House Convenes

S. and gas in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Speaker Shepherd and to remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by. Representative Gary Deffenbaugh. Thank you Mr if you join me in prayer. Lord we thank you for this day that you've given us we thank you for our state we thank you for the people of Arkansas and lord we just ask that each and every day that you would remind us that we're not here just for our own benefit that we're actually here to represent and serve the people of Arkansas and it's truly an honor. But I just pray for each member of the House I thank you for their service thank you for their commitment. Thank you for their hard work during the course of the session and lord I pray that you would. Give them strength and endurance perseverance to finish the session strong what I pray for the friends and family of each of us who committee your at home who are able to continue on and. Keep things going even if while many of us are away from home and I pray lord this special blessing upon them today. Lord I thank you for just for another day of life I pray lord that in all that we do that we would give all the honor and glory to you that we would. If the due respect and. A seriousness to each of the matters that come before us I thank you for the privilege that you've given each of us I pray lord that you would bless each and everyone of us that you would forgive us of our committee sends in Jesus name I pray amen. For all. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow president Biden where the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. There are ninety eight members present chair sees a quorum are there any requests for leave representative Ferguson we. Legal representatives Fred Allen is leave granted for representative right Alan. Leave is granted. Representative Jett for what purpose. Leave for dippers represent person is leave ran for representative Ferguson. Leave is granted. Are there any other requests that. Representative Fredrick Love moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal no objections so ordered. Are they Reports from select committees are they Reports from standing committees read the reports Mr Clark. Where carrying insurance commerce to whom was referred house placing a five including working with the same ticket under consideration here to try the same with recognition I do pass the current sentiment sentiment online thank you senator John Maddox vice chair Mister Committee Mr Speaker we are pretty and insert the commerce to whom was referred house bill nineteen of seven big leave to report that we have the same under consideration here the trying to say with recognition do pass and returned to them and everyone or servicemen robin lesser vice chair. Mr Speaker we are committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred Senate bill two two or three beg leave to further the Senate same under consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition I do pass review submitted John Maddox vice chair respectfully submit Mr Speaker we're Committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred Senate bill six someone vaguely to part thereof and that have the same consideration here they're trying to save recognition I do pass respectfully submitted Robin Lundstrum. Mr Speaker we are committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill eighteen eighty four house bill sixteen forty two beg leave to whether the same under consideration here to try the same with recognition they do pass concurrence in a member number one or surface with the fight chair. To speak regarding a public transportation to whom was referred house bill seventy to to House Bill nineteen twenty two Bentley toward the with the Senate consideration here the term the same recognition that you pass occurrence of the member number one sickly submitted Michael come chair Mister Speaker recording a public transportation to was referred Senate bill sixty seven back to the department under consideration here the transit with recognition that you passed with with Mike Holcomb chair Mister Speaker we are committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill eight sixty ninety eight Bentley tort with the similar consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that you pass the sentiment one and two seconds for the Joe Jett chair sickly Mr Speaker we are committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred Senate bill through thirty six in about forty four Bentley tore through the center consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass service with a judge at chair. Mr Speaker you Committee on Public Health to whom was referred house bill eighteen hundred big report beg leave to report that we have the same under consideration here the trying the same with recognition that do pass them concurrence in a member number one or six policemen a Jack Ladyman chair reciprocal recruiting state agencies to whom was referred house bill forty five beg leave to report within seven to consideration near the transit with the recognition that you pass reset this would Y. talks chair per Speaker we're pretty on Judiciary to whom was referred senate bill four thirty six back to the we've leave to report that we have the same under consideration here they're try the same recognition to the pastor for several Carol Dalby chair. Mr Speaker we are committee on agriculture forestry and economic development but. Yeah we committee on agriculture forestry and economic development to was referred house bill nineteen twenty vaguely toward report that we have to serve under consideration here the trend same recognition that do pass incident occurrence in a number one second submitted the invite chair just make a record in agriculture forcing economic team was referred house bill Senate bill five forty one big leave to report that we have this and same consideration here they're trying to say with requests that do pass this entity and vice chair. There any unfinished business are there any Executive communications. Members were gonna stand in recess until this state agencies Committee is completed. The House will come to order. Mr Clark please read house concurrent resolution ten eighteen. House resolution today ten by representative Ladyman to express support for two Arkansas universities to play an in state football game against each other. Represent Ladyman you're recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker. colleagues this is a resolution that I promised you committee weeks ago when we got the message that the universe of Arkansas on a as you were going to play a football game at war Memorial Stadium here in Little Rock and we I talk to you about the financial impact of that in just the morale building that I think that will bring to our state. This resolution basically does the same thing that I talk to you about then except we had a lot of you all as co sponsors. And because I think this is such a big deal in Arkansas you're now receiving a moment on this coming around right now that you'll be you'll be getting here shortly this is a coin that has the razor back in the red wolves in the capital on there the date on there and it talks about that first game between the University of Arkansas on a issue that's coming up in I think four years. There were only three hundred of these may. Okay the senators got one you all got one and both staff's got one so you might wanna hang on this because there's only three hundred of them around so. Some people might want these one of these days but it is an important thing so I want to do that senator Hammer not talk about it worked on quite a bit and I do want to thank AS you. Of. And the University of Arkansas for helping us to do that especially Shane who worked really hard on this. Before I and I know we got a long agenda but I want to take a few minutes Speaker if I might. before the resolution is read. I would like to ask. All of the ASU graduates. If you want to to come down and stand over here and all of the U. of a graduates to come over here if you would please. Do we have any in here. University. All right the as you all can see this is truly a bipartisan resolution. So Mister Speaker who would have the Clerk read resolution. Mr Clark please read the resolution where the football game between Arkansas state university in Jonesborough and the university of Arkansas Fayetteville would enable countless Arkansas Arkansans who have wanted such a football game to come together to watch football game of interest to the interstate and we're as a football game between Arkansas state university in Jonesboro in the University of Arkansas table would encourage economic development in the state of in the state by promoting unity overcoming athletic interest and whereas encouraging an in state football rivalry when he gets interstate collegiate athletic opportunities for students athletes in Arkansas and we're at. Yeah now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety third General Assembly the state of Arkansas and the Senate concurring there in the beginning with the earliest possible regular season the athletic administration of the the University of Arkansas at table and the athletic commissioner ministration of Arkansas Arkansas state university at transfer range for their respective National Collegiate Athletic Association varsity football team to play each other and one regular season football game or oral stadium in Little Rock Arkansas taking into consideration the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association the contractual obligations of each institution of higher education in the available availability of when we'll Stadium. And I am with I am a graduate of the university but a issues in my districts on both sides of this but I appreciate a good vote represent les mis explain the resolution. similar for what purpose. You're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr Speaker representative Ladyman since you have all the graduates down there where do you suggest the dropouts that. Representative Miller that's good question and I think a lot to say on the back row. Representative. Very for what purpose Represent laden what we get the ticket we get tickets for the game. Also a take the fifth on that okay. Thank. Represent. Ladyman has. Explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Represent Ladyman is closed for the resolution the question before the House is the. Adoption of house concurrent resolution ten eighteen all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The resolution is adopted. Mr Clark please read House resolution ten forty nine. What a number representative great doesn't it may twenty twenty one that's the suppresses awareness month. President gray you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker and we ran a resolution very similar to this in our last session and essentially just want to recognize that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that many people in the state of Arkansas deal with on a daily basis and couple of things in the resolution that I just wanted to point out. that there are two world class treatment centers in Arkansas that specialize in the diagnosis and care of individuals with CF for cystic fibrosis Arkansas children's hospital and the university of Arkansas for medical sciences and just want to point that out that we do have to facilities here that take great care of the patients here in Arkansas that do have CF and and more than anything just a recognized to go along with the federal on the federal on the national level they recognize may as cystic fibrosis awareness month and so I wanted to recognize here in Arkansas the month of may is cystic fibrosis awareness month so with that I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Percent grades explain the resolution when you would like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Percent grey's close for the resolution the question before the House. The adoption of house resolution ten forty nine all in favor say aye. Any opposed resolution passes Mr Clark please read House resolution ten fifty. House resolution ten fifty representative flowers to in the University of Arkansas pine bluff athletics department and student athletes. Represent flowers you're recognized to explain the resolution. Colleagues. Today I stand before you as one Prout representative. I'm not here I'm here not only to brag on our football team who couldn't be here today because they're practicing because they're going to the what SWAC championship. Yes. we will face off and beat Alabama again. I also want to recognize. The wonderful leadership and our athletic department because the accomplishments have not only been in sports. As you will hear in the resolution about our golf team what we stop I'm so sorry I'm so excited may I please ask the pine bluff delegation to come down and join me I'm so sorry represent Ferguson represent welcome. I'm so sorry. We were up there hanging out and talking about to speak at. All right. But you represent anyway you don't have to wear the black window. So as I was mentioning we had not only saw. Major accomplishments on the playing field you'll as you'll hear in the resolution on the part of our golf team. Who by the way has the highest GPA on campus of any sports team and I'm a go ahead and tell you what that is real quick it is a. You know. It is a three point six four. You can go ahead give them half of that. But you also see our women's volleyball team who are also awesome students and are the second seed in the only reason they don't go to the championship of and when was the because of that doggone cove it but that's okay because they're all coming back next year they're gonna go to the championship and I'm going to be there to cheer them on with my pompoms. So at the in the east gallery. I'd like to recognize. Our athletic director. Director Chris Robinson. This Betty Hayes Anthony who was the senior women's administrator. And code. Coach Roger Totten who is. B. associate AD and the golf coach. And your coach Titan was recognized by the SWAC as coach of the year. Coach Carl Smith assistant golf coach. In our lady's head coach for volleyball Chelsea Lucas. I mistook it for a student. Assistant coach lamonica peacock. In grad assistant seeing red. Vowed that while there is. And with that Mr Kirk please read the resolution. Clark please read resolution. Well as the University of Arkansas pine bluff athletics department has got to be a new year in which teams advance to championships players were when I think honors coaches receive special accolades and student athletes excelled academically despite the constraints of the corona virus pandemic in west U. AVB Goldline football team with the twenty twenty twenty twenty one southwestern athletic conference Wilson in the SWAC Western Division championship with an exciting thirty six to thirty one whenever Prairie View a and M. university at Simmons bank field in pine bluff the team's first division title since two thousand twelve which qualifies the team to play in the swag Division game on Saturday may first in Jackson Mississippi and whereas the UAAP beach volleyball team with the SWAC Western Division runner up and was slated to play for the championship before the game was canceled due to the pandemic and team members I am Smith has been selected to the American volleyball coaches association all region honorable mention for the southwest all region an honor she received after being named SWAC player of the year and first team all conference outside right side hitter and whereas the APB golf team finished third overall in this like to mention Joshua McCray made first team all conference Grayson Martin and Nicholas pitchers were named second team all conference team golf coach Roger Totten was named SWAC golf coach of the year and rescue AVB authentics continue to set records for the team cumulative GPAs with the athletics compiling at the highest cumulative GPA ever in the history of the athletic department with six with the student athletes overall recording at three point two combined and cumulative and all sixteen teams posting a three point oh or higher GPA and we're as interim director of athletics Chris Thompson is proud of the teams and coaches and how all of continue to excel on and off the field now therefore be it resolved in the house of representatives of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the house of representatives congratulate the University of Arkansas pine bluff of the athletics department Department players and coaches on an incredible seasons it hard work both on and off the field. Mister Speaker. Recognized thank you if I can say one more thing. I neglected to tell everybody that you a Fairfield. And you APV will play each other on October twenty third and face off for the first time in the history of the universities. Yes. Now I understand some of you may be on the other side while I'm on the black and gold sign but if you will indulge me today so that we can share on our students and in case you don't know our chance. Students. You at. You at. Yeah let's see how it's done I you not getting you a baby. Who are you rooting for. All right thank you know. Represent flowers explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Represent flowers close for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of house resolution ten fifty all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted Mr Clark please read senate joint resolution eighteen. Senate joint resolution eighteen by representative ray requested that the United States Congress take appropriate action to present amendment to the United States constitution providing that the Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices. Senator Rapert you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues Senate joint resolution eighteen is a joint resolution that if approved by this body would request of the United States Congress to propose an amendment to our US constitution. Providing that the United States Supreme Court be composed of nine justices. Several times throughout the history of our country prior to eighteen sixty nine. Congress would expand or shrink the court for political advantage. But since eighteen sixty nine the court has been composed of nine and only nine justices. That tradition which is injured for a hundred and fifty two years has strong support from Americans of all political stripes. When president Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried to expand the number of justices in nineteen thirty seven. He faced strong bipartisan opposition and his plan failed. It is been eighty four years since FDR tried to pack the court. But today there are some who want to revive this sort of political interference in the court. Throughout the twenty twenty election then candidate now president Joe Biden. Refused to take a position on expanding the size of the Supreme Court. Even though he had previously said. That FDR's attempt to expand the court was a quote boneheaded idea and was quote a terrible terrible mistake to make. For her part vice president. Kemal Harris told The New York Times during the campaign the issue is quote absolutely open. To expanding the court. Thankfully others have taken a more responsible position the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her later years spoke out against expanding the number of Supreme Court justices. So has justice Stephen Bryer. Regardless of your political affiliation I can think of few things in this country that would do more to tear apart the social and political fabric of our nation then if a president allied with partisan majorities in Congress were to expand the Supreme Court for political reasons. Doing so would severely erode the trust of Americans decisions in the court it would lead to half the country basically viewing the court's decisions as invalid. And it would prompt retaliation from the minority party the next time they regain the majority. The best thing that we can do is to take that option off the table and that's why I'm asking you to support this resolution today Mr Clark please read the resolution. Or please read the resolution. Whereas the United States constitution article five provides that the United States Congress whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary shall propose amendments to the United States constitution to several states for ratification now therefore be it resolved by the Senate the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas by the house of representatives majority of all members elected to each house agreeing here too that the General Assembly requests of the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the United States constitution for ratification by the several states that reads as follows the Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices. With that I'm close to the resolution. President raise explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against resolution representative Murdock you're recognized speak against resolution. Thank you Speaker real quick colleagues I've been here is my six term now and what we use resolutions and these type things for the passports to read recently was to celebrate something we believe in but not to bash others for what they don't want those are in power or whatever the case may be. This is not the spirit of what we should be let's stop bashing each other if you believe in something bigger resolution based on that but that's not use this form to bash others that are currently in position as we try to bring this country together so there's a way to do this and I hate to do this to this but it's just I'm just tired of us using these forms the best things that we really should not be bashing believing what you believe celebrated is obviously going to be accepted but please stop demonizing everyone else thank you. Our summer dockets building against resolution when you would like to speak for the resolution. We would like to speak against the resolution. Representative ray you're recognized close for the resolution. Well I'll close by just saying aye I don't disagree with the the spirit of what representative Murdock said but I believe that this is actually a unifying measure I can't think of anything more divisive than to expand for one party regardless of which party it was to expand the Supreme Court for partisan purposes polling shows that by a margin of almost forty one Americans support capping the number of justices on the court at nine so I think this is a a unifying idea that would bring Americans together and that's why in my remarks I quoted the late justice Ginsburg and justice Bryer of whom I am I disagree wholeheartedly with many of their philosophical ideas so I think this is a unifying measure and I would ask for a good vote. Per cent raise close for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of Senate Senate joint resolution eighteen all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. President Collins for what purpose. You're recognized for personal prepare. Thank you Mr Speaker we have some gas in the gallery today I don't want to take a second to acknowledge them and also recognize Jefferson elementary in my district for being named a Blue Ribbon school one of five in the state and three hundred and sixty seven in the country it's an incredible achievement and all of the teachers administrators parents and students deserve recognition we're very proud of them and I I especially want to recognize the students who are here today if you all stand thank you for all you do go patriots. Morning hours ended members removed the yellow budget calendar represent Jean you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. If I've learned anything last two or three days I'm not batching anything today or. We're gonna go one at a time. Of Senate bill ninety five this is the public defender's Commission this does have an increase of two positions. Of any questions. You want voted for the bill Murphy calls respect the Clerk read the bill third time please read the bill for the third time Senate bill ninety five percent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent gene is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill ninety five per machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clauses everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause our past president Jean you're recognized. Thank you Speaker the next bill Senate bill one thirty four and administrative office of the courts this is not have any general revenue Is got special revenue and state Central Services funding any questions on this. Seeing none you're one voted for the bill number two calls respect for the purpose of the bill the third time Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time one thirty four percent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent gene is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill one thirty four per machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill in the emergency clauses everyone voted. Has everyone voted cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues Senate bill seven oh two is the revenue stabilization act this is the identical bill that we passed on the house version is going down to the Senate today this past the Senate came back this I'll take any questions on this. Five point eight billion dollar budget budget two point eight increase over the previous year. All right you're one voted for the bill number two calls Mister Speaker the Clerk read the bill third time please read the bill for the third time Mr Senate bill seven a to represent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. When you would like to speak for the bill. President Jean is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill seven oh two prepared machines to Clark. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Biver ninety three ace three nine zero president bill emergency clause or past president Jean you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker will take up Senate bill three seventy five this is the one time funding. These are the moneys available for the restricted reserve just right quick. I think the thing that we need to emphasize on our citizens is right now our surplus stands a little over two hundred million. If everything falls into place in the money flows at the beginning of July first we will have close to seven hundred million in reserve and I think that's monumental of as I pointed out in a meeting earlier this year we had in two thousand eight the state had almost a little over nine hundred million. And after two thousand eight. And by the time. Of my class came here two thousand eleven that surplus was bent down this is building the surplus back up so I think this is a a good schedule. Have people have had a look at it I'm answer any questions about the one time money. Seeing none your one vote is for the bill number for calls the Speaker please have the Clerk read bill third time Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time Senate bill three seventy five. Represent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent gene is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill three seventy five per machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause or pass. Represent wing for what purpose privileges you're recognized for point of personal privilege. Colleagues as we near the end. Of this session. I'm gonna speak very slowly because someone special is about to walk through that door we're gonna be saying goodbye to retiring staffer who has been here for a good number of years we are very very grateful for her positive attitude. And I wanted to be here to. Here all these wonderful things about her. He's going to be a little surprised. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Sharon Cunningham. Miss Cunningham is loved by this group because she has shown love to us every day and we appreciated that we have a citation that I would be honored to read. Whereas Mr Cunningham has been a cherished employee of the Arkansas house of representatives for over thirteen years and she now retires after an extraordinary career as a legislative analyst shared devoted her time and heartfelt energy to assisting Arkansas state representatives and citizens of Arkansas always very willing to impart her knowledge and experience she graciously touched the lives of countless our Kansans with great sincerity and care insurance years of service included seven regular sessions six fiscal sessions and nine extraordinary sessions of the Arkansas General Assembly. During which she served in the capacity of engrossing Clerk playing an integral role in the legislative amendment process Sharon is loved admired and respected by all who know her and her colleagues will miss her for her sweet spirit and infectious laugh and I should also add exceptional framing skills I don't know if you meant when you bail me out of that yes upon retirement Sharon will have more time to spend with her two daughters Peter and Alicia Mickey and granddaughter Kiana to enjoy her favorite hobbies decorating and shopping and to nurture her creative spirit whereas the house of representatives of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas takes great pride in recognizing the sharing Cunningham on the occasion of her retirement and wishes for her the very best for years to come. Thank you very much we have. We have some flax as a parting gift something that you're very familiar with. That comes from Speaker Matthew Shepherd. Represent Gazaway recommends we concurrent Senate Amendment number one to House Bill seventeen twenty four Mister Clark please read sentiment number one. Senate mineralised house bill seventeen twenty four. Gazaway you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is the bill that I added two new categories two four when a person will be eligible for an order of protection one was if a person engaged in a course of conduct that was designed to isolate a person in that course of conduct had to be demonstrated by a pattern of behavior that was one way you could be entitled to an order of protection the second new way that we added was if a person engaged in conduct to describe returned as disturbing the peace and. That what we have left out of the definition of disturbing the peace was that that should be a pattern of conduct just like someone who's engaging in a course of control so in the Senate they added to the definition of disturbing the peace that the person must engage in a course of conduct or an in a pattern of conduct and that they have to be acting on reasonably and that's a much better definition of makes it makes it a much better bill I think it's more accurate with that I'm happy to answer any questions. Sing out appreciate good vote thank you. President Gazaway has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative Gazaway is close for the amendment the question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen twenty four where the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. Ninety seven yeas or nays zero presence amendments adopted representative Penzo recommends that we concurrent Senate amendment one to House Bill fifteen fifty four Mr Clark please read amendment one. I'm never one to House Bill thirteen fifty four. Represent Penzo you're recognized explained Amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker of the house bill fifteen fifty four was the the bill that provided affirmative defense for victims of trafficking this amendment just excludes Class Y. felony drug charges from the affirmative defense section of the bill appreciate a good vote. Represent Penzo as explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent pens as close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill fifteen fifty four prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark ninety six J. zero nine zero president about the amendment one to House Bill fifteen fifty four. Represent Lundstrum recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill fifteen twenty five Mister Clark please read amendment one. Member number one to House Bill fifteen twenty five representive right Lundstrum you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank you this leads licensed transporter to the bill so that they can move marijuana from the sale of further growing it to the distributor legally. Represent Lundstrum as explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative Lundstrum is close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence was Senate amendment one to House Bill fifteen twenty five the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Eighty four yeas one day into president we've occurred concurred and amendment one to House Bill fifteen twenty five. Representative Scott recommend that we concurrence Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen ninety three Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate number one to House Bill seventeen ninety three. Representative Scott you're recognized explain the amendment. good morning or afternoon colleagues I don't know which one it is but this last house bill seventeen ninety three were we put into code that screening for the mammograms as I promise we added this of the Senate and the amendment for prostate screening and so I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Scott has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative Scott to close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence of the Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen ninety three per the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Gassed up the ballot Mr Clark ninety five Yeas zero Nays zero present you've concurred concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen ninety three. Representative Ladyman recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen fifteen Mister Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate member number one to House Bill sixteen fifty. Representative Ladyman you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker up colleagues all this amendment is it remove the requirement to have a voting center and all small towns and second class cities secretary of state has some issues with the cost to do that so we remove that from the bill appreciate a good vote. Represent Ladyman as explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative later men's clothes for the amendment question before the House. Is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen fifteen prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Gassed up the ballot Mr Clark. With the eighty eight Yeas one day and to president you've concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen fifteen. Representative Bentley recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment one the house bill seventeen hundred Mr Clark please read it Senate amendment one. Senate mineralized NO seventeen hundred represent Bentley recognized explain the amendment. Collins this amendment was brought forth in discussion in this house Education Committee was a great addition to the bill make a good bill better and I appreciate a great vote thank you. Representative Bentley is explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent Bentley is close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one house bill seventeen hundred prepared machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Gassed up the ballot Mister Clerk ninety four yeas or nays is their presence you have concurred in Senate amendment one house bill seventeen hundred. Representative McCollum recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen seventy Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate member number one to House Bill seventeen seventy representative McCauley recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this is the student ID bill or we added the three hotline numbers to the domestic violence sexual assault in the suicide prevention and this amendment added Senator Irvin to the to the bill and then amended on that end that only those three numbers could be added to student ID's. I appreciate a good vote. Represent a college explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Represent McCall is close for the amendment the question before the House is concurrence and Senate amendment one to House Bill seventeen seventy per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark ninety six J. zero nine zero president you have concurred in Senate amendment one house bill seventeen seventy. Represent McCollum recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment to the house bill seventeen seventy Mr Clark please read Senate amendment to. Senate member number two to House Bill seventeen seventy represent McCauley recognized explained Amendment thank you Mr Speaker we amended the bill so well that we amended off the what schools could put their their own information on there so we had to go back and amend so that they could put their required student information that they always have on their. A good vote. Represent because explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent because closer the amendment the question before the House is can currents with Senate amendment two to House Bill seventeen seventy per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety six J. zero nine zero president you have concurred Senate amendment to the house bill seventeen seventy. Representive Womack. Recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen oh five Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate member number one to House Bill eighteen oh five represent Womack you're recognized explained the amendment thank you Mr this is a pre to amendment that just provide a little extra clarification there's no opposition I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Womack has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative will Max close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence is Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen oh five prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark with ninety six J. zero Nays zero present you have concurred in Senate amendment one to House eight to House Bill eighteen oh five. Represent Lowery recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen oh seven Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment one. Senate mineralized NO nineteen oh seven. And Larry recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this is the car tie bill that prevents insurance companies from injecting themselves are inserting themselves into the decision making on whether a chemo drug or pre chemo drugs should be self administered or whether it it should be done at the clinic several members of our committee asked me to do everything I could to expand that beyond oncology and hematology so we did put amendment on the Senate in that allows the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate rules to the rules process for expanded diagnoses I appreciate a good vote. Represent Lowery is explained The Amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent Lowry's close for the amendment question before the House is the. Current's first Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen oh seven prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety six J. zero nine zero presents you have concurred in Senate amendments one to House Bill nineteen oh seven. Representative Vaught recommends that we concurrent Senate amendment one house bill nineteen twenty Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate Amendment number one to House Bill nineteen twenty represent Vaught you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker and the famous words of representative Crawford hello my friends this bill does that this amendment doesn't do a whole lot of nothing other than it was something that eighty eight Q. needed in there just to keep them protected and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. President Vaught has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative thought it bought is close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence of the Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen twenty prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark with ninety five Yeas zero Nasr present you have concurred in Senate amendment one house bill nineteen twenty. Representative Jett recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen ninety eight Mister Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate mineralized NO ninety eight percent Jett you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you Speaker college we sent this bill down to the Senate and this comes from association of counties come to find out was kind of constitutional issue about the bill so what we do is we stripped out the constitutional part that we thought was going to problems is where the DFA's I pledge money on behalf of the county association we strip that out and I think it's going to make the bill better suppression of. Representative Jett has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Or the amendment representative jets close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one house bill sixteen ninety eight per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gassed up the ballot Mister Clerk. Ninety five Yeas zero Nays zero president you've concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen ninety eight. Correct me representative Jett recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment two to House Bill sixteen ninety eight Mr Clark please read Senate amendment to the number two to House Bill sixteen ninety eight. Representative Jett you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you for your colleague since we stripped out the constitutional part of that bill this is to change the language technical language of a bill to make it within the spirit of what we're trying to accomplish with that appreciate a good vote. Representative Jett has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Or the amendment representative jets close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment two to House Bill sixteen ninety eight per machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety five Yeas zero nays into a president you have concurred in Senate amendment two to House Bill sixteen ninety eight representative these recommends that we concurrence an amendment one to House Bill eighteen eighty four Mr Cork please read Senate amendment one. Senate mineral eighteen eighty four representative these you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues we had a really good bill here in an extraordinary moment the Senate actually did make this bill better so I would appreciate a good vote. Representative vis has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative Eads is close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen eighty four prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety five Yeas one nine zero president you have concurred Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen eighty four. Representive Underwood recommends that we concurrence an amendment one to House Bill sixteen forty two Mister Clark please read Senate amendment one. The number one house bill sixteen forty two representive Underwood you're recognized explained the amendment thank you Mr Speaker this the bill regarding child support cooperation for public housing benefits the Senate made three changes the cross reference the public Housing Authority with what's already in code they also clarified that this would not interfere with those who do not have a child support plan and there they want to explicitly state that parents receiving payments are not going to hurt priority to due to the non payment of the a noncustodial parents so with these amendments I got bipartisan support in the Senate and I appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent under what is explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the men. For the amendment. Representive Underwood is closed for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen forty two per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Seventy five Yeas twelve dates and to present. You have concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen forty two represent Gonzales for what purpose. Motion. Let's hear your motion. Make a motion to re referred house bill eighteen hundred back to committee. That's proper motion it is a debatable you're recognized explain your motion. Thank the Speaker colleagues in the in the spirit of a large reconsideration I would like a chance to reconsider my committee vote yesterday so I'd appreciate vote sends back to committee so I can I can reconsider my mother. Representative Gonzalez's explain explain The motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Represent Lowery you're recognized to speak against the motion. Thank you Mr Speaker. I really don't know what's going on here but I have an idea. These The Amendment is exactly what was promised in this chamber. representative Perry had pointed out that if we had left the bill as it originally was saying a performance bond of fifteen thousand that would have been a fifteen thousand dollar bond on each roofing job we change that language to surely bond down the Senate in because that would then be fifteen thousand Cuba to cumulatively for the year the other amendment was from the contractors licensing board and they asked to be given until January to promulgate rules to implement this this is a consumer protection bill it protects consumers from from not being taken advantage of a by storm chasing roofing companies and this is especially is related to those of you all on the borders of the state where some of these roofing companies can come over the border they can come in they can offer a great deal to you to not will run it through your insurance they take a thousand dollars or two thousand dollars and then they don't show up. Senate for the the people of Arkansas in protecting their most precious possession which is their home and you know let's not play games with this I'd appreciate that you would not re refer this back to committee and that you would concur with the amendment. Represent Larry spoke against the motion would anyone like to speak for the motion. Against the motion represent Ladyman you're recognized to speak against the motion. Colleagues this bill was discussed extensively in committee yesterday we had two meetings to try to hear this amendment it's very difficult to get enough people in the room with all that was going on yesterday to to to vote on the bill so please do not send this back to the Committee. Representative Lowery spoke against the motion would anyone like to speak for the motion. Against the motion. Represent Gonzales would you like to close for the motion you're recognized. In Michigan. Well as I just want chancery consider my vote just please Senate back in amazement give me a chance we before that other members of this chamber and I just like an opportunity to do that. President of. Represent Gonzales has close for the motion. The question before the House is referred re referral of house bill eighteen hundred back to committee all in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The notes have it. Represent Lowery recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen hundred Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one. Seven and the number one to House Bill eighteen hundred. Represent Larry recognized explained the Amendment again again thank you. Thank you Mr Speaker you've heard the explanation of the amendment and I I would appreciate you concurring with this amendment if it's a good bill it's a good amendment. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Lowery is explaining amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Represent Dotson you're recognized to speak against the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this this bill still conceptually baton we We debated this in here we can have or so ago it failed representative is also in a motion to reconsider and it got fifty two votes to get out here go to the Senate came back. Per the amendment in committee yesterday morning and it failed then I think out of out of some some love for good friends maybe a few of us film sorry he he he was able to get eleven votes on a roll call to get it out of committee yesterday. I speak opposition this bill because this will limit small businesses in Arkansas. The bad actors these going after the bad actors I I can't disagree with that I don't think they're actually going to register or or get certified you're going to put costs on small businesses in Arkansas by adding this registration bad actors will still be bad actors will still go out there they'll still. DO bad things trying to fraud folks this is in protect the citizens of Arkansas that this will increase the cost for small business owners in the state of Arkansas so If you didn't vote for the first time around. These don't go for this time thank you. Representative Dotson is spoke against the amendment would anyone like to speak for the amendment representative Perry you're recognized speak for the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker all represented Lowery did what we asked him to do. Amended it a performance bond is a type of surety bond but the type of bond that actually needed was a different type of surety bond so the wording change for the surety bond they actually have a license or permit bond it's going to help protect the consumer you'll also allow them to to make registration the contractors border register these refers it's a good bill been in the insurance business for thirty five years if you've ever had a client call you and say Hey were they go a Payton it's going to help protect and give the attorney general's office to be able to to pursue that when the consumers call a complaint Preciado good vote. Representative Perry spoke for the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Represent. Representive wouldn't you're recognized to speak for the amendment. I understand what. Representative Dotson speaking of but let me share with you if you've never had the opportunity to coordinate a recovery of the city this was struck by a tornado you do not know. How important this is. I coordinated the recovery for the the nineteen ninety nine when we have the seventy five homes destroyed another hundred damaged and one loss of life. I call renegades. We had to as court one captain Tosh you remember we had this score one to the. County line and dealing with you will see him and that Kelly again. I recognize this is Jones world in nineteen sixty eight and again in nineteen seventy three. These folks are no different than myself hold to contractor's license and pay a bond on both of. So I encourage you to vote for this amendment thank you. Representative I spoke for the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Represent Lowery. You're recognized to close for you amendment. Representative Larry's close for the amendment. Question before the House itching currents was Senate amendment one to House Bill eighteen hundred prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. With sixty ninety eight fourteen days in one presence you have concurred in Senate amendment one house bill eighteen. Represent McCollum were recommends that we can current Senate amendment one house bill seventeen oh two Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate mineralized NO nineteen oh two. Represent McCauley recognized explained the amendment. Thank you thank you Mr Speaker this is on the bill where we gave a person lawfully operating a bicycle across walked receives all the rights that a pedestrian does on a crosswalk the Amendment at eight Senator Tucker to the bill and the senators also we had a section at the very end about speed restrictions and they did not like that so we deleted it. Seeing no questions present a good vote. Representative McCall is explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent McCall as close for the amendment question before the House is concur. It's concurrence with Senate amendment one the house bill seventeen oh to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety three a zero Nays zero present you have concurred and said amendment one to House Bill seventeen oh two. Represent Wardlaw recommends that we concurrence an amendment one the house bill nineteen twenty two Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate Amendment number one to House Bill nineteen twenty to represent Wardlaw you're recognized explained the amendment thank your Speaker made a great deal great Actually when I got down to the Senate in automotive manufacturers came to the table that finally came to Arkansas negotiate we negotiated we agreed no opposition to the bill now appreciate a good vote. Representative board laws explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment represent Wardlaw is close for the amendment question before the House is concurrent with Senate amendment one house bill nineteen twenty two where the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas up the ballot Mr Clark. With ninety five Yeas zero nays and zero present you've concurred and send amendment one to House Bill nineteen twenty two. Representative Wardlaw for what purpose. Let's hear your motion motion spend rules for the lack of time and interest of time I'd like to spend a rule to hear house bill nineteen fifty seven on the Florida house today on supplemental calendar. That's a proper motion it's not debatable. Question before the House is the suspension the rules to allow house bill nineteen fifty seven to be placed on the supplemental calendar. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Mr Clark please read senate joint resolution fourteen. Senate joint resolution fourteen. Representative Gazaway. An amendment to the Arkansas constitution to create the Arkansas religious freedom amendment. Some Gazaway you're recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues as you may recall we recently suspended the rules so that we could consider resolution that would allow us to consider this amendment to the Arkansas constitution to be the third constitutional amendment that we would refer out to the people as you know we've already referred to and we can do this jointly the Senate has sent this one down This Is Senator Rapert spill to create the Arkansas religious freedom amendment to the Arkansas constitution I think it before I explain when I try to keep my comments brief exactly what the amendment will do I think some history I would be very instructive. If we go back to nineteen ninety three the United States Congress passed the religious freedom restoration act in nineteen ninety three which ensured that religious freedom would be protected this was a bill that was introduced in the United States Congress by congressman Chuck Schumer. And eight the a companion bill introduced in the United States Senate by ten by senator Ted Kennedy that bill passed unanimously to the United States Congress house of representatives both Republican and Democrat support. It passed through the United States Senate ninety seven to three and it was signed at the time in nineteen ninety three by president Bill Clinton. Fast forward to nineteen ninety seven and that federal statute the religious freedom restoration act in nineteen ninety seven was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in city of Burnie versus I'm sorry I had that name the case from city of Bernie versus Florence are and in that case the court held that it was unconstitutional as applied to the states and that happened in nineteen ninety seven since that time twenty one states have passed religious freedom restoration act Arkansas passed one in two thousand fifteen what this would do is take those same protections that we have been recognized at the federal level from the passage of the act in nineteen ninety three which injured enjoyed unanimous support and bipartisan support and also similar to what we currently have in state statute and it would put that in the Arkansas constitution what specifically does it do what it does is it says that the state cannot burden a person's free exercise of religion unless they can demonstrate that there is a compelling governmental interest to do so do so and that that compelling governmental interest has been narrowly tailored to achieve that purpose and it has to be done in the least restrictive manner that's what we call the strict scrutiny standard of review for when the government seeks to burden a fundamental right and we all know that the free exercise of our religion is a fundamental right and so we would right into our state constitution that if the government seeks to impose a burden upon that right that they have to do so by demonstrating a compelling governmental interest that is narrowly tailored and is the roof most least restrictive means possible to do so. It was that is a very strong protection for religious freedom that will set forth in our state constitution and that is essentially what the amendment does it will protect religious freedom one other reason why it's very important is why we have it in statute currently at any time a future legislature could repeal the statute that we have so if we put in the constitution we're gonna have that protection see amended in the Arkansas constitution from infringements by the state or local political subdivisions of the state that's why it's important I think this would be a good amendment that will enjoy support a broad support by our Kansans are around the state I think it will inspire confidence in our legislature they were recognizing the religious freedom is important to the people the state of Arkansas. And with that I'm happy to answer any questions. Represent call for purposes. You're recognized for a question. I just wanted to ask about the word substantial being left out of this one versus the other state one that we have. That's a good question. as you've noted in other religious freedom restoration acts if the government seeks to impose a substantial burden on religion that is is bending to be When it would trigger the act if the government imposes a substantial burden on the free exercise of religion this bill removes the word substantial just says if the government seeks to impose a burden on your religion which is a stronger protection for the free exercise of religion not of government is imposing a substantial burden on your free exercise of religion but if the government seeks to impose a burden on your religion it would trigger this act and make them justify that in that burden by demonstrating a compelling governmental interest that is narrowly tailored in the least restrictive means possible to achieve that interest so this actually strengthens the protections for religious freedom by removing that word substantial and I think that'll be something that would be a benefit to our state. Representative gray for what purpose question you're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker and I represent Gazaway I kind of talk to just about the about this yesterday my concern is I'm hoping you can ease that concern is that the word you know seeks to impose a burden with the you know compelling government interest with the least restrictive means I feel like we're actually putting away into the constitution that allows the government to infringe on our freedom. And can you answer that would believe that street yeah absolutely that's a good question and that was brought up in the Committee by by a couple of other members this is the test that the court uses now currently when the when the court looks at Restrictions or burdens on religious freedom because the free exercise of religion is a fundamental right and what the courts have held over time is in order to justify restrictions or burdens on that fundamental right uh It has to meet the strict scrutiny test and so they're different tests that the Supreme Court use when they examine government's motives to impose restrictions there's the rational basis test which is can the government just simply demonstrate that they have a rational basis for passing this law imposing this restriction that's the kind of the lowest level of scrutiny that the courts use when they evaluate the laws that we pass then there's an intermediate level of scrutiny but when it comes to fundamental rights the courts have historically and I mean for for decades required that the government meet that strict scrutiny standard which is the compelling governmental interest in or is the highest scrutiny it's the high standards that we recognized in the law and so is the strongest protection that we have right now so we'll actually be putting that in our constitution I think the fear is as you know is that court's change opinions change and in the future while the courts have historically by president required that strict scrutiny test to be met before they can impose those what if they go to rational basis in the future and say we can impose these restrictions so long as we can just demonstrate that there's a rational basis for imposing that restriction and what we're going to say is no you can't do that because we have written down the highest standard of scrutiny into our constitution before you can impose any type of restriction you're going to have to demonstrate that you can meet that strict this level of scrutiny and so that's why I think that it's important and I don't think it is writing it down government can already impose restrictions but we're gonna make sure that it has to be done to the strictest level of scrutiny that the courts recognized percent love for what purpose question you're recognized for a question thank you Mr of Mr. Yes we can you give me just a previous example of on which the government has actually and for some sort of Penalty or whatever on on on the state or one in individuals in which this is been exercise because I'm trying to get my head around sure you know the the protection that we're doing here yeah I know it's a great question thank clearly we see it we're government has laws that are neutral toward religion that are that are of general applicability people may try to claim that their religious freedom should exempt them from complying with the law and so you know for instance someone might make the argument I shouldn't have to pay my my income taxes because it violates my religious. Well what the courts would hold in that case is. The state has a compelling governmental interest to provide for the general welfare through the imposition of taxes and you can claim that violate your religion if you want to pay to not have to pay income taxes but the state has a compelling governmental interest to raise taxes for the general welfare and a compelling governmental interest is narrowly tailored you know that would be one example you know there's any other number of examples where people and tried to claim their free exercise of religion as some type of exemption to to having to comply with the law and courts have found that there when there are those compelling governmental interest at stake that that certain restrictions can be justified but we want to ensure and that's what this amendment does that you have to meet the strictest scrutiny in order to justify any restrictions on a religion. Follow up you're recognized so always stand that the individual has to reach has or has a higher threshold of the government has a higher threshold this is I'm trying to figure out. What what you're what you're imposing here right so the government would be required to show that they can that they there is that compelling government has the burden is on the government to show not on the individual okay thank you represent rate for what purpose. You're recognized represent Gazaway haven't there been multiple US Supreme Court decisions in the last six months instances where the court ruled that states have violated religious freedoms when it comes to allowing people to gather and houses of worship for example during a pandemic. Absolutely those are these are cases that we've seen I come to the courts even recently I think which that makes a perfect argument for why we need a law like this you know there were you look at what happened in the state of Nevada for instance and how casinos retreated verses houses of worship and it was completely unfair and many of our Supreme Court justices recognized that and so again we want to have the strongest protections that we can in our constitution to protect religious freedom in the State of Arkansas going forward. Q. thank you thank you. I appreciate the questions are and would appreciate a good vote thank you very much. Represent Gazaway as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill represent Miller you're recognized to speak against. The resolution. Thank you Baker. I don't like coming down here to speak against religious freedom but I'm doing it. Because I'm I'm not against. I have. This. Dear lord. I'm sorry. I'm not been last was I really was meaning that have a lot to ask forgiveness for Seriously. I'm just sick and tired and and represent Gazaway this. For you. But we do stuff like this down here. And so much of it and this is. Early. Hey look at me. Or seven the Bible. In the state of Arkansas. That's not what we're doing this amendment is repetitive. Done. It refers. Constitution. Thank you Sir. Anyway. I know this may not matter to anybody else. But I'm tired of giving grandstanding material. I'm tired of doing stuff that ultimately really doesn't matter. We're not going to leave here this session. And folks are gonna be like our lives are really impacted by that third constitutional amendment yeah referred to the ballot. That's not gonna happen. And Furthermore there are folks switching gears on it just a little bit there are folks who would say. But if this passes and if it does become a constitutional amendment. That it could open the door for situations like for a mosque. To go buy some property next to a Baptist daycare. And what are their sirens and of their Muslim sayings all day long. And then we'll get some phone calls one jump past that point you know do that. We already have protections in place and to represent Gazaway as point they made committee yesterday thirty years from now one thing's gonna look like I agree with that completely I really do but I will tell you some if we have judges and courts in place thirty years from now who are interpreting the state's second amendment and our other religious freedom the constant the federal constitution's first amendment and all this kind of stuff and they're interpreting those to such an extent that it is infringing on our religious freedoms they're going to interpret this one in a screwed up fashion to. That's how. I'm asking you all don't vote for this unless you for the referral of third one Mr something's gonna be impactful on folks is lives. And with that I apologize for speaking against religious freedom but I just had to say it I'm tired of this thank you thank you bye. Or similar spoken yes resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent Bentley you're recognized speak for the resolution. With all due respect to my colleague representative Miller I just want to say that we have executive branches come we have executive branches go. And I don't have an executive branch the somehow changes are referred law that we have in place now and encourages our body to do so I wanted to have an Arkansas constitution and so to my constituents would like the opportunity to put in Arkansas constitution because we have seen across the state were governors have done things to really infringe on people's religious freedoms and I don't want that to happen our state in the future for me this is for the future of our state to make sure that this is a constitute in our constitution there is no question about it this is stronger than a refer the sense that we care about the most important freedom that we have in our nation I think our founders regardless that it the most important thing we can do is make sure that we have religious freedom I think people in China North Korea and Iran would agree that the most important freedom you can have first of all it's your freedom of religion and to me it is important sets a precedent to put in our constitution without appreciate a good vote thank you represent Bentley spoken for the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution Ferguson Gazaway. You're recognized to close for the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues last thing that I say and I I do appreciate represent a Miller and I appreciate the the concerns that he raised I just want to say and again certainly with respect I respectfully disagree you have to think about. You really have to think about what is the state going to look like in thirty forty or fifty years what are court's going to look like in thirty or forty or fifty years we have the opportunity today. To enshrine strong protections in Arkansas constitution I don't know what the next letter I don't know what the legislature's gonna look like in ten years I don't know what the legislature's gonna look like in twenty years or thirty could they repeal the referred statutes that we have now absolutely could we have an executive branch that would infringe upon those freedoms even though we have a reference statute now absolutely could we have judges in the future that are set set on our courts that won't follow the president of district scrutiny standard when it comes to impositions on a religious freedom absolutely but if you put it in the cost if we put it in the constitution if we allow the people to put it in the constitution it's going to be there. It's going to be there you've gotta make hay while the sun is shining what I'm gonna tell you as today the sun is shining you may look down the road we may get to find ourselves twenty or thirty years down the road and wish that you would have done today what we have the opportunity to do this is a good bill this will help protect religious freedom and I'd ask you to please vote for thank you Ferguson Gazaway is close for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of Senate joint resolution fourteen prepared machine Mr Clerk. Members the servers down we're gonna call the roll. Right members. Since since we need to work on the server which is there at the podium instead of calling the roll will recess if we get the server up Actually we're gonna stand in recess until two PM. The House will stand in recess until two PM. Any announcements represent Lowery you're recognized yes members of insurance and commerce we need to meet on one concurrence of immediately upon this recess it will take is less than five minutes please take a look at it be or walk over to conference room C. it'll take us five minutes and then you'll be free to go lunch represent a wing what purpose announcmenet you're recognized we will be having a reception for miss Sharon right just on the other side of that wall and I just there we go I voted and But a a reception from a sharing Cunningham right over here on the other side of the wall the Speaker in the semi private room thank you any other announcements the House will stand in recess until two PM. House will come to order. All right members. I can back up with this J. R. fourteen the question before the House is the passage of SJR fourteen prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By seventy five Yeas nineteen nays and one president resolution is passed members removing the house bill nineteen fifty seven. Replacement for what purpose privilege motion. Represent Smith we've already moved on the house bill nineteen fifty seven all right well I'll be allowed to make a privilege motion after this house this house bill is heard. After the House bills heard will have the option to take up additional privilege matters or motions. Ninety fifty seven by representative Wardlaw concerning the enforcement of federal firearm bans. Within the state of Arkansas and concerning the state constitutional rights represent Wardlaw you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr. So members if you would follow me through house bill nineteen fifty seven all explain how we got to every piece of it. The first three pages of the bill are exactly the same first three pages of Senate bill nine. Two nine eight I've had so many numbers in my head last two days. When you get to page four you'll find that we added a definition section that definition section came from an idea from the Montana legislation. We added definition of federal ban this definition is pretty extensive it actually is a little larger than the definition in the Montana law we also added definition a firearm. We went through the farm rights and we took care of the concerns from the game and fish commission from the prosecutors over those eight hundred potential cases they have out in the works we took out all the sightings of the federal code we included that going forward from January one twenty twenty one we would not take any participation from state county city law enforcement in any federal new code that exceeds this definition a firearm ban if you stay with that definition is going to carry forward throughout the bill you get to page five they had of three different law enforcement definitions there we struck one of those because it was redundant we left a public officer or employee of the state a representative agent employee of the misspelled a county or state acting under the color of law with all rights grants and assignments of law enforcement officer in the state so all those will be included and not participating with anything under that federal band definition. We're going to section to the number two there and we need some teeth in this bill to make sure these people don't cooperate with federal law enforcement officers in anything from January one forward so to teach we put in this bill was is that they be subject to losing their commission as a law enforcement officer that is very serious I see Danny Watson said not messy representative tosses had not in the back both retired law enforcement. But the way we did that is we inserted subject to their which gives them due process make them to where they have to go before standards I have to go for secretary cook and go through due process before that would just be taken away so anybody that we claim they violated any of this section. They would go and have to prove that in front of a board or a commission my mine's not working totally right I don't ever like stand in will this law but when you go to the next part you had no way of punishing a share