to fluctuate a lot price changes
and because the way that is set up we
Speaker 17
6:13
have when you're looking into for an ear to ear even after the recent decline here prices from year to year have increased for the natural gas but the way that the the the tax is set up you have some large fluctuations when we have those big price changes and that's why we see that here it hasn't it doesn't mean that's a a big change within the state is just the way that you normally work with natural gas thank you
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
6:42
right Representative wooten you're recognized thank you Mr Chairman. two questions doctor. The first one is on well it's actually three on page 5 of the very first item aviation fuel it's not a lot when you look at the total amount but it is a78% increase on page five of the very first item aviation fuel it's not a lot when you look at the total amount but it is a78% increase on page 5 page6 I'm sorry page six the top aviation fuel
went from from 124 to5 million in 25 what what's the reason for that that
one is not only feel they're talking about it has a lot of other items really to aviation in
Speaker 17
7:29
it so it has some large changes aviation equipment tend to be kind of expensive so you'll see that fluctuations so if you look into the trend for the last few years even in general for for this line item we'll see that fluctuation because you have large payments for one month to another a price thing no no that that's just because the the time
that things got purchased that's that's all it is is just not only we're not talking about aviation fuel here specifically has all things people buying equipment for planes and things like this part of this
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
8:01
aviation sales tax. Then on on the first page and the corporate is that corporate income that's minus37.3% yes sir so corporate income tax
Speaker 17
8:18
and individual income tax you would expect to see that as we have those tax cuts from last year that's a change would expect it to to happen even though things may move at the same level we'd expect to see that changes just because we have those cuts so
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
8:34
that's nothing unusual here one more one more and I've asked this the last two sessions but now we're dealing with the tariffs we're dealing with the shutdown we're dealing with farmers we're dealing with
housing markets particularly used housing market being down and then banking in the original banks or some of them are having some difficulty or possibly will have and then the credit the money that's out there the big banks the large banks are flush with money but but still there's a factor out there of what where are we economically? I mean you you all we collected less than
September than we did in August and then compared to a year ago so where are we economy wise and for the future Doilva should
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
9:33
we have Secretaryhudson come up and see if he can help address some of these questions if you're if you'll restate those questions umpresentative, I think Secretary Hudson might be able to address that getting the big
man now right Mr Mrig man if you would introduce yourself for
Speaker 40
9:58
the record. this is some sort of comment about my girth. I'm not really sure. Jimhutson secretary DFA good morning Representative
Speaker 42
10:04
Wooton. I I did hear the question you don't have to restate it you know if you look at where we're at year to date quarter
Speaker 43
10:12
to date we have a full fiscal quarter in the books we're actually a little ahead of plan so about74 million dollars in excess of
what we forecasted for for the year so I think if you're looking for me to bottom line where we're at as a state economically it's steady I don't see a significantly accelerating nor
Speaker 44
10:32
decelerating I think we're in we're in a good place right
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
10:37
now and and I appreciate that but but are
we looking I'm sure you are but are you looking out farther than right now what what's the report says because
I'm I'm concerned even though we're ending the war in in Gaza and perhaps Ukraine but economically or or are we going into a time of of I hate to use the word not depression but slow down what do you think with the tariffs particularly with
the China issue sir so you know the my crystal
Speaker 42
11:16
ball which is an outsourced crystal ball from
looking at our you know analysts that we subscribe
Speaker 43
11:24
to you know the actual consensus view is really a little more positive right now particularly on tariffs I think you know maybe several months ago there was uncertainty and any time there's uncertainty that can impact decision making. I think the consensus view that I see right now is the potential inflationary impacts of tariffs are not going to be you know spiking inflation all of a sudden the system's going to absorb them a little bit more over time so I think any inflationary concerns are ebbing
at at this point economic activity is still forecast to be positive for the remainder of this fiscal year and looking into next fiscal year as well on a national basis same is true for Arkansas you know the one area we have to keep watching is our farmers and our and our farming economy took our rowe crop farmers you know governor's been very clear she's concerned about that the president's expressed the same opinion he's looking at initiatives to you know help our row crop farmers and our row crop farmers
