Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (71)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB290
Act 921
· 8 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Next, we'll take up Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 290, Senator Blake Johnson. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 290.”
|
TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF … | B. Johnson | Notification that SB290 is now Act 921 |
|
SR74
· 7 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Is concurred in Return to the house. We'll now take up Senate resolution 74.”
|
TO RECOGNIZE THE COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, FEATURING FOUR (4) PLAYERS FROM … | Irvin | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HCR1004
· 6 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “1004. House concurrent resolution 1004. Oh,”
|
TO CONGRATULATE GAME WARDEN AUSTIN POWELL ON RECEIVING THE MONTY CARMIKLE OFFICER OF THE YEAR … | Wardlaw | Approved by the Governor |
|
HB1878
Act 978
· 5 mentions in chapter
Matched: “HB1878 McGruder Tucker TO ENSURE EARLY VOTING ACCESS FOR ARKANSANS…”
|
TO ENSURE EARLY VOTING ACCESS FOR ARKANSANS RESIDING IN POPULATION CENTERS; AND TO REQUIRE A … | McGruder | Notification that HB1878 is now Act 978 |
|
HB1961
· 3 mentions in chapter
Matched: “HB1961 Achor Boyd TO ALLOW MEDICAL PROVIDERS TEMPORARY EXEMPTIONS…”
|
TO ALLOW MEDICAL PROVIDERS TEMPORARY EXEMPTIONS FROM FEDERAL INFORMATION-BLOCKING REGULATIONS TO SAFEGUARD PATIENTS DURING INFORMATION … | Achor | Delivered to the Secretary of State |
|
HB1671
Act 1007
· 2 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…ile it. We are committing on revenue and tax to whom is for House Bill 1671 by Representative Johnson.”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX; AND TO CREATE A GENERAL SALES … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1671 is now Act 1007 |
|
SB352
Act 721
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…l 313 by Senator Irving sent Bill 346 by Senate deficiency. Senate Bill 352 by Cen Stone, Senate Bill 397 by Senator Wallace, Senate Bi…”
|
TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED … | Stone | Notification that SB352 is now Act 721 |
|
SB397
Act 931
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ill 346 by Senate deficiency. Senate Bill 352 by Cen Stone, Senate Bill 397 by Senator Wallace, Senate Bill 400 by Senator Irving sent…”
|
TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIAL PERSONAL INFORMATION OF RAIL EMPLOYEES IN REPORTS INVOLVING RAILROAD FATALITIES. | D. Wallace | Notification that SB397 is now Act 931 |
|
SB400
Act 933
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 352 by Cen Stone, Senate Bill 397 by Senator Wallace, Senate Bill 400 by Senator Irving sent 431 by Central Brutinville 443 by Se…”
|
TO AMEND THE FAIR-FUNDING PROGRAM. | Irvin | Notification that SB400 is now Act 933 |
|
SB450
Act 915
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ving sent 431 by Central Brutinville 443 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 450 by Senator Davis in 451 my central Hester sent 58 by centra…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE A HUMAN FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION … | B. Davis | Notification that SB450 is now Act 915 |
|
SB533
Act 934
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 533 by Central Ds send Bill 546 by Senator Hammer, Symville 565…”
|
TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS BY THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL BOARD; … | Dees | Notification that SB533 is now Act 934 |
|
SB568
Act 1012
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 546 by Senator Hammer, Symville 565 by Central Flippo Senate Bill 568 by Senator Crow, Senate Bill 575 by Senator Tucker symbol 5…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TAXES APPLICABLE TO LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND DEVELOPMENT; TO PROVIDE … | Crowell | Notification that SB568 is now Act 1012 |
|
SB575
Act 989
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ille 565 by Central Flippo Senate Bill 568 by Senator Crow, Senate Bill 575 by Senator Tucker symbol 583 by Central Tucker, symbol 608…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT FEES COLLECTED IN CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS; TO AMEND … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB575 is now Act 989 |
|
SB632
Act 964
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…08 by Central Mark Johnson sent 611. 614 by Central Tucker, Senate Bill 632 by Central Love Senate Bill 640 by central dismay.”
|
TO AMEND THE FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT; AND TO REQUIRE WARNING LABELS FOR HAIR … | F. Love | Notification that SB632 is now Act 964 |
|
SB640
Act 903
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…611. 614 by Central Tucker, Senate Bill 632 by Central Love Senate Bill 640 by central dismay.”
|
TO RECONSTITUTE THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD. | J. Dismang | Notification that SB640 is now Act 903 |
|
SB90
Act 902
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…Yes, we your committee on enrolls to was for the following Senate Bill 90% English. Sy Bill”
|
TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT … | J. English | Notification that SB90 is now Act 902 |
|
SJR11
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Senate joint resolution 11 by Senator Payton. have compared the rogue copies with the…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 2, § 5, TO PROTECT THE RIGHT … | J. Payton | Approved by the Governor. |
|
HB1017
Act 904
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1017 A. Collins Davis TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES; AND TO REQUIRE … | A. Collins | Notification that HB1017 is now Act 904 |
|
HB1625
Act 974
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1625 Barnett Murdock TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED HOME INSPECTORS. | Barnett | Notification that HB1625 is now Act 974 |
|
HB1662
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1662 B. McKenzie B. Johnson TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED F…”
|
TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY. | B. McKenzie | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1842
Act 953
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1842 Tosh Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE OFFICE OF CRIMIN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL DETENTION FACILITIES REVIEW COORDINATOR; AND TO … | Tosh | Notification that HB1842 is now Act 953 |
|
HB1843
Act 954
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1843 Tosh Hammer CONCERNING RECORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS KEPT BY THE…”
|
CONCERNING RECORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS KEPT BY THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY. | Tosh | Notification that HB1843 is now Act 954 |
|
HB1903
Act 911
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1903 Walker English TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FLEXIBILITY REGARDING ALTERNATIVE … | Walker | Notification that HB1903 is now Act 911 |
|
HB1945
Act 913
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1945 McCollum Davis TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCH…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE … | McCollum | Notification that HB1945 is now Act 913 |
|
HB1951
Act 929
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1951 A. Collins Bryant TO SET FORTH AUTHORIZED DOMAIN EXTENSIONS…”
|
TO SET FORTH AUTHORIZED DOMAIN EXTENSIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT WEBSITES. | A. Collins | Notification that HB1951 is now Act 929 |
|
HB1959
Act 986
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1959 M. Brown McKee TO ABOLISH THE USE OF A WRIT OF SCIRE FACIAS…”
|
TO ABOLISH THE USE OF A WRIT OF SCIRE FACIAS AS THE MEANS OF REVIVING … | M. Brown | Notification that HB1959 is now Act 986 |
|
HB1966
Act 914
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1966 Barnett Murdock TO AUTHORIZE AN INCORPORATED TOWN OR A CITY…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE AN INCORPORATED TOWN OR A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS TO PETITION THE … | Barnett | Notification that HB1966 is now Act 914 |
|
HB1967
Act 981
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1967 K. Brown Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL DIS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF SEXUAL IMAGES OR RECORDINGS. | K. Brown | Notification that HB1967 is now Act 981 |
|
HB1974
Act 948
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1974 Long McKee TO PROHIBIT STATE ENTITIES FROM EMPLOYING UNAUTH…”
|
TO PROHIBIT STATE ENTITIES FROM EMPLOYING UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS; TO ESTABLISH THE E-VERIFY REQUIREMENT ACT; AND … | Long | Notification that HB1974 is now Act 948 |
|
HB1975
Act 982
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1975 Gramlich Dees TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTI…”
|
TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTION ACT. | Gramlich | Notification that HB1975 is now Act 982 |
|
HB1979
Act 983
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1979 Gazaway B. Johnson AN ACT TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW TO ALLOW WA…”
|
AN ACT TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW TO ALLOW WARRANTLESS SEARCHES BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1979 is now Act 983 |
|
HB1983
Act 1026
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1983 Eubanks Stubblefield TO AMEND ACTS 1973, NO. 167, § 4, CONC…”
|
TO AMEND ACTS 1973, NO. 167, § 4, CONCERNING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO … | Eubanks | Notification that HB1983 is now Act 1026 |
|
HB1984
Act 984
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1984 Hudson Davis TO CREATE A DESIGNATION FOR A REGISTERED SEX O…”
|
TO CREATE A DESIGNATION FOR A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER ON A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION … | Hudson | Notification that HB1984 is now Act 984 |
|
HB1986
Act 794
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1986 Nazarenko Wallace CONCERNING EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR CHILDREN…”
|
CONCERNING EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR CHILDREN OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS AND CHILDREN OF FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS. | Nazarenko | Notification that HB1986 is now Act 794 |
|
HB1988
Act 930
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1988 Tosh Hill TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF AUTO AUCTION FEES FOR SALVAGE-TITLED OR PARTS-ONLY … | Tosh | Notification that HB1988 is now Act 930 |
|
HB1991
Act 1020
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1991 Childress Bryant TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED…”
|
TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE ARKANSAS FIRE PREVENTION … | Childress | Notification that HB1991 is now Act 1020 |
|
HB1995
Act 985
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1995 Bentley Rice TO SEPARATE THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF AND TAX COL…”
|
TO SEPARATE THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTOR IN PERRY COUNTY. | Bentley | Notification that HB1995 is now Act 985 |
|
HB2001
Act 932
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB2001 Painter Hammer TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY R…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2025; TO AMEND … | Painter | Notification that HB2001 is now Act 932 |
|
HB2003
Act 1014
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB2003 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN E…”
|
TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB2003 is now Act 1014 |
|
SB313
Act 733
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 313 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 346 by Senate Efficiency, Se…”
|
CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT; AND TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND QUALITY … | Irvin | Notification that SB313 is now Act 733 |
|
SB346
Act 1011
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 313 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 346 by Senate Efficiency, Senate Bill 352 by Senator Stone, Sen…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS SENATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Senate Efficiency | Notification that SB346 is now Act 1011 |
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SB419
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “Motion withdrawal SB419”
|
TO CREATE A SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN SALES TO A CULTIVATION FACILITY. | G. Leding | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB431
Act 987
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…397 by Senator Wallace, Senate Bill 400 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 431 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 443 by Senator Bryant, Senat…”
|
TO AMEND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2013; TO ELIMINATE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB431 is now Act 987 |
|
SB437
Act 945
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB437 TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT.”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT. | Hester | Notification that SB437 is now Act 945 |
|
SB443
Act 949
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 400 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 431 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 443 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 450 by Senator Davis, Senate…”
|
TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME INSPECTORS; TO … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB443 is now Act 949 |
|
SB451
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 443 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 450 by Senator Davis, Senate Bill 451 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 458 by Senator Ludding, Sena…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL … | Hester | Died in Senate at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB457
Act 1001
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB457 #1 G. Leding Leding TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE RELEASE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE RELEASE FROM PAROLE OR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN PERSONS … | G. Leding | Notification that SB457 is now Act 1001 |
|
SB458
Act 988
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 450 by Senator Davis, Senate Bill 451 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 458 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 483 by Senator Irving, Sena…”
|
TO REQUIRE A COURT TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF FACTORS SUCH AS TRAUMA AND INVOLVEMENT … | G. Leding | Notification that SB458 is now Act 988 |
|
SB483
Act 957
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…451 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 458 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 483 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 489 by Senator Ludding, Sena…”
|
TO REPEAL CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE SECURITIES DEPARTMENT; … | Irvin | Notification that SB483 is now Act 957 |
|
SB489
Act 950
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…458 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 483 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 489 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 519 by Senator Boyd, Senate…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS … | G. Leding | Notification that SB489 is now Act 950 |
|
SB491
Act 956
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB491#1 TO REQUIRE A VENDOR THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE EMPLOYEE BENE…”
|
TO REQUIRE A VENDOR THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DIVISION TO SUBMIT DATA FOR … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB491 is now Act 956 |
|
SB519
Act 958
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…483 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 489 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 519 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 533 by Senator Deese,”
|
TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REGULATE THE PAYMENT OF … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB519 is now Act 958 |
|
SB546
Act 935
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 546 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 565 by Senator Flippo, Senat…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTION FEE FOR WATER PERMITS RELATED TO … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB546 is now Act 935 |
|
SB548
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “Motion withdrawal SB548”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING WARRANTS OF ARREST; AND TO REQUIRE THAT NOTICE OF A … | G. Leding | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB549
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “Motion withdrawal SB549”
|
TO ENSURE THAT MANDATED COSTS AND FEES PAID BY A DEFENDANT IN A CRIMINAL CASE … | G. Leding | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB565
Act 936
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 546 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 565 by Senator Flippo, Senate Bill 568 by Senator Krul, Senate…”
|
TO ALLOW PROCUREMENT CERTIFICATIONS TO BE COMBINED; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REPRESENTATION IN … | Flippo | Notification that SB565 is now Act 936 |
|
SB571
Act 1002
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB571 #1&2 J. Petty Petty TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL B…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY … | J. Petty | Notification that SB571 is now Act 1002 |
|
SB583
Act 990
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ill 568 by Senator Krul, Senate Bill 575 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 583 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 608 by Senator Mark Johnson,…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE COST LISTS RELATING TO PHARMACY SERVICES. | C. Tucker | Notification that SB583 is now Act 990 |
|
SB601
Act 971
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB601 TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GRADUATE OF A FOREIGN MEDICAL SCH…”
|
TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GRADUATE OF A FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BE LICENSED … | Hester | Notification that SB601 is now Act 971 |
|
SB608
Act 991
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 575 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 583 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 608 by Senator Mark Johnson, Senate Bill 611 by Senator Dees, S…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. | M. Johnson | Notification that SB608 is now Act 991 |
|
SB611
Act 900
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 608 by Senator Mark Johnson, Senate Bill 611 by Senator Dees, Senate Bill 614 by Senator Tucker, Senate…”
|
TO AMEND THE SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY ACT. | Dees | Notification that SB611 is now Act 900 |
|
SB612
Act 901
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB612 #1 Dees Dees TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A…”
|
TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT CAUSES HARM; … | Dees | Notification that SB612 is now Act 901 |
|
SB614
Act 992
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…8 by Senator Mark Johnson, Senate Bill 611 by Senator Dees, Senate Bill 614 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 632 by Senator Love, Senate…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB614 is now Act 992 |
|
SB616
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB616 interim study”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENT MONITORING AND COMMUNICATIONS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH … | C. Penzo | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB619
Act 919
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB619 #1 Irvin Irvin CONCERNING THE FORMATION OF AN ISOLATED SCHO…”
|
CONCERNING THE FORMATION OF AN ISOLATED SCHOOL DISTRICT. | Irvin | Notification that SB619 is now Act 919 |
|
SB620
Act 1003
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB620 #1 Irvin Irvin TO PROVIDE A SAFETY VALVE AND APPEAL RIGHT F…”
|
TO PROVIDE A SAFETY VALVE AND APPEAL RIGHT FOR A MINOR DEFENDANT WHO IS ALSO … | Irvin | Notification that SB620 is now Act 1003 |
|
SB621
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB621 interim study”
|
TO CLARIFY ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS AGAINST A HEALTHCARE INSURER; TO RETROACTIVELY APPLY TO A HEALTHCARE CONTRACT … | Irvin | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB625
Act 920
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB625 TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARK…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; … | B. Davis | Notification that SB625 is now Act 920 |
|
SB626
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB626 interim study”
|
TO REQUIRE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES; TO ENSURE PARITY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES; TO AMEND … | Irvin | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB647
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB647 interim study”
|
TO CREATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ACT OF 2025. | J. Dismang | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB93
Act 1010
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “by Senator English, Senate Bill 93 by Joint Budget,”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB93 is now Act 1010 |
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Transcription by CastingWords
Thank you.
Thank you.
Speaker 8
4:14
Senate will be called to order. Any requests for
Chair
Unverified
4:18
leave at this time? Seeing none, Madam
Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismaine, Dotson, English, Flippo, Flowers,
Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, Letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Payton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubbofill, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please
Speaker 16
4:50
rise. We'll first be led in prayer by Senator John Payton. That will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chair
Unverified
4:57
Senator Payton, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Bow with me.
Our Father in Heaven, God, you're an awesome God. You've given us a beautiful morning this morning, a beautiful state to live in. Lord, as we think of the recent storm damage, we just pray that you'd continue to be with those affected by the floods and the tornadoes, Lord, and just pray that you'd be with the people of Arkansas. Most of all, God, I just thank you for the work that's been done here in the last few months and for all my colleagues and, God, for the good spirit among us. And, Lord, just pray that you give us wisdom as we wrap up our business today. And, Lord, as we serve the people of Arkansas,
let us always be mindful of what's best for them and not for us. Forgive us where we fail you. In Jesus' name, amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Senator
Chair
Unverified
6:02
Payton, for those encouraging words. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State Senate.
It is our expectation that each of you will govern yourselves with proper decorum today during today's proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended and the
Speaker 16
6:18
Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. The
Speaker 26
6:22
morning hour has now begun. Are there any announcements or introductions at
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
6:33
this time? Senator Hester, you're recognized. Members, I make a motion that any Senate bill or House bill
that gets voted on in the House chambers today that comes over here that needs concurring gets added to the bottom of our calendar. All
those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries.
Speaker 16
6:53
Any further business to come before the body in the morning hour? If not, the morning hour has expired. Madam Secretary, are there items at the
Speaker 34
7:04
desk? Yes. We, your Committee on Enrollable Bills, to whom was for the following, Senate Bill 90
Chair
Unverified
7:09
by Senator English, Senate Bill 93 by Joint Budget,
Senate Bill 313 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 346 by Senate Efficiency, Senate Bill 352 by Senator Stone, Senate Bill 397 by Senator Wallace, Senate Bill 400 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 431 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 443 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 450 by Senator Davis, Senate Bill 451 by Senator Hester, Senate Bill 458 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 483 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 489 by Senator Ludding, Senate Bill 519 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 533 by Senator Deese,
Senate Bill 546 by Senator Hammer, Senate Bill 565 by Senator Flippo, Senate Bill 568 by Senator Krul, Senate Bill 575 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 583 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 608 by Senator Mark Johnson, Senate Bill 611 by Senator Dees, Senate Bill 614 by Senator Tucker, Senate Bill 632 by Senator Love, Senate Bill 640 by Senator Dismane, Senate Joint Resolution 11 by Senator Payton,
Have compared the enrolled copies with the original, find it incorrectly enrolled at 7.06, delivered to the governor for her approval. Please
Speaker 36
8:26
file it. We are committing on revenue and tax to whom is for House Bill 1671 by Representative Johnson.
Chair
Unverified
8:38
Recommend, do pass. Calendar. We will now begin the business agenda, beginning with House Concurrent Resolution 1004.
House Concurrent Resolution 1004 by
Representative Wardlaw and Senator Gilmore to congratulate Game Warden Austin Powell on receiving the monthly Carmichael Officer of the Year award and the 2024 Robert Brantley Law Enforcement Officer of the
Year Award. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
9:12
Members, this is just to recognize an outstanding officer, Game and Fish Officer, Warden. And again, he's impressive.
I'm not going to read all of it. Couldn't be
Chair
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9:25
here today, but I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Senator Gilmore. All those in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 1004 to congratulate Game Warden Austin Powell on receiving the Monty Carmichael Officer of the Year Award and the 2024 Robert M. Brantley
Speaker 16
9:40
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. House concurrent resolution is concurred in.
Return to the House. We'll now take up Senate Resolution 74. Senate
Chair
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9:56
Resolution 74 by Senator Irving to recognize the College of
the Ozarks women's basketball team featuring four players from Arkansas as the 2025 National Christian College Athletic Association Division I national champions. Senator Irvin, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
President. Members of the Senate, I think it's important for us to recognize. They cannot
be here today, but they're watching. Four young ladies played on this College of the Ozarks women's basketball team,
and they won the 2025 National Christian College Athletic Association Division I National Champions. And I want to read their names. Abby Linville, she's from
Rural Special High School at Fox. Taylor Rush graduated from Batesville High School. Blythe Benefield graduated from Perigold High School. And Savannah Ketchum graduated from Bergman High School. Congratulations,
ladies, on your national championship. Well deserved. They couldn't be here because they're at Hard Work U.
Chair
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10:58
I'd appreciate a good vote.
Thank you, Senator Irvin. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 74 to recognize the College of the Ozarks women's basketball team featuring four players from Arkansas as the 2025 National Christian College Athletic Association Division I National Champions.
Speaker 16
11:17
Please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, ayes have it. Senate Resolution 74
Chair
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11:25
is adopted. Next, we'll take up Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 290.
Speaker 63
11:49
to Senate Bill 290. Members, this allows those moratoriums to stay in place to protect the concerns for those, but it allows the legislative process for us to be able to say no to any future moratoriums.
Speaker 64
12:05
I appreciate a good vote. All those in favor of the amendment, please. I have a question. Oh, I'm sorry,
Chair
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12:13
Senator King. Senator Johnson had walked away from the well. Senator King, you are recognized for a question. the amendment. It's
Senator Bryan King
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12:20
pretty sick to say you don't represent any part of the Buffalo
Speaker 72
12:29
River? No. Are you a CAFO? Do what? Are you a CAFO? No, I'm a row crop farmer,
Senator Bryan King
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12:33
agriculture producer. Do you have to go by, do you have soil tests, mandatory soil
tests that you go by required by the state and if you don't require spread fertilizer
Speaker 63
12:44
differently then you could face consequences? I don't, but those The waterways in the U.S. have also, I mean, the possibilities of regulation into any waterway and ditch, you know, on my discharge from my agriculture production, row crop, there's been a push to have us have those buffer zones to where it cleans the water and have discharge and the amount I can release.