under that commission because the sheriff not a commission law enforcement officer. So we had to add something in there to make sure we had tea for the shares so we added in line thirteen an elected official who knowingly directs any law enforcement officer to assist the federal law enforcement agency in violation of rights in this subsection C. under section upon conviction of this guilty. Is unclassified misdemeanor that's exactly the same languages into ninety eight we struck the supervisory officer because we address that in this section above that so the only people subjected to that misdemeanor or the elected officials as chair for constables. Your prosecutors and your Aeternity general so that takes care of all law enforcement in those two punishment sections for that so if you move on to one of five you'll find that we start talking about the rights the rights that all of us enjoy a nice the sovereignty part of this bill this bill is not just about firearms as bills about making sure the federal government doesn't infringe on our rights that we enjoy every day those rights are going to church those rights are making sure search and seizure is not done without constitutional reason so we put that next section in an instant enumerating those rights is to ninety eight did and two ninety eight left out a lot of the rights that we enjoy we said that if it goes back to article two of the Arkansas state constitution that way all rights are protected. In the same punishments for those law enforcement officers and share some prosecutors and Attorney General are also under that section. Then you get to the end of the bill which is somewhat of the most contentious part this morning committee. Is. Is exceptions and everybody knows why we have to have exceptions. Well the problem is when you go in your rest somebody for drug conviction are you arrest somebody for sex crime or your resting for breaking into your house any of these crimes usually how those crimes are prosecuted to a higher extent. US prosecutors enters lawyers in here and I'm not either so I'm doing my best I can you usually try to top firearm charge on to those people. And you don't try the either have farmer they have a weapon or they don't but if they do. You do that well because of that if we were left the bill the way it was you would have been able to pursue that so we put an exception and it says for the primary purpose is not a law enforcement activity related to that federal band room right so you don't forget that definition early on in the bill and the investigation of a federal ban so as long as those two are not the primary purpose the farm charge on the federal level can still be pursued and it still be pursued to up that drug dealers charged to up that sexual crime to up that robbery are or anything that took place a lot of folks complain this morning that the board primary. They didn't like it because they thought law enforcement could come up with the a different reason to charge in your house and then get your thirty round clip for your automatic weapon or whatever they come in for but we still. I believe that we want to up charge these criminals as much as possible so we left that in even through the committee and with that Mister Speaker I'll be happy to take any questions represent Springer for what purpose question you're recognized. Could you please explain to me why is this necessary why have you found this to be necessary my constituents came to me early on after November election and they expressed a lot of fear a lot of fear all for the campaign material the body ministration put out that they were going to go after compensating rifles putting taxes on ammunition taxes on magazines and taxidermist out of the protection and sportsman world. And this is a way to protect our Kansans from that. Follow up specifically who are these constituents that say that they receive information from the bite and Administration can you please identify hurdles those persons that you heard that from the police I heard who was the person that generated president Biden said in numerous speeches throughout his campaign he said what he said that he would pursue different regulations on firearms and firearm bans Pacific firearm bans it. One last one was the first one one final follow up. So he said a specifically I'm trying to understand what specifically did he say when his Pacific bands assault rifles that we all enjoy I mean we use them for Hall cotton we use of for protection using for anything and a lot of folks argue that we don't need assault rifles but it's my right and we can have them if we want. See no further questions I appreciate a good vote. President Wardlaw as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President Hudson you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you colleagues thank you Mr Speaker I thought I'd start this with a compliment for once I know there's been a lot of work that's gone into trying to come up with something here and I read the Montana bill and I read this one I think it solves a lot of the problems but the question that I had in that thing that this bill remains silent on is who decides who decides which bills are in conflict now representive Wardlaw would probably say well for talking about a federal firearms band and that is very clear there's a band then that's in conflict and we won't force them but then we go down to those other pages where we start talking about the other Arkansas laws that the same compasses and it just says federal laws that are in conflict with article two section five of the Arkansas constitution my colleagues in this chamber who attorneys know that the term conflict of laws is one that has spawned entire volumes of foreign books and entry exists because the discussion of an analysis of the conflict of laws is one that there is an entire law school class on just call conflict of laws so without anyone who's going to tell us how these laws conflict what does that mean for law enforcement what does it mean for citizens what does it mean for municipalities and counties with regard to which of these laws were going to enforce and which were not because the conflict of law outside of these firearm bans is very day it's a very big body of law and it's likely to cause a lot of confusion now we've seen this happen before. In twenty nineteen after Kansas passed their second amendment protection act Shane **** and Jeremy Cutler relied upon Kansas's version of this law Shane ran a gun shop and he's sold several different items that were banned under federal law but which he believed were approved under Kansas state law in fact he put a sign in a shop it cited to the Kansas statute said these parts and guns are sold in accordance with Kansas law. His friend Jeremy Keller came in to purchase some of these things he was assured by Mr **** that it was perfectly legal as long as he kept them within the state borders of Kansas. They were both wrong. Because the federal government came and federal law enforcement came in and arrested them both on multiple of federal gun charges now both of them said afterwards that they felt betrayed by their state legislature they felt like they had been led astray and told insured that these laws would not affect them but it did and now they're both balance. The District Court then the tenth circuit court and also the Kansas Supreme Court all set. That the state legislature's position is not to interpret federal law that's not our task you know whose it is the Courts. That's what they do that's why the Supreme Court just a couple of weeks ago is taking up a second minute amendment case out of New York that is the co equal branch of government who is responsible for making these decisions but because the Kansas legislature took it upon themselves to pass one of these acts because two of the citizens in trusted their government believe their government when they said that they could rely upon it they are federal felons the court actually took pity on these guys didn't give them a jail time because of the fact that they were misled by the state legislature so they got probation but both of them have permanently lost their ability to carry firearms. So. When we talk about these types of laws it's important to know and to understand what we're telling our constituents and what we're telling them is that they can feel confident about these laws they can feel confident that they'll be protected. But they won't. We're going to create an entirely new class of federal felons who can't own got. We're going to create an entire body of law on conflict of law that's never been tested before and we have no one designated in this bill or any of the other ones who is responsible for deciding where those laws conflict and how. This is a disservice to our constituents it puts them at risk the two men in Kansas are considering a lawsuit against the state. It puts us at risk a purchase the attorney general's office at risk it puts everyone in this line at risk because we are forgetting and neglecting a fundamental truth. We as a state legislature do not legislate federal policy. And what we say if we say a state law contradicts federal law it doesn't matter. It doesn't if it's if it's an area that the that the federal government has enforcement rights on and we would declared a conflict we put our constituents in jeopardy by allowing them to believe that they have a defense. And they don't. So I'd like you to think today about Shane **** and Jeremy Cutler who are now convicted felons for following the Kansas second amendment law thank you. Purpose of Hudson is spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill. President Dalby you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members I come to you today having worked tirelessly on the bill that is now before you and I can say to you with all good intention and knowledge of what little knowledge some of you may think I have in the legal realm that this is a good bill this is a bill that is narrowly tailored toward the law enforcement we're not talking about an individual out in the public worrying about whether or not this law is constitutional or whether or not the they're violating a federal law this is looking at our law enforcement it's giving clear guidance to our law enforcement it is cleared up the issues of the other bill all of you have heard about is clearing up those issues and it's looking from January first of this year forward so therefore it will take care of the issues that are of that are raised by the previous bill and the other laws it said in the past this is a good bill it's narrowly tailored it protects the citizens of the State of Arkansas I urge you to pass. President Dalby spoken for the building would like to speak against the bill. President flowers you're recognized speak against the bill. Collins I have a question To the last remarks and. With what I just heard from our colleagues I remain concerned about the jeopardy that that would put our law enforcement officers in even in their official capacity what kind of jeopardy with that put them in after what we've heard about the the case law as it pertains to the citizens in Kansas I would also like to note that. based on my understanding of the information that I've received the the prosecutors association sent us letters sent us a letter saying that they were vehemently against it my sheriff contacted me and told me that he was vehemently against it for the very reason that I just mentioned in with that I would ask that you vote no along with me thank you. Person flowers spoken against the building would like to speak for the bill. Ferguson Ladyman you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I just want to address one of the things that was brought up earlier about if we pass this bill it's a state bill and and you know what we might be violating federal law. A. If I'm not mistaken. Recreational marijuana is not legally is not legal federally. But there are many states including Colorado. That they do have marijuana. So. I don't think that's a valid argument that goes on today and marijuana is just an example of that so I don't think that should keep us from voting for this bill Knobel for represent Ladyman spoken for the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represents like you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins says you know special in the judiciary where it was coming to the officers is the shares were there opposing to ninety eight because of the way it was pointed at law enforcement this bill pointed up well who's going to say if it's ride every day a law enforcement officer in this state including the gentleman in the back of the room when they have to put their hand code some somebody they're making the decision if it's constitutional take their liberties way at that time for violation a senior one that may happen the phone these attempted this gives a guideline to the hill that's what we have the Attorney General to the we always ask pine of the laws or executive orders comes down she will be with the the Attorney General be the one to determine that for law enforcement and because this is now tailored to this ask you for your support. Since late this spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Wardlaw you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I don't usually closer bills but I will today present Hudson you you alluded to a manufacturer law that was in Kansas and what they said is that you could have certain things that federal law said you couldn't this bill to do that it has nothing in here that says you can only thing that the fed so you can't all it says is a state law enforcement can't cooperate on a federal gun ban that's why I told you to keep that definition on page four hands it doesn't say you can have a silencer and you can't it doesn't say you have automatic rifle you can't none of those things that took place in Kansas or in this bill that was a confusing tactics they hate their read the bill is simple and enter this bill only says doesn't say we're not going to abide by federal law then so you don't have to buy the federal laws it says that our state and local officials will not cooperate. On any collection of a tax our collection of the confiscating of our guns that's what it says folks it's pretty simple with that I appreciate a good vote thank you reserve Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill nineteen fifty seven prepared machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy five Yeas nineteen nays and one present the bill is passed. Mr Clark transmit the bill to the Senate. Represent Smith for what purpose. Mister Speaker privilege matter. What is your privilege matter with the House on reconsideration agree to pass Senate bill two ninety eight the objections of the governor to the contrary not withstanding that is a privilege matter represents Smith you're recognized to speak for the override of Senate bill two ninety eight. Colleagues I hate to put you in a situation like this nineteen fifty seven is a decent bill it's a good bill. But there are some things that are in motion that we just need to work through to bring closure to what we're doing. Like it or not I would appreciate a good vote on overriding the governor's veto for two ninety eight and I'll leave that to you and I please vote your districts and your conscience. Represent Smith has explained. The privilege matter would anyone like to speak against. The override. Represent McKenzie you're recognized to speak against the override. Thank you Mr Speaker and I'm not really where what all's going on here and I sell them. But I am aware of what's in the bill. And I want to personally speak for my constituents behalf. I voted for the first time. And I wish I knew and could go through in detail with every single bill that we can do and follow up with all my constituents. Like I should. You all know it's pretty much impossible by make an effort. After the veto came down. That's what I did with this bill I went down with a pen and paper one by one by one by one I reached out to my law enforcement officers. The ones I knew I figure probably support this and they did. They did support. Two ninety two ninety eight. But then after I went there it more more more my conscience got to bother me I thought I wonder if they know what's in there. Calling back. Do you know this provision is in here. Do you know there's the civil liability and criminal liability you know we're creating a new cause of action they did not know that. They still supported the concept my constituents to support the concept. But they said can you fix. that were that easy. So I've been visiting I've heard from lots of people like you have and from my constituents under my level best to call them back and when a dialogue with them. And have a fair conversation about what is in here. They pretty much have a fair response. And so I don't know what's going on with. With with the plan all I know is I have a real conviction about voting yes to potentially. Make a bad bill that had good intentions but I supported at one point. To make it law any possibility that would you know we started violating our consciences I'll vote yes when I think it's a no or all the known I think it's a yes it gets easier and easier easier down the road. It's never. How do we say it gets confusing it's never right to do wrong to do right. So I appreciate everything you've been you've been to a fine gentleman and and visit with me over the weekend I'm just trying to do right by our law enforcement our constituents. And talk it through with them let him know that is why I do not support the overriding. Representative can be spoken against the override would anyone like to speak for the override representative once from for what purpose. Let's hear your question I just a point of clarification should this bill pass will it supersede the bill we just agreed upon. But so that that's not exactly clear the. As we know the priority of legislation depends on the order in which it is passed and signed and if we were to override this would this would if this would be the final step in the process for two ninety eight. The previous bill that has now been transmitted to the Senate could certainly go all the way through but there is language that there is language into ninety eight that is not referenced in fourteen fifty seven but is not repealed because as such is the case you have to bills that deal with the law as it exists at the time they were drafted and so when that occurs parliamentarian correct me if I'm wrong but at some some issues are resolved by code revision that tries to reconcile that some ultimately can't be reconciled and it's a matter for the quarter somebody else to determine. Thank you. To McKenzie spoken against the bill anyone. Spoke against the have anyone like to speak for the override. Would anyone. Would anyone like to speak against the override you're recognized to speak against the over. Thank your Speaker I think is more on or over I'm not technically against override. This bill when you look through this bill if you go to that same third page that I was that long ago in my presentation it represents to federal codes Wallace federal Crohn's collects taxes for game and fish that's about seventeen point nine million dollars a year that's twenty percent of the game if its budget that would have to be laid off that's that's a huge twenty percent is a big deal. The other code in there refers to nine twenty one at all which means it goes up from there so it takes and nine twenty two and on. There's about eight hundred potential cases in the works right now for prosecution that now state and local law enforcement officers can't participate in testifying the campus paid in evidence was people potentially go free those are those are sex abuse cases those drug cases those are all kinds of major cases and when I got elected I was elected to be strong on crime not weak and strong crime means that we lock up to people that violate our used the violate other everyday citizens in this state. And that is something to potentially think about. You going down in the bill you get to page four and five in its got funds in there for law enforcement do you think okay funds not big deal well qualified immunity for those undercover officers and officers in the sales all go away when they're criminal a fine as a criminal act. So you just did away with qualified immunity right there. You going down to the next section and you put everybody a supervising officer elected official in a misdemeanor. Not just your elected officials like we did in the bill previous. You're going down a little bit further and there's only about seven or eight ten rights that are listed numerate and in the bill for the back section. So we're saying those rights are more important than the other ones. I mean all rights are important. And they also be listed in a what. So this bill is the road together it wasn't done in mindful of making sure that we can run state government every day to make sure that the things that I enjoy I the one thing I do and live farm work for so I can be a sportsman so I'm crawling around in the woods if the game faces loses twenty percent of budget all that public land that I don't. It may not be open anymore. Because there may not be an officer to oversee it. So I think you really got to think long and hard and the reason you just got to vote on a bill so you can tell all your constituents we took care of all that federal over reach we took care of all those concerns that they fed us over the last eight months. We were able to do that. So if you want to vote for the override because you had a thousand emails and a hundred tax that's fine do it what you are thinking long and hard about all those consequences I just list that out for you and you've got a bill that we're going to send to the Senate are already sent to the Senate that addresses all those concerns. We should have looked at this bill stronger he should've been up some opposition in committee and I think there were some problems is made on some amendments that never happened I don't know if the the promises are broken I don't know what happened but there were some amendments that were proposed and folks felt good about it and they didn't come testify against any committee because I thought amendments are going take place they did and here we are. So I just think you got to think long and hard and you got a bill to face our constituents and that's what we get paid to do by the way is to tell our constituents exactly what's going on in this chamber and tell them exactly why and how we took a vote. And we're supposed to take their accounts in favor we're supposed to vote the way they tell us well that's the reason we stayed all night after last night working on a bill that we can take care of all the concerns they want without the funding the gamefish because what you're doing you're D. funding games is without letting go eight hundred criminals are eight hundred cases were criminals we we're supposed to do the right thing this is not the right thing. And if it gets me beat externalization that's fine appreciation of a. Representative you represent Wardlaw spoken against the override. Represent Ladyman for what purpose motion. Let's hear your motion. I move that we postpone this vote temporarily and we lay this motion on the table. The motion is to postpone temporarily. And lay on the table. The override the vote on the override of Senate bill of the veto of Senate bill two ninety eight. That motion is not debatable. Question before the House. Is the motion to postpone temporarily lay on the table the vote on the override of the veto Senate bill two ninety eight all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Mr Clark please read Senate bill seven oh six. Senate bill seven six five the. Representive Richmond. Two men eighteen yes eighteen that's one of four and a team best fifteen eighteen a that's eighteen two is amended by Senate bill through thirty four of twenty twenty one and to me the law concerning the use of eminent domain by state agency. Richmond you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues is maybe actually the first time you've been happy to see me here after that last the go around that we had. And I say I am happy here this. Since I've been here this session we have I've watched members really labor and working credibly hard for their bills. Sweat and tears. And I can promise you this is not one of those bills this is basically IT no this bill exist until yesterday and it's a it's a Senator for and that's why I'm down here. What this bill actually does. However is that is based described as a technical corrections to SB three thirty four which was passed earlier in section one defines state agencies but then there's the election in subparagraph B. that states that state agencies do not include our to our doctor or State Highway Commission and then down as an section to the subparagraph