are struggling not because of ordinary business cycles they're struggling because of predatory behavior by China and China is seeking to harm our farmers and so I think because they're getting caught up in you know the actions of an adverse foreign nation you know whatever we can do to help them would be very very very very appropriate that's the one area I'd say
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
12:44
we have to keep watching what about the shutdown? what how how would the highway department has already expressed their concern relative to how
long it continues in the funding what what do you see or how much how much money do we anticipate losing or being not not coming forward for state agencies and really quickpresentative I'm I'm going to ask that that be your last one. let him I'll let him answer
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
13:09
it but I won't ask that because I've got other people in the queue Secretary, I just don't want to speculate on what stuff
Speaker 46
13:15
the federal government's going to do or not gonna do. I think this is a federal government issue it is
Speaker 42
13:23
for the federal government to solve and they need to solve
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
13:27
it quickly. thank you thank you Mr
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
13:29
Chairman thank youpresentative all right senator Love you're recognized thank you
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
13:34
Mr chairir. miss Doctor Sil I want to go back to you you said something in regards to the the delinquency of student loans because I'm I'm looking at the report but I I don't don't see where that number would be so and and then I want to talk about
what is that an indication of or indicator of
Speaker 56
13:59
yeah so that's not part of the report where
Speaker 17
14:02
we have his our collections for the state of Arkansas but we we also look into a lot of other things in order to make sure the members are aware of what's going on out there and and be prepared to help out the state of Arkansas so what I'm talking about is that at the national level we have seen some of the weakness if I I would say with the student loans and people have larger delinquencies as you move forward and that is that is kind of what it is
I'm trying to make sure the members are aware of of some of those national
Speaker 46
14:31
trends let me take a not necessarily a contrary view on that but just
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
14:34
explain a little bit more you know the federal government under the previous administration
Speaker 43
14:39
provided moratorium on student loan payments and folks have to pay their bills again and that's probably putting some folks you know in in cash constraint. I
Speaker 42
14:48
don't think that reflects more broadly on the economy I don't think it's a bellwether for that
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
14:58
OK right so well when you see the delinquency right then Mr Hudson when you see the delinquency
rate increase then what do you think that's an indication of it's probably an
Speaker 42
15:09
indication of people having to pay bills who haven't had to pay in several years and
Speaker 43
15:14
they're just caste constrained I don't think though that is some sort of bellwether for overall spending patterns for people in the economy I think you know consumer spending is still good
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
15:29
we're still seeing increases in our sales tax collections year over year so I'm not concerned about the student
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
15:35
loan sector and number two thing in in regards to the linquency I know that we're talking about farmers and and the tariffs and we could have a very different views about what tariffs are are are doing and how they're performing to our farmers but here's the thing is that we see the foreclosures in farms going up do we see foreclosures in housing and different things like that are we seeing those increase as well
Speaker 43
16:01
I'll let doctorctorya speak to what he knows I've seen no data to suggest that there's a broad increase in foreclosures in the residential housing market I think there is there's distress in the ag sector and we do see some liquidation of farming operations because that it's incredibly unfortunate those farmers are hurting and again I think this is a trade issue that needs to get resolved at a national and international level and then the
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
16:31
the last thing is this is that when we when we begin to talk about the the revenue collections and I see that we're down37.3% in the corporate and also 17.8% in the individual and I know that you said that you know it it's it shows steady and it at what time should we if you're not concerned at what time should we begin to be concerned if we see the same the trends just continue like this
Speaker 42
17:04
senator I do not expect that we're going to have any trending of significant runoff in state
Speaker 43
17:09
revenues I just don't see any data suggest that's coming I think on the corporate side we routinely see volatility in the corporate income tax collections are relatively small component of our income tax collections there's also two points of noise I would say in the system in terms of the data one we had tax cuts that went into effect last year that's affecting it certainly we knew those were going to cost us something in terms of
revenue and we also had a natural disaster declaration that pushed off due dates so I think until we get toward the end of the calendar year and we get past the extended due date for filing some of those returns were really got not gonna know what that situation is in terms of individual income tax but all that being said what I would go back to the most important data element for the members to pay attention to is where we at year to date year to date we are ahead of our forecast by about74 million dollars and keep in mind