Those are all possibilities in the future if we allow the federal government and administrations. Or state government. Or state government. Not this one at this time. Well, so
Senator Bryan King
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13:27
I am a CAFO, confined animal feeding operation. Me and
my brother have been doing it for 30 plus years. I don't know the exact year. We are also located in the Upper White River Basin area, which has different restrictions from CAFOs everywhere else, and also the Illinois watershed. So, I do understand this issue quite well.
So, but in looking at this on page one, prohibition of a moratorium in watersheds or other bodies of water, which means these other ones you're talking about, not the buffalo or Lake Maumelle, correct? Yes. Little buffalo, for example, just right outside the buffalo water. So, it says, as in this section, Moritura means a prohibition on the issuance of permits or any other limitation on agriculture production, including without limitation, livestock and poultry operations, which could
mean barnyard chickens or cattle. Yeah. Right? Yes, sir. Any kind of agriculture production. Yeah. Contain animal feeding operations, which is myself, and cultivation of crops and orchards. So if you're growing blueberries in the Buffalo River watershed, then what is the regulations on you?
Speaker 63
14:44
Well, there's a moratorium on asking for a permit for a CAFO right now.
Senator Bryan King
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14:51
Or medium and large swine operations. Yes.
Does that include poultry operations in the Buffalo? No. Which, I mean, and I understand, I've visited with Mr. Watkins, and I concede his point of like, you never know. but yet I don't think any CAFOs are going to be going in the Buffalo River watershed anytime soon. But to Mr. Watkins' fair point, he doesn't know, so I concede that. So you're given statutory authority there. It looks like you're broadening the statutory authority to maybe regulate cattle or barnyard chickens
or orchards of any type in any other watershed if it is deemed that we have to do a rule or the agency. So it looks like you're broadening statutory
Speaker 63
15:37
authority in one thing. In the first paragraph of the bill, it allows us to, without cause, whenever they bring that rule to us on a moratorium, to say, without cause, we don't accept it. That's different than any other rule. Yeah, and I mean, they would
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
15:55
more than likely have to come with a rule anyway if they did it.
I understand trying to clarify that little part of the language. But then you go back to this next section, and if you go down to E, if a state agency does not have statutory authority, which you're giving them statutory authority in another language, it appears to impose a moratorium. This section does not create the authority of a moratorium,
Speaker 86
16:21
but you almost look like you're statutorily creating it. You can't create it if it
Senator Bryan King
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16:28
says you can't. I mean, I think this whole thing for me as being a CAFO and
somebody I've watched this issue has changed direction so many times that I really don't know what this does.
And I am the only CAFO that I know of. Senator Stokefield's son probably is a CAFO, but he doesn't have the restrictions I do. And I'm going to tell you, I don't
Speaker 63
16:55
understand the direction or trust the direction of this whole thing. Ultimately, if administration and departments want to impose a moratorium where you, outside the Buffalo River or anywhere else, you can apply for a permit. If they try to stop you from applying through a moratorium, it gives this body the ability to say no.
Senator Bryan King
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17:17
I don't know that they have the ability now to
Speaker 63
17:23
do that legally. This is changing our ability in their rulemaking to where we can say no. Yeah, well, I don't know that they have
Senator Bryan King
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17:30
the ability now to do that because they would have already done that in some cases. So I'm just, you know, my thing is about trust, and I just don't trust what is going on in this process. It's somebody that represents this and has been more involved for decades of this.
This is very confusing, and the way the process has worked. But anyway,
Okay. Senator Payton, question on the amendment. Thank you. So basically, a moratorium
is throwing a blanket over an area and saying we're going to plug our ears and not hear an application. Does your bill in any way, as amended, say that they have to approve the applications?
I mean, each application will just get looked at individually,
Speaker 63
18:27
correct? No, sir. That's their function, but whenever they try to promulgate a rule, this allows us to
Speaker 72
18:33
say no. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Any other
Speaker 97
18:47
questions on the amendment? Senator King. Do you
Senator Bryan King
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18:49
wish to speak against the amendment? I'm speaking. Well, let's engross. Let's adopt the amendment.
It's already engrossed. No, we have not. So we're speaking on the bill, not
Senator Greg Leding
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19:01
the amendment? No. No, we are. This is simply to concur, and then we will take up the bill itself. Okay, I'll wait and speak after. If you want to
Speaker 104
19:10
do that. Okay. Thanks, Senator King. To be clear, we are voting on the bill after
Speaker 105
19:15
we concur the amendment. Correct. So this is the amendment, then, if the
Speaker 16
19:20
amendment's concurred in, then we will take the bill back up. All those in favor of Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 290, please signify by saying aye.
Speaker 107
19:27
Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred in. Senate Bill 290. Senate Bill
Speaker 34
19:36
290 by Senator Blake Johnson to prohibit a moratorium on
Chair
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19:39
the issuance of permits and watersheds and other bodies of water. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. same thing appreciate your vote Senator King
you're recognized do you speak against thank you Madam President
Senator Bryan King
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19:59
so as I mentioned earlier in this my brother and I became CAFOs confined animal feeding operations over three decades ago at that time farmers in the early 90s were facing I want to give you a little bit of back history because this is a big issue in the buffalo on both sides in which i represent it's also a big because in my district the number one industry is agriculture which resolves around CAFOs so anyway in the mid-90s the thing the federal government at that time came out and said that
farmers were these CAFOs were polluting through nitrogen and through the decade of the 90s they went through talking about how they were polluting rivers by spreading litter out from their animal feeding operations so at that time in then in the late 90s they determined that it wasn't in fact nitrogen it was actually phosphorus in it so they kind of falsely did falsely accuse things and then they turned around and said phosphorus which accurately is that after we've had a bunch of
scientific test to determine so. So then the state of Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in the Illinois watershed that Arkansas and these CAFOs and animal operations, mainly poultry, some hogs in that area, was polluting the Illinois River watershed. So Governor Huckabee at the time, and I go back for governors, but they passed some bills to deal with the lawsuit. It was a federal lawsuit at that time. I am in the White River Basin area, and you have to understand in my district, if you look in
the southern part of Madison County within a five-mile radius, the headwaters of four major rivers that we talk about is really our crown jewels of outdoor recreation. The Buffalo, the White, the Kings River, and the Mulberry all originate from the headwaters just in a five-mile radius down in southern Madison County. So this is a big issue on my area. So when the lawsuit came out, the legislature at that time, before I came in, made laws to deal with the federal lawsuit
to take litter out of northwest Arkansas, primarily Benton and Washington Crawford counties, and transport it out of the district because they believed there was so much of an excess, which is probably true with the growth at that time, and they accurately did what they needed to do. And they also required us in the White River Basin that we were worried about a lawsuit with Missouri to do the same. So the CAFO Senator Stouffield's son has down there
is not the same regulations that I have up there. So Governor Huckabee and the legislature at that time passed bills and created a nutrient management advisory committee. and governor huckabee asked me to serve on that committee at that time i'm 30 years old or something like that and i agreed to not knowing what was going going to happen but what happened was myself and the two farmers was gene far from washington county were served to try and navigate through that whole process and it turned into i didn't know at the time that we were putting
regulations on farmers and it made me very unpopular to serve on that committee and i if i knew what I was going through, I would not have taken it at the time. I mean, I had farmers and people asking what I was doing, but that time, they correctly at that time required us to confine to our farm plans that we did with our scientific soil test. We have farm plans, soil tests done every five years. We have to comply with what it requires us to put on our
land and understand poultry litter is different than liquid waste. Poultry litter, 60 to 70 percent of that is wood shavings or some type of organic material that actually helps the soil quality and allows us to grow grass and do things that we do up there. That's why we have the cattle we do. So after that time, during that, we had to come down and testify with farmers against it, and me and Gene Farr testified that we tried to get work through the process through that time. Like I said, I was beginning to wonder if I was even going to be buried at Farewell again, being unpopular at that time.
Well, what we found out since then now, that now most of the litter is being transported out of Benton and Washington County. It's even being transported to Oklahoma, who filed the lawsuit in the beginning with. So now with the growth in Benton and Washington County primarily, there's not enough places to spray litter. Most of that litter now is transported out. We're finding out the pollution is coming from the growth, from the cities and counties. So you have poultry farmers up there that are having to abide by regulations that I support. And you have cities and counties, you have golf courses.
They spread fertilizer, chemicals, everything else. They have no regulations. All these incorporated areas and cities where they're spreading fertilizer on their lawns, everything else, they have no regulations on them. So if you want to look at it, the farmers stepped up and did more, and for a good reason. And I think that what happened in the hog farm situation in the Buffalo River, sadly, is what happens a lot of times in our issues today. It's what I call the mantel, the trophy on the mantel, where it became the Hensons and
the Campbells, who are great people, just tried to make a living and put in a hog farm and went through the permitting process. And once that got discovered, then people discovered they didn't want it there, which they have a fair right to say that they don't want it there. And then all of a sudden the genie got out of the bottle and then it became about slaying people on one side or the other just to butcher them. And people did not listen. And I always appreciate Senator Tucker when he talks about his past stories of political.
I go back on the Republican side through my grandfather, back to Winn Rockefeller and John Paul Hammersmith. And I always remember the story of there was a Republican, long, hardcore Republican that couldn't stand Bill Clinton, hated the guy, and then when he came down here heard a speech on education, he said he left there thinking it was the best plan he ever heard. But the key was that he came down here and listened before he made a determination. And what happened in the Buffalo River on both sides is this butchering today that we see once the genie gets out of the bottle. So to get to the point of where we're at at this point in time with this
bill, I really don't know what this bill does. I know a lot of times we do legislation, it's like birthing a baby, and it's the frustrating part about being a sinner. We birth a baby with legislation, and then somebody else raises it, and we're responsible for everything it does. I can tell you right now, as somebody that's a CAFO that's been through the Nutrient Management Advisory Committee, and I got asked by some people on this decision, do I think CAFOs all over the state should abide by the farm plants? And I say yes, so that'll put me unpopular with
the farmers. But as CAFOs and confined animal feeding operations, yes, we do need to make sure that we are going by our farm plans. And we do need to have consequences if we are not. So with this bill and this legislation and the way this whole process is done, I didn't comment on it because I didn't know which way it was going. It's switched directions so many times. It's flip-flopped more than pancakes at a Waffle House after a monster truck rally. So I don't know today where this is still going. So I am voting present on this bill
because simply I do not trust this whole process and who I'm turning it over. And after the Cooks Venture thing where they came in and killed 1.5 million chickens up there on farmers' lands, I do not trust this administration when it comes to farming and agriculture. Because let me be honest, if it had been Biden or Obama that had come in there and killed 1.5 million chickens, they would have had a different opinion. But when they do it, it's a different standard. I believe in standards, not taking sides just because of where you're at. But I'm going to encourage everybody.
We do not have enough process in this. I do not trust this process. There's been more to this. And whatever direction we go, I think that we need to have more of a debate about it and more discussion about it instead of the last day to push this bill through in a bill that is flip-flopped and people come down to testify on either side and it didn't happen and they go back home. This is just not the process we should go and I just do not trust this process and I would encourage either a non-vote
or a present vote or a no vote. Thank
Chair
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28:40
you. Anyone wish to speak for or against? If not, Senator Blake Johnson, your recognized close.
Speaker 63
28:49
Members, this gives this body the ability to have a voice in whether the moratoriums go into place and where we can say no if they want to stop the allowance of agriculture for getting permits.
So this helps agriculture producers in all bodies of water and all streams throughout Arkansas except for those that are in place now. And it helps agriculture, and I'd appreciate concurrence. Senator has closed. Any
Senator Greg Leding
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29:27
objection rolling the vote? Seeing no
Chair
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29:32
objection, Madam Secretary, roll the vote.
Senators, anyone wish... Well, it's
Senator Greg Leding
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29:42
too late, sir. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Penzo, no. Senator Mark Johnson, no. Senator Stubblefield, no. Senator Flowers, no. Senator Letting, no. Senator King, present. Senator Murdoch, no. Present. Senator Murdoch, Present. Senator Tucker, no. Senator Love, present. Senator Scott, present. Any other
Chair
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30:17
senator? Please check the board. Seeing no other senator, please cast up the ballot by
a vote of 25 yeas, 6 nays, 4 present. Senate Bill 290 passes as concurred
to end. Please enroll it and before we move to the next amendment I would invite Senator Dees I'd recognize Senator Dees for a special light-hearted
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
30:47
presentation as we move throughout the final day Senator Dees
thank you Madam Governor members I'd ask for a leave for a few friends from our charity
Speaker 126
30:59
basketball event leave all right come on in guys come on through come on across here i'm here for
Speaker 128
31:06
one reason you'll hear it shortly john all right no it's even better you're gonna you're gonna like this right actually all right members uh
Senator Tyler Dees
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31:19
thank you for letting us pause for a quick second um we want to make sure
We got this announcement in during session, but we're here to celebrate the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back championship over the House, Senate over House championship. Congratulations, Senate. We've done it. As many of you know, and for those watching online, we are so thankful to beat the House in our charity basketball game seven years running. In fact, I'm accompanied by the amazing, in fact, now the most winningest coach in history of the event, Mr. Blake Eddins.
Give him a hand. He wanted to make sure it was known that he's had a lot of help in his career
in this event with Senator Dismang. Unfortunately, Dismang left him hanging, but apparently we just keep winning without him. So he wanted to make sure that he got his flowers, and congratulations on that. But congrats to the Senate as we continue to dominate and continue our proper title of upper chamber. But I also want to say thank you to an amazing group here.
Feel free to pass this trophy on to our coach here, please. Thank you. There we go. But this event can't happen without the excellent work from the Peacock Group. Denver and Madeline, they work hours and hours and hours. They keep all of us wrangled in. They get jerseys ordered. They get sponsorships. They do the marketing for the event. They work together with staffs on both sides in the House and the Senate and with the AG's office and governor's office. So can we please stop and thank Denver and his team, the Peacock Group.
But we do also have to recognize the overall winner. And for that,
we want to welcome the governor and her team. Come on down here. Let's give them a congratulations today. We have the, they are the back-to-back winners of the overall event, besting the AG's office and us. So we want to present them with the golden ball trophy right here.
And Mr. Denver Peacock, would you like to present that trophy to the governor's office for their championship? Congratulations. But really, in all seriousness, the biggest winners are the kids. The
kids that this program, this charity event gets to support. And we're so thankful to get to partner with the Children Advocacy Center and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs.
We've got Ms. Kristen and Ms. Elizabeth here today. In all seriousness, it's amazing that we get to do that. Thank you for loving those kids well and for serving Arkansas families well. We were
able to raise $30,000 in this event, just about $30,000, and $250,000 since inception. Congratulations. So one more time, I know we like to trash talk and have a lot of fun in and out this building
about this game, but seriously, thank you to everyone listening. Thank you in this room for being
able to partner and help children across Arkansas.
Unknown speaker
34:44
Thank you. A quick team photo here.
Chair
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35:17
And Governor, it's always good to have you in the Senate. Thank you to the governor's staff for all your work during this legislative session.
We appreciate the opportunity to work with you all.
Speaker 174
36:17
Yeah, that's a good one. Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, that's a good one. Right now, that's a good one. I'm just going to take a bit of a long time. We need to get it right safe, so that way we can put it out here. Put it out here. That's right. That's right. That's right. That's right. Let's go. That's right. Let's go. That's right. Senate is back in order. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for a point of personal
privilege. Members, if I could have just a moment of your attention. Most of you saw The tragedy that happened in Conway this week, just like our friends in Fordyce, when this happens in a smaller town, it's just a tragedy that shocks all of us. That's not to excuse it to happen in the larger cities either, but this is a tragedy. I appreciate the way that Colonel Hager and his team as the state police have stepped up
with their criminal investigation division to help the police in Conway. But if we could have just a moment of silence, of prayer, and comfort for the victims and their families. And ask the Lord maybe to spare us from more of this tragedy. Just
a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator Johnson.
Chair
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37:59
Senators, we are now going to take up the budget calendar.
Senator Greg Leding
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38:05
then we will return to the Senate bills to concur in
Chair
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38:12
House amendments. House Bill 2003 by joint budget to amend the revenue stabilization law and declare an emergency. Senator Dismayne, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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38:21
members. Same bill that we passed yesterday, obviously inferior because it is a House bill, but I appreciate a
Speaker 26
38:29
good vote. Any questions for Senator Dismayne? Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Chair
Unverified
38:36
Seeing no one, Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote, Senator King?
No. Any other Senator? Seeing no other Senator, please cast up the ballot by vote of 34 yea, 1 nay. House Bill
2003 passes, and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted.
Please return to the House. Senator Dismang, you're recognized. I'd
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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39:15
like to ask leave for Bureau staff to come on the
floor. Leave. All right, members, I mean to do this every single year that we pass a budget, and I always
fail to do it because we get busy, we get fast, everybody's, you know, trying to get home, and so I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. This is our budget staff. They do an incredible job, and if we can, let's give them a round of applause. And these folks are led by, obviously, Kevin Anderson, Wendy, and Tony, and again, what
they do is just absolutely phenomenal. Their expertise and their professionalism is unmatched in state government. They are not biased, they're helping each and every one of you figure out whatever devious or great thing that you're trying to figure out in regards to the budget, Senator Payton. Kevin, can you come here for just a second? So,
Kevin, and most of y'all don't know.
So, you know, we went through two ministrations together with Kevin. we've had Asa and we've had Sarah's team and the funny thing is we get into these meetings we talk about the budget and I'd be like well Kevin said this or you know Kevin I talked about this we don't think you can do that or Kevin this what so it turned into a joke that Kevin was my imaginary friend because none of them had ever seen Kevin before and in fact so then we just kind of let that spiral a little bit right so then he became like the Chuck Norris you know mythical figure
a budget in the state of Arkansas. Then I realized this morning as I was trying to come up with that joke about Chuck Norris, you may be in fact Chuck Norris without the beard. So, but I mean, and so what I'm going to say is this RSA that we just passed, unless we can beg you to stick around, is going to be Kevin's last. He's decided to retire at the conclusion this fiscal year, and again, I just, what a friend to each and everyone in this
room. It's hard for me to believe. Love you. Thank you. State of Arkansas praises you. Alright,
congratulations. Thank you. I'd like to make a motion
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
42:42
that we do not accept Kevin's retirement
Speaker 206
42:50
announcement? Kevin, you are. Kevin, a.k.a. Jonathan's imaginary friend, you are recognized. Thank
Chair
Unverified
42:57
you very much. Heart goes out to this. This means a
Speaker 210
43:04
lot to me. I was with some friends Saturday night and one of my buddies asked me, what do you think about your
career? I told him we were retiring and I said, well, if I could go back in time to high school or college, I'd take this in a heartbeat. The people that I've gotten to work for, I've got to work with all these leaders in the state and I've learned so much. Incredible people and my physical family means so much to me and wonderful people at the Bureau. So I'm truly blessed. It makes a really hard to leave, but I'm just, you know, it's time. I'm old. And I heard Ann was
leaving, so I figured it's a thing to do. But anyway, thank you all so much. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank
Chair
Unverified
44:11
you. Applause Applause Applause Thank you, Senator Dismang. Thank you, Kevin, for your service, and thank you to all of the fiscal staff for their service
to the state of Arkansas. And is this Senate causing anyone else to retire that I need to know about between now and, say, noon? Thank you.
Senate, we will come back to order. We will now return to the business agenda, beginning with Amendment 1 to Senate Bill
457. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 457.
Senator Greg Leding
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45:32
Senator Letting, you're recognized. Sponsor amendment. All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye.
Chair
Unverified
45:45
Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred in. Senate Bill 457 by Senator Letting to amend the law concerning the release
from parole or post-release supervision of certain persons who've committed crimes when they were under the age of 18. Senator
Letting, you're recognized. Senator has closed. Any objection rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary,
please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote?
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
46:14
Senator Payton, present. Senator King, present. Senator King, yes.
Chair
Unverified
46:17
Any other Senator? Seeing no other. Please cast of the ballot by
a vote of 34 yea, 0 nay, 1 present. Senate Bill 457 passes as concurred in. Please enroll it. Amendment
1 and 2, but Amendment 1 to begin for Senate Bill 571.
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 571. Senator Petty, you're recognized. I believe,
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
46:44
I did not bring my notes, I believe this is the one that added the House
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
46:50
sponsor. And then Amendment 2, I'll go ahead and speak to and save time it is an agreed to amendment and with that I'll answer any questions or any questions on amendment 1
Speaker 96
47:02
Senator Payton no questions all those in favor of amendment
Chair
Unverified
47:11
1 please signify by saying aye any opposed ayes have
Speaker 16
47:17
it amendment 1 is concurred in amendment 2 to senate bill 571 questions No
Speaker 238
47:24
questions on amendment 2? Again, agreeing to amendment. Oh, it's another amendment.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
47:30
Oh, sorry. No questions on the amendment. All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Amendment is concurred
Speaker 36
47:40
to end. Senate Bill 571 by Central Petty.
Chair
Unverified
47:44
To amend the law concerning municipal buildings and zoning regulations and to prohibit a municipality from enforcing buildings and zoning regulations on county property. Senator Petty, you're recognized. If you want
to speak to the bill, if not, we
can go straight to questions. I think we'll go straight to questions. Senator Payton, you're recognized
for a question. Thank you, Madam President. So a concern came up with me on this.
We've got this movement, we're referring to the people on economic development districts. So if a county owns a significant piece of land within a municipality and they wanted to make it one of these new economic development zones, the city's planning and zoning would not be able to regulate any of that and the county would be
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
48:42
in charge? That's a good question.