to. It also states that line the state's about Ardagh being an exception all that language been struck. It's a it's an okay bill I appreciate a good vote thank you. President Richmond is explained the bill. We would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Richmond is closed for the bill the question before the House is pass the Senate bill seven oh six per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of eighty five Yeas one name for present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bills six ninety three. We're going to pass orders us six ninety three. Mr Clark please read SP six seventy one. Senate bill six seventy one by representative back concerning the identification of cost savings by cabinet level departments and to declare an emergency representative back you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam Speaker Collins I bring you. Senate bill six seventy one all this bill does is in transformational reforms in the state agencies what this bill requires that those each state agency about. Excuse me by August first of each year creates a report that thought legislative audit will love review. Before sent to the governor into the transformation sectors affirmation and to that A. L. C.. And that report will basically give us year by year the prior year versus the the current year as far as spending is concerned it has both expenditures and and all that and so gives a very good tool for us to use to see how these agencies are doing as far as controlling costs in terms of patients. And signal questions I appreciate a good vote. Represent the bank has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill represent back are you close for the bill representative makes clothes for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six seventy one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted you're voting on the bill and the emergency clause is everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety three eight zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read S. B. six seventy one of sorry six twenty seven. Senate bill six twenty seven by representative Gonzales to hear the propagation of divisive concept interview the state entity training materials representative Gonzalez you're recognized present your bill. They must figure college around bill earlier in the session with with the Senator Garner that's all you didn't have to worry about you'll be in a. Issue there's just kind of kind of a little to nothing clean up bill this is little more than that has a little more substance to this is kind of bill that you would expect to see Garner and on so. Basically just says that state agencies shall not. Teach or a enforce divisive concepts and has the definition of what that is on the on the first and second page. Any questions Richard good vote. Representa Gonzales has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representan Gonzales are you close for your bill represent Gonzalez is close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six to seven prepared the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot Mr Clark was seventy two days nineteen days in zero present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read espys six ninety one. Senate bill six ninety one by representative back to identify paid advertising funded by taxpayer funds intimate Arkansas law concerning advertising using the image or voice of elected officials. Representative back you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam chair colleagues this bill is is is pretty simple straight for all it does is it the taxpayer's if you're an elected official in Arkansas and you're in a major are your voice video it's being used in an and in circuit or whatever and the taxpayers are paying for that ad must say that who's what agency is paying for that and that's and all of the sellers to appreciate a good vote thank. Representative back has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. President debate are you close for your bill. Representative back is close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six nine one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted cast up the ballot Mister Clark with the ninety three A. zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read S. Meeks six zero nine. Senate bill six and I'm a representative Bentley to create the transparency transparency in foreign investment action declare emergency. Represent Bentley you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you Speaker our colleagues this is a bill about transparency for any foreign investments in our state universities is a direct response to China's targeting of research and academic collaborations within the US in order to obtain U. S. technology illegally I'm sure many of you are aware of the recent conviction of a Chinese you of a professor on wire fraud and passport fraud this case demonstrated how real the people's Republic of China is pervasive threat is to or cans an innovation and businesses SB six or nine is amended to align with the federal patriot act and has no opposition from our universities requires three simple things first institutions shall not host a Confucius institute on affiliate from the people's Republic of China China's Communist Party or China's. Liberation Army institutions shall not accept gifts or enter into a contract with these groups that they feel it would threaten their research and number three institution shelter close disclose any gifts from foreign sources valued at two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more. With that colleagues I appreciate you help our constituents out and protect the businesses and the intent in the US. Innovation in Arkansas and do vote for this bill thank you. Represent Bentley has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill represent Bentley are you close for your bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six zero nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted you're voting for the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with seventy six Jay's fifteen days and everyone present the bill has passed. Mr and the birds of the clause Mr Clark please read S. B. seven oh three. We're gonna pass over that at the moment let's read Senate read as speed to all three Mr Clark. Central to the representative Lowery to establish the Arkansas insurance business transfer act. We're going to have to pass over that one also let's move down. Let's let's move over to SBE six someone please read the bill Mr Clark. Senate bill one representative Maddox to review the small business entity tax passed their act just I was a uniform limited liability company act represent Maddox you're recognized presenter bill thank you madam Speaker calling simmering into one last uniform law commission bill This Is Senator Dismang spell and then we'll discuss a little bit about what the uniform law commission is made up of two lawyers or law professors from every state so they get together and I mean what could be wrong with that right Marcus so they get together in the and they look at the subject matter areas and then make recommendations so we'll all be central on will be consistent in our laws they do it in the area of trusted in them and they're of the uniform commercial code those that think so that's all this is this bill will modernize our LLC System and make our LLC statute better this bill will does not have any known opposition I believe it past thirty four to zero in the Senate and the bankers association and the state chamber in favor and I appreciate a good vote. Representative Richmond for what purpose question you're recognized for your question representative Matix. Will this bill if we pass this bill will the LLCs have to pay more taxes or less taxes you know that's actually good question I thought you're gonna mark me that's later so so thank you for that that the truth says they will not fit it will stay exactly the same that actually came up so last session I read I read the series LLC Act where you can do more than one LLC under one series and they pay they pay for everyone and nothing is changing and that that we may want to address that in the future session but that's a good question nothing is changing in regards to the franchise tax free. Thank you. Representative Maddox has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Maddox are you close for the bill representative Maddox is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six oh one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety four yeas zero ninety four Yeas zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed Mr Clark please read S. B. five forty one. Senate bill five forty one by representative Watson to to amend the law concerning signs. Visiting the birthplace of the Boeing I've Arkansas here decide representative Watson you're recognized present your bill. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues. This bill simply does one thing and allows the Arkansas department of heritage to place an Arkansas department here to sign it one other sites in old Washington this site is a a blade Smith in school operated by the university of Arkansas at hope in Texarkana this all this bill does is places allows them to place a sign there identified identified this is a blade Smith in school any questions. The question appreciate a good vote. Representive Watson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill representative Watson are you close for the bill representative Watson is close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of SB five forty one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety five Yeas zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read SP four eight five. Senate bill forty five a representative Gonzalez to amend Arkansas law concerning early voting into amend Arkansas law concerning elections. Senate on dollars you're recognized present your bill a man Speaker college this is the one you'll often waiting for those ratio today I heard they had a little celebration party out in the and the return of this morning for allowed out there this just simply does away with the the last Monday of of early voting. Any questions on. I would recognize you but I can't. McCollum for what purpose question you're recognized for a question can you explain to us why we need to do away with the day that gives voters a extra time to be able to get there to vote. So Arkansas has I think we're twelfth in the nation for the number of early voting days to just get rid one will still remain twelve even doing away with with this day from my understanding just give the poll workers a break before election day You know that they're having to move machines on the last day after that early voting get ready for the for the Tuesday vote and it's it's just a lot of stress on on the borders. President representative Mary for what purpose thank you madam Speaker question you're recognized for a question representative Gonzalez are there any county Clerk that you know of that's against this bill yeah I heard that there was one that came and spoke against it in committee when it was presented yesterday morning I was not in there at the time but follow up and see if you're recognized for the following was one out of seventy five that you know of. That's thank you. Representative flowers for what purpose. Represent flowers for what purpose question you're recognized for your question thank you madam Speaker represent consolidations. You mentioned that you want to give poll workers a break. And these poll workers are trained and paid to work during early voting and they work several days in Fourteen. Consecutive they are first two weeks except for Sundays. So I'm wondering after twenty four years of doing this has it will who said they needed a break and why would they need a break on that day after working for. You know several other days during the course of early voting so that they specifically to get ready for the voting day. But that's. So recognized for your follow up. Well. I'm. I've talked to my the county Clerk and two others who are vehemently against this and From my understanding. Poll workers don't move machines. I mean that definitely doesn't happen in my county and I'm not aware where happens that the poll workers that we trained to actually run elections move machines moreover I don't know of any poll workers who work part time and get paid to do this are asking for that break so it seems very arbitrary after twenty four years so I'm just wondering how many people who are poll workers have asked you to do this. So I have not spoken with poll workers myself this bills come down down from the Senate I'm just here presenting it but it's my understanding that there have been poll workers who have requested this and have actually threatened to quit because of the hours being so long that the night before. Podesta. You probably don't know if that. that's that's my understanding that they have that they threaten to quit because I always get so long after you being there voting trying to get everything organized and get everything ready for the night before voting the next day so I'm all I've spent more time down here in the world and I believe I ever has almost about which shall come speak for against this and then we'll take a vote on. I referenced bringer he's represent Gonzalez is left the well. Representative Gonzalez explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Hodges you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam chair contrary to what you may believe I do not enjoy coming to the wealth to speak against Bills but you guys know my phrase to be thousands consent. And life begins the in the moment we've comes out about things that matter and this doesn't matter to me you know I. I looked up Voter suppression. It's kind of see what what would fall in that category. You know back in the eighteen hundreds. There were. Measures put in place particularly in southern states that the press votes things like poll taxes. Literacy test. English language requirements. They were known as jim crow laws. but Miller reppin Miller come down to will talk about how we've been proposing legislation I guess to make a feel good or to go back to my district and say you look at look at what I've done but but Legislation is really not needed. F. B. forty five you know if I was on committee the question I would have asked one that You know very ask Were there any county clerk's. That ask what what what do they think about this bill. What is the purpose of limiting early voting opportunities. If anyone asked for this bill. Arkansas was fiftieth in twenty twenty four voter turnout. In all due respect Senator Hammer have introduced many elections Senate bills this session. With several speak to limit voting opportunities. Arkansas is fiftieth in voter turnout why do we want to take away opportunities for citizens to vote. We've been voting on this Monday for twenty six years. And it will be hard to make voters understand the changes. The Monday before election day if everyone of the hideous early voting day the Arkansas elections. Colleagues we're trying to fix a problem that does not exist I ask you to vote no on this bill thank you. Representative Hodges has spoken against the bill but I would like to speak for the bill representative brown you're recognized to speak for the bill. Colleagues this is not thank you madam chair this is not a new idea this approach was proposed to me two sessions ago by some election officials and having been a poll worker I do know that there's a tremendous amount of work they have to tabulate a lot of information they have to get make sure all the machines are working correctly they have to get all the voting materials out to the voting sites there's a lot of work that goes in into place to get ready for election day and we Arkansas has a very generous early voting policy and I think that you know just as a representative Gonzalez said I have heard the saying aye he heard that there are election workers who have said they're not they're not going to come back if they have to work these long hours on Saturday then Monday and then be there they have to be like the polls open at seven thirty seven or seven thirty the open early and all those poll workers have to be there they have to be there at an hour or more before the polls open in the case of the chief judge's there before all of them so I think this is a good bill and. I hope you vote for it thank you. Reserve the brown has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill representa Springer you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. Good afternoon. As I sit here and listen to what is being said. I have to think about my mentor attorney John Walker. I think it's already been said he was say think about what it is that you all are doing here. Yes thank. Have you all heard of the nineteen sixty four Civil Rights Act have you heard of that. I believe representative Hodges mention some of the things that it tried to correct. And based upon what he said a lot of things that are taking place. I'm going back to the reason why we had that law in the first place. So the question was the word that the use. So with that being said here's another one that's being proposed to suppress the vote of voters. And as you all already know HR one is already being discuss. Federal law trumps state law. So go ahead and pass this. Just go ahead and do it. And you will see what is going to take place because you're making the case right now for federal law to take over here once again. So with that being said I'm asking that you vote no on this bill. Representative Springer has spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill representative Ladyman you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. Well colleagues. I came down a few days ago and said I was tired of being threatened. We just got threatened again. If we do what our Kansans want. The federal government's going to come in and change that we have got to stand up for our Kansans you want to talk about voter suppression let me talk about voter suppression you know what suppresses the vote in Arkansas closing role rule voting places our technology we're using is great but we're using it so fast that we're cutting out people in rule areas in Arkansas they they don't vote because gonna go twenty miles to vote that is voter suppression this is not voter suppression. It's not. You heard the people now in the downstairs this morning the yelling and making noise. There was about two county's representative in that let me give you some numbers on the Monday before the election the last election fifty one thousand four hundred seven nine people in Arkansas voted on that day. Twenty six percent of those were from the two largest counties in the state. You know those are. Pulaski. Invent. That is if my if my calculations are correct that's twenty six percent. Twenty six percent of the people who voted on that date we're in two counties. What about the other seventy three counties. What about them when we talk about them. Somebody said did any Clark's ask for this bill yes they did. You know I got emails on both sides of these issues but about half of them like this bill. Perry County the Clark and Perry County wrote a letter to the committee. Do you know how many people in Prairie County voted on that Monday before election in the last election you by no. One. One person. But they had to keep it all open they had to wait till closing time and then they had to prepare and they have very few workers improve county I'm not from that county but I know it's a rule County. So they had to work late. And folks it is a fact. That people in rule counties they cannot get poll workers. We need to make their job easier. This does that. So I'm going to vote for those seventy three counties to make their life easier I appreciate a good vote. Represent Ladyman has spoken for the bill. Anyone like to speak against the bill representive cloudy you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker early voting is critical to our ability to hold smooth and efficient elections that's it that's that's the big point that we need to walk away with at the end of this day we've heard that clerks want to break before election day or the election workers want to break before election day the truth of the matter is I prefer election officials all across the state who are opposed to this bill I know that the Benton county Clerk the one who by all accounts according representative Ladyman should have been the most sort of a you know overloaded by work on the committee before the election is in fact the county Clerk who came down to testify against this in front of committee she doesn't want this in Washington County it's not even the clerks that run the election on the Monday before early voting it's our Election Commission so in Washington County at least those arguments all fall flat these voter suppression bills and I am calling it a voter suppression bill not because I believe that that's the intent of this body but because that the real impact of making voter voting harder is that fewer people will vote. It's unfortunate that that means there may be election workers in a poll workers who were sitting there with nothing to do on the Monday before election day I wish that they weren't but if that is the cost for being able to allow more people to vote that seems fair to me. These voter suppression bills are the same ones that have come out of Georgia with no changes they fail to consider Arkansas voting system and they're tempting to address problems that we don't even have here the Monday before the election is the single busiest busiest day of early voting at the Washington County courthouse taking that away provides no benefit to the vast majority of our state election workers or voters and it only serves to chip away at our counties abilities to hold free and fair elections so I ask you to vote no thanks. Representative Clowney has spoken against the bill would you like to speak for the bill representative when you're recognized speak for the bill. Hello colleagues let me clear some things up and help address some of the concerns that were brought up this was brought up by county clerks from both parties and actually has been for quite some time in fact the first time that this bill came up before the house of representatives was in two thousand seven and that was made by Democrats we've had Democrats and Republicans that have asked for this and this is purely a staffing issue we have thirteen early voting days and that one day is crucial because of the staffing conflicts that happen there are machines that have to be moved from the early voting locations to the polling precincts on the biggest day of the year the election day there are also because we have gone to electronic poll books now those poll books have to be updated so that they have the fresh ones on election day in every precinct in the county which causes the staff to have to stay up very late the average age of the poll worker is sixty five and we have heard from many who have reported that they can no longer keep up with the schedule a potentially a twenty hour day and turning it around on election day for the biggest day of the year this also is one of the least popular of the early voting days in fact statewide the average out of the thirteen early voting days is nine. Ninety Pulaski County number nine Benton County tenth Washington County thirteenth dead last including the two Saturdays so this is a day that is merely meant to help our staff because we have found that on election day when we have the problems it's not from the various intent it's because of exhausted poll workers this gives our poll workers a break and I would appreciate a good vote. Represent the wing has spoken in favor the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill representative Scott you're recognized to speak against the bill. Colleagues all eyes are on us today for several reasons across the state it's easy to forget the frequency and which voter suppression occurs in the disproportionate ways it affects minority communities voter suppression the definition is any effort by law or tactic that prevents eligible voters from voting or registering to vote. That's exactly what Senate bill forty five is going to do in my opinion that's why failed in committee for time this roadblock will impact. Resolver Kansas Republicans and Democrats I'm asking you today please don't silence the voices of our communities and people that look like me I represent a minority majority district. This is one of the busiest days in my district and I can't stay silent about what is going to do in my community. This is just wrong. I know many of you know that in your heart please stand up for what is right this isn't about politics it's about doing what's right and vote against Senate bill four eighty five. Representative