that forecast was $185 million surplus so what does that mean that means if all we did through the remainder of the fiscal year was hit the forecast no better no worse then we'd have a250 million dollars
Speaker 44
18:21
surplus based on our overachievement year to date. all right
thank you senator Representative ladyman you're recognized thank you Mr. Chairman on page one the economic development incentive
is down40% and I think I asked this question last month I think it was down last month if I remember right why why is that down and the reason I ask that question is you know well maybe you can help me what what that money is for but if we're talking about incentive money that we would spend to bring new industry new businesses new income, new economic development to the state why are we not spending the budgeted amount and in my mind we should be
spending more than that if you look at what's going on in New York, Illinois, California, Oregon there should be people visiting those businesses and and talking to them about moving to our state because we have lower taxes we have better business environment we have a workforce why aren't we doing that why aren't we spending the money and I have been called last year and this year the premiere of Ontario, Canada has asked me
would our commercial group and the governor come and talk to him about trade and businesses I've called the governor I've called the secretary, I've emailed the governor, nobodybody's called me back. why aren't we talking to people like the premier of Canada of ontario why aren't we doing that we've got money here why aren't we whyn't we spend that money? Well I can't speak to
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
20:06
ontario. I don't have nothing to do with that. I'd suggest you just contact Secretary you
knowmcdonald over at Department of Commerce that's why
Speaker 70
20:14
that's why I'm mentioning it here. Well, I'm not him. I can't I can't resolve that issue. I'm
Speaker 43
20:20
sorry sir I can't speak to what the question is though about the money this is cash out the door once a company has achieved it's it's obligations under an economic incentive agreement and that's primarily for creation and jobs that's create rebate incentive so those are paid out based on actual performance it's not a question of is that money we're using to market to companies
that's a that's actually an AEdC's budget and based on what I see they're they're incredibly active in terms of marketing the state so we don't want to pay this out until the companies have done their job and actually created jobs for the state of Arkansas that those projects are kind of lumpy you know sometimes you have several of them coming in together and there's a big spike and you may go several months where you have another one kind of coming in if you have questions about what's in the pipeline generally I'd say talk to AEdc and they should be able
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
21:13
to give you more information about that thank you for that clarification members we are going to wrap this up at some point but I got two more people in the queue we're going to get through and then we're going to move on to another
Speaker 76
21:30
agenda itemsenator Johnson you're recognized thank you chairman. I just a lot
Chair
Unverified
21:33
of speculation and a lot of comments on roe crop farmers and I'm gonna tell you right now this is the first quarter of this physical year if the crap hits the fan and agriculture you can look for it
in the 3rd and 4th quarter. because that's whenever the farms will not be picked up that will not be farmed that cannot be farmed because of equity in this system. the right now it is a dire situation it's a dire situation in in in my city my mine and every other farmer in the United States, not just in Arkansas and I'm gonna tell you this was not reported on on TV whenever I was up there but if there's a government
shutdown it's an economic government shutdown but we're small in number but whenever the whole United States agriculture sector shows up in DC we'll shut that place down and there's a handful that know what our situation is but whenever we shut that place down they'll all know but I'm gonna tell you it happened it happened years ago and it can happen again because we're about to get a gut full of it pp re ci ate it well senator my
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
22:45
grandfather was one of those during Jimmy Carter's administration who went to DC to
Speaker 43
22:49
register his concerns and so I do remember that and I would say to and you know this quite well you know this better than than anybody I think. farmers don't have any better friend right now than the governor of the state of Arkansas she she understands the plight she's concerned about it she is talking regularly the thing about we have to recognize about governor Sanders is her phone calls do get returned when she calls somebody
at the national level and so she is making the case along with SecretaryRawlins for the department of agriculture at the federal level that we need to give help to our farmers because again farmers are doing what the farmers need to do they're not failing at their jobs if they're struggling right now it's because we have predatory behavior by a foreign nation who is seeking to harm our farmers and so we need to do something to help
Chair
Unverified
23:41
them 100%re and it's both sides the the sides of the aisle that are playing games