As it currently is in practice, and this bill has nothing to do with that
Senator Joshua Bryant
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48:51
as a situation in general. As it currently stands, the practice in 99.9% of the time is the cities let the counties do their thing and the counties let the cities do their thing no matter where the land is. If the city has land in the county, outside the jurisdiction of the boundaries, they'll do that. And then with the cities, that's generally the practice. there's been conversations that maybe that's not entirely what the law allows for,
so this is intended to clarify that. Specific to your question in regards to these districts, these economic development districts, I would say if the county owns the land, then I guess, yes, technically they could in that situation with this law or this bill. So when this bill came through
the first time, I was thinking of county jail, you know, courthouse, you know, properties, offices, and things like that that the county would own inside of a municipality.
But now I'm thinking of economic development property that the county may own inside a municipality. And so there's no provision in this bill that would
exclude that. So the city would have no way to zone or plan that. So the county
Senator Joshua Bryant
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would have to have their own building standards. They would also have to comply with the state building standards, the fire marshal health department, and so forth.
So they would have those requirements. But if the city had very specific requirements as to colors of windows or doors or colors of brick, they would not have to comply with that. And yes, most everything that we're talking about is a county jail or a county building. But there are situations I can think of that. Maybe the county has a building that's an alternative sentencing situation where we have less or nonviolent offenders.
Maybe the drug court are mental health related and they have a building that they've acquired. I think
the only thing that gives me pause is the economic development district that could be formed inside of a municipality on county-owned
property. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, members, if
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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we have any other questions. Seeing no other questions, would anyone like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none. Senator, would you like to close your bill? Senator's closed. Members, any objection to rolling a vote?
Speaker 256
51:24
There's an objection. Please call the roll. Bowen, Bryant, Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark,
Speaker 258
51:37
Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismayne, Dotson, I. English. English. Flippo. I. Flowers. Gilmore. Yes. Hammer. Yes. Hester.
Chair
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51:59
Hester Hickey Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson
Speaker 258
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King King Letting Love McKee Murdoch Peyton No. Penzo? Yes. Petty? Yes. Rice? Rice?
Speaker 262
52:35
Scott? No. Stone? Aye. Stubbeville? Stubbeville? Sullivan? Aye. Tucker? No. Wallace? Aye.
Speaker 26
52:51
Any senator wish to vote who did not vote or change your vote? Senator Hester, yes. King, no. Clark,
Chair
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yes. Any other senator? Hickey, no. Stubblefield, present. Any other senator? Please check the board. Seeing
no other senator, please cast up the ballot. By vote of 22, yay, 6, nay, 3, not voting, 4, present.
Senate Bill 571 passes as concurred in. Please enroll it. Senate Bill 612.
Amendment 1, Senate Bill 612. Senator Deese, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Tyler Dees
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53:36
Madam Governor. Members, this is an agreed-upon
House amendment to put in some changes agreed upon with the industries. All those in favor
Chair
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53:49
of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
Ayes have it. Amendment is adopted or concurred in. Senate
Bill 612 by Senator Dees to create a private right of action against a social media platform that causes harm and to impose a civil penalty on a social media platform that knowingly and willingly contributes to a minor suicide or suicide attempt. Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you. Would
Speaker 274
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appreciate another good vote on this bill like
Senator Tyler Dees
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we passed last time. Thank you.
Chair
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54:28
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection? Rolling the vote. Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote? Dodson, not voting. King, not voting. Payton, present. Any other Senator? Seeing no
other. Please cast up the ballot. By vote of 32, yeas, 0, nay, 2, not voting, 1, present. Senate Bill 612 passes as concurred in.
Please enroll it. We are temporarily passing over Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 619 because Senator Irvin has a bunch of students who want to be here for this bill. Those students are from Timbo and Rural Special. And so we're going to wait until they arrive so they can see this bill. Next, we will
Speaker 58
55:19
go to Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 620. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 620. Senator Irvin, you're
Chair
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recognized. Thank you, Madam President, members of the committee.
Lots of great work. Obviously, this session on human trafficking, this amendment was working with our prosecuting attorneys and adding Representative Beatty as my House sponsor. Motion to concur with the House Amendment. Any questions on the amendment?
Speaker 51
55:50
I'm seeing no questions. All those in favor of the
Chair
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amendment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred then.
Senate Bill 620 by Senator Irving, an act to provide a safety valve for a minor defendant who is also a victim of human trafficking to amend the Human Trafficking Act
Speaker 36
56:17
of 2013 to create an appeal right for a minor defendant who is also a victim of human trafficking.
Senator Urban you're recognized. Thank you members again. This is just another really good policy as it
relates to human trafficking and the victims of human trafficking and I want to thank the CPAC for working with me on this bill. Frank Russo did a great job and so this is the first time that we can actually go after some gang recruitment of these kids and I appreciate y'all's support. Thank you.
Chair
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56:53
Any questions for Senator Irvin? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any
objection rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast
up the ballot. By vote of 35, yea, zero, nay. Senate Bill 620 passes as concurred, then please enroll it.
Senator Hickey, you're recognized for an introduction.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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57:23
Thank you, Madam Governor. Members, I'm going to introduce our doctor of the day. Today we have Dr. Jason Lofton. He's family
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
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medicine. And our nurse, of course, is Lee Fazio, the RN. I appreciate you all being here the last day. If we don't get out of here, we may have a stroke. So be prepared for
Speaker 290
57:39
that. So everyone, if you would, please give them a hand. Senator Davis, is she here?
Chair
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58:15
We will now move to House bills for third reading and passage, beginning with House Bill 1017.
House Bill 1017 by Senator Davis and Representative Collins to amend the law regarding paid maternity leave for public school employees and require the division of elementary and secondary education to pay for incurred cost and approved for approved paid maternity leave. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank
Senator Breanne Davis
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you, Madam President. Members, this was a bill someone asked yesterday about a maternity
leave bill that had to do with learns and that is what this bill is. So, in LEARNS, we said that schools could match six weeks for them, six weeks for the state, so up to 12 weeks, and it would be 50-50 state match for maternity leave. We, the first year, only had 22 school districts utilize that program. Last year, we had 27. So, the funds that we had allotted for this have not been used, and we are, in this bill,
we're trying to move it over to 100% state-funded. So if a teacher wants to participate in paid maternity leave, the state will pay 100% of it. That will fall within what we already have allocated for this program. I'm happy to answer
Chair
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59:36
any questions. Any questions for Senator Davis? Anyone wish to speak against or
for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote?
Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please
roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his
or her vote? Senator Mark Johnson? No. Senator Payton? No. Any other senators? Senator
Hickey? No. Senator Penzo? Present. Flippo? Present. Rice? Present. Stubblefield? No.
Bryant present. Any other senator? Please check the board.
Seeing no other senator, please cast up the ballot by vote of 27 yea, 4 nay, 4 present. House Bill 1017 passes. Please return to the House. We are passing over House Bill 1624. Next we'll take up House Bill 1625.
Passed with 1625 by Representative Barnett and
Senator Murdoch to amend the law concerning insurance requirements for licensed home inspectors. Senator Murdoch,
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Colleagues, this
Senator Reginald Murdock
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is a simple bill that gives or ensures, it's a consumer protection bill to make sure that home inspectors will have the proper insurance if they come out and provide you an inspection. And they assure you that everything is correct before you make a purchase,
that they'll have the insurance to cover if there is a mistake made and it comes back to you. This makes sure the insurance department will also review this to make sure that the insurance coverage they have will cover you. Currently, they don't have to have anything. They can give you an assurance that their inspection is correct and you have nothing to rely upon besides that, that they have no responsibility. This will make sure, in conjunction with the insurance department, that they have proper insurance to cover you from a consumer standpoint.
Speaker 246
1:01:54
I'll take any questions. Questions for Senator Murdoch. Senator Hammer, and then Senator Mark
Senator Kim Hammer
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Johnson, and Senator Sullivan. Thank you. And Senator Murdoch, sorry I didn't get to speed to this. I have to ask you like this. But this insurance is going to be on the home inspector. So if the home inspector misses something or for whatever reason, the homeowner has recourse to go back on the insurance policy of the home inspector. Is that right?
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:02:24
Well, the home inspector will carry out errors that don't miss insurance like many designers do for what they have
rendered to you as their inspection. So, yes, it will be their responsibility, not the homeowner. It'll go back to the inspector who made the render,
Speaker 315
1:02:40
the approval, who gave you the report. Right. So the home inspector who
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:02:46
issued a report that said a home is in good standing. Yes. And then the homeowner gets in it and finds out it's not in good standing because the home inspector missed something, didn't do the job, whatever.
They now have to have a policy that the homeowner can issue a claim against. Absolutely. Does that cover the
Speaker 316
1:03:06
cost of the repairs that the home inspector missed? Yes, up to $100,000, yes. Okay, good bill. Thank
you. Senator Mark Johnson. Thank you, Madam President. Senator
Murdoch, this is really protecting the consumer and the homeowner more than it's protecting the person providing the service. This is analogous to requiring the other driver to have liability coverage, is it not?
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:03:35
the other driver to have. It's insurance. I think it's requiring everybody to have what they should have when they're performing a service and involving themselves with the general public. But again, it's consumer protection. It's
not homeowner inspection protection. Although it does protect them from, you know, maybe liability that they wouldn't have any coverage for. Yes, definitely consumer protection. Okay, I think it's a good bill. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Sullivan, you're recognized.
Senator Dan Sullivan
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1:04:05
Thank you, Madam Chair. So we're adding on to what a contractor might have to do to qualify as a home inspector? No, sir. We're not requiring a higher level of policy that they have? No, this has nothing to do
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:04:24
with the contractor. This is an inspector. It may be a building that's already built, and your house is already, a home that's already built, and you're going to purchase it, and you hire the home inspector just to go and do an evaluation.
So it has nothing to do with the contract. So the inspector,
Senator Dan Sullivan
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1:04:42
we're requiring they have a higher level of licensure than they currently have. No, sir.
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:04:48
We're required they have an insurance to protect the consumer. They have nothing now. Okay.
Senator Dan Sullivan
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1:04:54
So we're just requiring them to have a higher level of protection through
insurance. Yes, sir. Okay. So the homeowner right now can choose between having someone with a lower level of insurance or a higher level of insurance as it is currently.
And we're just going to require all the inspectors that have that higher
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:05:18
insurance threshold? So to try to understand your question, what this bill does is requires the home inspector that's performing a service for the general public to have a level of protection to protect the consumer from his
or her professional opinion as they've rendered... Yeah, we're on the same page. Okay, thanks, sir. Thank you.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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1:05:43
Senator Payton, and then back to Senator
Hammer. Thank you, Madam President. I appreciate a short, easy-to-read bill, but a couple of times you've said that they're not currently required to carry anything. And the language in the law before we pass this bill says all home inspectors are required to carry general liability insurance. Great question. Of $100,000. Now your bill changes the general liability insurance to something called professional liability insurance
or errors and omissions insurance. So we're dealing with three different kinds of
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:06:20
insurance. Can you describe the differences? Yes, sir. Great question. The general liability that they have now simply covers accidents. If they have a traffic accident if they do something not related to the inspection or the consumer protection, it's for them personally as just a general liability, not for errors in omission or professional coverage. This protects you from them and their professional capacity.
Kind of like I used the example of architects having errors in omissions. It's for you to be protected from their profession. You've hired them for their expertise.
So it's more like a bond. Not, it's insurance, it's insurance, yes. So would we expect that these, the two options they have if your bill passes, would we expect those to be more expensive or less expensive than the general liability insurance? No, they're
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:07:15
very negligible costs. So the insurance that this has experienced has been very negligible.
So it's going to be an additional something that they choose, But they usually put these in a package, Senator Payton. Insurance companies or underwriters will offer a package for this that's negligible. All right, thank you. Yes, sir. Senator Hammer, you're
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:07:40
recognized. Thank you. Where is it addressed or how is it going to be dealt with as far as if an inspector does not have this,
Will they still be able to get a license without this or how is that going
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:07:55
to be determined? So that's why AID is involved in this. The insurance department is the protector for the people in this case to make sure that the proper insurance is there before they are in license. So the insurance department is the one to issue this and make sure that it protects
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:08:14
us properly as the bill intends. Okay, so for somebody that's currently in the business, When, because there's not an emergency clause on this, when is it, when will it be required of those that are currently in the home inspector business to implement this law?
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:08:33
I guess the person signed, he died and this becomes, it's signed by the governor and
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:08:38
it becomes law. Okay. We don't have an emergency clause. I apologize. So the Insurance Department or Division of Labor and Licensing, they're going to be required to notify all the home inspectors that effective that date you have to have insurance or their licenses are void and they're not licensed to operate. Was that in the discussion? Yes, so I wasn't in
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:09:02
every discussion, but as the bill is written, as I understand it,
what has to happen is every department that is applicable to this will, as every agency do, with bills that we pass, they will apply them to the people and to the industries as necessary. So I certainly expect what you're saying to be true. But I know the insurance department will be the issuer of this in making sure that the policy
Speaker 319
1:09:29
that's chosen protects us. Okay, thank you. Thank
Chair
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1:09:34
you. Any other questions? Anyone? I'm sorry.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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1:09:38
Senator Hickey, you're recognized for a question. Senator Murdoch, just one here, and I know what you're trying to do. Do you know, though, and I think we all know what you're referring to, But do you know within the code, what a home inspector is? Is that defined
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:09:57
anywhere? I'm going to say yes. I don't have that. I can't give you that code number. But I do know it's a professional service. In the business I'm in, I've had opportunity to interact with them quite a bit.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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1:10:09
I understand who you're talking about. I just didn't know if we had checked to see if we had a separate definition
Speaker 345
1:10:17
since we were doing this. Senator Irvin is saying she's over here searching and
Chair
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1:10:22
she found. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Any other questions for Senator Murdoch? Anyone wish to speak
against or for? Senator, you're free to close. I'm close. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Any Senator wish to change his or her vote?
Senator Tyler Dees
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1:10:45
McKee, present. Boyd, present. Sullivan, no. Peyton, present. King, not voting Rice, present Dotson, present McKee, no Boyd, no Any other senator, please
Chair
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1:11:03
check the board Seeing no other
Please cast up the ballot By a vote of 28 yea, 3 nay, 1 not voting, 3 present House Bill 1625 passes. Please return to the house.
Speaker 178
1:11:27
House Bill 1662. House Bill 1662 by represented McKenzie and Senator Blake
Chair
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1:11:32
Johnson to prohibit lobbying for a covered foreign entity. Senator Blake Johnson you're recognized. Thank you
Speaker 63
1:11:41
Madam Governor. I don't want to rehash a lot of the debate that's been but I do want you to I want to read something out of the Federal Register. Senator McKee has a registration process that we passed. It's on the Governor's desk at this time. Right now under Section 18 U.S. Code 115 under treason, sedition, and subversive activities, the registration of
certain organizations, and I'm going to say these lobbying groups apply, and they have to register with the Attorney General of the United States. This is a definition of subject to foreign control organizations. It solicits or accepts financial contributions, loans, support of any kind, directly or indirectly, from or affiliated directly or indirectly
with a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or an agent or agencies instrumentally of a foreign government, political subdivision thereof, political party, and a foreign country are an international political organization. Whenever we are aiding, this is all right here that they have to register for.
All I'm asking for is our enemies. But right now, if these groups aren't registered with the Attorney
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:13:32
General of the United States, they're in violation. Any questions?
Chair
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1:13:43
Senators left the will. Anyone wish to speak against? Senator Rice, you're recognized to speak against.
Speaker 353
1:13:54
Members, I don't want to cover anything that's not been covered, but let
Senator Terry Rice
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1:13:59
me say this. I haven't asked anyone who voted for this to change their mind. You're all knowledgeable. You all are thoughtful. You have integrity. And your vote is your vote. We have differing opinions at times, and I respect that.
Again, I've not lobbied and tried to change anybody's vote because I respect you. Other than saying, I might encourage you to not vote for it from the well. This is the third time we're going to vote on the same bill with no change. Thank you.
Chair
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1:14:49
Anyone wish to speak for, on, or against speaking for the bill? Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. I
Senator Tyler Dees
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1:14:55
think this is the first time I spoke for a bill this session.
And really, I kind of was kicking myself that I didn't come speak for this bill the first time we had the chance. And I think I come from the angle that on some of these other bills that I've been able to work on this session and last session, speaking specifically around the protection of children from harmful drugs that have come into our country, specifically that have ties to China, and that really bothers me. Some of the THC-laced
products that have been shipped into our state, into our country illegally, and when I hear about the efforts from lobbyist organizations to represent those efforts really bothers me. And so I firmly believe this is not a freedom of speech issue. What this really does is just says that you can't be paid from entities who haven't pledged allegiance to that flag like we
just did this morning you cannot be paid to come move for an effort in that direction any citizen can at any time come speak for whatever they believe is right and they should and we we welcome it but a lobbying effort is different it's very different and from the bills that we've been working on, me personally working on, and having to combat some of these foreign enemy nations of what they're trying to do the exact opposite, I firmly believe
this is a good bill and protects the things that we pledge allegiance to every day. And so I would please ask for a good vote. Anyone
Chair
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1:16:50
else wish to speak against? Senator Clark, you're recognized to speak against. Thank you Madam Governor, Senator Johnson
Senator Alan Clark
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1:17:01
is one of my best friends in the Senate. And I know he's sincere.
I believe I have voted for every China bill since we started voting on China bills back when some of our leadership made fun of China bills. Everybody hadn't always been on the same page. is a free speech issue. We don't have North Korea. We don't have Iran in the bill. And this is, you know, if this bill said the communist China government, I'd
be right there with you. But this is anybody of all the people in the country of China, that you can't speak for them if you're paid, and to come back and say, well, you can speak if you don't get paid, be a state senator if you don't get paid, you eliminate the pay, and you eliminate a whole lot of people, because the rich can speak for free.
I see, you know, sometimes I know city councils, et cetera, large city councils where the people don't get paid. What they don't realize is you eliminate the poor. You eliminate the lower middle class. It's a free speech issue. Do what you want to
Speaker 362
1:18:35
do. But we already know what we're supposed to
Chair
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1:18:43
do. Anyone wish to speak for? I see Senator Stone, you're recognized.
Senator Matt Stone
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1:18:51
members i'd like to speak for this bill you know here's what i one thing i do know we got we have a bright sunshiny day out there and if i was to walk outside right now my shadow would follow me around 15 years ago i went to china stayed 10 days there but one thing i noticed when i was in their country and I walked out on a sunshiny day, I had two shadows. The one the sun
calls and the one government official that followed me around every day and took note of everything that I said and did while I was in that country. I think it is incumbent upon us to remember China is not our friend. If they're hiring people to come over here and lobby our government, it is not in our best interest. I don't want to limit free speech by the American citizen and any American citizen or Arkansas and can come down here and speak for or against any bill that's up for consideration.
But for China to be able to hire people and come over here and speak against our state or against our country, I'm opposed to that, and I will be voting for the bill, and I'd appreciate a
Chair
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1:20:08
good vote. Thank you. Yes. Senator Flowers, you're recognized for a question of Senator Stone. Senator
Speaker 371
1:20:20
Stone. I understand President Trump and President Xi are good friends.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
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1:20:27
So how is it, where does this enemy thing come from? I'm not aware of this. with them. Our president likes Xi. He's taking the sale of TikTok off the table, still exists in the United States. I don't understand this. I don't understand where this enemy term comes from. Can
Senator Matt Stone
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1:20:59
don't know if President Trump and President China are good
friends. You know, you can do business with somebody, but not be friends with them. We do business every day with people we may or may not like, but that's just commerce, and that's what we should do. But to let anybody come in and influence our government and the way we do operations, no, I'm against that. Senator Deese, you're recognized for
Chair
Unverified
1:21:24
a question of Senator Stone. Yes, Senator Deese.
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
1:21:26
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Senator Stone. I
know you're a forester, And this may be directed towards you, but it also may be for the bill sponsor at the end.
But I know my father-in-law is a corn farmer in the middle of Nebraska. And I constantly hear about how China manipulates marketplace numbers with false reporting. I hear about rough work environments. I hear about more civil rights issues there than I've ever heard anywhere in the country. So I would just ask maybe your opinion and maybe for the bill sponsor to, really from an agriculture perspective,
I hear about manipulation and influence constantly from China. Would you agree with that statement? I would agree with that.
Chair
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1:22:19
Thank you. Senator Stubblefield, you have a question
Senator Gary Stubblefield
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1:22:22
for Senator Stone? Yes, Senator Stone, you are aware that two of the largest beef producers that control 92% of all the beef in the United States are foreign. And there really are adversaries as
much as the people of China, not the government, but the people of China.
Senator Matt Stone
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1:22:41
Like I said earlier, I'm not saying we can't do business with anybody. I mean, excuse me, my whole adult life I've done business with people I may or may not like, but I'm careful who I invite into my home. We should be able to do business for economic purposes with anybody, but we should be careful who we invite into our country to influence our legislative process. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.
Chair
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1:23:11
No other questions for Senator Stone? Thank you. Thank you, Senator
Stone. Anyone wish to speak against? Senator Payton, you're recognized to speak
against. Thank you, Madam President. Everybody down here is a lobbyist. I come here and I lobby for my district. I lobby for my friends. I lobby for the citizens of Arkansas. The thing about the paid lobbyist is they have more than one customer.
