State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

Amendment to be considered if there is a two thirds vote of the members of each house and this resolution seeks to allow for S. J. R. fourteen which is the Arkansas religious freedom amendment to the Arkansas constitution specifically titled an amendment to the Arkansas constitution to create the Arkansas religious freedom amendment to provide the government may not burden a person's freedom of religion only if the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in the furtherance of a compelling government interest and in the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest I presented that earlier what when this committee met when we were going over the constitutional amendments that was one that I presented in this committee so some of you may have some recollection of that and the details of it but never the less Senator Rapert is running this in the Senate and it's expected that it'll be sent us for consideration but it in order for us to do that we have to pass this resolution first before we can consider that and so that's what's what this does and happy to answer any questions. Representative as well as your understanding it is mind that this identical resolutions has already been passed on the Senate in is that correct yes Mr chairman that's my understanding okay ma'am mine too okay senator senator Dodson your recognized for a question. Correction. You Mister chair may do that is sold. The representative died and you're recognized representative Gazaway if if we pass this resolution authorizing is J. R. fourteen to be considered is. Are there any other changes as chair fourteen that are being considered That you are aware of at this time I mean obviously we can make those changes in the House before we approve it if necessary but are you aware of anything. S. J. R. fourteen Senator Rapert said bill I presented one in the house that was very similar to his although I think his he may have made a few tweaks to his version from the person that I presented in the Senate but I'm not aware of any changes to S. J. R. fourteen. Follows. Recognized in particular if you look at the ballot title and popular name. says that the and and then the very last there on section eight That the ballot title shall be the title of this joint resolution. In the popular name shall be The following their. They it looks as if the name of the resolution has. Possibly been amended since as originally introduced to where it says to provide that government may never burden a person's freedom of religion except in the rare circumstances the government demonstrates that that looks like new changes I'm assuming it doesn't align necessarily with the. popular name down below where it says that the government may burden a person's freedom of religion. You see what I'm saying there I don't see what you're referencing I do see on the last page my. Page five but the version that I have was a from February tenth I'm not sure what date here's a person you're looking at is this one's engrossed three twenty three okay so I haven't seen that version of I'm assuming we'll pass this resolution and then let's get together afterwards to. Look at that before before this is passed out. To make sure those both online what I can tell you is it's a Senate bill If it needs amending with somebody's you know for a ballot title purposes we probably need to check with Senator Rapert about that. be probably be best if he did it down there and send it to us the particular way it'll still be S. J. R. fourteen. but five PM and I think you make a good point if that's what it says follow up follow up Well I agree to Senate bill or Senate resolution and we should probably get that done down there but are you willing to consider that if they it slipped out of there before against us that we work on that before. Without yes thank you. Thank you representative representative make sure recognized for a question. All right I was because I've got a motion at the proper time it. Other questions from committee members. Okay none no one signed up to speak for against bill recommended to make sure recognized for your motion make a motion of a do pass. Representative makes is made a motion of do pass. Of any discussion on the motion. Say none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. Graduations the resolutions passed. Thank you Mr chairman thank you thank you thank you committee we returned to House chambers now this meeting is adjourned.