and we'll we'll take care of the games whenever we show up. They got to know we're not going to show up with a little cabless tractors like they did back then we're gonna show up and they're gonna be 6 ft wide and 20 ft wide. and it ain't just gonna be on the streets it's going to be on the metro terminals and and and they better get something done before the end of November that's all I'm gonna say needs to
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
24:13
happen thank you senator Representative Rye you're the
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
24:17
last one on this agenda item. thank you Mr Chairman Jim let me ask you this and let me throw this in on you I had a farmer the other day he told me he said John back in the seventiess and the 80s if we got a bale of cotton to an acre we make money this last year we did3.5 bales of cotton 1500 pounds an acre and we lost $125,000 now Jim where does that figure in to this situation here
Speaker 84
24:49
again I think it's just the market dynamics you know obviously and again the those of you who
Speaker 43
24:55
are farmers know way better than me you know we have fixed at national level the reference process issue doesn't really benefit anybody until a year from now but now we're talking about a demand issue and the fact that we have particularly for the soybean crop you know a significant amount of the demand just evaporate again because of predatory behavior by a foreign nation and so we need for this to get effect get get get fixed through
national trade policy and I think the the president certainly seems to be working on that thank you Jim
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
25:25
thank you Mr Chairman. all right thank you Representative Vaughtug is this a question on this item because I already gave Representative Rye the the notice he was the last one but I will very quick please thank you sir I
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
25:42
just want to push back just a little bit. this is not just about other nations and what they're doing to our farmers on trades. This
is about not having good prices for the last three years at least not having a farm bill for 10+ years I will 100 % agree with him this is going to affect the state of Arkansas in a very mighty way we had a discussion I told you this was a tsunami coming one out of every three farms shutting down in the state of Arkansas is going to affect that budgets that's sitting there in front of you and if we don't start looking and forecasting out for that just in case the tsunami is
coming then we are failing the people of Arkansas.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
26:28
Thank you. thank you anderson hudson oren
good grief Secretary Hudson thank you Doctor Silva thank you all right going down to F1 no excuse me
going to my cochair you're recognized OK. F1 administrative rules
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
26:55
Thank you Mr Chair. administrative rules subcommittee met on October 16th the subcommittee approved agency requests for exclusion from the reporting requirements for 2025 rulemaking with one request held until the subcommittee's next meeting the subcommittee received agency updates on outstanding rulemaking from the 2023 regular session and filed agcency's monthly written updates on rulemaking from the 2025 regular session. One rule was pulled from consideration prior to the meeting at the agency's request and all other rules were
reviewed and approved as noted in the report. Mr Chair, I move for adoption of this
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
27:31
report. right thank you Senator deeses. I have a motion. I have a second in discussion on the motion, see none all in favor say
aye any post ayes have it all right moving down to item4 Senator Irvin senator Urvin's not in her chair it's representative Tos here all
right actually let's we'll come back to Senator Irvin I believe
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
28:01
right well all right Representative Tosh you're recognized thank you Mr chairir. The the game and fish Statelice subcommittee met Tuesday October7th at3 p.m. at the Arkansas game and fish headquarters in LittleRock. the subcommittee heard testimony regarding the waterways in Arkansas and technology used to monitor monitor water levels and geographic information ss systems mapping of rivers and streams and communities in affected areas this report is respected to
submitted by Representative Tosh and I'd ask for approval
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
28:37
all right thank you for the motion have a have a
motion to have a second. Any discussion see none all in favor say aye any post eyes have
it all right moving down to item7. Senator English, your ' re recognized
Senator Jane English
Unverified
28:57
thank you the hospital Medicaid andvelopmental
disability study subcommittee met on Monday to
hear an update from DHS concerning the division of county operations and reimbursement rates under the livingving Choices Assisted Living waiver. The subcommittee approved a motion to adopt the preliminary report concerning the comprehensive review of DHS as required by act 104 of2025 Section 13. The subcommittee met again on Thursday to hear testimony on benefit cliffs and asset limited income constrained employed. I moved adoption of the report
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
29:35
thank you senator. I have a motion do have a second? I have have
a second any discussion on that motion. See none all in favor say aye he opposed ayes have it ener hill you're recognized for
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
29:50