And it's easier to tell them no, knowing that they're just paid rather than having their heart and soul in it, than it is sometimes when I've got constituents down here lobbying one way or the other. But the bottom line is we as legislators have to be thick-skinned enough to look any lobbyist in the face and tell them we disagree. We do that with each other every day. We're lobbying each other for and against this bill right now. I don't understand why we'd want to plug our ears and cover our eyes and not hear the other
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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1:24:18
side of an issue. So I'll be voting
no. Speak for Senator Dismayne, you're recognized. Yeah, I mean, so thank you, Governor. I mean, I'd like to address a couple of points.
This isn't about free speech. This is about adversaries that have a long-term plan for the demise of our country in favor of theirs. That's the truth, reality, research it. Senator Rice, you've been in this game and had this conversation about China for a long time. Our position on this is different. I don't believe that the Chinese should pay lobbyists in Arkansas to influence
legislation in Arkansas. You do. I feel very, very much different about that. Because that's what we're talking about, is paying to have influence in the state of Arkansas and the state's policy. I don't think it's appropriate. There is nothing they want to the benefit of Arkansans. I don't care if it's social media and the programming that they're trying to do mentally to our children. I don't care if it's the illegal vapes that they stock our shelves with, that they
refuse to even be allowed to be sold in their country to the demise of our youth. It is intentional. It is methodical. And we have the ability to say we don't want that influence in the state of Arkansas, especially paid-for influence in the state of Arkansas. It's not about free speech. Go to China. Lobby their government. See how far you get. Guess what's banned? Us lobbying their government.
I don't understand the narrative, and I don't understand the discussion that we're having. This is alluding back to, well, I was very opposed to China at one time. Okay, I'm very opposed to China today. And it's based on information that I have received over the last several years and education that I hope all of us will go back and look, this isn't something up for debate. They want our demise. I'd appreciate a good vote.
Chair
Unverified
1:26:30
Anyone else wish to speak against or on Senator Mark Johnson to speak for?
Thank you, Madam President. Members, I really appreciate what Senator Disman just said because he defined the difference between them and other countries that we do business with. I don't think you can compare a business in Germany or Belgium or India
or some of these other countries that there is some separation from their government. If you're in business in communist China, let's call it what it is, communist China, then you're there because the government lets you and they control you. And so we're not dealing with, you know, something that operates like our small businesses in Arkansas. I mean, you can run a small business in Arkansas and you can despise all 135 members of the General Assembly
and all seven constitutional officers, you still have a right to do business. They don't have that over there. It is a systemic system attempting to subvert in so many insidious ways. the United States of America. And we don't need to give aid and comfort to our enemies by allowing them to come in, spread their millions around, hire lobbyists,
some of whom may be well-meaning people, and the issue, at least on its face, may seem like it's legitimate for them to be lobbying on. They are subversive. And that is what we're trying to stop here. This is a really good bill. If this were including countries I mentioned earlier that are maybe not totally free, but maybe a little corrupt, but they're democracies and people can be outside the government influence and still do business, that'd be different.
But this is targeting our true adversaries in the world, the people that want to dominate us. I mean, this is an important, important bill, and I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Madam President. To speak against, Senator
Chair
Unverified
1:28:59
Hickey, you're recognized. I know that we sit down here
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
1:29:02
and we try to spin things to try to get a bill passed or this. And I listened to Senator Rice, and he's correct. I definitely listened to Senator Payton, what he said, and he's correct.
The thing is, is you want to listen to the other side when it comes to this. And I sit down here and talk about these. I hear everybody talk about this adversary. It's like, well, we want to say this about China, and that's fair. I have no love lost for those folks and the things they do. But then we sit here and say this, and our federal government, and I promise you, you want this to happen, we allow them to buy our debt. Do not quote me on this, but it's probably somewhere around 25% to 30% of our debt
is owned by foreign countries. And you say, well, I don't want them to do it. Well, then what you're saying is you don't want them to be in the bond market. And you know what that means? That means your rates are fixing to go through the roof. Because if you think that the Fed controls the rates on a strategic standpoint, you're wrong. That is only tactical. It is totally controlled by the bond market. And I promise you, I sit down here and listen to this stuff like we're trying to eliminate them from everything.
But there's more to the story, and everybody just needs to not lose track of that. So I'd ask you to vote against
Chair
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1:30:34
this bill. Any other senator wish to speak on, against, or for the bill? Seeing no other. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized to close.
Speaker 63
1:30:45
Appreciate it, Senator Hickey. The reason we borrow money from them is because we're economically enriching them.
and spending our grandkids in oblivion. I don't want to economically enrich my enemies, and I don't want us to be the second leading economy in the world whenever they put me in the ground. Appreciate a good vote.
Speaker 399
1:31:15
Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bowen? Yes. Bryant?
Speaker 256
1:31:22
Bryant, Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell,
Speaker 258
1:31:32
Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismaine, Dotson, English, Flippo Flippo Flowers Gilmore Hammer
Chair
Unverified
1:31:54
Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark
Speaker 258
1:32:09
Johnson King Letting Letting Love McKee Murdoch Murdoch Peyton Penzo
Speaker 262
1:32:25
Petty Rice Scott Scott Stone Stubbeville Sullivan Tucker no Wallace no any senator
Speaker 26
1:32:48
wish to vote who did not vote or wish to change your vote Senator Hill no Senator Bryant
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:32:57
yes any other senator Senator Irvin no any other
Speaker 26
1:33:06
senator please check the board seeing no other please
Chair
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1:33:14
cast up the ballot by a vote of
Speaker 411
1:33:19
16 yea, 14 nay, 5 not voting House Bill 1662 fails Senator Flowers
Chair
Unverified
1:33:44
you're recognized Senator Flowers has moved for a clincher vote on 1662. This is a majority vote. This is non-debatable. All those in favor for Senator Flowers, clincher
vote on House Bill 1662. Please signify by saying
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
1:34:24
it motion fails i see one hand i only
Chair
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1:34:34
see i see two that's it senator hester you're recognized thank
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
1:34:42
you if we could let have the uh the session staff come in real quick I believe, are they staged outside?
Might be good for a little break. Please
Speaker 4
1:35:16
come in. Please come in. Hello. maybe you
Speaker 30
1:35:24
should walk yeah y'all come to this side
yeah keep coming in there you go you can stop come on over okay thank
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
1:35:44
you madam government members if you'd give me just a second you know when
we're when we're getting to take breaks and discuss and uh our staff doesn't get
to do that and they they're here before we show up here long after we leave every day during session, I just wanted to take a moment to recognize
them individually. So our sergeant at arms, Winford Batch, Charles Bowers, Joseph Gray, Bradley Harness, Henry Kessler, Dave Mullinax, Vaughn Neely, Alvin Rogers, Thomas Sponner. Inside the chamber here, of course
we know Connie Harkins, Sharon Parker. Hey, when I say your name, if you would like to raise your hand. Yeah, so Connie Harkins, Sharon Parker, Quentin Smith, Mark Hudson. In the journal room, Nancy Dunlap, Cynthia Haas, Janet Perkins, Sheila Thompson. In the engrossing, Rosemary Robinson, Salie Graves, Carol Ann, Teresa Baxley,
The Transmittal, Carolyn Porter, On the Phones, getting all
Speaker 428
1:37:15
the encouraging messagings, Janet Tate, Hazel Mays,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
1:37:21
V. Mays, In the Video Room, Randy Martinson, Hunter Loy, Hadiza Isaka, Paige Desk, Judy Sims, Norma Mulaney, Felicia
Hobbs, Betsy Kemp, and Phyllis Duro.
Speaker 1
1:37:42
Let's please give them a round of applause. Thank you, members.
Chair
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1:38:56
Senate will come back to order, and I would remind senators, even though we're on our last day, that if you wish to be recognized, please stand, address the presiding officer, please ask senators not to simply yell out words or words that might be part of a motion. I would ask that Senators make a formal motion of the chair. I do not—I will not recognize any Senator who simply yells out one word.
I will request that you all address the presiding officer and the body formally.
Speaker 26
1:39:39
With that, we will next take up House Bill 1842. House Bill 1842
Chair
Unverified
1:39:45
by Representative Tosh to amend the law regarding the Office of Criminal Detention Facilities Review Coordinator and to place the office within the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
within the Department of Public Safety.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:40:04
Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you. This
amendment puts the jail standards underneath CLEST. Jail standards is already supervised by CLEST as located in CLEST offices. This just makes it cleaner to include it in
statute. Jail standards is currently under the Department of Public Safety. Appreciate a good
Chair
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1:40:22
vote. Any questions for Senator Hammer? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator
has closed. Any objection rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote?
Seeing no Senator, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35 yeas, 0 nay. House Bill 1842 passes. Please return to the
House. Next, we'll take up House Bill 1843. House Bill 1843 by Representative Tosh concerning records and photographs kept by the state crime lab. Senator Hamer, you're recognized. Thank you. The statute
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:41:00
provides for a specific list of people who receive information directly from the crime lab. This amendment adds the drug director to that list.
This is needed because the drug director tracks the drugs that are found to have caused deaths and tracks it according to the area of the state. This amendment allows the director to track this in real time. Appreciate
Chair
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1:41:23
a good vote. Any questions for Senator Hammer? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no senator, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35 yea, 0 or nay.
House Bill 1843 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 1878. House Bill 1878 by
Speaker 34
1:41:50
Representative Magruder. To ensure early voting access for Arkansans
Chair
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1:41:55
residing in population centers and to require a county board of election commissioners to conduct early voting in a city in certain instances. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
members this bill requires that any city in arkansas with a population of 15 000 or more have an early voting site only for primaries and generals not for special elections as of right now every city in arkansas with a population of 15 000 or more has an early voting site in fact every city with a population of 10 000 or more already has an early voting site so it's not creating any new early voting sites um that's that's what the bill does happy to answer
Chair
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1:42:37
any questions. Questions for Senator Tucker. Senator Dotson, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:42:42
Madam Governor. Senator Tucker, we've talked about this a little
bit where this is a mandate on election commissioners, but to my knowledge, all voting locations are voluntary. Do we have any sections in law, to your knowledge, that require a public city, community building, something like that, be a boating site in any of these communities? Because if we don't,
then this could potentially be an unworkable piece of legislation. Not
that I'm aware of, but any city with 15,000 people, number one, regardless of the logistics of it deserves to have their own early voting location. But if you're talking about a city with a population of less than a thousand people I can understand how there would be logistical difficulties in identifying an early voting location. If you've got 15,000 people in a city, you shouldn't have a problem finding an early voting location.
Senator Jim Dotson
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1:43:47
But to my knowledge we don't currently have the requirement that school buildings be early voting sites or day of election sites. Right now, it's all voluntary locations, private churches, locations of that nature. And so without some type of relief valve, if they can't find somebody who voluntarily allows them to be on their property, they would be in violation of this statute. While as a matter
of theory that may be true, as a matter of reality,
every city in Arkansas right now with
a population of 15,000 or more already has an early voting site, so I don't see how, in reality, it would be unworkable.
Chair
Unverified
1:44:36
Any other questions? Senator Hamer, you're recognized for a question. Senator
Senator Kim Hammer
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1:44:40
Tucker, we had passed a bill earlier in legislation that addressed this issue. How will this change or not change what we had already passed earlier in the session to address that issue? Fair
question, Senator, and you and I visited about this, but it's 100% fair for you
to bring it up on the floor. Really, the reason why this is coming up is because at Crittenden County, West Memphis is the most populous city in Crittenden County. It's not the county seat. Marion is. In the last election cycle, the election commission couldn't get along. Originally, the dispute was not whether to have an early voting location in West Memphis. It was where to have the early voting location in West Memphis. That dispute couldn't get resolved, and so the county clerk used her discretion that was in law at that time to designate her voting location in west memphis earlier this session we passed another law that
says that the county clerk still has that discretion but it's only in the county seat so if that had been law last election cycle then the county clerk in crittenden county could not have put the early voting location in west memphis she could only have done it in marion which is much less populous than west memphis so it does amend a law that we passed earlier this session in a tiny way, the law does not, that law does not change officially, all it does is add to it to say that if there's a population of, a city with a population of 15,000 or
more, then that city will have an early voting location. Thank you.
Chair
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1:46:06
Any other questions for Senator Tucker? Seeing no questions, anyone wish to speak against? Senator Dotson, you're recognized to speak against.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:46:22
Members, I don't necessarily think this is a terrible
idea in general, but as far as a matter
of practice, I think it needs a little bit more work before it needs to go into law. And I'll tell you the reason why. I'm going to use an example from my area. City of Bella Vista is all within my district but in that area we have a very difficult time even finding locations that will voluntarily allow us to have voting sites on election day let alone for the two weeks of early voting and so just
being able to find those locations is extremely difficult and currently now this bill has moved extremely quickly it was in House committee on Monday on the House floor yesterday and it didn't even come through the state agencies committee meeting because we haven't had one this week. It was signed out of committee sometime last night so this is really the first opportunity we've had to have a vetting on this particular bill. So I reached out to our election commissioner
coordinator and the bottom line of it is right now we don't have anywhere signed up for this year. Yes we did have one in 2024 the last election but right now they haven't agreed to actually have a voting site in that community going forward in the future. So they'll be working hard and they'll try to comply with the law. The challenge of it is if they can't and right now since we don't mandate that schools
or some other community public building be a voting location this could be very problematic and actually functionality and so I wish we were had a little bit more time to actually discuss this to work on it to try to work and amend this but at this point in time we're at the end of session and so you know it is what it is and I would appreciate either present or no vote on it thank you any other
Chair
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1:48:38
senator wish to speak for or against. I see Senator Clark and Senator Murdoch to speak for. Senator
Senator Alan Clark
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1:48:46
Clark? I was one of the senators who signed this out of committee. We're down at the end. I don't think we should have a lot of complaints about that with some of the bills I've seen signed out of committee, especially one that didn't even get a second the day before and got signed out. But it's a good bill why would we have a community of 15,000 that didn't that we didn't have
a voting place I've heard so much from election commissions although I've not heard a word from election commissions about this bill in the past I've heard from election commissions because over private property issues and whether you could electioneer or not at a place and I said of course you can that's you know that's constitutional well but we might not be able to get a place if you can't get a place in 15,000, you've got a real problem. But the other side of that problem is if there's
a state senator running who lives in Bella Vista, the people who would naturally vote for them geographically shouldn't have to drive while the other senator in another location has their population right there. And geography, as you know, can make a huge difference. Bella Vista, West Memphis anybody that has a population of 15,000 it's it's a non-issue I don't even know why I have to be down here speaking this this is an obvious thing that we ought to do appreciate a
Chair
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1:50:12
good vote anyone wish to speak against or on if not Senator Murdoch you're recognized to
Senator Reginald Murdock
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1:50:28
speak for thank you madam governor and senator oh we i lost his name senator clark he said everything i was going
to say senator dawson brings out some points of a technicality that can be created a problem
if those things happen in certain ways but certainly as senator clark said and this happened in my district, you know, if a town of 15,000 or more, there's no reason we should have those people to drive to another location to vote, and there's plenty of places that can be suitable, places that can be found for voting locations, so it just makes sense that we support this. It's just a very good bill.
Chair
Unverified
1:51:15
Senator Bryant, you're recognized for a question of Senator Murdoch.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:51:18
Thank you, Madam President. I just need to be clear on this one. I mean, a town of 15,000, several responses are, you shouldn't have a problem. Right. But if you do have a problem, because it was designed as a residential community with very limited commercial space, churches don't want the politics to be injected into their congregations, so they say no, and so the commission tries, and they try for a year to find even 100 square feet
for a single booth, and they cannot do that. what is the result when somebody sues because of the violation of the law? Does that mean, you know, any commercial facility can therefore name their price and the county's on the hook for $100,000 for a two-week lease to accommodate this? That's what I need to be comfortable with, is what
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:52:10
is the result if you cannot comply? Well, in a town populated
of 15,000 or more, The scenario you've created, Senator Bryant, makes it, the answer is simple.
There's not an answer for that because you've created a very narrow narrative that simply says they're going to be in violation. What we're saying, what I'm saying, and what the bill, I think, is saying is that a town of that many, in our examples that we have, the examples that we have, there were plenty of places that it could have been had. So, I guess to the opposite of your question, I have not seen such a scenario in reality.
What your scenario brings out, your narrative brings out, is a super what if. And I understand, you know, that's legislating to the extreme. What we're trying to do here is deal with the norm, the expected, and what has happened. And in the situation that we've had this, it was no reason not to do it besides something that was not, that was maybe more political than just. So the
Senator Joshua Bryant
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1:53:16
answer is we just accept the lawsuit that would come and figure it out through the courts?
Speaker 478
1:53:22
Under the narrative that you present, yes.
Senator Joshua Bryant
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1:53:25
It's a reality in our world. It just is. I mean, they'll try and they'll do their best. I know the commissioners and I know the intent of the law, But if they hit that block and they just cannot get it done, the city says no, churches say no, business owners say no, like what is the next best route?
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:53:45
Yeah, I mean, obviously in that situation, then you would want to work something out that's amenable to everyone involved. That's the only answer I can give you now.
Chair
Unverified
1:53:53
Thank you. Question, Senator Hammer, you're recognized for a question of
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:53:59
Senator Murdoch. Thank you. Senator Murdock, you referenced that the area in question is in
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:54:05
your district. We had passed, and I addressed this Senator Tucker, we had addressed a bill earlier in the session that corrected a problem that was brought to us by the State Board of Elections so that we could resolve what was a complaint and problem previous. Now we're going to pass, if this bill passes,
we will pass a bill that in part will undo what we did previously in order to address that problem. So could you, would you share from your perspective how this bill will not undo what we did previously so it would open the door to the problem that was fixed by the previous piece of legislation? I think I just, my simple statement
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:54:47
would be that I think this bill just makes it all a better situation for all involved. So I just think it's an improvement on what was done earlier.
Chair
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1:54:55
That's my answer. Okay, thank you. Thanks, Senator Murdoch. Appreciate the vote. Any other senators wish to speak against or for? If
not, Senator Tucker, your recognized close. Thank you, Madam President. Just a few points. Senator Murdoch, I was going to tell you, you could have said Senator Clark and you would have covered both of us. So, yeah.
Thank you, Senator Murdoch and Senator Clark, for your comments. Of course, I very much respect Senator Dodson. Speaking up for his district, I did take a look. Bella Vista has a population of more than 32,000 people. I'm going to say it from the well right here. I have the utmost confidence, utmost confidence in the city of Bella Vista with a population of more than 32,000 people that they can find an early voting location. I have zero doubt in my mind. I want to address a question brought to me by Senator Hester.
There's a concern raised that this might create early voting locations on college campuses. The bill very explicitly applies only to cities. A college campus is not a city. It's not a separate municipality. So just to take the University of Arkansas, for example, obviously Fayetteville has a population well in excess of 15,000 people. Fayetteville already has their early voting locations. It's not going to create a new early voting location on the U of A campus. That's not what the bill is about. What the bill is about is making sure that every city in Arkansas with a population of 15,000 or more has an early voting location. As Senator Clark eloquently said,
if you have that many people in one location, they deserve their own early voting location. As a matter of practice, Senator Bryant and Senator Dotson's questions, every city in Arkansas, 100% of cities in Arkansas with a population of 15,000 people, already have an early voting location. So this does not create anything
new. It's just making sure it stays in place. That's it. I'd appreciate a
Chair
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1:56:57
good vote. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
Speaker 256
1:57:03
Boyd? No. Bryant? No. Caldwell? Caldwell? Clark?
Speaker 258
1:57:11
Yes. Crowell? Crowell? Davis? Aye. Dees? No. Dysmang? No. Dotson? No. English? English? Aye. Flippo? Flippo? Yes. Flowers? Aye.
Chair
Unverified
1:57:33
Moore? No. Hammer? No. Hester? No. Hickey? Aye. Hill?
Speaker 258
1:57:49
Yes. Irvin? Aye. Blake Johnson? No. Mark Johnson? No. King?
Speaker 262
1:58:03
Aye. Ludding, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubbafield, Stubbafield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace.
Chair
Unverified
1:58:19
any senator wish to vote who did not vote or change your vote senator kroll yes any other senator seeing no other please cast up the ballot by vote uh 15 yay 16 nay for not voting house bill 1878 fails senator tucker you're recognized for a motion thank you madam president move to expunge the vote by
which House Bill 1878 failed. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. All those in favor
Chair
Unverified
1:58:49
of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it.
Speaker 495
1:58:57
Motion carries. Next, we'll take up House Bill 1903.
Chair
Unverified
1:59:00
House Bill 1903 by Senator English and Representative Walker to amend provisions of the Arkansas Code to
provide school districts with flexibility regarding alternative learning environments. Senator
English, you're recognized. Thank you very much. Basically what this does is it provides some alternative pathways for rural schools to set up ALE programs.
Chair
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1:59:24
Any questions? Anyone wish to
speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Tucker? No. Senator Flowers? No. Senator Davis? Present. Senator Love? No. Letting? No. Scott? No. Senator Davis? Not voting.
Any other senator? Please check the board. Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 29 yay, 5 nay, 1 not voting. House Bill 1903 passes. Please return to the House. Next, Senators,
we're going to go back and take up an amendment that we had passed over earlier
by Senator Irvin that is Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 619.