makes for what purpose. What is your motion I move immediate consideration. That is a proper motion it's non debatable. The question before the House is a motion for immediate consideration all in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The question before the House is the passage of SB four eighty five prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked up the ballot Mister Clark with thirty nine days. There be no clapping in the chamber thank you RT ninety days forty three nays and three present the bill has passed. Bailed the Bill failed sorry. Clincher I see. I see our. They represent the flowers makes for cleaner all in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Noes have it. The. C. five hands. Prepare the machine Mr Clerk. The motion is the for the clincher. The motion before the is the voted for the clincher motion. Where the machine Mr Clerk. All in. As everyone voted. As everyone voted cast about Mister Clark with twenty five Yeas fifty eight nays and one present the motion has failed. Please read SP three three six Mr Clark. Zero three thirty six by representative of hot. To create an exemption from the sales and use tax for coins currency and bullion. Representative hawk you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues this is a bill that will allow you to eliminate a sales tax. this bill creates an exemption from the sales and use tax for points currency and billions what that means is you are can purchase silver gold and and currency to put into an IRA or investment portfolio and not pay tax on it when you purchase it if you choose to sell it at that time you would pay tax on any profits that you would gain on it so thirty eight states have the sales tax exemption that allows people especially in times where a currency might fluctuate greatly allows you to put your assets into a very stable long term investments. Michigan pass this bill in nineteen ninety nine Michigan in state sales went from one percent in state to over ninety four percent in two thousand eleven there was a sixty seven percent increase in coin dealers in their state. Just like you would purchase a stock or a bond for your investment portfolio you do not pay tax on that when you purchase it you pay tax on the profit when you sell it that's exactly what this bill does and if there are any questions. Repeated non representative Richmond for what purpose question recognized for your question. Does this apply to of people who purchased coins and bullion and and stick it in the safer under their mattress or something like that so what most people do it if they purchase it out of state thirty eight states they don't have to pay a tax those assets usually go into a Baltz if you purchase your call a boulder or silver usually there's a fault in Delaware where it's kept so it shipped there you can also put it in the fall but that's how most people do it we often think of this is only for people of wealth to be able to utilize this purchasing of assets like this but every day our Kansans could benefit by putting more of their investments into these tangible assets follow up Maddox weaker. You're recognized for a follow up so if I put it in my Baltz. Will I get the the tax break yes thank you very much. For what purpose representative Garner. And you're recognized for a question representative Hart thank you Mr madam Speaker represent how will this help bring coin shows and those kinds of things back into the state yes thank you for that question all states that enacted this found that a coin collectors and dealers will do more business in state so places all around the state that have be able to hold a conventions and be able to make those sales because people are looking for that sales tax exemption so now you get to vote for decreasing sales tax in Arkansas. With that I appreciate a good vote. Representive hawk has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Or the bill. Representative hawk are you close for the bill representative hawk is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB three three six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety three eight zero nine and one present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read SP four eighty four. Senate bill forty four by representative Jett to clarify the allocation of nonresident income for Arkansas income tax purposes and declare an emergency. Representative Jack you're recognized to present the bill. The man is bigger a college Senate bill forty four correction the FAA opinion letters issued back in February twenty twenty this in Arkansas impose income tax an out of state employees work for Arkansas lawyers restores what Arkansas employers thought that the law was was based on the tax based on where the police location was that so now common sense tells us employees living working Arkansas's by Arkansas taxes but. We working out of state will play of the tax with the state they work at that being said I appreciate a good vote. Representative Jett has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill the question before the House is a passage of SB four eighty four prepare the machine Mr Clerk. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety five Yeas zero nine eight and zero present the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Members let's move back up the calendar to SP seven oh three. Mr Clark please read Senate bill seven of three. Senate bill seventy three by representative great to amend the Thomas an act to amend the definitions professional relationship in telemedicine within the telemedicine act into out telehealth for certification for medical marijuana president gray you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I kind of came in on this at the at the tail end this was run through the Senate last week I am so what what happened through through that the pandemic there were two executive orders issued twenty oh six and twenty sixteen that allow the agencies a lot of latitudes it essentially relaxing current statutes one of the things that the department of health allowed was for medicinal marijuana the original certifications to be done through telehealth that guidance expired on April first of this year and so what what this bill does is it will allow us initially that certification for marijuana to be done through telehealth and be glad to take any questions. Person Bentley for what purpose question you're recognized this one quick question to clarify so what we're doing here is really improper to saying we're going to allow for medical marijuana card certification agent through tell health moving forward that's correct okay. Yeah see no questions I'd appreciate a good vote thank you represent graves explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent very recognized before the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and colleagues a you know this bill we ran it through rules committee and without any opposition it is a good bill and the reason I'm standing here is that the not that I have a card or need sometimes I think I may need one but you know there's a lot of uh veterans law enforcement officers as dealt with post medic stress it is very difficult for them to go into a doctor's office in in just to get out of the House of pretty well house bound so this is a good bill that helps a lot of those individuals that deal with posttraumatic stress every day and I appreciate a good vote thank. President very spoken for the building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Percent gray is close for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill seven oh three per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of fifty eight nineteen nays and five president. The bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill six ninety three. Ninety three by representative Wardlaw to transfer the duties of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board to the state of what of finance and a cleaner C. purpose of Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker. As you guys well after here many times throughout session told you we've been working on the B. D. with of council executive committee. Well we've met we met and we met and all we met this week in narrow the contractors down to two for consultants. One thing is consistent through this whole deal and that's the board of directors for EVD the teachers insurance have allowed us to be in the hole that we're in if you go back in time to twenty thirteen we all said here in a special session we met down at the old state house because the house is being remodeled and we passed a bunch District language that put over a hundred seventeen million dollar surplus in that in those two funds two thousand eighteen you can start tracking the board they started voting to sweeten their plans lower deductibles RES difference elective surgeries and different things and now we're at over a hundred million dollars in the hole. And we're looking at consultants come back and do the exact same thing we did almost ten years ago. So what this bill does it eliminates that board one of the charges we gave the consultants is to put together a very highly representative board of the people of the decide be state employees and state teachers so we will assemble a new board about six months from now that would take up all the future axes of these two systems. This has nothing to do with teacher retirement it's been a rumor has been out there since day one of this bill being filed is that we were missing a teacher's retirement we nothing to do teacher retirement this is saying board. That put you guys in a bad position last August in council with eliminating the pharmaceutical benefits. So does this eliminate some puts it in the department of treasury puts it under some folks that have really good financial sound lines lets them make the decisions between now and October November's when the consultant reports come back and we have a special session are we take it up in the physical we will make sure this board is present represented by representatives of the associations it makes up so it'll be teachers retirement retired state employees retired teachers and state employees with that appreciate a good vote. Reserve or laws explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent what you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr chairman colleagues if you'll recall back with bill approved house bill seventeen seventy nine dealing with vacant positions I mentioned at that time what we were facing. The health insurance calendar for teachers before our public employees in the study this is the first day of the step first step toward being able to rectify the situation we have already this year has approved fifty million dollars in more money to address this problem the Department of it just came Force two weeks ago as for twenty million more we have to come up with fifty million more earlier in the year two through the A. L. C. we have got to address this problem or is gonna cause us even more problems in the future and I encourage you to follow representative one laws recommendation are all this and vote yes for this bill thank you. Person wouldn't spoke spoken for the building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill percent worn you're recognized before the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I'll be brief because I know that this is a Prairie body okay with that but this is exactly what's needed to happen. Every year we get calls in the retirement committee saying that what are you all doing to our benefits this is putting representation with the very people who are calling us so that they will know the costs and what is happening so that we won't be getting the calls this is a great move and I ask for do pass. Percent worn is spoken in favor the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill six ninety three per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted voting on the bill in the emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety four yeah zero nay and one president you've passed the bill in the emergency clause. Mr Clark. Represent makes for what purpose privilege matter place. Let's hear. Let's hear privilege matter. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues seven years ago today on April twenty seventh two thousand fourteen is a day that I will never forget. There was a Sunday evening just gotten home from evening services when I learned that a tornado had touched down in northern Pulaski County the tornado then proceeded to move to the northeast went through plantation growing as it had Mayflower by the time I reached the city of Bologna the tornado had grown to an EF four possibly any of five with maximum sustained winds of close to a hundred ninety miles an hour it is the largest tornado in recent history to pass in the state of Arkansas by the time this tornado finished having gone through on downstream to the White County the tornado left sixteen of our fellow Arkansans dead and injured over two hundred people and I felt that It was incumbent upon us to take a moment to remember those who we lost on that fateful day all those years ago and I'd also invite my colleagues who represent those districts that were impacted by that tornado if you would like to join me in the well to to please do so you know enough and the aftermath of that tornado we saw the destructive power of nature but we also saw the strength and the resiliency of our citizens are Kansans came together in a way is that uh are are rarely seen as neighbor tried to help neighbors stranger helping stranger I remember one story about a elderly lady who was us in our home and she was only eating crackers and water even though there was an abundance of food that was being donated by our Kansans all across the state and the reason why she was only eating crackers and water because she wanted to save the food for the other people in the community that needed it we alternately had to have a volunteer actually take the food out to her to to consume. And for for me probably one of the most. Lasting. Well same memorials by one of the most lasting images of the tornado is in the city of Bologna of their sports team their their mascot if you will is the eagle and on front of their city hall they have the the United States flag since the state flags and right in front of that there's a monument with a needle on top of it and in the aftermath of the tornado went through the tornado knocked the American flag over didn't touch the city flag or the state flag it not to the American flag over and it was the wings of the eagle that caught that flag and kept from touching the ground in the aftermath of the that tornado I thought that was just a cool symbol of the resiliency of our people so with that I don't know if any of my other colleagues who are affected by that twenty if anybody else wants to say anything. Yes saying none with that I would just ask that we observe a moment of silence to remember it's of those that we lost on that day thank you. Thank you colleagues. Mr Clark please read Senate bill two O. three. Senate bill two O. three by representative Lowery to establish a law to establish Arkansas insurance business transfer act. President Lowery recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This is the last of the insurance departments package it did take awhile to get through because it certainly had be worked out with a number of different entities but in all of entities are now on board with this what it does is it protects policyholders you know one of the things that we can be quite proud of in the insurance business here in Arkansas is that we have had a a past chairman of of in coral which was Senator Rapert we've also had a past president of the national association of insurance commissioners which I know was Mike Pickens I believe that there have been several others before talks Arkansas's always been able to be at the advent of of some innovations in terms of insurance and this is one of those areas sometimes a company does want to transfer assets to another company this particular transfer process will protect policyholders but more importantly it puts in guard puts in guard rails to make sure that this isn't just done by one insurance company in any wink and nod to another company it has to be approved by the commissioners it also has to be approved by a circuit court to make sure that the policy holders are not adversely affected when this business this these policy and many times they are what are referred to as legacy policies much older policies that the policy holders are still protected in that transfer of business so I hopefully I've explained this to your satisfaction of trying my best to answer any questions that you might have. If not I appreciate a good vote. President of Larry's explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Lowery is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two or three Payton sheen Mr Clark. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety one yeah zero nine zero president bills pass. Mr Clark read Senate bill six fifty seven. Senate bill sixty seven by representative Womack to amend the law concerning watercrafts. Represent Womack you're recognized explained the bill thank you Mr Speaker members is very simply for purposes of red registration moves a sail boat is powered only by sale in the same category as a canoe there's no opposition and I appreciate a good vote. Represent Womack has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Or the bill. President will Max close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill six fifty seven prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. With ninety five Yeas one day and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read Senate bill six eighty six. Senate bill six eighty six represent the hock to amend the law concerning motor carriers interview the ground transportation of municipal airport and regional airports. Representative pop you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker in Arkansas property rights are sacred right. We as a legislature or call to uphold the sacred trust to protect those rights this bill does that. Sovereignty is also very important the right to determine what happens on one's property. This bill confirms anyone conducting business should do so only with an agreement from the property owners would you not agree. This bill updates language is currently in statute that does not adequately address the transformative nature of conducting business today. This bill provides a legal remedy for property owners to protect their operations on their property. We support entrepreneurs and business owners and want them to open and operate a business that meets customer needs and consumer demand at a fair price for a quality safe products. What we do not support and cannot support is allowing that entrepreneur to operate on another's property without the property owner's permission an agreement to operate. If an entrepreneur and a business operator says they do not need an agreement to operate on another person's property Arkansas law states they must have an agreement to operate. So why are we here today. Arkansas municipal and regional airports need this law to confirm and enforce their authority to require agreements. That to operate on their property. We have a business is currently that are operating without agreements. And without being able to be enforced yes airport authorities are asking for our support to enforce our laws. We are for free enterprise that allows lemonade stands. But only if they are operated on one's own property or that the property owner gives permission and has an agreement with the entrepreneur and with that I'll take any questions. The non I appreciate a good vote. President of pockets explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill representative Bentley. Representative Bentley. You're recognized to speak against the bill. Collins I respect representative harken or decide to take care Benton and plastic county but this is really the wrong time for this bill during the pandemic rental car fleets sold a third of their fleet just to survive through the pandemic right now there's a severe shortage of run across cars across the nation or Kansas going on vacation are facing skyrocketing prices for rental cars and worse something not even find a car committee or use a U. haul truck to submit to get a a rental vehicle whether out on vacation. Right now the industry is trying to re stock but it will take a long time for that to happen this is the wrong time for this bill I believe in the free market and I believe this is an interest this is an issue the industry and the airports can take care just like they do with the taxi cabs with uber and lift. We need to take care of our Kansans there sky running prices out there we're not having rented cars out there is an issue they can handle that do not meet us forcing the law on them thank you represent Bentley is spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill representative very. You're recognized speed for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues and by the way I wore the suit because my wife told me had to wear it on the last day and I don't want to have to wear it tomorrow so with sorry I get this done saw. Ladies and gentlemen if I had as much money as Jon Eubanks I'd go out not by ten cars. I put five of them at the northwest Arkansas airport in Fayetteville I put find out here to bill and Hillary Clinton airport. Then I go out not create me create me an online platform and I'd call it Johnno. There is reason for that. Then my customers to go online. They get on the computer they could rent my cars. Sign a contract. Pick up the keys using an app on their phone. And drive away from the airport. John would rent those cars not be regulated not pay any fees not contribute to the lights the sidewalks the infrastructure at the airports in the state of Arkansas. John I would pocket every time and not one penny would go to the airport zero zip nada. Sounds pretty lucrative me ladies and gentleman but that's exactly what's being done today in the state of Arkansas. I knew it. So then comes a billion dollar company called Turo. And churro is using the exact same model of business AS Giana. If you were to go to Google right now you'd see if there is a website that looks very much like a car rental website as a matter of fact even talk about renting cars on the riverside even says Tero you can skip. The counter. You can find the perfect car you get roadside assistance you can even buy insurance through liberty mutual that's really owned by Turow insurance agency. They even have an app that you can book grant by insurance get roadside assistance anything that you want. A committee I asked the Turrell represent of how much revenue has churro generated in Arkansas in the past six years this is a billion dollar company ladies and gentleman he can tell me how much. Then I am asking how much of that revenue have you given to the airports in the state of Arkansas. He could answer that question. Zero. Is not given one time auditor of to this state. So this company tomorrow once have a business on airport property and not pay for it. Nice uses for for airports is it fair for taxpayers I don't I don't think it is. That's reason I'm down here. All the airports are asking is to amend the existing law. To level the playing field for transportation for hire. You confuse me there Dotson when you stood up. It's just like several years ago we address this issue in this body for uber lift taxis in any other for higher modes of transportation working of our airports this bill is going to do nothing more than amend the Arkansas code chapter twenty three to include peer to peer. Carsharing. We're all the other rental car platforms dressed and I appreciate a good vote. Represent very spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Payton. You're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker of. I think there's a point that that needs to be shared I know many of you all know that I fought hard to strengthen Arkansas's salvage title laws we come to vehicles flood flood damaged vehicles being branded so so that future owners would know that there may be a safety issue with those vehicles if they're not repaired properly. This platform of written vehicles this way. Just. Inspires thoughts in my mind of you know going out by and some really nice looking previously damaged vehicles. The our cheap investment. And set them out there and competing with the rental car companies that are that are buying much better vehicles more dependable vehicles but you know you walk up and your rent a car from a faceless nameless company. And you have no idea whether it's maintenance and safety is up to par not you don't know if they plug the tire yesterday and or or just added up and parked it there for you and you come out of the motel tomorrow