item 8. the lottery oversight subcommittee met Wednesday and reviewed the intralot and scientificams contract the subcommittee heard testimony on the Arkansas lottery director's report and reports from the Arkansas division of higher Education. I move I move for adoption of the report
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
30:08
right, thank you. I have a motion. I have a second any
discussion ? see none all in favor sayy aye in your post ayes have it really quick members we're gonna go back to
Senator Irvin. I think she has some additional information on the on her report. Senator irvin you're
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
30:27
recognized thank you Mr Chair. also I just wanted to add in the director's report we had an extensive discussion regarding the recent bear attacks that happened in Newton County and Franklin County. we want to
just commend the law enforcement officers in Franklin County and the Newton County sheriff Glenn Wheeler and his team along with the Arkansas Game and Fishmissioner officers and their response and taking those bears and and just appreciate the discussion also I just wanted to read this last night early this morning the director of theame and fish sent me a message that they the commission met last night and had an emergency they there
was an emergency order and I, if that's OK Mr Chair, I'd like to read that recognized OK, thank you the commission has implemented a temporary 120 day emergency order effective immediately to reduce daily trout possession limits in the state's four major cold water fisheries due to a significant loss of trout production this reduction is a direct result of millions of trout lost from poor water quality at the federal Norfolk National Fish hatchery and major damage from an april flood at
the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Jim Hinkle statefish ha t che ry . the Arkansas game and fish commission's trout hatchery is currently operating at only50% capacity and it's not expected to fully recover until at least April. The emergency order calls for catch and release for all trout on the white river tailwater belowBull Shoals Dam to the Norfok confluence, the white river below the confluence has a reduced daily limit from5 fish to 2 fish per day while the
current length limits will still apply only one trial over 14 inches catch and release for all trout on the entirety of the Norfotamm tailwater, the griersberry and beavertailwaters will also have a two trout daily limit but anglers may not harvest any fish 14 inches or longer so this is pretty important to the folks in my area of the world. So I just wanted to make sure you may get phone calls from anglers or from
stakeholders about this and I'll make sure that the leg is la ture gets a memo and gets this
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
32:48
information sent to them. Thank you. thank you senator if you would send that to director garrity
or staff and and disseminate that thank you for the report all right moving on to number 9. I think that'spresentative hawk you're recognized sir thank you Mr
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
33:04
Chair. The medical marijuana oversight subcommittee met on Monday in LittleRock. The subcommittee heard discussion regarding the implementation of two the the two remaining
medical marijuana licenses. I move for adoption of this report right, I
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
33:19
have a motion to adopt. Do I have a second? I have a second. Any discussion all right looks like we have some discussion going first to Senator
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
33:27
Bryant. Thank you Mr Chair. Yeah I I was a in another meeting during that time and I was wondering if I could have anybody up to discuss that the topic of that those two additional licenses
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
33:48
it looks like the man that I've called by every title in the book
Speaker 94
33:54
today is coming back. Secretary Hudson if you would introduce
Speaker 40
33:59
yourself again for the record and you're recognized frequent flyer
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
34:01
today Jim Hudson secretary DFfa good morning senator. Good morning. I think from the feedback that I I'm getting as I've worked through some of the medical marijuana legislative items in the past is we were we've issued39 licenses of which one has been peeled back through to issues with the license holders. so
there's two remain two remaining we had originally had those selected however because the industry is somewhat litigious in their nature. those have been held we've gotten through some of those issues and now there's two remaining licensing where those applicants have jumped through all the hoops paid hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more to get to the point where we could have those licenses issued rules were promulgated not abided by and not went through the system appropriately and now we're going to wait and do a
lottery for a new batch of licensees even though we've got two that are in the queue ready to go? Is that is that an accurate depiction? No it's not OK could you
Speaker 43
34:59
explain how we got to where we are? Sure so we have two licenses that can be issued we have in addition to those two we have one other license that is currently revoked because bad behavior and part of the licensee that's currently sub to litigation so it can't be ordered to somebody else at this point The Arkansas state constitution