Speaker 178
2:00:34
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 619. Senator
Irvin, you're recognized. Thank you. motion to concur with the House Amendment. We aligned the school
board elections with legislation that was moving through that ended up passing, so that's aligned now. So appreciate a good vote. All those in
Chair
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2:00:52
favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred
Speaker 34
2:01:01
then. Senate Bill 619 by Senator Irving and
Chair
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2:01:03
Representative Walker concerning the formation of an isolated school district. Senator Irving,
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members of the Senate, I
want to first just say thank you to my colleagues, particularly those on the education committees in the Senate and both in the House. Their input, their advocacy for this bill was unmatched, and I'm just so grateful. I'm grateful to all of you for your input, actually. And I just want to say, take a moment, kind of a personal privilege too, but with us today in the East Gallery, we have folks from Rural Special and Timbo and Umpire here, and on this side in the West
Gallery, we have a bunch of students from Rural Special and Timbo School that came here for this bill. Members, some of our isolated schools in rural Arkansas are some of the best
Speaker 503
2:01:59
in the state of Arkansas. So this bill
Speaker 281
2:02:05
and y'all's input and your support has just been
incredibly meaningful, not just to me, but to all these people and to these students. This bill gives them the opportunity to fight for their schools.
It gives the communities the ability to fight for their schools and to keep their communities alive in these rural, isolated parts of the state of Arkansas. So many of you have worked on legislation to help rural schools and isolated schools. Senator Payton, thank you. Reggie Murdoch, thank you. There have been so many, Senator Flowers, there's been so many that have fought for these small rural schools. What this bill does is allows those schools to be self-governing, to stand on their own two feet,
and this creates the policy and process for them to finally de-annex and de-consolidate on their own. This is education freedom, and this is what it's about in public school. So, I'm grateful for their input. I am more than honored that they came here on a bus this morning to be here to see this bill pass. I'm grateful for their input, and I'm just really humbled and honored that I get to do this job for you guys. Thank you so much for being here for me today.
And guys, I'll answer any questions, but I appreciate a good vote. Questions
Chair
Unverified
2:03:26
for Senator Irvin. Senator Love, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
2:03:32
Madam Governor. Senator, I was just looking through the bill. Define for me what an isolated school district is, besides just being, I mean, do we have it in code as far as the miles away from? Yes. So what is, can you provide that for me just for just common knowledge?
Yes. So it is defined because they receive isolated funding, so it is defined in code. And I don't have exactly the code section, but it is defining code in the Department of Education for the purposes of the funding
that they receive as an isolated school and for isolated enhanced transportation funding.
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
2:04:14
Okay, are these schools smaller than 350, are
these schools, the school districts, they're smaller than 350 students? The schools generally, yes, are. Yes.
All right, thank you. Thank you. But the definition includes, like, where they're located geographically. Most of these schools are very isolated if you look at where they're located geographically. And so that is part of the definition, too. And that takes into consideration particularly students that have to drive, you know, ride on buses for hours and hours and hours, and the roads and the terrain and all of that. So all of that goes into the definition of isolated. Okay, thank you.
Chair
Unverified
2:04:54
Yes, sir. Any other questions for Senator Irvin? Senator Clark, you are recognized for
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:05:01
a question. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Irvin, for bringing this bill. You know, Alaska is two-thirds the size of the rest of the United States. Are you aware that in Alaska they have schools that have as few as five kids because you'd have to put them on planes? And so we can see the need there.
Yes. But my second session, we had a bill, a very popular bill, a bill that I liked, that you couldn't have kids on a bus for over an hour. Yeah. And Malvern School District came to me and said, we inherited Carthage when we did all the consolidation. And there were good things that happened during consolidation. Not because we wanted them, not before we asked for them, but the state asked us to take them. Right. They said, if we can't put kids on a bus for over an hour, we'll have to send taxis to Carthage.
Those type of situations should have never
happened, should they? No, they shouldn't have. And they shouldn't have happened. And all you have to do is look at Wiener, Arkansas. It's all you have to do. And like I said in the House education, if I could have turned back the clock, I would have. I think we could have solved a lot of these problems. Because when those schools closed, it literally ripped the heart out of those communities. And you know that former Senator Linda Collins Smith fought so hard
because she was a graduate from Wiener School. And I went there with her, actually. And that's the other part of it. These are excellent schools. They're excellent. Why? Why would we close schools that are performing at the top of their academics? Why would we do that? And so we need to, you know, make sure that we're not bureaucratic and make sure that our policy gives a pathway for communities to go in there and support their schools.
And you've done a lot of work in this area, too, Senator Clark, and everybody, and I just really
Chair
Unverified
2:07:05
appreciate it. Thank you for bringing this bill. Any other questions for Senator Urban? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Payton,
you're recognized to speak for. Thank you, Madam President. Folks, I graduated in Wilburn. I think the most we ever had was 172 students, kindergarten through 12th grade.
I'm actually a member of the largest graduating class ever, and that was 26 students. 7th through 12th grade, when we graduated 26, had 23 left. I should say 7th through 11th, because we graduated. It was the only school in the county operating in the black when it got shut down. consolidation has not made education better it hasn't made it cheaper my district is riddled with little communities where the school was shut
down next was the gas station the little country store the post office it destroys the community population-wise and everything when you don't have a school. People are not going to have their kids bust for an hour. They're going to move closer to a school. Private
schools have proven that you don't need 350 students in order to have a quality education. I was proud
two years ago with the Learns Act. I lobbied hard to eliminate that 350
student rule, and I really, really appreciate y'all helping do that, and I really appreciate senator urban bringing this bill we used to play timbo rule special back when i could play basketball
well some would argue i never could but back when i did participate i'd appreciate appreciate a good vote thank you
Chair
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2:09:00
senator payton any other senator wish to speak against on or for the bill if not senator urban your recognized close
thank you some of the best education also
as from homeschool kids you know we have a senator among us that is homeschooled class of one class of one y'all we can just look around at each other and see the value of these small schools I won't continue but just to say thank you this is really important for these people up here in these galleries and I'm just honored that you guys helped me with this so I would appreciate a
Chair
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2:09:43
good vote. Thanks. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote?
Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35 yea, 0 nay, Senate Bill 1619. passes as concurred
in, please enroll it. Next, we will
take up House Bill. Before we do, let me say welcome to all
Speaker 520
2:10:21
these students. Thank you all for making the trip and for being at State Capitol today. So thank you
Speaker 58
2:10:42
all for being here. Next, we will take up House Bill 1945.
Chair
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2:10:47
House Bill 1945 by Representative McCollum and Senator Davis to amend the Arkansas Opportunity
Public School Choice Act, to amend the Public School Choice Act of 2015, and to allow a student to transfer to another public school within his or her resident district. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:11:05
President. This is a companion bill to a Senate bill that I've already run and is on the governor's desk. It just allows for intra-district school choice and puts the max cap back on at 95% for schools. Happy to take any
Chair
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2:11:19
questions. Any questions for Senator Davis? Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Senator Davis is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Flowers, present. Senator Dismang, no. Any other senator? Senator Tucker, no. Any other senator? Scott, no. Any other senator? Seeing
no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 31
yay, three nay, one present. House Bill 1945 passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 34
2:12:03
House Bill 1951. House Bill 1951, Representative Collins and
Chair
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2:12:07
Senator Bryant to set forth authorized domain extensions for higher education and government websites. Senator Bryant, you're
Senator Joshua Bryant
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2:12:15
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, this bill would require our state government and local governments to use the .gov domain, require educational facilities to use .edu domain, and our military installations to use .mil domains, gets us away from using commercialized domains like .com or .org,
provides a higher level of security and comfort for our citizens that access our sites to reduce phishing and other scams that are more common. It's probably some bill that we should have done a decade ago to ensure we acquire the right domain names, but it does give a lead-up time to allow these organizations that aren't already doing it, which is very few, to
Chair
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2:12:56
acquire and go through that process. Questions for Senator Bryant.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:12:59
Senator Petty, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Just to clarify, I'm good with this, but we're
Senator Jim Petty
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2:13:04
not going to give up the Arkansas.com
or any of those commercials that we do own. We're going to retain those as well, right? To
Senator Joshua Bryant
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2:13:13
my knowledge, that's not affected, but if we do business through the website, it goes through to the dot gov. So like dot gov is managed by CISA at the federal level, Department of Homeland Security and it provides the requirement that you verify that you are truly a state that you are truly a city or a county or a local authority and then you will use that domain to access and do business to the government.
Speaker 26
2:13:38
Okay, thank you. Any other questions for Senator Bryan? Anyone wish to speak against or
Chair
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2:13:45
for? Senator you're recognized closed. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to
change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by
a vote of 35 ayes, 0 nay. House Bill 1951 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 1959.
House Bill 1959 by Representative Brown and Senator McKee. to abolish the use of a writ of scyre facie as the means of reviving an outstanding judgment, to allow judgment to be revived by notice and to amend the law concerning fees to be charged by clerks of county of
Senator Matt McKee
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2:14:33
circuit courts. Senator McKee, you're recognized. Scyre Facius, which Senator Flowers has notified me in Arkansas legal circles is pronounced sire facie.
is a writ to make known. And basically what this bill does is what federal courts have done and does away with that writ. It's the same thing that several other states have done. There are other processes in place in those states. This basically just does the same thing in Arkansas. So there's no known opposition. Talked to several lawyers about it. Had to learn what that word
meant. And so I'd appreciate any questions you got. I'm happy to answer.
Chair
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2:15:14
Any questions for Senator McKee? Anyone
wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator King, not
voting. Any other senator? Seeing no other senator, please cast up the ballot by
a vote of 34, yay, 0, nay, 1, not voting. House
bill 1959 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 1961. House Bill 1961 by Representative Anchor and Senator Boyd to allow medical providers temporary exemptions from federal information, blocking regulations, safeguard patients during information disclosure and declare an emergency. Senator Boyd, you're recognized.
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:16:02
Thank you, Madam President. The digital age has changed health care. House Bill 1961 is about preserving the doctor-patient relationship. It provides doctors a
narrow case-by-case option to delay releasing serious test results, not medical records, just appointment-related test results, until they've had a chance to meet with or call the patient and walk through the results with empathy and care. We've worked closely with the Medical Society and Attorney General's Office on the language, and while federal laws in this space are complex and overlapping, we believe House Bill 1961 strikes the right balance.
It's good for a patient in his or her care and allows the professional clarity a patient deserves.
Chair
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2:16:42
Questions for Senator Boyd. Anyone with a question by Senator Sullivan, you're recognized. So
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:16:50
you're protecting me from my own information? Actually, no,
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:16:56
Senator. I'm trying to protect the preservation of medicine. There's a reason we have a doctor-patient relationship, and there sometimes are confusing messages that get delivered
when I just see a random result that need to be delivered with empathy and care. And so it doesn't permanently shield you. If there's something of concern, like it's a cancer diagnosis, an HIV diagnosis, something that's just a lab result or a test scan, it gives the doctor the opportunity to put a very small halt and actually have the conversation and deliver that information to you the way it was intended to be designed in the doctor-patient relationship,
not the way it's been manipulated with the digital age where we just get information, then we see it, we're concerned, we go Google, and the worst comes to mind. And that's just not helpful. Yeah,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:17:48
so is that opportunity for the patient
to make an agreement with their doctor to withhold that information right now? Could a patient not say, Doc, if you come up against something that you don't want to publish, don't publish it and call me first, can they not make that agreement now?
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:18:08
Senator, I think they could request that, but most of us don't go to the doctor and think about what is the news that I don't want the doctor to share with me via some immediately uploaded thing to a charter or what have you. So I think there's a good legislation.
Chair
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2:18:27
Other questions? Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you,
Madam President. I really support the idea. I think it's good. But I came up with a question. Okay.
It's going to require specific action case by case by the doctor. Is that correct? That's correct. So the doctor can't set a blanket policy about just hold all mine 15 days or whatever. He's going to have to take positive action on that case to say hold it.
Speaker 548
2:18:56
That's exactly right. Okay, thank you. Other
Chair
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2:19:01
questions? Senator Davis, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:19:04
Thank you, Madam President. So I hear what Senator Payton's asking about case-by-case with the doctor,
but I have my chart for my kids and for myself. so when they have lab work done or whatever, it is sent immediately to my chart so that I can view it. How does that impact? Because that comes to me
before the doctor touches it. So it seems
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:19:27
like it would be blanket. It is not blanket and that's exactly the case is before something goes to quote my chart that might be a cancer diagnosis or it could be the MS or something that's questionable that isn't even clear, rather than it just immediately uploading, it gives the doctor the
chance to intervene and say, look, I need to deliver this with empathy and care and a rational explanation, not just have something go into my chart that once it's there, it can never be taken away. Once that mindset is there, it can never be taken away. This has farther reaching implications. It could affect if you apply for life insurance one day. It needs to be delivered the right way, and this is the best way to do it. So federal law allows this. This just matches state law to give this authorization.
Senator Breanne Davis
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2:20:14
I have a follow-up question. So, like, if we go to Children's to get lab work done for one of my kids, and that's where I have my chart for her, but our pediatrician is at a different clinic in a different city and I don't think uses MyChart, so how will that work if
Children's is automatically uploading it, but the pediatrician, the actual doctor, like,
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:20:39
can you help walk me through that? None of this is going to interfere from that standpoint.
Like, the information is going to be there. Most of the time, things are going to get uploaded just like you're used to now. This is just in a case-by-case situation where there's something very sensitive or something that requires explanation, or maybe it's something questionable. And so it gives the person who you trust with your care the ability to make a decision on a one-time specific thing to say that doesn't need to be delivered until I can deliver it in person or over the phone with empathy and care.
Chair
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2:21:20
Senator Love, you're recognized for a question. And then
Speaker 554
2:21:25
Senator Hammer. Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Boyd, who determines
Senator Fredrick J. Love
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2:21:31
the right way to deliver the information? Is that determined by the patient or is that determined
Speaker 542
2:21:39
by the doctor? There's a doctor-patient relationship. This works to preserve the doctor-patient relationship or the provider.
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:21:45
You say doctor, but it could be another provider so that it is delivered the way it should be
because it takes a relationship. It's not just a random lab result or a random test result. This gives them, and again, most of the time it's just going to be, my potassium was checked, my potassium's going to be uploaded. That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about things that tend to be very sensitive, and it's a two-person situation where it's delivered with compassion, care, empathy, the things that help preserve a doctor-patient relationship. When we take all of that out, I don't know what that is, but it's not doctor-patient
care like we've had historically in the United States. Okay,
Senator Fredrick J. Love
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2:22:31
so my question is, should that be determined by the patient
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:22:39
doctor? I think that the doctor is the one who looks at something and has the education and training to make a determination. This isn't forever protecting a patient. This is in a narrow situation where there could be sensitive information or a sensitive idea that is presented such as again i mean if you if i were diagnosed
with some rare disease i would want to hear that from the doctor not accidentally catch it before someone was able to see because it was uploaded to my chart but
Senator Fredrick J. Love
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2:23:11
should that be determined by me or should that be determined by my doctor whether or
not i should i want to hear the news Okay, so prior to
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:23:22
2025, it would have been delivered by your doctor. And I think that this helps preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Okay, thank you. Senator Hammer, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Kim Hammer
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2:23:35
Thank you. If I'm a patient and I'm aware that this law is in place, does this law prohibit me from telling my doctor, I don't care what the results are, I don't care if they get put on my chart, I want to see them as soon as possible, regardless. Does this bill prohibit a patient from asking for
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:23:56
that? No, because again, we are trying to preserve the doctor-patient relationship. That's what this bill is about, is because of the health care today, we've had some situations that seem to erode that doctor-patient relationship.
That's not healthy. That's not individualized patient care. I don't know if that's societal practice of medicine. I don't really know what it is. But it's just like a pastor in a relationship with someone in your congregation. You have a relationship, and this bill allows information to be shared directly in a rare circumstance. This is not like, again, it's a random, you know, I got my cholesterol checked. That's not what I anticipate this would be used for.
this is going to be, again, a sensitive diagnosis, a sensitive issue like, hey, maybe it's MS or Alzheimer's or, you know, something along those lines.
Speaker 557
2:24:48
And then the other question is, this is intended to hide information
Senator Kim Hammer
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2:24:52
from the patient because ultimately there is that responsibility of the physician to share that information. It's just allowing the physician to be able to share it in a controlled environment so as to ease the news that
they may have to give to the patient. Is that a correct assessment? Yes, because when
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:25:10
I go to, not that I went to medical school,
but I went to health care school, right? I'm a pharmacist. I am trained to deliver information in an empathetic, caring, compassionate way. And this allows that exchange to take place the way humans were designed to interact. Thank you. Your microphone's on. Senator
Chair
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2:25:36
Petty, you're recognized, and then Senator Bryant. Thank
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:25:40
you, Madam President. I thought I understood this bill.
I've heard some questions, brought up some good points, and I just want to clarify. So what you're saying is this is not going to address, I go in for my standard lipid lab work, that's going to automatically continue to be uploaded to our MyChart or whatever. If I go in and they're going to biopsy
Senator Jim Petty
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2:26:05
something, that test result is what we're talking about here. Yes, so what this
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:26:12
is, okay, so I get something, I have some kind of test result.
It's questionable, maybe it's cancer, right? Like, my doctor doesn't want it to immediately go, oh my goodness, I have cancer. It's giving the doctor the opportunity to interact the way historically in America a doctor has interacted with a patient to deliver information in a caring, compassionate, empathetic way. Thank you. Senator Bryant, you're recognized
Chair
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2:26:42
for a question. Thank you, Madam
Senator Joshua Bryant
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2:26:45
President. Senator Boyd, what law requires them to give the information right now
rather than just having their staff hold that information until they can make that compassionate call? Right now, what
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:26:58
is happening is, again, you've got MyChart and some other provider who is just automatically uploading this. This would, again, let the provider see it, make a rational decision that in this rare circumstance, I want to talk to the patient first. So they don't have the ability now
Senator Joshua Bryant
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2:27:14
to reach out to that provider, that third party, and say, go ahead and hold the uploading of that information until I can reach out.
Because I'm thinking about the test I have. I'd like to have them the next day, but sometimes it's been two weeks. And I don't know if that's because the hospital held it or the results just haven't come back in. So I don't know of a law that requires them to disseminate that information prior to the authorization of the physician. Is there such a law? What
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:27:41
I would say is we wouldn't be sitting here debating this if this weren't an issue.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:27:47
Well, it's an issue, but is there a current law that requires them to give you the information prior to that call?
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:27:56
I'm going to come back to there's a reason We're debating this bill, and there's a reason this is happening, and
Chair
Unverified
2:28:09
there's a reason we need clarity in the law.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:28:12
Okay, thank you. Senator Dodson, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam Governor. Senator Boyd, on, I guess as I
was understanding it, part of the reasoning that I was given for the 30-day exclusion in there is because it would match or align with federal HIPAA regulations and guidelines.
So, don't they already have the ability to do some of these things under federal law right now? So,
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:28:39
this law helps to align us with federal law. So, without this law, Senator Bryant, there's a lack of clarity. The 2021 federal rule and current state laws conflict and make providers very hesitant to delay releasing the information, even when it could harm the patient. So, out of fear of violating the law, most just dump everything immediately into the portal unreviewed.
Senator Jim Dotson
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2:28:59
This provides the clarity we need. So it's a provider choice on whether or not they're, because the ambiguity that they perceive being there. So they just dump everything, but they're not, under federal law, they're not required to dump
Senator Justin Boyd
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2:29:21
everything. No, because of federal law, they feel like they are because it's not clear. This provides the clarity that they need so that in those one-off cases where we're concerned about the patient
and what that means, then it would allow them to delay until
they can actually talk to the patient. All right. Any
Chair
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2:29:43
other questions of Senator Boyd? No other questions. Anyone wish to speak
against or for? For Senator Crowell, you're recognized to speak for. Colleagues, I'm
Senator Steve Crowell
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2:29:54
sorry. It's the last day, but I'm going to be brief. I have a personal experience with a loved one. They got a MS diagnosis that was put on their chart.
The doctor, even in the meeting, said, I don't think this is MS. We've got to do some more tests. It was put on their chart. To this day, getting certain insurances, life insurances and everything, is pertinent or impossible. They do not have MS. The second test, 25 days later, proved that that first test was wrong. So I think that we should allow the doctors to have this ability because I have lived that for the last 20 years with a very, very close relative.
Chair
Unverified
2:30:44
Anyone wish to speak against or on? If not, Senator Hammer, you're
Senator Kim Hammer
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2:30:51
recognized to speak for. Members, I'll be brief, but I've pastored for 47
years, hospice chaplain for 25. I can tell you the only thing worse than dealing with a family that has been delivered news that is devastating to them is when a family has delivered news or a patient sees something that at the time that they see it is not the whole picture
and they're emotionally distraught only to come back maybe that afternoon or the next morning and the doctor come in and say let me put this in context and here's what we can do that emotional time in that in that blackout period is is excruciating to those families and this will help alleviate that so that everything is done on accurate and if you don't trust your doctor maybe it's time for you to get a new doctor I trust mine that if they
sit me down and say I knew this yesterday but I wanted to tell you in person that is the sign of a compassionate physician that wants to make sure you hear it first hand and not get it later
Chair
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2:32:04
so appreciate a good vote for this bill any other senator wish to speak against
Senator Fredrick J. Love
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2:32:17
on against senator lob to speak against Thank you Madam Chair. Friends, I didn't even expect to speak against this bill, but here's my concern. It's my information. I can understand the fact that when you get sensitive information delivered to you that your doctor wants to explain it to you.
but it is my information and so for me to have to to opt in or to ask somebody to provide information that is mine there is there's something that is just wrong with that i should not have to go and say hey i need my information hipaa actually is for you to have access to your information. That's what HIPAA is all about, is that a patient should be able to access their
information. And then another thing about the 30-day rule, they have up to 30 days to release your information. I have been in the same situation where I have stomach issues, and I was getting something, a biopsy to my stomach. I don't want to wait for up to 30 days for a doctor to be able talk to me. If it's my information, I think you should provide it. I shouldn't have to ask to go get my information. I shouldn't have to ask my doctor to get my information. It is my health
information. And so what I'm going to ask you all is to really carefully consider what we're saying here. It is your information. Why should I have to ask my doctor for my information? Yes, you know what? Uploading it to my chart, it might be an issue. But once again, it's called my chart because it's my information and I should have
access to it. So I would ask you to truly think about what we're doing here and ask you for a no
Speaker 584
2:34:23
vote. Thank you. Any other senator wish to speak for, on, or against? If not, Senator
Speaker 550
2:34:30
Boyd, you're free to close. Thank you, Madam
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:34:33
President. Look, this is a good bill. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to wrap my mind around this as well and understand what, and it really came back to the doctor-patient relationship.