morning it's flat There there's a lot of things that I would I would recommend to my family and my friends and my colleagues here don't rent a car from a company that has no reason to maintain. A proper fleet of. When it comes to the airports the taxpayers pay for the airport and because it's there. There is a. Lot of commerce attached to that airport the food vendors in the transportation companies in taxes and all that. This platform is profiting. From a taxpayer investment at the airport and I think it needs to contribute likewise and I would hate to see the reputable. Our company's rental companies and and believe me I'm not friends with with them. But I hate to see them go by the wayside from this competition because it it is an opportunity for people with much lower investment to provide an let lower quality product and maybe even a safety hazard. The question represent Dotson for what purpose question you're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker representative Payton at. I thought representative very laid out a great point of what a great entrepreneurial free market business opportunity to seem to be for John knows who's going to ask him if if any of the business partner but he's already left the well on a serious note though one to ask your question regarding these parking spots that are at the airport do you know if they're paid parking spots. I do not know but I believe that in a free market society they can build their own parking lot. Good. Thank you. Represent Payton spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative pop you're recognized to close for the bill. Thank you thank you colleagues and Our airports aren't receiving notice state or federal tax dollars they are supported as a standalone entity they have to raise their own revenues and so on but this bill is not just about XNA and the bill and Hillary Clinton International Airport here in Little Rock it's also for municipal airports like at Fort Smith Harrison Crossett Jonesborough. All of our cities so if you were city has a municipal airport we're not against innovation and innovative business models. Those operators need to have an agreement with the city airport or regional airport to do business on airport property that's what this bill is about and with that I appreciate a good vote. President pockets close for the bill the question before the House is to pass the Senate bill six eighty six per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of sixty seven yeas to. Present the bill is passed. Similar for what purpose. Motion let's hear your motion. Mister Speaker by a party of House rule seventy one I move we removed from committee house bill nineteen thirty four and places on the supplemental calendar to consider concurring in the Senate amendment. That's a proper motion it is debatable represent Miller you're recognized to explain The motion. Thank you Mr Speaker. Hopefully I'm not upset and the lord by doing this and it cuts my Mike off again. Of folks this is we we pass this bill I'm here last week good bill the Senate called a few things we made some corrections made a better bill over the Senate I would like to concurrent is amendments and get it passed out here so I can come law thank you I'll take any questions I guess. President Miller's explained. Is motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Represent Miller is close for the motion. The question before the House. Is the. Removal of from committee of house bill nineteen thirty four and to place it on supplemental calendar to consider concurring in the Senate amendment. Repair the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of seventy two yeas and nays and zero present the motion is passed. President Pilkington for what purpose. Is it on there again Mister Speaker by thirty of House rule seventy one I'm moved that we removed from committee house bill eighteen seventy and place it on the supplemental calendar cond to consider concurring in the Senate amendment. That's a proper motion it is debatable represent Pilkington you're recognized to explain The motion. Good evening this is the same motion that we did with represent Miller it's just on my bill When I presented it we pass it with over ninety votes I went over to the Senate yeah this amendment which I promised I would make when I was down here it passed out of the Senate with thirty three yeses and zero no votes it's a bill that you've got people from Clarke Tucker to Gary Stubblefield voting yes on I think it's good policy I'm just trying to get it here so we can concurrence an amendment and get it to the governor's desk and that as for good vote. President Pilkington is explained the motion when you would like to speak against the motion. Person Dalby for what purpose Menteri OR you're recognized just added. To our parliamentarian if the bill the concurrence was defeated twice in committee does that in the bill or can it be properly brought forward. Parliamentarian advises that under the authority of rule seventy one that allowed that that should the motion pass that would allow the bill to be pulled from committee and brought straight to the. And for clarity the threshold on the motion such as this is. Two thirds of the membership. Which is greater than a rule suspension. President Pilkington has explained the building when are the motion we would like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. President Pilkington it's close for the motion. The question before the House is the motion under rule seventy one to remove from committee house bill eighteen seventy a place on supplemental calendar to consider concert concurring in the Senate amendment prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of sixty two yeah a seventeen nays and one present the motion is failed. Mr Clark please read the letter from the governor. Every twenty six twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house you Mr Speaker This is to inform you that on April twenty six twenty twenty one are reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly Hassel sixteen twenty seventh at nine thirty eight fairly Asa Hutchinson. Members moving to the supplemental calendar. Representative rob moves we can Kerr and. Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten twelve. Please read Senate Amendment number one. Senate mineral Fulton twelve. President right you're recognized to explain the amendment. This bill concerns staff of. Allen converters. Very very big problem statewide. We needed just a little bit of something added to this bill and basically it was vehicle identification numbers and the and the the day that that's Baltz by any. Pawn shop any dealership it will have a vin number in if it's not it does not that that band number will be placed on there and permanent form I appreciate a good vote. Percent rise explain the amendment would you would like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment represent rise close for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence with sentiment Memon number one to House Bill ten twelve prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Biber ninety one Yates three nascent one president we you you have concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten twelve Mr Clark please read senate bill four seventy six. Senate bill four seventy six by representative Hudson terminal concerning conviction proceedings to allow the court to seal certain to court records and declaring emergency represent Hudson you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker we are at this point the session where you become the house sponsor of a bill by virtue of being present when the center concert presented in committee this is a bill that Senator Tucker had put together and ask me to carry over here today and let me tell you two things what it does and what it doesn't is what it does is it provides for the opportunity for a tenant who has been evicted due to a covert related reasons the term here is adversely impacted to file a motion with the court to ask for that inspection proceeding to be sealed now The motion is because this will already be an adversarial an adversarial case in court because the addiction is been filed so the landlord has notice of this motion is been filed and will have the opportunity just like any other motion in court to file a response and to have a judge determine whether or not that motion should be granted and in the bill it talks about what would qualify attendant to be I have to take advantage of this opportunity it would have to be a that failure to pay rent Clause by the COVID pandemic which is described later to only be applicable to a complaint that was filed on or after March first of twenty twenty and then through some revision and work over in the Senate they decided that the motion would only be permitted if it was filed within a hundred eighty days of the termination of any executive order entered by the governor declaring an emergency specifically related to covert nineteen so under those circumstances a tenant would be allowed to file this motion request that the court proceeding be sealed and then the landlord would have the opportunity to respond in the judge would make a determination on whether or not this tendon is is entitled to this benefit what this. Doesn't do what it does do is relieve the tenant of any of the obligations to pay rent it does not relieve the tenant of any judgment is entered against that tenant it does not relieve the tenant of the landlord's right to evict that tenant all of those things can still happen in the landlord maintains the right to proceed with all of those remedies so all that this bill is trying to do is to give a tenant a little bit of a clean slate with regard to a hard time those caused by job loss or some other issue in the pandemic so that this doesn't follow them around in terms of background checks for jobs and to try to find other housing later and so it's just that this court or proceeding it could be sealed the judge finds that that is appropriate but the landlord can still get paid the landlord conceal of this act and the landlord still maintains all of the remedies available to that landlord with regard to to a tenant who is either hold over his or who is not paying rent with that I'll take any questions if you have any of the expert on this from about twenty minutes that represent Miller for what purpose you're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker represent Hudson using your twenty minutes of expertise would you mind I'm joking obviously on which I'm willing to meet given the given the executive order by the the previous administration has now been been carried over in the new administration of where we're. COVID related infections basically we're not we're not happening if yeah and I know there are certain guidelines that relate out in that you had to prove that you had lost your ability to pay rent or whatever due to the pandemic and there was some some pretty strict. You know guidelines for for burden of proof there that the tenant had to meet how does this bill. Pro inside with that because given that I'm not actually seeing a lot of a lot of folks who have been evicted strictly based on loss of revenue from the pandemic could you touch on that please sure and so this only applies to the governor's executive orders and has that any executive orders coming from the federal level and do not affect and any of that the rights that are contained in this bill but with regard to the governor's orders there were still certain instances in your right they were they were a much smaller group so that should be a much smaller group of people who are impacted that we're still getting evicted for various reasons and you know and we saw that kind of earlier in the in the pandemic more than we did as as time went on but this would only apply to those who could prove to a judge that the impact of the code pandemic was such that they're entitled to this release because the judge still decides whether or not to actually do this. Go follow up you're recognized thank you. So in this situation does does the. Is the governor's order. More. Powerful than the presidential in our wooden we go back to the same situation of of the federal federal law federal order trump state law state order well I mean it the answer about this is yes I mean this is a state this is a state law related to a state. The executive order issued by a state constitutional actor involving questions of state law due to the fact that state law covers of actions so you know in that respect yes there was some contradiction you'll recall early on between what the trump administration what governor Hutchinson was doing with regard to some of these stays on addictions so there were some of that back and forth but that's why we see because of sort of this tension between state federal law we see some of the different Scott every different consequence different results as to how in state landlord's handle depictions verses what that that federal rights were saying and so this would just cover that very small group of people who were affected thank you represent Richmond for what purpose question you're recognized. Represent Hudson so all this bill actually does. Is that ensures that a future landlord. Is unaware of the rental history of a potential renter. Yeah their entire rental history is still out there all this does is seals the eviction in this particular case there are a lot of other things that this doesn't do credit checks for example not gonna do anything to the credit check it's not gonna do anything if they write down references on you know when they fill out their application and put their references it's not gonna affect that it just feels this one thing and that's it. I appreciate a good vote. Represent Hudson is explain the building would like to speak against the bill represent Lundstrum you're recognized speak against. I know how representive hats and feels it's kind of coming out as fast. this bill has some serious flaws in it I'm I'm kind of wishing it has to failed when it stayed failed in the Senate and they didn't send it to us to clean these things up. We have received three rounds of stimulus Texan landlords of the last ones to get paid we had two point nine billion that was the first round for a family of four that's three thousand four hundred the second round of stimulus that was meant to go to keep the roof over your head and groceries on the table was hundred sixty four billion for a family of four that's twenty four hundred. In the third round four hundred eleven billion. That's for a family of four fifty six hundred for a grand total of eleven thousand four hundred dollars and if you're trying to pay your rent an average rent in Arkansas. It's about nine hundred fifty dollars that would have coverage your rent for the whole year that's what this is supposed to do this bill also. Says shall this gives you three bites of the apple three strikes in the courts to shield that fact that you didn't pay rent so the next landlord is going to have a real pickle of the time knowing whether or not that person has paid rent this is not a good idea we're adults when you sign a rental contract you're supposed to pay your rent and when folks give you the stimulus tax on our tax dollars are there to help people when they are in need you're supposed to pay your bills with that not kick the can down the road people are in need use the stimulus checks to pay your rent put groceries on the table that's what it's there for please vote this bill down this is not a good idea it's not well thought out its not good policy she's not a good way to go. Represent represent Murdock for what purpose. You're recognized so understanding what the purpose of this bill is is just for those people so situated from the pandemic they'll sit selling that can that particular situation my question would be as you of articulated and enumerated upon the dollars they received and that could pay their rent but as you know many people was shut down and they had a lot of other expenses they can eat yes utilities to have so there's a lot of other things associated so if it's just in this situation for this particular. Situation it seems like what we would give deference as we've done in many other areas during the pandemic. Let's talk about that for just a second in the state of Arkansas unemployment we spent two point nine billion dollars on unemployment to help those folks in addition to rental assistance I skews me not rental assistance but in addition to the Eight hundred and fifty billion dollars that went from the three counts rounds of cares Act and now there's another hundred and seventy three million dollars just for the state of Arkansas for rental assistance to help those folks in need I'm not denying anybody folks in need that need the help plus their landlords have been helping their tenants not charging late fees that type of thing but when you shield information from the next landlord when there's been an issue that's not good and this allows it three times that means you've gotten stimulus checks you've gotten unemployment checks you've gotten assistance and three different times in the last year. This work this is just not good this is just not good all the way around I would ask that this bill be sent back to the Senate. To die with that appreciate a no vote. Representive Lundstrum has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill representative regret you're welcome to speak against the bill. This session we have been able to pass a bill for the have the ability to build we're making some headway my feeling and I hope everybody's is it that we want to we want to get rid of the bad landlord and a bad tenant that's the group that we're concerned about. Hope the habitability will help go against those bad landlords I will say hi John most of you know I'm a big landlord Hot Springs have about three hundred units I got from my office if the first of last month for the first time in the history of my rental business in over twenty years all of my rent paid that's never happened. That happened because the stimulus checks and all the help that they've got also in my home office if we have someone that's having trouble paying we help them file for that assistance. Arkansas sitting right now has a hundred and seventy three million dollars sitting and waiting parental assistance. And the reason that I don't want the bill of sale because you understand if you work in this industry you have people that work the system. And those work the system know how to work it. When we get application for tenet we do a criminal background check. So we find that and that helps us to keep from having that bad can it put in if he has worked the way not to pay someone else that he probably won't pay us and in this allows us to do this this criminal offense that we talk about is nothing more than the same thing is running a stop sign. You know it is it is it is the about the least low of criminal fact that you can get but what it does do is allow the landlord to be able to see who someone will pay him and avoid that which helps keep the costs down on the other tenants that are coming. This bill takes set tool away from us and had sent away from us so I would just appreciate a no vote on this thank you representive Clowney for what purpose question you're recognized thank you representing the group M. this bill is narrowly tailored to apply to folks who were not able to pay their rent. Directly as a result of the COVID nineteen pandemic but I heard you use the phrase bad tenants more times than I can keep track of is it your contention that folks who could not pay their rent because of the pandemic are bad tenants may also I use bad landlord as much as I used bad tenants but it's not it's my feeling that if you have a good ten and and a good landlord that they're going to work in these towns because of all the overflow the sistance is there that you won't have that happen it's been my experience in all the here's when you have someone that's not paying rent and you have a good landlord that works with them and try as that I'm not saying that that situation don't happen especially when you team abandoned over the bad tenet but generally speaking the worst expense for a landlord is when you have someone moving out you don't want to move out you want to stay in effect Matt Matt's the. Leasing agents get a bonus if they have more movie and then move out I hate move out because they cost a lot of money so no I'm not saying that if the tenant don't pay he's a bad tenant but I'm saying with all the help that's available now that there in my experience of what I'm dealing with is there's ability for them to pay so there is some tennis that work the system and this will block the landlord from knowing who will not pay I don't I don't really believe that you have someone right now. You know before COVID hit you had some people that couldn't pay because of situation with COVID we've been flooded. With with money to the state that helps those more monies available then I ever seen we have a hundred and seventy three million dollars sitting right now waiting to be distributed out to tenants. Follow up you're recognized so. I hear your contention that there is some money that may go to tenants it's my understanding reading this bill that this goes back to March twenty twenty which is when the pandemic started but before any of this assistance was available I I think you would probably agree that those folks are at least entitled to this relief but my question to you is so much seems to be dependent in your reasoning on a good landlord but while you may be a very good land lord we know that there are also landlord who weren't so if their landlords who aren't willing to work or we weren't willing to work with their tenants it was my I worked with tenants in Fayette bill whose landlords were not accepting the affidavits that the CDC executive order required to give them that relief so I witnessed first hand tenants who are not getting that relief my question to you is do you not trust that the court system who this bill sends those cases to would be able to figure out who deserves the ceiling and who doesn't. I don't know. Let me answer that this way first of all for someone to be in that position. They have to be behind on rent I don't know of any team that that ever get as this figure to vacate on the very first day I'm probably one of the most efficient ones and I issue that on the tenth day that they're late. So that means they get a ten day additional notice so it's twenty days after they've been late before they can that probably the quickest I bet you anywhere in Arkansas that they've ever received this citation. You know and then they can fact that citation so there's a long ramp for them not to get in this position and I'm just asking the body to understand that that's a tool that is good landlord use and I would appreciate. About that way thank you representatives Miller for what purpose. Representative McGrew has left the whale would anyone like to speak for the bill representative Gazaway you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues. This really is the most narrow limited bill that you could ever imagine if you take the emergency clause out of this bill it would barely even be a page and so let me just say this does not entitle anyone to have their records sealed okay is not entitle anyone to that number one if a tenant wants to have the records sealed number one they have to file a petition to have their records sealed. The second thing that they have to do is they have to prove they have to prove that the reason other for the failure to pay rent was caused by the pandemic. And if they do that then they can be entitled to have their records sealed. In other words the you can't see that they have that eviction but if let's just say that the eviction happened and the landlord got a judgment against them it does not affect the landlord from being able to collect the judgment does not affect the landlord from being able to enforce the judgment it simply cuts a break to tenants who weren't able to pay their rent because it was caused by the pandemic if they can prove that after they filed the petition on top of that the windows to the period of time in which to file a petition is is limited this is the most narrow and limited bill that you can imagine and it's meant to try to help those people who were affected by this pandemic this is this is not some something way out in left field we've done lots of things to try to help people because the pandemic we push the tax filing deadlines back for everybody because the pandemic affected everybody in some pretty harsh ways and that includes people who rent property this is again the one of the most innocuous things and one of the most innocuous bills we could ever consider it's very narrow it's very limited there has to be a petition filed it has to be proven this is a no brainer in my opinion I'd appreciate a good vote thank representative Miller for what purpose. Representative Gazaway has left the well would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. All right. Representive Hudson you're recognized to close for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I am Anne thank you colleagues for this discussion just to reiterate a couple things that it doesn't do does not affect the landlords ability to collect past due rents to get a judgment to enforce that judgment to affix the landlord is entitled to do all of those things all this does is allow a renter who goes to a judge files a motion and gets that motion granted the opportunity to have this particular conviction sealed one thing that I think it's really important I did forget to mention opening presentation the realtors association was initially against this bill Clark Is Senator Tucker worked with them and they're not only neutral they're in favor of this bill and that speaks to the work that Senator Tucker did on the Senate and to discuss and negotiate with all of the members down there and to also continue to reach out to stakeholders so the realtors association is actually in favor of this bill they see this is a good policy again the landlords will still be able to collect on rents collect on judgment this is just a very limited and narrowly tailored bill so with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Hudson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill four seventy six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. With twenty six yeas forty eight days and three present the bill has failed. Representative Evans moves house bill sixteen forty seven be withdrawn from further consideration that's a proper motion representative eleven you are recognized to explain your motion. Thank you madam chair members just as we're trying to the end of the session now the AG's office came and said that they would just like to have this bill withdrawn so they can go back and do some further negotiations with some of the social media companies I appreciate your vote didn't have time to get it on the members on calendar yesterday so we had to put it on the regular day appreciate your of on this. Representive eleven as explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. Representative Evans is close for the motion the question before the House is the motion to withdraw house bill sixteen forty seven from further consideration all in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. All right members were to move to the third supplemental calendar. Representative Miller recommends that we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen thirty four Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate mineralised nineteen thirty four. Representative Miller you're recognized to explain amendment one. Thank you madam Speaker of. This bill ran here passed last week we got over the Senate realize there were some of. Technical problems with the bill where we could possibly be Senate seen lesser offenses younger folks to of a harsh penalty that was not the intent of the bill and so these corrections made that way that is made a better bill that's for good vote. You have to answer any questions. Representative Miller has explained amendment one would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Representative Miller is close for the amendment the question before the House is concurrence was Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen thirty four prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. With seventy six yeas five nays and zero present you have concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill nineteen thirty four. Members we will stand in recess for call of the Speaker. The House will come to order. Represent wing for what purpose. The point of personal privilege. You're recognized for your point of personal privilege. We have been here a long time the people who have been here just as long as we have our our staff and not certain about what is going to happen in the hours ahead and while they're still fresh I would like for all of our staff to please come in on to the house floor everybody they can hear me. Way back in the corners of the constituents services office you can hear them sprinting now. There we go. Yep I see I will. Reina. There we go. They're coming. There we are. Bill are yes yes. Come on in here come the red coats yes yes all right. Come on in guys everybody come on in. Sure you get this twice. That's how special you are. All right ladies and gentlemen in spite of our best efforts these guys make the House run smoothly. Thank you. North Little Rock firefighters. Does we are very grateful for everything that they do and we want you to know that the people of Arkansas are benefited by the expertise and the professionalism you bring to your jobs every day we come with questions at all hours. Thank you for making the magic happen. I know that the big question everybody's want to know is. When we when we be back here. So after looking at the state of where everything is working with the Senate trying to make sure we've covered everything the need needs to be done the plan is that we will recess until twelve OO one. Tonight just after midnight we expect to have least one piece of legislation potentially back from the Senate and. Because buddy said just recess. That's the answer to that question. But in our he had that we already had that argument right. Anything else anything else. All right so so the plan is to recess until twelve oh one AM tomorrow which is one minute after midnight tonight just to be clear and hopefully we will have a relatively brief meeting we may have to have a committee or to. Meet briefly but we anticipate that this should be taken care of for a pretty quickly and then that should be the end of it we should be able to go into our extended recess later tonight early in the morning all right I appreciate everybody's flexibility working with us on this. Represent Crawford for what purpose. You're recognized can we suspend the rule and worked in them tonight when we come back including the staff. At S. out that you know that's that's not in the form of a motion so I add that to leave that up to. You're not you're seat either back there. I don't know that it's really an issue as long as you're not going to the well to speak so. Rep simmer doc. A question you're recognized so we've been here before for this midnight some of us including you myself. Would it be dinner provided throughout the evening. Since we got to be. The House. I will will direct the House Management Committee to to make available. Food tonight because of and also we that we can monitor what's happening. But if. I would want to get an accurate count because we can't we can't handle it the way we've always done so represent wing can take care of that for us right eight I work with them on the menu of this okay. Who represent Ladyman purpose question. Let's hear your question will there be karaoke with dinner. Negative. What we prefer we provided entertainment on the big screens yesterday that's all I can do. Represent Richmond for what purpose question. Your question you stated that if we wear blue jeans that anybody wearing blue jeans cannot go down to the well. If that's correct and we need a motion I'm willing to make that motion. To wear blue jeans so that we can limit who goes down to the well. Yeah. The poor the parliamentarian tells me that I that I can allow members to wear. Denham. I will allow that tonight and so let's but still a jacket in size required thank you. Represent wing for what purpose. West. Anybody who plans to be here please come see me so I can get an accurate tally the. I'll need to have a disorderly as possible but please swing by so I can get a head count and we'll put it on the separate account. Represent makes for what purpose a question of the parliamentarian I guess you're recognized so I know in the past when we hold special sessions were required by the constitution to be here for three days and some we've done mid night sessions in the past it's because we're required to be here the for the third day are we under such a requirement that requires us to be here for the third day is there any reason why we couldn't meet say eleven o'clock or ten o'clock and not have to wait all the way to midnight. Your represent makes the parliamentarian advises you which is consistent what he's told me several times when I've asked the exact same question is that per the constitution were required in this instance to have a day. Actually we have a vote on one day on one end and a vote the next day on the other end and so because of that because of some of the timing issues we have to we have to do that and in the interest of. In the interest of of us all already being here and Just going ahead and and wrapping this up that's that's the thought behind going ahead and meeting just after midnight. Any any other any other questions not. Represent Dotson for what purpose question what's your questions at I understand that the reason you just said is it possible to have an eight AM many of us have a long drive and will be staying over night anyway but just a question for consideration as opposed to twelve oh one eight AM in the morning. I mean I guess it's possible but the desire at this point is to meet just after midnight rap of our business. Representative from all. Immediate consideration. All right any other anything else. Represent Smith what questions let's hear does anyone know the email address to that car rental companies. Help me out. All right. Anything else. If not the house will stand in recess until twelve oh one AM. Any announcements. Any. Right anything else. House will stand in recess until. Twelve oh one AM. And by the member staff press and guests in the gallery substandard B. led prayer by representative Les Warren and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance be led by represent Lane Jean. Placed on him per her. What we thank you so much for the time that you've given us here father we thank you for the incredible staff that helped us so much. Further we just pray that We have. Been able to take the business and do your will with that. pray for each one that's here tonight for bringing them back safely. Father we pray as we go back to our districts that you would continue to use us to reach out to our people. By the way pray for business tonight that you would help us to wrap up and to finish the work that you brought us here to do. We pray your blessings on this meeting now in Jesus name we pray amen. All. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button prepared machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mister Clerk. With ninety six members present the chairs is a quorum other any request for leave. Represent Vaught for what purpose you're you're recognized E. for a representative Boyd and representative Maddox is leave grant represent Boyd. Leave granted represent Maddox so noted represent Ladyman for what purpose. You're recognized. Representative months is leave granted represent once from. noted representative Ferguson for what purpose you're recognized leave a representative Fred Allen is leave grant represented by Alan. So so noted. President Fredrick Love moves we dispense the reading of previous day's Journal without objection so ordered are there Reports from select committees. Are there Reports from standing committees. Are there any unfinished business the Executive communications. Members. We're waiting on a bill to come from the Senate will stand in recess to the call of the chair hopefully that'll be just a few minutes. The house is in recess. Gilmore. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Health. Health. Inger mismo Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert aye. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. Switchgear yes women's. There is garbage. All. I don't wish to vote or change their vote Senator Hill aye. Body else over here. Over here. Sir Clark is president Senator Teague is hi anybody else Senator Gilmore Lashley county is anybody else over here. Everybody voted. Cast of if you leave don't do that cast up the ballot twenty six J. six days two not voting one present the bill is passed Senator. Which are the House senator. Hickey. Any announcements Senator Hickey wants to be the last the announcmenet NO Senator Hickey is recognized. Thank you members of. I want to say thank you for a. Letting me serve as your protium during this first regular session. Your such a fun easy nice loving group the all. I'll just make my job or it's a breeze as a walk in the park so anyway we came into this thing Say it iron sharpens iron. I don't know about you all but I feel a little bit sharper and I feel that to each one of you has grown and we've all grown together so before before we do go in our extended recess what I would like to do is a thank our staff one more time because as we said the other day none of this works without them and that is true a state. That are all also arguable head be lieutenant governor. Here. That is where does. We thank you. And with that members I move that the center injured enter into an extended recess pursuant to law language in house concurrent resolution ten fifteen and remain in recess until called to reconvene by the joint proclamation. I don't have it. House of come to order. Representative beads. For what purpose. Motion let's hear your motion Mister Speaker I move we suspend the rules to allow the Committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to meet without notice the wrong one let me try that again. Got it. Ready. Mister Speaker I move we suspend the rules to allow the Committee on state agencies and governmental affairs and the house rules committee to meet without notice that's a proper motion is not debatable the question before the House justices suspend the rules to allow the Committee on state agencies and governmental affairs and the committee on house rules to meet. Without notice all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Members. State agencies will meet in in room one fifty one immediately upon recess to be immediately followed by the house rules committee to also meet one fifty one immediately upon the adjournment of the state agencies Committee houses in recess. The House will come to order. Mr Clark please read the committee reports. Mr Speaker where your committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill nineteen fifty seven beg leave report we've had the same under consideration here with return the same as a recommendation. Concur in the Senate amendment number one. Respectfully submitted. Representative what Tosh chair. Mister Speaker. We are a committee on house rules to whom was referred Senate bill six ninety nine big league report we had same under consideration here with return the same with the recommendation that it do pass. Respectfully submitted vice chair. Keith Slape chairman. Vice chairman some like it. Representative beefs for what purpose. Let's hear your motion. Mister Speaker I move the rules be suspended in the two bills reported out of committee be placed on the supplemental calendar for consideration by the full house. That's a proper motion because it is expansion of the rules it is not debatable question before the House is for the two bills reported out of committee to be placed on the supplemental calendar for consideration by the full house all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion passes. Mr Clark. Represent Wardlaw recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill. In nineteen fifty seven Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment number one. Senate Amendment number one. Wardlaw you're recognized explained member number one. Thank you Mr Speaker I make our one promise. I will be back down here this session. So all this does The Amendment from the Senate is makes our bill a little bit stronger and clearer it takes the definition of firearm ban and adds it to the last section of the bill to make it very clear on when we have exceptions to the bill that's all it does adds a bunch of co sponsors that's it appreciate a good vote. Purpose of Wardlaw is explain the amendment would you would like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. President Wardlaw has closed for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence with Senate member number one to House Bill nineteen fifty seven prepared actually we have three pairs on the desk represent Lundstrum votes yes represent Scott votes no. Senator Scott is the president member. Witnessed by represent Cavanaugh are there any procedural objections to this pair. Hearing none please not vote either of these two missions voting machines represent Matix votes yes representive Hudson votes no. Witnessed by representative gray represent Hudson is the president member are there any procedural objections to this pair hearing none please not vote either of these two voting machines. President Boyd votes yes represent Whitaker votes no witness by representative gray represent what occurs the president member there any procedural objections to this pair. Hearing none please do not vote either of these two voting machines prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of seventy nine Yeas twenty nays and zero present you've concurred in Senate amendment or one to House Bill nineteen fifty seven. President Barack. For what purpose. Your Speaker are moved to recall house bill thirteen ninety from the governor's office to in this my bill. That's a proper motion. It is a debatable you're recognized to explain your motion. It's good to be with you and it's been a good session. I think that. When we look at the overall picture. Especially with our gun bills that we've gone through our. Safety bill. Is. There's been a lot of players in this. Brandt. Hard hard stuff to deal with for a couple weeks but I think that it's been a process of whipping things back and forth to the point that you actually say this is good as we're going to get and I think that's four ACT. And you know you have to do things sometime that's going to it's going to affect you. But all I will say this. I think that. For the overall good of all people that are in this room tonight I think we need to do what's right. And I think that's you know if you're going to be a good person if you're gonna of your state you're going to have to sometimes things that's good for the holder and stir just one person. And I and I appreciate everyone that's here in this room. Mister Speaker I appreciate you so much for for working with us. But we need to go ahead own. And we've had a great great great session and I don't see any point in dragging this out especially for my and because I'm for everyone of us put together and I appreciate you. Represent represent rise explain The motion. We would like to speak against the motion represent Payton you're recognized speak against the motion. Thank you Mr Speaker I love you Johnny I'll tell you what I really appreciate Johnny Ryan his willingness to keep things simple force but I just couldn't let this go without without saying a word or two. We had a great bill the pass out of this house seventeen eighty nine that went down in the Senate yesterday because of the muddy water that's been created over this veto and what we're doing here tonight everything I hate to lose another good bill Johnny rise bill because of the muddy water is going on in in the veto and overriding all the maneuvering this been happening the last forty eight hours house bill thirteen ninety passed out of this chamber and the Senate with a three fourths majority. I appreciate your we make a difference for a member's bill in a member's own amendment and what they want to do with their bill and and I appreciate Johnny B. and. Kind enough to withdraw this whenever he was asked to the folks this is our bill. when we pass it with a three fourths majority is no longer just the sponsors bill and so I'm a vote not to recall it I appreciate all the same thank you. President Payton has spoken against the motion we would like to speak for the motion. We would like to speak against the motion represent Rives close for the motion the question before the House is the recall of house bill thirteen ninety from the governor's office all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Mr Clark please read Senate bill six ninety nine. Senate bill. Senate bill six ninety nine. Representive Eads. To amend the law concerning campaign finance and to amend the law concerning mandatory electronic report filing and to declare an emergency person believes you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker good morning. Members this bill is senator mark Johnson's bill came just kind of at a late hour but I wanted to tell you it does three things removes the no access to technology requirement for paper filing of campaign finance reports so you don't have to have bad internet in order to use the paper filing system number two secretary of state must develop electronic reporting forms which can be filled out on a personal computer and transmitted to the secretary of state is to be like PDF files or a read only excel file that you fill out and send in third thing it does in this is in uncodified section it would direct the secretary of state to develop criteria for an updated and simplified online system by January first of twenty twenty two thank you all probably agree that the online filing system we have now is pretty bad it's not very user friendly so yeah it's kind of half way I get it so this will help us develop a new system the peer would deal with this I believe they do have an appropriation for that there be no additional cost until they see bids on a new vendor so with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representatives explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representatives is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed to Senate bill six ninety nine per there seems Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty one Yeas nine days and to present the bill emergency clause our past represent makes for what purpose the moment we've all been waiting for Mister Speaker motion let's hear your motion by authority of house concurrent resolution ten fifteen I move the house of representatives stand in recess until such time as we are called back into session by the declaration of the Speaker of the house and the president pro tem of the Senate for the purpose of considering vetoes correcting errors and oversights completing work on congressional redistricting considering legislation regarding the COVID nineteen public health emergency or considering a further extension of the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any any oppose. The motion is passed are there any announcements. Represent wing. I have an announcmenet we have had two birthdays and I have learned in this session that the most important thing a house manager can do is recognized birthdays Gary Deffenbaugh. In Roger Lynch. And since this is the last day of our session everybody who was born outside of this session on those days please stand up let's say Happy Birthday to you. In any other any other announcements. Member members if if you would indulge me for just for just a moment. For just a moment I know that we're very anxious to get to the final motion and so I don't want to belabor the point but I just want to thank each and everyone of you for your hard work during the session it seems like a really long time ago when we came in on January eleventh and you know I'll look back at at some of the things that I mentioned at the outset and I you know I'm I'm proud of the work that we've done I recognize that. For each of us there have been really great moments in there been other moments that have not been so great and I realize that we all have things that we're probably proud of accomplishing and other things that we feel like we were unsuccessful on but I think on the whole I think once again the legislative process has worked I'm proud of how the house is conducted its business each and every day I'm I appreciate the hard work that each should be put into this I appreciate your flexibility whether it's been in dealing with plexiglass and mass or meeting at twelve oh one AM. We've come to work each and every day and we've done the best job that we know how to do and I want to thank you for that it's been my honor to be your Speaker during this time and I look forward to the opportunity for us to reconvene to take up the final business which will be re districting and look for doing that in the not too distant future I want to wish you all well I hope everybody has safe travels back home and as we move into the interim if there's anything that we can do or staff can do to assist you please do not hesitate to let us know that thank you good night good evening and God bless the great state of Arkansas.