requires that we issue 20 licenses required to issue 2 we can issue no more than40 so in truth the medical marijuana commission is not obligated legally to issue any more licenses at all they have considered issuing a two additional licenses and they've gone through a discussion about proposed rules those proposal proposed rules have not been promulgated. the the statement that you've been told that they're not following the rules is incorrect
in order for us to issue licenses we now have to promulgate rules the applicants you're referring to their applications expired as a matter of law after two years so in order for them to be considered and awarded a license the medical marijuana commission would have to adopt a rule saying that those two entities and only those two entities would be eligible to apply for a license I have concerns about that. So what I've asked my team
to do at AC working with our attorney general is assess the state of the rules and come up with a fair set of rules that will ensure that people have the ability to compete for those licenses that we select somebody who's appropriate and our Kansans are kept safe so on the original number of40
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
36:39
how how was the number of40 determined in the constitution it's in the it's in the amendment but as far as you only have to accept 20 but you're going to we were going to accept40 and we just held short of that40.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
36:55
can't speak to who made those decisions that would have been in previous administrations in previous medical marijuana commissions but again to be clear to everybody at this point the medical marijuana commission has fulfilled its legal obligations to issue at least 20 licenses.thing in excess of that is strictly up to its discretion so that the two
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
37:16
that were held in abeyance out of the40 that were originally selected after they
went through all the the government hoops where they held
because we went into litigation over other issues and that's why they their their window expired or they expire because the state did not act on those two additional licenses. they expired because of litigation I think and so because of litigation we are held to the 24 month standard even though it was of no cause by the applicant that's what the
Speaker 43
37:45
rules say after 24 months those applications expired and to my knowledge I believe they had their application fees refunded to them fully and what are the chances the state gets sued
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
37:57
over whatever decision we make 100% so so if I'm just speaking as a as a as a taxpayer and as a citizen. I would rather have those on the right side that did did what they knew was right at the time to do it and given those license rather than pull them back, throw them in the trash, say thanks for playing but no thanks and and go back to the ground zero because it just that's I guess that's part part of what makes this job frustrating is is when state
government just doesn't honor their obligations and I know I know what you think we did but it was no fault of their own that 24 months expired because of of litigation of others and so I would just ask that you would just ask that you consider that in the rulemaking process as you go through that with the commission to view those that put in the work upfront and I would I would say that my experience with this body is that y'all look for fairness
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
38:52
and evenhandedness as we as we talk to people who are looking to get
Speaker 43
38:58
a license and I for one would not want to come in here and defend a decision that said only these two get to compete for this license but there are others out there who may be interested. I I think that'd be a hard thing for me to defend. I think the other thing I would say is you and I are in heated agreement then I'm not going to make decisions based on fear of litigation. I'm gonna make a decision based on what's the right thing for taxpayers of Arkansas and you know it may be that you know we come up with something where these two entities are satisfied but before we go down
this road I want the lawyers to craft the best rule that we can to ensure that we have a fair process that's a safe process that benefits ourkansans will that be a process that's different than
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
39:41
the original process it could be so the ok thank you senator. I appreciate it thank you sir all right Senator Wallace you're recognized and
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
39:49
members let's keep our questions concise and our answers even more concise. thank you Mr Chair . Mr Chair the occupational
licensing of use committee wait I'm sorry senator. I thought it was a question on on this item. right if you would get back in the queue all right Senator Hammer you're recognized
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
40:14
thank you Mr chairir.ha, what where were those two facilities going to be located? Do you know right off? they're
in zones I can't remember the zone numbers but it would have been you know Garland County and then also around Texarkana and then
the second thing just from my personal information refresh my
memory the the phrase keeping the public safe who is it that is regulating the doctors that are giving out the scripts for them to be able to go get the me medical marijuana anyway
so it's divided divided set of responsibilities Department of Health is in
Speaker 43
40:47
charge of issuing the medical marijuana cards my department's in charge of actually regulating the cultivators and the dispensaries thank you
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
40:56
right any more questions on this item?