That's what we're all used to. That is what we've practiced in America. This isn't saying anything about asking. That information is going in your chart one way or the other. And it doesn't affect your, quote, medical records. This is a narrow case-by-case option to delay releasing serious test results. Again, not releasing medical records, that's not what we're talking about. Those are yours. But, again, you heard from Senator Kroll.
You heard from Senator Hammer. Sometimes things get delivered and they create more concern than what we help solve. So this is a good bill. I would really appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
2:35:32
Any senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish
Speaker 26
2:35:43
to change his or her vote?
Senator Penzo, no.
Chair
Unverified
2:35:49
Senator Scott, no. Senator Love, no. Davis,
no. Dees, present. Wallace, no. McKee, no. King, not voting. Gilmore, no. Dotson, no. Sullivan,
no. Flippo, present.
Murdoch, present. Hickey, no. Any other senator? Please
check the board. Senator Bryant, present. Dismang, present. Any other senator? Please
check the board. Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote
of 18, yay, 10, nay, 1, not voting, 6, present. House Bill 1961
passes. but the corresponding emergency clause is not adopted.
Please transmit, or rather return, to the House. Next, we
Speaker 495
2:37:03
will take up House Bill 1966. House Bill
Speaker 34
2:37:10
1966 by Representative Barnett to authorize an incorporated town
Chair
Unverified
2:37:14
or a city of the second class to petition the State Board of Education for the establishment of a local public elementary school or satellite school under certain conditions.
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:37:28
Senator Murdoch, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Colleagues, this is a permissive bill that allows for a petition to the State Board of Education by a city of the second class and the existing school district to petition to have, to utilize facilities basically in that town. It's good because it prevents consolidation situations many times. You have, in rural areas especially, you have long ranges of drive time on school buses, and they have facilities in these cities,
and they can utilize those to have elementary schools, stop the children from being on the bus for a long period of time, etc. So lots of positives, and it allows them to utilize facilities that they have left over after consolidation as well. So it's just a win-win. The State Board of Education will make the final decision after the petition
is done. I take any questions.
Chair
Unverified
2:38:26
Questions for Senator Murdoch. Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Speaker 26
2:38:43
Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast
Chair
Unverified
2:38:53
up the ballot. By vote of 35 yeas, 0 nay, House Bill 1966 passes. Please return to the House.
Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:39:14
President. I'd like to make a motion we expunge the vote by which the emergency clause on House
Chair
Unverified
2:39:22
Bill 1961 failed. Motion to expunge the vote by which the emergency clause on House Bill 1961
failed. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:39:33
Aye. Any opposed? No. Ayes have it.
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:39:36
motion carries may i have a parliamentary inquiry sorry to waste everybody's time with this is there any problem i mean does it create an issue for the bill if we just send it down there without an emergency clause because the house passed one just re-voted okay then i'd make a motion we revote the
Speaker 256
2:40:08
emergency clause on house bill 1961. Boyd?
Speaker 258
2:40:18
Boyd? Yes. Bryant? Caldwell? Caldwell? Clark? Aye. Crowell? Aye. Davis? Davis? Dees?
D's Dismang Dotson Dotson English Flippo Flippo Flowers
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:40:40
Gilmore Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Irvin,
Chair
Unverified
2:40:54
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, King,
Speaker 258
2:41:05
Aye. Letting? Aye. Love? Love? McKee?
Speaker 260
2:41:10
Aye. Murdoch? Murdoch? Payton? Yes. Penzo? Penzo? Petty?
Speaker 262
2:41:25
Scott? Scott? Stone? Stone? Stubbafil? Stubbeville
Speaker 266
2:41:35
Sullivan Tucker Wallace Wallace E. Senator want to
Speaker 344
2:41:59
vote who did not vote? Rice Yes Penzo Yes Scott Yes Right I'm sorry, Senator Scott
Chair
Unverified
2:42:06
did you say okay Stubblefield, yes Dismang, yes any other senators seeing no other, please
cast up the ballot by a vote of 26 yea, 0 nay,
9 not voting the emergency clause for House Bill 1961 is adopted please return House Bill 1961 and the emergency clause to the House.
Speaker 178
2:42:39
House Bill 1967. House Bill 1967 by Representative Brown and Senator Penzo to amend the law
Chair
Unverified
2:42:49
concerning the unlawful distribution of sexual images or recordings. Senator
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
2:42:56
Penzo, you're recognized. Thank you. House Bill 1967 addresses the unlawful distribution of intimate images. As our laws currently stand, the crime of distributing sexual images without consent is limited in scope. It only applies when the offender is a current or
former dating relationship with the victim. But the reality is image-based abuse in today's digital world is far broader, more sophisticated, and far more harmful than our current statute accounts for. This bill does three key things. First, it removes the requirement that the perpetrator be a current or former sexual partner or family member of the victim. Second, expands the definition of internet harm. And third, it preserves the distinction between malicious conduct and other cases that, while
still harmful, may lack the clear intent to harm. This is a carefully balanced update to our law that responds to the growing and deeply damaging crisis of non-consensual image sharing. It ensures that Arkansas does not fall behind in addressing this modern form of abuse while continuing to respect due process and appropriate sentencing. We worked with the AG's office on this and they are in support of the bill.
Speaker 26
2:44:18
Appreciate a good vote. No questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing
Chair
Unverified
2:44:31
no objection, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By
vote of 35, yay, zero, nay. House Bill 1967 passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 26
2:44:54
Senators, I'm going to ask for a five-minute recess. We've been going for almost three hours, and we need at least a five-minute-ish recess for administrative matters, so Senate will stand in recess for five to ten minutes.
Unknown speaker
2:45:24
Thank you.
Thank you.
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Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll see you next time.
Transcription by CastingWords
We'll be right back.
Chair
Unverified
2:59:24
Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk?
Speaker 283
2:59:32
Notice of passage of Senate Bill 437 by the
Speaker 612
2:59:37
House as amended. Please file it. Calendar.
Chair
Unverified
2:59:41
Notice of passage of Senate Bill 491 from the House as passed as amended and Merchants Clause adopted. Calendar. Notice of passage of Senate Bill 601 by the House as amended 1 and 2.
Calendar. Notice of passage of Senate Bill
625 as passed as amended number 1 with an emergency clause. Calendar. Notice of concurrence of Senate concurrent resolution 5. Enroll it. Enroll it.
Notice of Concurrence by the House of Senate Joint Resolution 15. Enroll it.
Senate Bill 347, return from the House as passed. Enroll. Enroll it.
Senate Bill 647 by Senator Dismane to create the Economic Development District Act of 2025, Senate Bill
647. City, county, and local.
Speaker 16
3:01:14
Senators, that is everything from across the
Chair
Unverified
3:01:19
desk. We are returning to the business agenda, beginning with House Bill 1974.
Speaker 34
3:01:27
House Bill 1974 by Representative Long and Senator McKee to prohibit state entities from employing unauthorized aliens to establish the E-Verify Requirement Act and to require state entities
Chair
Unverified
3:01:41
to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
3:01:44
Senator McKee, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, 1974 just seeks to implement a simple process to ensure that everyone hired by government in this state is legally here in the country. I'd be happy to take any questions. Questions for Senator McKee? Senator Tucker, you're
Chair
Unverified
3:02:02
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senator, is this already required by federal
law? Yes. So then what's the purpose? My
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
3:02:13
understanding is that they have to fill out a form
and not every business or entity is great at recognizing when those forms are filled out fraudulently. This just requires that we double-check through the E-Verify system And so it basically completes the process and standardizes it across the state. Okay. I've been made aware that the e-verify system is not perfect and
it may have some false flags at times. Is that a concern for this? I think that that's
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
3:02:41
true with just about every system that we have. It's unfortunate, but there are ways to cure those false positives.
Okay. Last question is, do you know, is there a fiscal impact on this or is there an impact on staff
time for training and management dealing with false flags and
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
3:02:58
that sort of thing? There should not be. If it's minimum, the legal counsel with TSS said that they had no issues with it. They liked the idea that it was standardizing it across the state and the AG helped write the language, so there shouldn't be any problems there. Thank
Chair
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3:03:16
you, Senator. Any other questions for Senator McKee? Seeing no questions.
Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator McKee is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please
roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote?
Senator Tucker, no. Senator Love, no. Senator Scott, no. Any other senator? Murdoch, no. Letting, no. Flowers, no. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up the
ballot by a vote of 29 yea, 6 nay.
House Bill 1974 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 1975. House
Speaker 34
3:04:05
Bill 1975 by Senator Deese and Representative Gramlich to create the Child Content Creation Protection Act. Senator Deese, you're
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
3:04:19
recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, HB 1975 is the, it creates the Child Content Creation Protection Act.
If you've seen, there's some Netflix documentaries about this topic that really just shows how some of these situations have gotten out of control where parents and guardians have created a lot of content with their family, with their kids, and have been profiting off of it. And what this does is it matches some legislation that some other state has just recently passed as well. It puts some thresholds and parameters around it where you could argue that it's called the Child Actor Protection Act.
So it ensures that these kids are actually getting paid for their work on this content and requires parents to put money in trust. But really there's thresholds. So, this puts thresholds where you've got to be profiting off of content online that has a threshold. And so, the majority of things are probably okay, but you've got the top-tier content creators that are really kind of exploiting their kids. And so, this puts parameters.
Basically, if you are receiving millions and millions of views and paid, profiteering, monetized content, it just has some parameters that really make sure that kids are looked after with this. And so with that, we'd appreciate a good
Chair
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3:05:47
vote. Questions for Senator Dees? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote?
Dotson, no. Hill, no. Any other senators? Senator King, not voting. Any other senator? I'm sorry, Senator Flowers, present. Any other senator? Seeing no other. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 31 yea, 2 nay, 1 not voting, 1 present. House Bill 1975 passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 34
3:06:34
1979, Mr. Gassaway and Senator Blake Johnson. An act to amend Arkansas law to allow
Chair
Unverified
3:06:41
warrantless searches by a law enforcement officer of a person placed on suspended in position of sentence. Senator Blake Johnson, you're
Speaker 62
3:06:53
recognized. Members, this just adds the person placed on suspended imposition of a sentence to the
Speaker 63
3:06:59
list where the warrantless searches can be done.
The other ones are the probationer or parolee, and these are the folks that we've let out because we don't have room in the jails and prison.
Chair
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3:07:19
Any questions? Anyone would speak against or for? Senators closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote?
King, not voting. Flowers, no. Peyton, no. Bryant, present. Scott, no. Please check Scott, no. Any other senators, please check the board. Seeing
no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 38, 3,
Speaker 302
3:07:55
nay, 1, not voting, 1, present. House Bill 1979 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 1983.
Chair
Unverified
3:08:05
House Bill 1983, by Representative Eubanks and Senator Stubblefield, to amend Acts 1973, No. 167, Section 4, concerning the sale of certain property to the West Ark Area Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America. Senator
Stubblefield, you're recognized. Thank
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
3:08:24
you, Madam President. Colleagues, basically this is just a cleanup bill. In 1974, the state bought, or the Boy Scouts of America bought a piece of land from the sanatorium there in Booneville.
And most of it is grown up. It has a lake and has some buildings on it. And in order to maintain that, the only income they have is they lease either some of the land hunt or some of the land for timber. And the only problem is the deed has a reversionary clause in it that prevents them to be able to do that. So this cleans up that language. In fact, in 1991, there was another bill passed to try to clean this up,
and they still left some vague language in the bill. So this basically takes care of that vague language and takes care of
the problem they had. I'd be glad to
Chair
Unverified
3:09:31
take any questions. Any questions for Senator Stubblefield? Seeing no questions, anyone wish to speak against or
for, Senator has closed. Yeah. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote?
Senator Scott, no. Senator Love, no. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33 yay
Speaker 302
3:10:01
to nay. House Bill 1983 passes. Please return to the House. House
Chair
Unverified
3:10:10
Bill 1984. House Bill 1984 by Representative Hudson and Senator Davis to create a designation for a registered sex offender on a driver's license or identification card.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:10:21
Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill just puts a designation on a driver's license for a level 3 and level 4 sex offenders. Happy to
Chair
Unverified
3:10:35
take any questions. Any questions for
Senator Davis? anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Flowers? No. Any other senator? Seeing no other. Senator Tucker? No. Any other
Senator, seeing no other, please cast up the ballot
Speaker 302
3:11:04
by a vote of 33 yea, 2 nay. House Bill 1984 passes. Please return to the House. House
Chair
Unverified
3:11:13
Bill 1986. House Bill 1986 by Senator Wallace concerning excused absences for children of fallen service members
and children of fallen first responders. Senator Wallace, you're
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
3:11:26
recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, this bill only applies to children or fallen service members or children or fallen first responders.
It says that a student who meets one of the following qualifications shall not be considered absent from his or her public school for the time during which they are absent from school due to a mental health issue or if they are at a sponsoring event supporting the families of fallen service members. In order for the student to qualify for this, they must receive an excused absence and provide written documentation from their parents or their guardian.
With that, I stand by for
Chair
Unverified
3:12:10
your questions. Any questions for Senator Wallace? Anyone wish to speak against or
for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her
vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a
vote of 35 yeas, 0 nay. House Bill 1986 passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 34
3:12:43
1988 by Representative Tosh and Senator Hill to amend
Chair
Unverified
3:12:47
the law concerning distribution of auto auction fees for salvaged, titled, or parts-only titled vehicles and to amend the purpose
for which auto auction fees may be used. Senator Hill, you're
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
3:13:00
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, all this bill does is reallocate money, 50% of it for the state police,
from their inspection oversight area for auto auctions to the operations and divisions of the state police. Questions for
Chair
Unverified
3:13:21
Senator Hill? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hill has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator King not voting. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up
the ballot. By vote of 34 yeas, 0 nay, 1 not voting. House Bill 1988 passes. please return to
Speaker 34
3:13:57
the House. House Bill 1991. House Bill 1991 by Representative Childress, Senator
Chair
Unverified
3:14:02
Bryant, to provide for certain exceptions related to residential development under the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Senator
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:14:08
Bryant you're recognized. Thank you Madam President. Members House Bill 1991 will allow for an exception in our residential fire codes for land that cannot accommodate two
two entrances or an entrance and an exit to be able to, if they expand their lot sizes to one acre and they go over the 30 home minimum before the requirement is to put sprinkler in all homes of the division, to be able to just have the one entrance. And so we've got areas in the state that are just landlocked, surrounded by timberlands that will likely never get sold. And what they did is they sold that frontage off to developers and they made access points to specific properties of a certain size and developers want to increase the quantity of our homes. They
want to you know make homes affordable but under the current under the current code they cannot do that unless they invest in fire suppression systems for homes over for residential development over 30 homes or provide that second access which is impossible to provide for these lots. And so it does not apply to the municipalities second class or first class or towns.
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
3:15:14
It's only in rural areas. Yes, so I'd be glad to take any questions.
Chair
Unverified
3:15:20
Any questions for Senator Bryant? Anyone wish to speak against?
Oh, yes, Senator Love, you're recognized for a
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
3:15:28
question. Senator Bryant, is there any opposition to this bill? So the fire chiefs are concerned about
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:15:34
the process. They said they're not necessarily concerned about the ask. They understand the ask. They just were more concerned about the process because the volumes of code of the protection It's three volumes, over 2,000 pages. They're just concerned that the legislative body is going to insert themselves, and they would like that process to be worked out.
The concern is the process is difficult to get worked out because this has been in code for about 20 years, and it's not ideally enforced everywhere. In fact, I encourage you to drive and look through neighborhoods that are within 20 years old, and you'll see there's well over the 30 homes. And so what this will do is provide more clarity for those rather asking permission rather than forgiveness that they can increase the quantity and supply of our houses have the right to their property but still provide that separation of homes to ensure that some level of fire
protection is given. So the county judges were in support of it obviously our developers and real estate professionals are in support of it. Fire officials are a little bit hesitant because of the process. Okay thank you. Senator Payton you're recognized.
Thank you, Madam President. Is there anything in the bill that, I mean, I understand the problem you're trying to cure is where somebody has a piece of property that's pretty much landlocked and they don't have an option for a second access. But is there anything in the bill that
determines whether that situation exists or does this bill allow somebody who has frontage and has maybe frontage on multiple streets to only do one entrance? I would say the bill does not address
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:17:12
that specific instance. It was kind of late in the session and they're just trying to flesh this out. I would say that that local developer will work with those rural fire departments to determine that and accommodate that. Developers aren't looking to be nefarious in their activity. This is looking to solve a specific problem
that is widespread for these specific circumstances. Well, I'm not sure it's nefarious. I
mean, like you said, you see over here somebody that built development with one entrance and you say why shouldn't I be able to do that because just because I I'm not landlocked it'd be less expensive to build one entrance than two or three but so there's nothing in this bill that would make a determination as to whether they should get the exemption or not no not specifically okay thank you
Chair
Unverified
3:18:01
any other questions for Senator Bryant Seeing no other questions,
anyone wish to speak against or for? Speaking for Senator Sullivan, you're recognized. Folks, buyers have an
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:18:14
opportunity to make that decision. They know what the rules are when they buy a home there. And they should have the freedom to buy a home there, in my opinion, if they choose to. This amounts to no more than a fine on somebody that buys a house somewhere, a $10,000 fine.
If you want to build your home and live where you choose to live, I would support
Chair
Unverified
3:18:40
the bill. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak against, for, or on? Seeing no other, Senator Bryant has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any Senator wish to change his or her vote? Rice present. Stone, no. Letting, no.
Payton, present. King, no. Murdoch, no. Tucker, no. Gilmore, no. Petty, present. Love, no. Clark, no. Davis, no. Scott, no. Any other senator? Please check the board. Senator Dismang? Present. Senator Dismang? Present.
Speaker 26
3:19:26
Senator Flippo? Present. Any other senator? Please check
Chair
Unverified
3:19:35
the board. Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by
a vote of 20 yea, 10 nay, 5 present. House Bill 1991
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
3:19:59
Senator King. Thank you. Up in the gallery is the Mount Judy Middle School, and they are being brought down here by Miss Julie Campbell, who is one. Oh, I'm sorry. They're coming in. Oh, there they are. Okay. Okay, I want
to make sure they get to Mount Judy Middle School, and they're represented
Shepard by Ms. Julie Campbell, who was part
of C&H Farms, and who are some of the best people in Newton County that we could even ask
for, farmers and great people. So if you can, give Ms. Campbell a hand. Thank you. Thank you,
Chair
Unverified
3:20:50
Senator King, and young people, welcome to your state capital. We're glad to have you all here today. Next we will take up House Bill 1995.
Speaker 34
3:21:02
House Bill 1995 by Representative Bentley and Senator Rice to separate the offices of sheriff and tax collector in Perry County.
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
3:21:15
Senator Rice, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Another one of those separations of sheriff and collector came in late, representing Bentley and I, Sherry, Perry County. Their quorum court approved this. I'd ask for a good vote. Thank you. Any questions?
Chair
Unverified
3:21:32
Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling
the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up
the ballot by vote of 35 yea, 0 nay. House Bill 1995 passes. Please return to the House. House Bill 2001. House
Speaker 178
3:22:00
Bill 2001 by Representative Painter and Senator Hammer
to create the Arkansas Towing and Recovery
Chair
Unverified
3:22:06
Reform and Efficiency Act of 2025 to amend the law concerning the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board and declare an emergency. Senator Hamer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:22:19
This bill is a agreed upon bill between the Governor of Towing Association and some others that have worked on it. It does four things. It reconstitutes the board in order to have an equal representation of small tow owners along with the large ones and also members of the public.
It allows for a cargo carrier to be able to pay 20% of the bill in order to remove their cargo. It allows for 5% to be paid on personal vehicles to be able to remove their personal property from it. It still requires the remaining balance of the tow bill to be paid, but this allows them to remove their cargo or their personal belongings. And then also it is going to be required to be on all forms that there is information as to how to file a complaint because of predatory towing that is occurring that is not necessarily addressed in this bill,
but hopes to be addressed through rule under the new board's direction. that will address predatory towing. Those are the four primary things the bill does. Be glad to answer any
Chair
Unverified
3:23:21
questions. Any questions? Senator Gilmore, you're recognized for a question. Thank you.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
3:23:26
Senator, did I hear you say this is an agreed-to bill, all parties have agreed to? I'm going to say it's an agreed- No opposition that you're aware of?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:23:34
I mean, there's always going to be individual pockets, but as
far as the principal parties in the leadership roles that have worked on this,
It was agreed to. It's one of those things that is probably need
to be done for a long time, and they finally got to a pathway forward where they can.
Speaker 97
3:23:53
Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Chair
Unverified
3:24:01
Senator has closed. Closed. Appreciate a good vote. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Dotson, present.
Senator Tucker? No. Senator Payton? Present. Senator Flowers? No. Any other senators? Senator Irvin? No. Senator Murdoch? Present. Any other senators? Please check the board. Seeing no other, please
cast up the ballot. By vote of 29 yea, 3 nay, 3 present. House Bill 2001 passes in the corresponding emergency clause.
Speaker 302
3:24:42
Is adopted, please return to the House.
Chair
Unverified
3:24:52
Senator, we will now take up House Bill 1671. House
Speaker 178
3:24:59
Bill 1671 by Representative Johnson and Senator Boyd to amend the law concerning the gross
Chair
Unverified
3:25:04
receipts tax and to create a general sales
and use tax exemption for sales to qualified non-profit organizations.
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
3:25:12
Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill allows a nonprofit organization providing community-based services to apply to DFA for a sales tax exemption, but only if the nonprofit has less than $200,000 in a year in revenue. Several purchases would continue to not be exempted, such as vehicles, boats, airplanes, construction materials, mobile phones, TVs, computers, or ATVs. So this is very narrowly constructed. It is expected to be a very minimal fiscal impact due to the $200,000 annual operating
budget limitation and the excluded items. DFA must provide a report to ALC in December to see how many of the nonprofits actually applied for the exemption. So this
will help small nonprofits across our state to have more resources available for providing community resources.
Chair
Unverified
3:26:04
Questions for Senator Boyd? Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Speaker 367
3:26:11
Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote?
Speaker 399
3:26:20
One moment, please. We will get the board
Chair
Unverified
3:26:35
up. With no objection to rolling the vote, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, King, not voting. Any other senator? Payton, present.
Dotson, present. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 32 yay, zero nay, one not voting, two present. House Bill 1671 passes. Please return to the House. Senators,
I believe that we had some Senate bills and or amendments added to the bottom of the calendar.
Speaker 26
3:27:21
If you'll give us just a moment. Senator Hester,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:27:25
you're recognized. Members, we just did one of the ones that was amended on the House floor and came
over today, but I want y'all to know there's four more of those. So it would
be Senate Bill 437, Senate Bill 491, Senate Bill 625, and Senate Bill 601.
So to my knowledge, that is all that was amended past the House floor, came down here today. And then who knows what members may want
to bring up after that. That will be the end of our official calendar. So first,
Chair
Unverified
3:28:25
Senator Hester. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 437. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:28:31
Madam Governor. Members, this is the windmill bill. We've had a lot of windmill bills. This one has made it through the whole process. You know, we've got lots of projects, dozens of them going on across the state. This just is the first thing that adds some regulation onto them. I desperately tried to get a moratorium, could not get that done. But we were successful in getting some regulations to this point.
I would say that Senator Caldwell can't be in here right now. He would be opposing this bill if he could be in here just for clarification purposes. Because I know Senator Caldwell and I have been on some of these bills together and against some. But I do want to make sure every member understands that. But I'm happy to answer any questions. He just, again, it does not ban windmills. It just adds restrictions. One of those that I think are very important regulations is if you're going to build a windmill, you've got to have a bond up front.
So if you just walk away from the project, the local community isn't stuck with this forever. The bond up front would allow for the removal of that, just like
we require when we do any type of mining operations or drilling for oil or gas. I'm happy to take
Chair
Unverified
3:29:50
any questions. And this is just on the amendment itself. Oh. And so we're going to, we'll vote
Speaker 358
3:29:56
the amendment and then we will vote the bill.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:30:00
So questions on the amendment? The amendment does grandfathering for all current projects under development.
That's what the amendment does. That's how
we were able to get it here. Senator Mark Johnson, you have a question on the amendment?
Yes, ma'am. You're recognized? Thank you, Madam President. Senator Hester, I remember that you and Senator Caldwell worked out an agreed-to amendment that was a compromise. And as I recall it, it created a diagonal line across the state. It was basically 300 feet above or below sea level.
It had a two-tiered approach. Was that removed through this amendment? That was removed on the House side. That's right.
Senator Bart Hester
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3:30:45
I agree with that with Senator Caldwell. But even a significant amount of members in this chamber that we're not going
to have regulation on windmills opposed it. But I couldn't get that amendment through
over there. We were able to get this one. So we're back to, with this amendment, it's in effect a total moratorium except for where they're already under construction
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:31:10
or contract or something. Not at all. It's not a moratorium at all. Everything
that's currently under development, is grandfathered in from all these regulations. Wherever they are in the state. Wherever they are, whatever they're doing. If they're currently under development, they're grandfathered in under no regulation. This will add regulations to the entire state. Senator Caldwell was hopeful that we could find a compromise where we didn't regulate what we did 300 foot below sea level, which would protect the Ozarks, which was my goal.
We were not able to get that through the House. Okay, but the amendment would still protect the Ozarks and allow the cross-county
development that's going along to proceed? That's correct. Okay, thank you,
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
3:31:59
Senator Hester. Thank you, Madam President. All those in favor of the amendment, please
Chair
Unverified
3:32:04
signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred in. Senate Bill 437
by Senator Hester to create the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:32:17
Senator Hester, you're recognized. Members, I just presented
Chair
Unverified
3:32:21
it. I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions on
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
3:32:26
the bill? Senator Hill, you're recognized. Senator Hester, since this is not going back to a committee here, what did y'all do to alleviate the crop dusters' concerns and worries about this? Because I know I've heard from several in my district. This is making it a lot
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:32:43
more dangerous for them to fly. We removed that 300 foot below sea level, which adds these regulations across the whole state.
That was the amendment that the crop dusters were looking for, and that made
Chair
Unverified
3:32:57
them happy. Thank you. Any other questions of Senator Hester? Seeing no questions. Anyone wish to
speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please. Seeing no objection to
rolling the vote, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Senator Hickey, no.
Senator Caldwell, no. Senator Sullivan, no. Senator Stone, no. Senator Penzo, no. Senator Mark Johnson, no. Senator Stubblefield, no. Senator Rice, present. Senator Filippo, no. Senator Flowers, no. Senator Clark, no. Senator Hill, no.
This side, Senator Tucker, no. Senator Kroll, no. Love, no. Murdoch, present. Love, I'm sorry, Scott, present.
Any other senators wish to change your vote? Seeing no others, please check the board. Seeing no others,
please cast up the ballot by vote of 18, yay, 14, nay, 3, present.
Senate Bill 437 passes as amended, as concurred now with the amendment. Please enroll it. Next, we will
take up Senate Bill 491. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 491.
This is the amendment 1. Senator Hamer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:34:45
Governor. All the amendment does is just specify that this applies to EBD only and not all the
Chair
Unverified
3:34:56
other agencies. No questions on the amendment.
All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
Ayes have it. as concurred in. Senate Bill 491 by Senator Hammer, to require a vendor that contracts with the Employee Benefits Division to submit data for verification by an independent audit to impose a civil penalty on a vendor that provides inaccurate data and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you're
recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. EBD brought
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:35:24
this amendment and they are agreeable to it and participate in the process. It just specifies that it applies to EBD only and that's
what the bill and the amendment together does. We've already passed out here once. This just
Chair
Unverified
3:35:38
adds the amendment. Appreciate a good vote. Any questions? Question. Senator Urban, you're recognized
for a question. Yeah. Do you know what the fiscal impact will be for this
bill to EBD? Because it mandates
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:35:52
them to get the third party. Yeah. Yeah. They didn't express any concern about that. And just so the intent of everybody knows what it does is that in a case like Navidus presents information to EBD, what this would allow is because there's no one between Navidus
and EBD to lay a set of eyes on it to know that Navidus is actually providing accurate information because it's proprietary, what it'll allow is for a third-party vendor and it's permissive, it says they may ask for it, it's not a mandatory one, but it creates that option for it to happen so that any information we would have gotten from Navidus that's providing the
EBD say for example pharmaceutical costs or reimbursement rates it would allow that third party independent to look at it and still maintain the protection of the proprietary
information but we know that we are getting real information because otherwise it's a source feeding to a source with no one in between to verify. So
on a bill that I had that kind of happened right here at the last minute is there is there any kind of a time time certain that they would be able to get that to them for information or that would just be negotiated with the independent vendor I guess it is there was no
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:37:08
time certain place in because what we wanted to do is be able to give
EBD in this case with the amendment it applies CBD only it would give them the option to be able to use
it in question in case there are questions that they may have about the information they're receiving or we as legislators may have regarding the information that they're receiving that it creates that option to be able to do it if they feel it's necessary. Would
this also apply to Blue Cross Blue Shield as their third party administrator for their health insurance plans?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:37:37
I think it would apply to anything where information is being provided to EBD that is being classified as proprietary and there's no
mechanism to make sure that that information is being turned over to EBD is actual true verifiable information because nobody's able to look at it because it's proprietary this allows that set of eyes to be put on it that's third party where that proprietary information could still be protected but give us the assurances to say yes the information they gave you is a hundred percent true and accurate. Good then I'm supportive of the bill. Thank you. Other questions? Senator Dismang you're
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:38:14
recognize for a question. Thank you Governor. Did something happen? I mean I know we just mentioned a PBM. Are there other entities that we're looking to impose the audits on that has proprietary
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:38:28
information or what is it just PBMs? Now it could apply to
other things other than PBMs. The most recent just full transparency Navidus has given information to EBD but they're claiming it's proprietary. Do we really know that the information that they are giving is a hundred percent accurate with regards to, example, the reimbursement cost
that's going to have a direct impact on what we do in making determination of other policies around here. So that was the situation that drove the intent of the legislation. But it isn't necessarily just contained to that. That is just for illustration purposes based on
what I see as a legislator is an option that we need to correct to make sure that we are getting good, verifiable information. It could apply to a lot of other things. Can you
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:39:16
give me one more example of where we might apply it?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:39:21
I think we maybe could apply it to,
well, anything that's going to directly impact what we as legislators
decide with regards to cost to state employee health policy plans, what's driving the cost of the premiums that we are paying, The reimbursement rate for anything that would touch like a state employee plan or any of the ones that we cover, it only applies to us as far as governmental entities.
It's not going out into the private world, so it's just limited to
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:39:54
us. But any other vendors, as an example, that we would want to hone in on to require the audits of? It's okay if it's just for PBMs, but I want
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:40:05
us to say that it's just... Yeah, it's for more than just PBMs. It is not targeting PBMs, but they are just in that circle or in that group of all health care providers, whoever they are, PBM, physicians, whatever. Can I give you an
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:40:16
example and you can tell me if it's something that's going to be covered because it's
happening today. Pharmacists says they're not being reimbursed enough by PBMs.
PSEOs are in between. They're supposed to be the ones enforcing the contracts, refusing to enforce the contracts. Pharmacists are asking their patients to sign forms which allows them through HIPAA to not have to report back and go outside of our insurance policies. It's happening to state employees across the state where they're not able to utilize their insurance. Would this allow us to get a report or an audit of pharmacies that are utilizing HIPAA to bypass the insurance plans that we provide to employees?
Speaker 680
3:40:55
I don't see why not. I don't think that'd be a
Chair
Unverified
3:41:00
bad thing. All right. Thank you. Thank
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
3:41:05
you. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam President. Senator, I may have missed it, so let's
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:41:13
go back to the audit. Who's doing the audit? It would be whoever, in this case, EBD would select to, well, it would be whoever EBD would pick to be the third party that could look at that information to verify it.
And I don't have a list of who that could be. I don't even know who that could
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
3:41:34
be, honestly. All right. So then my next one is what triggers the audit or the need for the audit? Is that just up to EBD? Is that up to, hey, we've got information we
think may not be entirely accurate. Who makes that determination? I think it would fall in the hand. Finance or the EBD subcommittee of ALC? I'm asking because I don't know. I think it could come from any
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:41:55
one of those sorts, as you mentioned. And again, this is permissive, so it
creates the avenue for it to happen, as to where now I don't see that it can happen.
So it could be the EBD subcommittee of ALC. It could be EBD itself. Of course, there would have to be a reasonable request, and it's going to have to go through EBD. And so they would kind of be the gatekeeper of it. But if we wanted to find out, it establishes a process for where it could happen in the need that somebody felt that it needed to happen. But again, I keep going back, it is permissive
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
3:42:31
language. Okay, one last follow-up. Do you envision this if, let's just say, we don't like the information we're given with the numbers we're given or whatever,
could this be, would that trigger an audit every time something comes back to us that we don't like, would that trigger an audit?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:42:49
I don't know necessarily. I think it's going to be driven by the forces in place at the time, whether that's, you know, for example, you as ALC chair, Whoever's committee of the EBD subcommittee, crying out loud, it might even be the governor's office that would want to know this. Again, it's just a matter
of making sure that it's there in the event it wanted to be done or utilized. Thank you, Senator. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
3:43:11
Any other questions for Senator Hamer? Seeing no other questions, anyone wish to speak against
or for? Senator, you're free to close. I do want to close. Again,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:43:20
the amendment that was put in here, there was no resistance from EBD for it. at least to me,
maybe to you, but not to me, that I know of. But the amendment was offered up by EBD because they wanted to make sure it applied to them only and didn't have such a broad net. So I think if there was a lot of pushback, I hope I would have had at least the respect to have told me that.
Chair
Unverified
3:43:42
Otherwise, I appreciate a good vote. Senator
has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call
Speaker 256
3:43:59
the roll. Boyd. Bryant. Bryant. Caldwell. Caldwell. Clark. Clark. Clark.
Speaker 258
3:44:20
Dees. Disbang. Dismang, Dotson, English, Flippo, Flowers, Gilmore, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Hill, Irvin,
Chair
Unverified
3:44:47
Irvin, Blake Johnson, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, King, Letting,
Speaker 262
3:45:19
Petty, Rice, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stone Stubbeville Sullivan
Chair
Unverified
3:45:31
Tucker Wallace Any senator who did not vote or who wishes to change your
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:45:45
vote Senator Dismang no Hill no Any other senator Senator Stone
Chair
Unverified
3:45:50
yes Hickey No, Mark Caldwell, yes. Caldwell, yes. Gilmore, no. Hester, no.
Flippo, present. Irvin, present. Davis, no. Love, present. Any
other senator? Please check the board. Seen, no other. Please cast
up the ballot by a vote of 19, yea, 7, nay, 3, not voting, 6, present. Senate Bill 491 passes, but the corresponding
emergency clause is not adopted.
Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:46:40
Madam Governor. I'd like to make a motion to expunge the vote by which the emergency portion fail and
put it up for re-vote, please. Motion
Chair
Unverified
3:46:49
to expunge the vote by which the emergency clause failed
to be adopted on Senate Bill 491. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries. We will now vote the emergency clause only of Senate Bill 491.
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
3:47:08
Do we need to roll call? Any objection to rolling
Speaker 58
3:47:19
emergency clause only? Objection noted.
Speaker 256
3:47:25
Boyd? Yes. Bryant? Bryant. Caldwell? Caldwell. Caldwell.
Speaker 258
3:47:35
Clark? Clark. Crowell? Aye. Davis?
Aye. Dees? Aye. Dismang? Dismang. Dotson? English? Flippo? Flowers? Flowers. Gilmore? Gilmore.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
3:47:53
Hammer? Hammer. Hester, aye. Hickey, Hickey,
Chair
Unverified
3:48:13
Hill, Arvin, Arvin, Blake Johnson,
aye. Mark Johnson aye. King, King. They're too loud. She can't hear. Senators, I would remind you all that we are voting, and it's difficult sometimes to hear, so any side conversations, please take them
Speaker 258
3:48:47
outside the chamber. Thank you. Letting? Aye. Love? Love? Yes.
Speaker 260
3:48:51
McKee? Aye. Murdoch? Murdoch? Payton? Yes.
Speaker 262
3:49:02
Penzo? Yes. Petty? Yes. Rice? Aye. Scott? Stone?
Chair
Unverified
3:49:14
Aye. Stubbeville? Yes. Sullivan? Aye. Tucker? Aye. Wallace? Aye. Any senators who did not vote or who wish
Speaker 706
3:49:24
to change your vote? Cinder Hammer? Yes. Gilmore? Yes. Hickey? Yes. Caldwell?
Chair
Unverified
3:49:29
Yes. Irvin, present. Any other senator? Seeing no
other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 29 yeas, zero name, five not voting, one present. The emergency clause to Senate Bill 491 is adopted. Please enroll it. Madam Governor. We will now take up, oh yes, Senator Hammer. kind of point of
personal privilege better be nice I'll be nice thank you
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:50:03
members that was the last piece of legislation in a general session that I'll run to finish my career thank you thank you couple things for the record thanks for the run for the money on the last one And number two, just to dispel any rumors, I came in number
two as far as most bills filed. I just want a record that I'm number two, not number one, like some of y'all think.
Chair
Unverified
3:50:33
So, thank y'all. Thank you, Senator Hammer.
We now will take up Senate Bill, I believe, 601. Are we taking
up 620? Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 601. Senator Hester, you're recognized.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:51:04
Members, this is the International Medical Graduate Bill that we passed off our floor. When it went
down the House, they made a couple of very reasonable amendments to it, one of those being to go from a two-year commitment to a minimum of a three-year commitment. I'm happy to answer any questions on the amendment.
Chair
Unverified
3:51:20
Questions for Senator Hester. Seeing no questions,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:51:24
all those in favor of Amendment 1, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred in. Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 601. Senator Hester, you're
Chair
Unverified
3:51:36
recognized. Same explanation. All those in favor of Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 601, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed?
Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred then. Senate Bill 601 by Senator Hester. To create a pathway for a graduate of a foreign medical school to be licensed in this state if he or she is offered full-time employment as a physician from
a health care provider. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. This
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:52:06
is just a response to our need for physicians in Arkansas. As long as a hospital for medical provider requests them to come and oversees them, that that's going to
Chair
Unverified
3:52:19
be permitted in Arkansas. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has
closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or
her vote? Senator Flowers present. Senator Flowers, no. Senator Flowers, no. Any other senator?
Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot. By vote of 34 yea, 1 nay, Senate Bill 601 passes. Please enroll it. Senate Bill Amendment
to Senate Bill 625. Amendment 1, Senate Bill 625. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Before I
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:53:07
start, I would just like to clear up the record.
Senator Hammer did finish in second place with 94 bills. We've been doing a running total on the back row. First place goes to the Honorable Senator Missy Irvin with 114 bills. And tied for third place is Senator Boyd with 85 and Senator Penzo with 85. Coming in a solid fourth place is Senator Bryant with somewhere in the 70s. So, those five members account for about half of the bills filed in the Senate this session.
Thank you for your work. Okay. Okay, members, we amended Senate Bill 625, the EFA debate that we had last week. We made a few different changes. One, we changed the window of time that people could apply from, it ended May 1st. We changed it to June 1st. And they can also still apply after that date if they need to. We also clarified that we allow for educational services in a non-traditional setting to count as a co-curricular, so essentially if you maybe have a disability or maybe an IEP or
something and you need to learn in a non-traditional setting to help support maybe your speech therapy or something like that to help with phonetics or reading, you can do so and that does not fall into the extracurricular cap. We also took out the definition of homeschool. That's nowhere in there. EFA students or EFA students. It is not differentiated in the program. We also clarified that it would be an intentional misuse of funds, that you could get in trouble with using EFA funds instead of just misuse of funds.
And if you are expelled, instead of just, you know, the department can still close your account, but there is now an appeal process in place if you would like to appeal that decision for them not to close your account. That's for concurrence. Any, yep, any questions? Should I, or I guess I just move for concurrence on the amendment. Any
Chair
Unverified
3:55:09
questions on the amendment? Seeing no questions on the amendment, all those in favor of amendment one, please signify by saying aye.
Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Amendment is concurred then. Senate
Bill 625 by Senator Davis to amend provisions of the Arkansas Code concerning the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program and declare an emergency. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:55:34
President. I'm not going to take a lot of time here, and mostly I'm saying this for people watching at home because there's been so much confusion, I think, around this bill. I want to be clear that this bill does not take funds from EFA families.
It does not tell anyone what or how to teach. It does not target a particular group. There is no mention of homeschool. It's just EFA students. It does not attack education freedom in Arkansas. It does support long-term sustainability for the EFA program, and it does allow for reasonable costs to be reimbursed. Happy to take any questions. Questions
for Senator Davis? Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Chair
Unverified
3:56:16
Senator Dodson is recognized to speak on the bill.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:56:23
Thank you Madam Governor and I just wanted to say I appreciate the amendment that was done in the house and Senator Davis's work and Representative Brooks and getting this bill to the the best place possible at this point in the session I think listening to the concerns that many have had and addressing many of those concerns I just want to say I appreciate that very much. So I'll be voting for the bill.
Speaker 266
3:56:54
Any other senator wish to speak against
Chair
Unverified
3:56:58
for or on the bill? Senator Davis has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Senator Penzo, no.
Dees, present. King, not voting. Letting, present.
Bryant, present. Any other senator? Murdoch, present. Any
other senator? Please check the board. Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by vote of 29 yea,
1 nay, 1 not voting, 4 present. Senate Bill 625 passes, and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted. Please enroll
Speaker 302
3:57:47
it. Senator Tucker, you're recognized for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to reconsider House
Chair
Unverified
3:58:02
Bill 1878. Motion to reconsider House Bill 1878. Yes, ma'am. All those
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:58:16
in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. Ayes have
Chair
Unverified
3:58:24
it. Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1878 by Representative Magruder to ensure early voting access for Arkansas
Arkansans residing in population centers and to require a county board of election commissioners to conduct early voting in a city in certain instances. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I'm not going to repeat everything that we heard
on this bill this morning. Just a reminder, this is the bill about every city in Arkansas with a population of 15,000 or more should have an early voting location. Just kind of invert what I said this morning and say it a different way because I had some other questions about it. And that is the
only thing this prevents the election, because every city with a population of 15,000 or more already has an early voting location, the only thing this bill prevents is voting county election commissions from removing early voting locations with cities of a population of 15,000 or more. The discretion they have on everything else is completely unfettered. They have discretion over everything, where it goes, how much they spend, all of those matters. The only thing they cannot do is remove early voting locations from places and specifically from cities where they
already exist. Thank you, members. I'd appreciate a good vote. Any questions?