see none we're gonna vote on it all in favor sayy I of
adopting the report any opposed ayes have it now senator Wallace we're coming
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
41:13
to you for your report. thank you Mr chairir . Mr Chair the occupational licensing review subcommittee met on Thursday to discuss and approve the file report for the occupational entries inroup6. I move adoption of this report. thank you
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
41:26
senator. I have a motion to adopt. I have a second any discussion see none all in
favor say aye any opposed ayes have it moving down to item elevenator Dismay and you're recognized thank you Mr Chairman. the peer subcommittee met Tuesday October 14th
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
41:42
the subcommittee received reports reviewed requests and reproved the following various temporary appropriation American rescuelan Act appropriation infrastructure investment and jobs actct appropriation I move for adoption of the report all right a motion. I have a second any discussion on the report
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
42:03
seeing none all in favor sayy aye in your post eyes have it moving down to review item 12 it's like Representative Kavanaugh you're recognized thank you Mr
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
42:15
Chair. The review subcommittee met on Tuesday and approved method of finance discretionary grants one RfQ approval request and service contracts which were all reviewed by the subcommittee the subcommittee also approved one member disclosure. I move for adoption of this report. Thank you Representative. I have a motion. I have a second. any
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
42:35
discussion on the motion seeing none all in
favor say aye any opposed ayes have it all right members on the next page under review of communications we're gonna take up itemh1 if there's any no questions on that I'll take a motion to file as reviewed I have a
motion to have a second I have a second in discussion seeing none all in favor say aye
he post I have it right under item two there I'll take a motion to file as reviewed. have a motion to have a second. Any discussion? See none all in favor sayy aye any post eyes have it item3 I'll take a motion to file as reviewed. I have a motion to have a second any discussion on the motion? See
none all in favor say aye ayes have any post ayes have it right under item four we have a series of reports
there if you see a report you'd like to hear or any questions on those please look through if not then we're going to go to item 9 B division of state parks. I need a motion to approve . I have a motion to have a second any discussion seeing none all in favor sayy aye any opposed all right ayes have it right members moving on to
we have a supplemental agenda that we need to take up. So I need a motion to and this just so you know this is a supplemental to adopt interim resolutions so I have a motion to suspend the rules to take up a supplemental agenda from Senator Hill. I have a second any discussion see none all in favor say aye any opposed ayes have it all right first item under A on the supplemental excuse
me uhpresentative Vott and Senator Tucker to adopt an interim resolution umpresentative would you like to present that? please come to the table right and y'all are recognized once you introduce yourself for the record to present your
resolution and the members item 2 and3 will be interim study proposals but you're recognizedpresentative Vottt. Thank you Mr Chair. deannebott
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
45:19
disstrict 87 Clark Tucker Senate District 14. so we had a
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
45:24
meeting in Stuttgart a few weeks
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
45:27
back where we allowed the farmers to come and talk to us about their needs in the state of Arkansas and one of the things that they ask for was a resolution to be sent
to DC on the behalf of all of the legislature in the state of Arkansas asking for us for help for our farmers. so that's what we have here today whereas agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas's economy but also an essential pillar of America's food security and Arkansas producers are now facing severe challenges that have resulted in rising rates of bankruptcies and closures of farms across the entire state and whereas these challenges