Chair
Unverified
3:59:36
Senator Tucker's left the well. Senator Tucker will take a question. Senator
Dotson, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam Governor. Senator Ducker, has this bill changed since the last time we voted on it? It has not changed, but Senator Dotson,
I had some conversations with some members who wanted an opportunity to vote for it who didn't vote for it earlier. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak against
Chair
Unverified
4:00:03
or for? Senator has closed. Any
objection to rolling the vote? Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd? Bryant?
Speaker 256
4:00:23
Caldwell? Yes. Clark? Clark? Crowell? Yes.
Speaker 258
4:00:37
Dismang, Dotson, English, Flippo, Flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
4:00:49
Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake
Speaker 258
4:00:58
Johnson Mark Johnson King
Letting Love McKee Murdoch He was not He was
Speaker 262
4:01:30
not Peyton Penzo Penzo Petty Rice Scott. Stone. Stubbafield. Stubbafield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Chair
Unverified
4:01:48
Any senator wish to vote or change your vote? Senator Dismang,
no. Murdoch, yes. Clark, yes. Any other senator? Hester, no.
Any other senator? Please check the board.
Chair
Unverified
4:02:28
Please check the board. Seeing no other, please
cast of the ballot by vote of 18 yay 17
Speaker 446
4:02:36
nay house bill 1878 passes I see one two three four
Chair
Unverified
4:03:06
sound the ballot we will
read the yes votes. Senator Deese requested
to have the ballot sounded.
Speaker 520
4:03:29
Caldwell yes. Once the secretary has
Speaker 733
4:03:42
to withdraw. Madam Secretary, please continue.
Speaker 26
4:03:46
I have to excuse me, Senator, before I don't believe it's in order because we are in the process of sounding the ballot, but I need to confer with counsel. Once, yes, and as As I said earlier, Senator Hamer, once the secretary had started,
Chair
Unverified
4:04:09
we are not able to stop the process.
Senator Caldwell was the first yes vote that was called on the sounding of the ballot. Senator Caldwell is not present. Therefore, the
vote will fail. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Is there anything in the
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
4:04:41
rules, given the circumstances under which we're operating, which, and we know
why Senator Caldwell is not in the chamber,
is there anything in the rules that would allow his vote to count even though he's not able to be in his chair? No, sir. Okay, just wanted that for the
Chair
Unverified
4:05:02
record, if nothing else. Thank you. There's nothing in the Senate rules that you all adopted. This is not a decision of
the presiding officer. Inquiry from Senator Mark Johnson.
There is a Senator Mark Johnson has moved to clinch the vote by
which House Bill 1878 failed. This is a non-debatable motion. All those in favor of the clincher
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:05:36
motion signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. No. No's have it. Motion fails.
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
4:05:50
I'd like to make a motion for reconsideration of 1878, by which it failed as a declining side. Or do we need to
Speaker 710
4:06:04
expunge first? Motion to expunge by which 1878
Chair
Unverified
4:06:08
has failed. All those in favor of the motion to expunge by which House Bill 1878 fails, please signify by
Speaker 502
4:06:14
saying aye. Any opposed? ayes have it and then I'd
Speaker 736
4:06:21
like to make a motion for reconsideration 1878 motion
Chair
Unverified
4:06:25
for reconsideration of House bill 1878 this is a debatable motion Senator Hickey you're recognized I'm
gonna say this is on the motion
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
4:06:36
just so everybody knows before I made that vote for Senator Caldwell he is on location he just had a personal issue and I did have a personal conversation with
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
4:06:45
him and have his full authority to vote yes on this. So we just want everybody to know the full thing. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
4:07:05
And we are because we expunged the vote the bill is back
Speaker 178
4:07:20
for consideration. Secretary, please read the bill. House Bill
Chair
Unverified
4:07:24
1878 by Representative McGruder. To ensure early voting access for Arkansas, Arkansans residing in population centers and to require a county board of election commissioners to conduct early voting in a city in certain circumstances.
Senator. I appreciate a good vote. I'm going to defer
Chair
Unverified
4:07:56
to Senator Hammer. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hammer is recognized
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
4:08:00
to speak on the bill. Thank you, Madam Governor. The reason I'm speaking on the bill is because of circumstances in which we are voting on this bill. And I think it's the fair thing to do. I think it's the right thing to do, given the circumstances that we're dealing with. And my convictions have not changed on the bill,
but my convictions are that the bill ought to be able to be
voted on, taking into consideration what we're dealing with. And for that, I appreciate the opportunity to
Chair
Unverified
4:08:24
get back on the floor. Anyone else wish to speak against for or on the bill?
Senator Dodson to speak against. Thank you,
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
4:08:38
Madam Governor. For the same reasons as stated before, I'm still opposed to the bill as it's written.
Not opposed to the concept, like the concept, wish there was enough time in the session to fix it, but there's not, let the vote be what it will. But sorry we sounded the ballot not realizing the full extent of the situation. So, but I still am opposed to the bill.
Chair
Unverified
4:09:06
The senator wishes to speak for, against, or on. If not, Senator Tucker, you're recognized to close. Thank you, Madam President.
I think we all know where we are in this. I think this is going to be the last vote of
the general session of the 95th General Assembly, so let's go out on a high note. Members, appreciate
Chair
Unverified
4:09:27
a good vote. Thank you so much. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. And please speak up and keep in mind that we are voting. It
is difficult to hear, so if we can not be having side conversations during what we hope is the last vote. Boyd?
Speaker 256
4:09:45
Aye. Bryant? Aye. Caldwell? Aye. Clark?
Speaker 258
4:09:53
Aye. Crowell? Crowell? Yes. Davis? Aye. Dees? No. Dismang? Yes. Dismang? Dotson? No. English? Aye. Flippo? Aye. Flowers? Aye. Gilmore? No. Gilmore?
Chair
Unverified
4:10:15
No. Hammer? No. Hester? Aye. Hickey? Aye. Hill? Aye. Irvin?
Speaker 258
4:10:35
Aye. Blake Johnson? Blake Johnson? Mark Johnson? No. King. Letting. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Payton.
Speaker 262
4:10:47
Penzo. Petty. Rice. Scott. Stone. Stubbafil. Stubbafil. Sullivan. Tucker? Wallace? Any senator who did
Chair
Unverified
4:11:10
or who wishes to change your vote? Senator Stubblefield? No. Any other senator? Senator Blake
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:11:22
Johnson? No. Any other senator?
Chair
Unverified
4:11:28
Seen no other. Please check the board. Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot. By vote of 18
Speaker 446
4:11:38
yay, 16 nay, one not voting. House Bill
Chair
Unverified
4:11:48
House. Senator Hester, you're recognized.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:11:54
Members, if you'll give us just a few minutes and maybe we're going to go into recess. The House has four or five bills left. We just need to make sure something doesn't happen that we should also address. It shouldn't be long, but if you would, just give us a few moments. It's customary on both sides. We make sure that we're both ready to recess. Oh, actually.
I would actually, I think Ann is going to go get all of our full-time staff. We've been trying to take this in steps so that we make sure and honor everybody properly. But if we can get all our full-time staff on here, we
will appreciate them for the year-round good work.
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
4:13:05
are left do we have any idea to know before they even
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:13:09
get down here I do not know Senator King I don't believe they're going to send any bills back down here I don't think there's anything Senator Letting has one and if it gets amended it will come back But I don't plan on the House sending anything back down here,
but it's customary that we wait.
Meeting right now? They are still meeting and voting. Okay, would you guys line up? Oh, we're looking for Lee. We're looking for Lee. He's working
Speaker 669
4:13:50
somewhere. Leanne, yeah, come on down here. There you go. Thank you.
Unknown speaker
4:14:08
Look at Leanne's upstairs. Okay, no. Okay. Okay. Thank you.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:14:50
Well, if Lee comes down here, we'll embarrass him individually. But, oh, he's on his way? Okay, okay. Is he on his
way? He's on his way. Well, hey, while we are waiting, we could acknowledge the many hours of great work from our Lieutenant Governor, Leslie Rutledge. We appreciate you always being here, taking care of us. and now we wait
Speaker 761
4:15:26
we gotta wait on the house Well, members,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:15:47
staff because they're taking care of us day in and day out and doing such a great work of making us sound good
and look better than we do. Pushing out our letters, taking care of constituents, making sure the office runs in a way that makes us all proud and the state proud. But we'll start with, and we did a good job yesterday, but
honoring Ms. Ann Cornwell. Sabrina Llewellyn, Assistant Secretary to the Senate, Philip Treat, Senate Chief Counsel, John Reed, Information Officer, Leslie Rogers, Constituent Services Director, Rob Hatfield,
Production Videographer, Tamara Lewis,
Senate Fiscal Officer, Leanne Goldensmith, Legislative analyst. Cindy Heron, assistant information
officer. Rebecca Barfield, administrative assistant receptionist. Lee Pippins, property manager inventory. Ann Proudmoore, administrative assistant receptionist. Please give them a welcome for appreciation.
Thank you, members. So now I think we
will just wait. I'll go to walk down there and see if I can talk with the speaker and
Chair
Unverified
4:17:27
make sure we're all finished. Senate will stand in a brief recess. Don't run off. Senate will
Speaker 670
4:17:34
stand in a brief recess. Can you turn my microphone on? Sorry.
Speaker 763
4:17:41
we do have you want to do this? you do this
Speaker 764
4:17:55
members everybody knows the lovely and exquisite Benita it's her birthday today so everybody help me join me in wishing
Speaker 765
4:18:06
Ms. Benita a happy birthday to you happy birthday
Unknown speaker
4:18:11
. Mike, Mike, Mike, it's on, it's on, okay. How are y'all doing?
We'll be right back.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Transcription by CastingWords
Speaker 26
4:26:41
Senate will come back to order. Madam Secretary, are there items at
Speaker 59
4:26:49
the desk? Yes. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 121 by the House.
Chair
Unverified
4:26:53
Enroll it. Enroll it. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 217 by the House. Enroll it. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 355 by the House. Enroll it. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 444 by the House. Enroll it. Enroll it. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 554 by the House. Enroll it.
Notice the passage of Senate Bill 638 by the House. Enroll it. Yes,
Senator Letting. Senator Letting, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
4:27:23
Madam President. Colleagues, motion to withdraw Senate Bill 419 from consideration and send to revenue and tax for interim study.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:27:30
All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries. And one
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
4:27:37
more. Colleagues, motion to withdraw Senate Bill 548 and Senate Bill 549 from consideration and sent to Judiciary for interim study.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:27:44
All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries. Senator Urban. Motion to
send Senate Bill, withdraw Senate Bill 621 for purpose of interim study. All
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:28:02
those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. aye any opposed 621
and then carries and the motion for senate
Chair
Unverified
4:28:11
bill 626 uh to interim study
all those in favor of the motion please
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:28:18
signify by saying aye any opposed eyes have it motion carries any
Chair
Unverified
4:28:27
other similar motion senator dismaying you're recognized make a motion to send senate bill 647
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:28:33
to interim study did it get assigned city county local all those in
Speaker 502
4:28:46
okay please signify by saying aye any opposed eyes have it motion carries Senator
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
4:28:55
Penzo? Since we're doing motions, motion to send Senate Bill 616 to interim study. You're
Chair
Unverified
4:29:04
recognized for that motion, Senator. All those in favor of the
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:29:09
motion, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries.
Chair
Unverified
4:29:19
Any other similar motions? Seeing no other similar motion. Senator
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:29:28
Hester, you're recognized. Hey, members. I'm going to ask Lieutenant Governor to
recess us till May 5th, but I want to say a couple things. There are 10 Senate bills being concurred on their end. If for some reason one of them became a mess, right, and they didn't concur and they wanted some amendment,
we could technically withdraw it down here, fix it, and send it back. I don't foresee that happening at all, but that's kind of the reason we like to wait. I think there are press conferences at 3.30. A lot of members are hanging around today for bill signings tomorrow. I think we could get 18 members back in here if I needed to call us back in this afternoon to do that. So unless I hear some significant objection, I'm going to ask Lieutenant Governor to recess us.
And under the very slim chance that something happens in the house, I can't imagine that it will. But that's normally why we wait. But they're going to be a while. I mean, they're going to be a while. They have 11 bills left.
Speaker 770
4:30:37
So, yep. And get mad at me for asking this question. Right. If that were to happen, just the stuff from the house would be what you
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:30:44
would deal with? Is that correct? That's correct. If that happened, we would only deal with whatever that thing was from the house. like nothing else. Thank you, Senator Hester.
Chair
Unverified
4:30:54
Flowers, you're recognized. Yes. I'd like to
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
4:30:56
be noted as on leave when I don't know the bills that you expect to come back with the amendment. I don't expect any. I don't expect any. Well, you just said we're waiting and they might have an amendment that is put on it. The whole point is they're not finished
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:31:15
their work and something totally unforeseen could happen. I don't think that's going to happen, which is why I'm comfortable saying we can go to recess. Which is
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
4:31:25
why I'm comfortable saying I'd like to be listed as on leave if there's some vote. I'm for it. I'm for that. Okay.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:31:36
Yep. Okay, with without further questions. Thank you, Senator
Speaker 26
4:31:43
Hester. And Senators, if I might add, what a pleasure it has been most of the time for the past 90 days to preside over this body. I appreciate the professionalism and civility which you all have shown one another,
particularly in instances of great differing of opinion, strong opinions from your constituents and loved ones, personal stories that you've shared with Arkansans. But I appreciate how this body has conducted itself over the last several months. I appreciate my staff and the staff of the Senate as well, but I want to say personally to all of the
Chair
Unverified
4:32:19
senators, thank you for your decorum over the last several months. And with
that, it is my great pleasure to say that in accordance with the
Speaker 26
4:32:30
terms and conditions adopted in House Concurrent Resolution 1006, the Senate will stand in recess at the close of business today and will remain in recess until the Senate is reconvened for the express and limited purposes outlined in House Concurrent Resolution 1006.
or if it is determined that reconvening is not necessary, the 95th General Assembly is adjourned, signing die,
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
4:32:54
on or before 12 noon, May 5, 2025.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Announcements
Doctor of the Day
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND CONCURRENCE
HCR1004 Wardlaw Gilmore TO CONGRATULATE GAME WARDEN AUSTIN POWELL ON RECEIVING THE MONTY CARMIKLE OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE 2024 ROBERT M. BRANTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
SR74 Irvin TO RECOGNIZE THE COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, FEATURING FOUR (4) PLAYERS FROM ARKANSAS, AS THE 2025 NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
SB290 #1 B. Johnson B. Johnson TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER.
Presentation of charity trophy event
Sen. M. Johnson - Point of Personal Privilege
SB457 #1 G. Leding Leding TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE RELEASE FROM PAROLE OR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN PERSONS WHO COMMITTED CRIMES WHEN THEY WERE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.
SB571 #1&2 J. Petty Petty TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY FROM ENFORCING BUILDINGS AND ZONING REGULATIONS ON COUNTY PROPERTY.
SB612 #1 Dees Dees TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT CAUSES HARM; AND TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY ON A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY CONTRIBUTES TO A MINOR'S SUICIDE OR SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
SB619 #1 Irvin Irvin CONCERNING THE FORMATION OF AN ISOLATED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SB620 #1 Irvin Irvin TO PROVIDE A SAFETY VALVE AND APPEAL RIGHT FOR A MINOR DEFENDANT WHO IS ALSO A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO AMEND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2013.
HB1017 A. Collins Davis TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES; AND TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO PAY FOR INCURRED COSTS FOR APPROVED PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.
HB1625 Barnett Murdock TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED HOME INSPECTORS.
HB1662 B. McKenzie B. Johnson TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.
Recognition of Session Staff for the Senate of the 95th General Assembly
HB1842 Tosh Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL DETENTION FACILITIES REVIEW COORDINATOR; AND TO PLACE THE OFFICE WITHIN THE ARKANSAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
HB1843 Tosh Hammer CONCERNING RECORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS KEPT BY THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY.
HB1878 McGruder Tucker TO ENSURE EARLY VOTING ACCESS FOR ARKANSANS RESIDING IN POPULATION CENTERS; AND TO REQUIRE A COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS TO CONDUCT EARLY VOTING IN A CITY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.
HB1903 Walker English TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FLEXIBILITY REGARDING ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
HB1945 McCollum Davis TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015; AND TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL WITHIN HIS OR HER RESIDENT DISTRICT.
HB1951 A. Collins Bryant TO SET FORTH AUTHORIZED DOMAIN EXTENSIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT WEBSITES.
HB1959 M. Brown McKee TO ABOLISH THE USE OF A WRIT OF SCIRE FACIAS AS THE MEANS OF REVIVING AN OUTSTANDING JUDGMENT; TO ALLOW A JUDGMENT TO BE REVIVED BY NOTICE; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE FEES TO BE CHARGED BY CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURTS.
HB1961 Achor Boyd TO ALLOW MEDICAL PROVIDERS TEMPORARY EXEMPTIONS FROM FEDERAL INFORMATION-BLOCKING REGULATIONS TO SAFEGUARD PATIENTS DURING INFORMATION DISCLOSURE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1966 Barnett Murdock TO AUTHORIZE AN INCORPORATED TOWN OR A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS TO PETITION THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR SATELLITE SCHOOL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Motion to expunge the vote by which the Emergency clause of HB1961 failed
Motion to re-vote HB1961 Emergency clause
HB1967 K. Brown Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF SEXUAL IMAGES OR RECORDINGS.
RECESS
RECONVENE
HB1974 Long McKee TO PROHIBIT STATE ENTITIES FROM EMPLOYING UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS; TO ESTABLISH THE E-VERIFY REQUIREMENT ACT; AND TO REQUIRE STATE ENTITIES TO USE E-VERIFY TO CONFIRM EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY.
HB1975 Gramlich Dees TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTION ACT.
HB1979 Gazaway B. Johnson AN ACT TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW TO ALLOW WARRANTLESS SEARCHES BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF A PERSON PLACED ON SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
HB1983 Eubanks Stubblefield TO AMEND ACTS 1973, NO. 167, § 4, CONCERNING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO THE WESTARK AREA COUNCIL, INC., BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
HB1984 Hudson Davis TO CREATE A DESIGNATION FOR A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER ON A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD.
HB1986 Nazarenko Wallace CONCERNING EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR CHILDREN OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS AND CHILDREN OF FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS.
HB1988 Tosh Hill TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF AUTO AUCTION FEES FOR SALVAGE-TITLED OR PARTS-ONLY TITLED VEHICLES; AND TO AMEND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH AUTO AUCTION FEES MAY BE USED.
HB1991 Childress Bryant TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE ARKANSAS FIRE PREVENTION CODE.
HB1995 Bentley Rice TO SEPARATE THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTOR IN PERRY COUNTY.
HB2001 Painter Hammer TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2025; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1671 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX; AND TO CREATE A GENERAL SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR SALES TO QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
SB437 TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT.
SB491#1 TO REQUIRE A VENDOR THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DIVISION TO SUBMIT DATA FOR VERIFICATION BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT; TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY ON A VENDOR THAT PROVIDES INACCURATE DATA; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Motion to expunge the vote which the emergency clause failed.
SB601 TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GRADUATE OF A FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BE LICENSED IN THIS STATE IF HE OR SHE IS OFFERED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AS A PHYSICIAN FROM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
SB625 TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Motion to reconsider HB 1878
Sound the Ballott
Clinch the Vote HB1878
motion to expunge the vote HB 1878
Revote for HB 1878
HB2003 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Bureau of Legislative Research Fiscal staff recognition
Recess
Reconvene
Motion withdrawal SB419
Motion withdrawal SB548
Motion withdrawal SB549
SB626 interim study
SB621 interim study
SB647 interim study
SB616 interim study
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Speaker 7
Speaker 8
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 16
Senator John Payton Chair
Unverified
Speaker 26
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Speaker 34
Speaker 36
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Senator Missy Irvin Chair
Unverified
Speaker 59
Speaker 63
Speaker 64
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
Speaker 72
Speaker 86
Speaker 91
Speaker 97
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Speaker 104
Speaker 105
Speaker 107
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Speaker 126
Speaker 128
Speaker 153
Speaker 174
Senator Mark Johnson Chair
Unverified
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Speaker 206
Speaker 210
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
Speaker 96
Speaker 238
Speaker 256
Speaker 258
Speaker 262
Speaker 274
Speaker 58
Speaker 51
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
Speaker 290
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
Speaker 246
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 315
Speaker 316
Senator Dan Sullivan
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Speaker 345
Speaker 178
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Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
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Speaker 362
Senator Matt Stone
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Speaker 371
Senator Stephanie Flowers
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Speaker 376
Senator Gary Stubblefield
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Speaker 399
Speaker 411
Speaker 422
Speaker 4
Speaker 30
Speaker 428
Speaker 1
Senator Clarke Tucker Chair
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Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
Speaker 478
Speaker 495
Senator Jane English Chair
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Speaker 503
Speaker 281
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
Speaker 520
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
Senator Justin Boyd
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Speaker 548
Speaker 554
Speaker 542
Speaker 555
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Senator Steve Crowell
Unverified
Speaker 584
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Speaker 260
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Speaker 344
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
Speaker 283
Speaker 612
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Senator Dave Wallace
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Senator Ricky Hill
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