that are resulting in farm bankruptcies and closures include high interest rates, unpredictable weather, volatile markets and disruptions of global trade which are occurring alongside dramatic declines in commodity prices and record high input cost of seed fertilizer, fuel and agricultural equipment and whereas if producers are forced out of business the consequences will ripple far beyond the farm gate impacting rural banks, equipment
dealers and local communities across the entire state of Arkansas and whereas President Donald J. Trump and congressional leaders in both parties have made efforts in past years' on behalf of the Arkansas agricultured producer, the real communities to secure emergency assistance and disaster relief that have been instrumental in helping Arkansas farmers withstand unprecedented challenges and whereas Arkansas's agriculture producers and rural communities are in
need of strong leadership from President Donald J. Trump and both parties in Congress to take action now as farmers must soon make planting and financial decisions that will determine whether they continue their agriculture operations and productions at all and without additional support many may not have these options. Now therefore be it resolved by the legislative council of the ninetyfifth general assembly of the state of Arkansas that's the legislative council
respectfully urged President Donald J. Trump and the leadership of both parties in con to work with the United States Congress to develop and implement a targeted relief package for producers for the 2025 crop year. right, Senator Tucker anything to add? just just quickly Mr chairir
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
48:06
you know this is an issue I don't care what part of
the state you're from, what part of you're in every single member of both chambers has constituents in the agriculture industry people that
we love, family members friends or weren't it ourselves you know and so this is just something that if if a third of our farms aren't able to continue operating within the next6 to8 months it's gonna be a a cataclysmic event event for the state that it'll be almost impossible to recover from so this is something that I think we all need to pull together on and support our farmers and ask for the folks in DdC to get their jobs done and and make sure that our people here at home are are supported. Mr chairir can I add something?
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
48:49
I do have if if everybody would if you want to
be added, I do have a sheet here with me today
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
48:56
that you can get your name added as well. Thank youpresentative and I I appreciate this and the recognition
that we're bringing to this issue and hopefully the shutdown will end soon and our farmers can get that relief so all in favor of adopting the resolution please signify by saying aye any opposed ayes have it thank you both. right, item two on the supplemental it is it is an interim study proposal I'll just entertain a motion to refer
that tour and commerceittee have a motion to have a second. any discussion see none all in favor say aye any opposed ayes have it. Item3 interim study proposal to Senate Education Committee. I'll entertain a motion. I have a second all right any discussion? see none all in favor say aye any a post ayes have it all right
members see no other business thank you for your time and attention. we are adjourned
Agenda
A. Call to Order.
B. Roll Call.
C. Approval of the Minutes of the Last Meeting, September 26, 2025.
D. Presentation of the September 2025 Revenue Report – Dr. Carlos Silva, Legislative Economist
E. Report of the Executive Subcommittee — Sen. Ben Gilmore, Rep. Les D. Eaves, Co-Chairs.
F. Reports of Standing Subcommittees:
G. Reports of Interim or Special Committees: (none)
H. Review of Communications:
I. New Business: (none)
J. New Interim Study Proposals and Interim Resolutions: (none)
K. Business Carried Over: (none)
L. SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
M. Adjournment.
Documents
Speakers
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
Speaker 16
Speaker 17
Speaker 18
Representative Jack Ladyman Chair
Unverified
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
Speaker 40
Speaker 42
Speaker 43
Speaker 44
Speaker 46
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
Speaker 56
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 70
Speaker 76
Chair
Unverified
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
Speaker 84
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Speaker 94
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified