House Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (104)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB519
Act 958
· 7 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB519 #1 J. Boyd Wardlaw TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW…”
|
TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REGULATE THE PAYMENT OF … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB519 is now Act 958 |
|
HR1090
· 5 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “resolution 1090. House Resolution 1090 by Representative Crawford to recognize March 29, 2025 is V…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 29, 2025, AS VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY AND MARCH 2025 AS VIETNAM … | Crawford | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1104
· 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Madam clerk, please read. House resolution 1104. Representative Beatty would like to pass”
|
TO HONOR LARRY WALTHER FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND TO … | Beaty Jr. | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1072
Act 876
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…er, your Committee on Revenue and Taxation, who was a fired House Bill 1072 Bagley reporting the same consideration here for the same r…”
|
TO CLARIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS, … | C. Cooper | Notification that HB1072 is now Act 876 |
|
HB1671
Act 1007
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “and Taxation who was referred House Bill 1671. Baley reports the same consideration here returns, same re…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX; AND TO CREATE A GENERAL SALES … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1671 is now Act 1007 |
|
HB1828
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…er, your committee on revenue. in taxation. Do was referred House Bill 1828, Senate Bill 369, Senate Bill 535, vaguely before and consi…”
|
TO CREATE A SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR INSPIRATION POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS, … | Breaux | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB369
Act 778
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…e on revenue. in taxation. Do was referred House Bill 1828, Senate Bill 369, Senate Bill 535, vaguely before and consideration here for…”
|
TO REPEAL THE COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT RECYCLING GRANTS; AND TO REPEAL THE COMPUTER AND … | Irvin | Notification that SB369 is now Act 778 |
|
SB535
Act 781
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…taxation. Do was referred House Bill 1828, Senate Bill 369, Senate Bill 535, vaguely before and consideration here for returning the sa…”
|
TO CREATE A SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS … | Hester | Notification that SB535 is now Act 781 |
|
HB1105
Act 1004
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1105 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - SECRETARY'S O…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - SECRETARY'S OFFICE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1105 is now Act 1004 |
|
HB1106
Act 872
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATI…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1106 is now Act 872 |
|
HB1126
Act 873
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1126 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - OFFICE OF EARLY CH…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1126 is now Act 873 |
|
HB1202
Act 1006
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1202 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1202 is now Act 1006 |
|
HB1312
Act 909
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1312 Brooks TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUB…”
|
TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. | Brooks | Notification that HB1312 is now Act 909 |
|
HB1332
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1332 Pilkington TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO EVAL…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO EVALUATE CLAIMS FOR DIAGNOSES FREQUENCY OF OBESITY-RELATED CONDITIONS … | Pilkington | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1333
Act 627
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1333 #1 Hudson TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING AND LACTATI…”
|
TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING AND LACTATION CONSULTANT SERVICES. | Hudson | Notification that HB1333 is now Act 627 |
|
HB1424
Act 628
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1424 #1 L. Johnson TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR SEVERE OBESITY TREATM…”
|
TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR SEVERE OBESITY TREATMENTS. | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1424 is now Act 628 |
|
HB1454
Act 674
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1454 #1 Bentley TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING CRIMINAL HISTORY RE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES OF SERVICE PROVIDERS; TO … | Bentley | Notification that HB1454 is now Act 674 |
|
HB1525
Act 923
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ulture, Forestry and economic development to who was thered House Bill 1525, House Bill. 1681 vaguely reporting the same consideration…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING REAL PROPERTY; AND TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL IMPACT REMEDIATION AGREEMENTS. | Steimel | Notification that HB1525 is now Act 923 |
|
HB1531
Act 630
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1531 #1 Achor TO PROHIBIT PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS FROM REST…”
|
TO PROHIBIT PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS FROM RESTRICTING OR LIMITING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS TO A LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NETWORK … | Achor | Notification that HB1531 is now Act 630 |
|
HB1543
Act 631
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1543 #1 Underwood TO ESTABLISH THE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE OPPORTUN…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 2025. | Underwood | Notification that HB1543 is now Act 631 |
|
HB1602
Act 633
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1602 #1 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAG…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT; TO ESTABLISH FEES UNDER THE ARKANSAS … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1602 is now Act 633 |
|
HB1625
Act 974
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1625 Barnett TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED HOME INSPECTORS. | Barnett | Notification that HB1625 is now Act 974 |
|
HB1666
Act 656
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1666 #1 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-F…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-FUNDED CYBER RESPONSE PROGRAM. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1666 is now Act 656 |
|
HB1688
Act 710
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1688 #1 Cavenaugh TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF A…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF A DEALER'S EXTRA LICENSE PLATE. | Cavenaugh | Notification that HB1688 is now Act 710 |
|
HB1700
Act 638
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1700 #1 Achor TO AMEND THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION TRANSPARENCY ACT;…”
|
TO AMEND THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS OF AN ADVERSE … | Achor | Notification that HB1700 is now Act 638 |
|
HB1762
Act 1009
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1762 Hall TO REQUIRE REVOCATION OF A PERMIT FOR THE DISPOSAL OF…”
|
TO REQUIRE REVOCATION OF A PERMIT FOR THE DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE IN AN AGRICULTURAL … | Hall | Notification that HB1762 is now Act 1009 |
|
HB1771
Act 651
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1771 #1 Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURES TO POLICYH…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURES TO POLICYHOLDERS; AND TO REQUIRE MONTHLY REPORTING BY INSURERS. | R. Murdock | Notification that HB1771 is now Act 651 |
|
HB1777
Act 683
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1777 #1 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF SEXUA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF SEXUALLY GROOMING A CHILD; AND TO INCLUDE … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1777 is now Act 683 |
|
HB1803
Act 657
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1803 #1 Joey Carr TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1803 is now Act 657 |
|
HB1806
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1806 Vaught TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KI…”
|
TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW … | Vaught | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1808
Act 686
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1808 #1 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS; AND TO CREATE THE BILL OF RIGHTS … | A. Collins | Notification that HB1808 is now Act 686 |
|
HB1814
Act 712
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1814 #1 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER UTILITIES; AND TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1814 is now Act 712 |
|
HB1820
Act 652
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1820 #1 M. Brown TO REGULATE AUTOMATIC RENEWAL AND CONTINUOUS SE…”
|
TO REGULATE AUTOMATIC RENEWAL AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE OFFERS. | M. Brown | Notification that HB1820 is now Act 652 |
|
HB1834
Act 816
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Speaker, we on Public Transportation who referred House Bill 1834 Bely reporting the same consideration here for time with th…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. | Holcomb | Notification that HB1834 is now Act 816 |
|
HB1874
Act 795
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1874 B. McKenzie AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP…”
|
AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT … | B. McKenzie | Notification that HB1874 is now Act 795 |
|
HB1897
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1897 Painter TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2025; TO AMEND … | Painter | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1914
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1914 Long TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1955; AND TO REQUIRE AN … | Long | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1919
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1919 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPAREN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO … | McAlindon | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1930
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1930 Wardlaw TO MANDATE MINIMUM REIMBURSEMENT LEVELS FOR HEALTHC…”
|
TO MANDATE MINIMUM REIMBURSEMENT LEVELS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. | Wardlaw | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1933
Act 912
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1933 McCollum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOAR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO CREATE A … | McCollum | Notification that HB1933 is now Act 912 |
|
HB1959
Act 986
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1959 M. Brown TO ABOLISH THE USE OF A WRIT OF SCIRE FACIAS AS TH…”
|
TO ABOLISH THE USE OF A WRIT OF SCIRE FACIAS AS THE MEANS OF REVIVING … | M. Brown | Notification that HB1959 is now Act 986 |
|
HB1967
Act 981
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1967 K. Brown TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUT…”
|
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 TO PROHIBIT STATE ENTITIES FROM EMPLOYING UNAUTHORIZED…”
|
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 TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTION AC…”
|
TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTION ACT. | Gramlich | Notification that HB1975 is now Act 982 |
|
HB1980
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1980 Gazaway TO CREATE THE TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE…”
|
TO CREATE THE TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS ACT (TESLA); AND TO ADD ELECTRIC … | Gazaway | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1988
Act 930
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1988 Tosh TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF AUTO 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 TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO A RE…”
|
TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE ARKANSAS FIRE PREVENTION … | Childress | Notification that HB1991 is now Act 1020 |
|
HB1994
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1994 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SELF-SERVICE STORAGE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITIES; AND TO REQUIRE NOTIFICATION BY A SELF-SERVICE … | A. Collins | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1995
Act 985
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1995 Bentley TO SEPARATE THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTO…”
|
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 TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TOWING AND RECOVERY REFORM AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2025; TO AMEND … | Painter | Notification that HB2001 is now Act 932 |
|
HR1022
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1022 Brooks TO WELCOME DR. BRENDAN KELLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE ARK…”
|
TO WELCOME DR. BRENDAN KELLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. | Brooks | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1072
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1072 McGruder TO RECOGNIZE KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., FOR…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., FOR ITS POSITIVE IMPACT UPON ITS COMMUNITIES, THE … | McGruder | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1094
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1094 Duffield TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY…”
|
TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY; TO ACKNOWLEDGE SCHOOL BREAKFAST MONTH IN … | Duffield | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1097
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1097 Duke TO RECOGNIZE THE GRAVETTE HIGH SCHOOL LIONS WRESTLING…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE THE GRAVETTE HIGH SCHOOL LIONS WRESTLING TEAM AS THE 2025 CLASS 4A STATE … | Duke | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1109
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1109 Beaty Jr. TO URGE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING A…”
|
TO URGE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNITED STATES … | Beaty Jr. | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1110
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1110 Rye TO RECOGNIZE WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND MEDAL OF HONOR RE…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES R. HENDRIX OF … | Rye | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1111
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1111 Rye TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 7, 2025, AS THE DAY OF LOVE IN THE S…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 7, 2025, AS THE DAY OF LOVE IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. | Rye | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1112
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1112 A. Brown TO RECOGNIZE THE WEST SIDE GREERS FERRY HIGH SCHOO…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE THE WEST SIDE GREERS FERRY HIGH SCHOOL LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE … | A. Brown | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
SB106
Act 898
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB106 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB106 is now Act 898 |
|
SB124
Act 899
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB124 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICUL…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB124 is now Act 899 |
|
SB168
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB168 Rice K. Brown TO ESTABLISH A STATE EXAMINATION FOR LICENSUR…”
|
TO ESTABLISH A STATE EXAMINATION FOR LICENSURE OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS. | Rice | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB290
Act 921
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ure, Forestry and Economic Development to whom was referred Senate Bill 290, vaguely reporting the same consideration”
|
TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF … | B. Johnson | Notification that SB290 is now Act 921 |
|
SB313
Act 733
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB313 Irvin K. Moore CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION…”
|
CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT; AND TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND QUALITY … | Irvin | Notification that SB313 is now Act 733 |
|
SB32
Act 886
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB32 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF Y…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB32 is now Act 886 |
|
SB33
Act 887
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB33 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF M…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB33 is now Act 887 |
|
SB34
Act 888
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB34 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES APPROPRIATION … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB34 is now Act 888 |
|
SB35
Act 889
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB35 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF C…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB35 is now Act 889 |
|
SB36
Act 890
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB36 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF A…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB36 is now Act 890 |
|
SB40
Act 891
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB40 AN ACT FOR THE BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND THE LEGIS…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB40 is now Act 891 |
|
SB406
Act 752
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB406 A. Clark Warren TO REQUIRE A COUNTY RECORDER TO VERIFY CERT…”
|
TO REQUIRE A COUNTY RECORDER TO VERIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION BEFORE RECORDING A DEED TO REAL … | A. Clark | Notification that SB406 is now Act 752 |
|
SB41
Act 892
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB41 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB41 is now Act 892 |
|
SB420
Act 736
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB420 Hester Beaty, Jr. TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR WATER DEVELOPME…”
|
TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR WATER DEVELOPMENT STATE PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE WATER AUTHORITY ACT; AND … | Hester | Notification that SB420 is now Act 736 |
|
SB439
Act 737
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB439 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF TH…”
|
TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING; AND … | Irvin | Notification that SB439 is now Act 737 |
|
SB443
Act 949
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB443 J. Bryant Rose TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF AP…”
|
TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME INSPECTORS; TO … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB443 is now Act 949 |
|
SB447
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB447 J. Petty Hawk TO REQUIRE PERMITTED COMMON CARRIERS TO SUBMI…”
|
TO REQUIRE PERMITTED COMMON CARRIERS TO SUBMIT REPORTS DETAILING SHIPMENTS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES INTO THE … | J. Petty | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB475
Act 773
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB475 J. Dismang Eaves TO ESTABLISH THE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINIS…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION ACT; AND TO REGULATE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. | J. Dismang | Notification that SB475 is now Act 773 |
|
SB478
Act 738
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB478 G. Stubblefield Hall TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DIESEL ENGINE F…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DIESEL ENGINE FREEDOM ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROHIBIT STATE ENFORCEMENT … | G. Stubblefield | Notification that SB478 is now Act 738 |
|
SB480
Act 739
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB480 K. Hammer Wing TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INVESTMENT O…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INVESTMENT OF STATE FUNDS. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB480 is now Act 739 |
|
SB481
Act 779
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB481 Gilmore Wardlaw TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROP…”
|
TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF … | Gilmore | Notification that SB481 is now Act 779 |
|
SB500
Act 780
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB500 J. Petty Hall TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LEVEE DISTRICTS;…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LEVEE DISTRICTS; AND TO ALLOW A LEVEE DISTRICT CREATED BY … | J. Petty | Notification that SB500 is now Act 780 |
|
SB508
Act 756
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB508 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT OF A STI…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT OF A STIPEND FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC … | Irvin | Notification that SB508 is now Act 756 |
|
SB51
Act 893
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB51 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR COORDINATOR APPROPR…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR COORDINATOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB51 is now Act 893 |
|
SB516
Act 761
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB516 Gilmore Ray TO ALLOW A PERSON FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE…”
|
TO ALLOW A PERSON FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE … | Gilmore | Notification that SB516 is now Act 761 |
|
SB52
Act 894
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB52 AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - OPERATIONS AND UNCLAIMED…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - OPERATIONS AND UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB52 is now Act 894 |
|
SB520
Act 747
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB520 D. Sullivan A. Brown TO PROHIBIT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INC…”
|
TO PROHIBIT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICES, OFFICERS, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. | D. Sullivan | Notification that SB520 is now Act 747 |
|
SB521
Act 748
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB521 B. Davis Unger TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD … | B. Davis | Notification that SB521 is now Act 748 |
|
SB527
Act 774
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB527 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HEALTH AND OPPORTUNI…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ME ACT OF 2021; AND TO INCREASE … | Irvin | Notification that SB527 is now Act 774 |
|
SB533
Act 934
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB533 Dees Gazaway TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CONSUMABLE HE…”
|
TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS BY THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL BOARD; … | Dees | Notification that SB533 is now Act 934 |
|
SB544
Act 775
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB544 M. Johnson Gazaway TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT. | M. Johnson | Notification that SB544 is now Act 775 |
|
SB546
Act 935
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB546 K. Hammer Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRUST FUND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTION FEE FOR WATER PERMITS RELATED TO … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB546 is now Act 935 |
|
SB55
Act 895
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB55 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT APPROPRIATION FOR THE…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB55 is now Act 895 |
|
SB551
Act 764
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB551 K. Hammer Eubanks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB551 is now Act 764 |
|
SB563
Act 741
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB563 Irvin Cavenaugh TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POU…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY COMMISSION TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY FOR CERTAIN … | Irvin | Notification that SB563 is now Act 741 |
|
SB573
Act 783
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB573 J. Petty Jean TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION UNDER ARKANS…”
|
TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, § 5, BY DEFINING … | J. Petty | Notification that SB573 is now Act 783 |
|
SB574
Act 742
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB574 J. Petty Puryear TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A…”
|
TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A WATERWORKS SYSTEM OR SEWAGE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SERVICE … | J. Petty | Notification that SB574 is now Act 742 |
|
SB575
Act 989
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB575 C. Tucker Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT FEE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT FEES COLLECTED IN CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS; TO AMEND … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB575 is now Act 989 |
|
SB578
Act 766
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB578 Hester Wooldridge TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EARLY VOTING;…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EARLY VOTING; AND TO ALLOW A COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION … | Hester | Notification that SB578 is now Act 766 |
|
SB580
Act 767
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB580 K. Hammer Schulz TO EXTEND FINANCING FOR PURCHASES OF VEHIC…”
|
TO EXTEND FINANCING FOR PURCHASES OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT FOR A RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB580 is now Act 767 |
|
SB584
Act 768
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB584 K. Hammer Hawk TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB584 is now Act 768 |
|
SB610
Act 745
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB610 J. Dismang Eaves TO AMEND THE GENERATING ARKANSAS JOBS ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE GENERATING ARKANSAS JOBS ACT OF 2025; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | J. Dismang | Notification that SB610 is now Act 745 |
|
SB71
Act 896
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB71 AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS - COURT…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS - COURT PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB71 is now Act 896 |
|
SB81
Act 897
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB81 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM -…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB81 is now Act 897 |
|
SB90
Act 902
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB90 J. English Brooks TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AF…”
|
TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT … | J. English | Notification that SB90 is now Act 902 |
|
SB93
Act 1010
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB93 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR TH…”
|
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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Unknown speaker
0:00
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I don't know if you have any questions. I don't know if you have any questions. You can go to the next one. I'm not sure if you have any questions. I'm not sure if you have any questions. I'm not sure if you have any questions. I'm not sure if you have any questions. Thank you.
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Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
8:28
I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Pastor Lee Brown, First Assembly of God Church in Hebrew Springs, guest of his daughter today, Representative Alyssa Brown.
You remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Bruce
Speaker 6
9:07
Cozart. Before I pray, I am not in mourning today, but I want to honor the legacy of the Black Robe Regimen who helped set the flames of revolution from the 1700s. And so I'd ask you to pray with me if you would today. So, Father, today I'm reminded that Paul said that we're to pray for a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. And we begin to do so today by praying first and foremost for the men and women, the brave sailors and seamen,
Father, the brave soldiers and Coast Guardsmen, the Marines, Father, the Guardsmen and the Reserve who give us the freedoms that we possess today. And they fight the fight of freedom around the world and stand against tyranny. And I want to remember them in prayer today. I thank God today for the security today and the policemen who protect these Capitol grounds and the faithful men and women that serve within this Capitol building today. I remember today in prayer all the support staff and the things that they do that might not make the front page of the newspaper, God, but to some might seem as menial tasks.
But, God, what they do helps these legislators to accomplish what is so very important, that is civil government. Today, certainly, we remember in prayer all of our elected officials, God. in all of the branches of the government, Father, from our governor, God, unto our senate, and certainly our judiciary, but today my heart rests upon this House of Representatives, knowing that we're nearing the end of session, God, and the many hours that they have sacrificed, the time that they have given away from their families and their jobs.
Lord, and I know, God, that in front of them, God, it would be easy to lose sight, God, here at the very end, but we're going to pray today that you're going to strengthen them. We're going to pray that you lift their countenances today And they're going to be as sharp at the end as it was at the beginning today, God. I ask that in Jesus' name. Now, remind myself today that I may stand here today, and this would not necessarily be called a sacred assembly because we may, Father, not all share a same common faith. But today there is one thing I will say. They all hold to a sacred task because we recognize that government has been instituted by God and is ordained of God.
And I pray a threefold brief prayer over each member of this house today. number one i pray for their sincerity i pray god today that they will be sincere in all that they do in their heart before you and in the relationship one with the other i pray number two today god that you would give them wisdom father i'm reminded that the prayer that father solomon offered long ago still echoes in this chamber today how we need the wisdom of god to rule amongst men god we must have the divine wisdom that comes only from you and lastly i pray this today god in a nation that's
It's so divided in our time. I'm reminded what Jesus said. He said, if a house is divided, it shall not stand. So I pray today, God, that there will be agreement in this hall today. That, Father, to the men and women that sometimes even may disagree, God, in certain areas, let somehow, someway, supernatural agreement come upon them so that they can accomplish much good for the cause of good government here in the great state of Arkansas. Today, Father, with all those that have put their faith in agreement, I ask this humbly in the mighty name of Jesus, and everyone said, Amen.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
12:16
Amen. Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
has everyone indicated their presence cast up the ballot
with 99 members present chair sees a quorum are there any requests for leave representative stephen meeks for what purpose leave for representative milligan is leave granted for representative john
milligan so ordered representative Matthew Shepard moves that we dispense of the
reading of the previous day's journal no objection so ordered madam clerk do you have reports from
select committees you are recognized mr. speaker we your committee
Chair
Unverified
13:52
on joint budgets to homes referred hospital 1163 begley report the same consideration here for term the same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted representative Johnson
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
14:03
vice-chair madam part you have Any reports from standing committees? You're recognized.
Chair
Unverified
14:33
Begley reporting the same consideration here for term the same recommendation at do pass to concur and Senate Amendment No. 1, respectfully submitted. Representative Lynch, Chair, Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Taxation, whom is referred to House Bill 1072. Begley reporting the same consideration here for term the same recommendation at do pass as amended, concur and Senate Amendment No. 1, respectfully submitted. Representative Kavanaugh, Chair, Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Taxation, whom is referred to House Bill 1671. Begley reporting the same consideration here for term the same recommendation at do pass as amendment No. 2, respectfully submitted. Representative Kavanaugh, Chair, Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Taxation, whom is referred to House Bill 1671. Begley reports the same consideration, here return to the same recommendation at due passes amendment number two, respectfully submitted, Representative Kavanaugh, Chair. Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Taxation to whom was referred House Bill 1828,
Senate Bill 369, Senate Bill 535, Begley reporting the same consideration, here return to the same recommendation at due pass, respectfully
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
15:13
submitted, Representative Kavanaugh, Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Is there any unfinished business? Do you have any executive communications? Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members at this time, I would ask you to rise and join me.
Chair
Unverified
15:25
your attention to the back of the chamber. We have with us today Corporal Donnie Crow of the Aircraft Section and Corporal Trey Keller of the Highway Patrol Administration, both of
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
15:33
Little Rock. Our Arkansas State Troopers today, gentlemen, thank you for your service
to Arkansas and the House of Representatives.
Also in the back of the chamber today, we have
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
15:51
our Doctor of the Day, Dr. Sujit Kodapati. Dr. Kodapati is a Physician of Family Medicine from Little Rock, guest of Representative Tippi McCullough today. Doctor, thank you for being here today.
Serving alongside our Doctor of the Day is our Nurse, Ms. Lee Fazio. Ms. Lee, thank you for being here and
the service you've provided so far this session. Members up in the West Gallery, over to your left, we had with us Pastor Lee Brown, Father of Representative Alyssa Brown here to give the opening prayer, but we also have Ms. Sherry Brown and Erin Brown, mother and brother of Representative Brown,
and they're accompanied here today by family friend Caleb, if they would stand. There
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
16:50
they are. Over in the East Gallery, to your right, with us today, we have the University of Arkansas
Speaker 33
16:55
Future Teachers Group. They're both students and faculty. They're here. If they would rise, they are guests of Representative Bruce Kozart.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
17:09
Also up in the East Gallery, guests today, friends of Representative Les Eves. we have J.P. Graham all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Jared
Adams from BB, if they would stand. Gentlemen, thank you for being here. So up
in the East Gallery today, we have with us a student from the Mountain Home Christian Academy. We have Cheyenne Dewey, guest of Representative Stetson Painter.
members you also see down at the front of the chamber today we have a great group of students here we appreciate so much their interest in being here and their engagement with the house they are here serving today as pages i know we've got a lot of work for them
to do keep them busy while they're here with us would you please give them a hand just
of appreciation for being here Members, Representative Jeffrey Wardlaw moves that we place Senate Bill 519 back on second
reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, so ordered. Madam Clerk, please read Amendment No. 1. Amendment No. 1 with Senate Bill 519. Representative Ward-Law, you're recognized to explain
Amendment No. 1. My bill, my amendment. Thank you, Mr. Baker. Representative Ward-Law has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
18:47
against the amendment, for the amendment? Representative Ward-Law is closed for the amendment.
The question before the House is the passage of Amendment No. 1, Senate Bill 519. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended
Speaker 44
19:15
to engrossing. Representative Rye, for what purpose? Personal purpose. You're welcome to come to the well. Yes.
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
19:32
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Got this one in just a little late, but I want to be able to recognize Steve Jernigan and Clay Bradford from Lepanto, Arkansas, who drove about 140 miles to be with us. All right.
Speaker 51
19:46
Gentlemen, thank you for joining us here today and being guests of Representative Rye.
Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1104.
Speaker 33
20:32
Representative Beatty would like to pass over
that today. Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1090. House Resolution
Chair
Unverified
21:01
1090 by Representative Crawford to recognize March 29, 2025 as Vietnam War Veterans Day and March 2025 as Vietnam Era Veterans Month in Arkansas in appreciation of the sacrifices and contributions made by Vietnam War veterans.
Representative Crawford, you're recognized to present your resolution.
Representative Cindy Crawford
Unverified
21:30
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hello, friends. Today, could I have Marcus Richmond join me in the well, Mr. Speaker? Yes. Representative
Speaker 44
21:44
Richmond, if you would join Representative Crawford in the well.
Representative Cindy Crawford
Unverified
21:55
Colleagues, would you help me welcome our Vietnam veterans up in the East
Gallery on the 50th anniversary of them coming home. Thank you.
We have 99 co-sponsors for this resolution to honor you.
I just want to let you know that. You want
to speak first? Today, we pay tribute to a remarkable group of individuals, our Vietnam War veterans. March 29th was a Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day.
We were not in session that day, so today we pause to express our deepest gratitude, to honor your service, and to remember the sacrifices made by you and your families. There were 58,281 Americans, including 592 Arkansans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Countless others returned home forever changed, carrying physical wounds and invisible scars.
Yet, through it all, you demonstrated courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to your brothers and your sisters in arms and to this nation. To those who served on the front lines, in the dense jungles, on the rivers, and in the skies, you answered the call with bravery and dedication. To the medics and nurses who treated the wounded under fire, your compassion saved lives.
To the families who waited with hope and prayer, your sacrifice did not go unnoticed. We recognize, too, that when many of you returned home, you were met with indifference or worse. It is a painful chapter in our history that we cannot erase. But today, we stand united to say clearly and unequivocally, welcome home.
We honor you. We thank you. Your service did not end when you returned. you became community leaders, public servants, mentors, and tireless advocates for your fellow veterans. You inspired future generations with your strength and your dedication to the values that you fought to defend. As we reflect on your service, let
us also commit to supporting all veterans, ensuring they receive the care, respect, and recognition they deserve. The legacy of your generation must be one of dignity and honor, and it's our responsibility to uphold. On behalf of a grateful nation, we salute you. May we never forget the sacrifices you made and the values you defended.
Today and always, we thank you for your service, your bravery, and your enduring spirit. Fifty years later, we say welcome home. God bless you. God bless Arkansas and the United States of America. Thank you.
Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
26:23
Veterans, just let me say that I'm glad that this country and especially this body are thanking you for what you did and your sacrifice. And you've heard a lot of thanks. I mean, every time you go out, I'm sure you hear, thank you for your service, I support the troops.
You know, whether it's an election cycle or some other event that's going on, you get to hear that. But you probably haven't heard the one thing that this country has owed you for a long time. So I'm going to say it. And that is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you decided to go over there and do your duty and that you served. Do you only return home and be treated like you were the enemy? And this happened while those who chose to go to Canada went to Canada,
and then they returned home as if they were conquering heroes. I'm sorry that the lessons that you taught us in every single firefight that you spent in those jungles, that there is no such thing as color, there's no such thing as race, There's only good guys and bad guys, and we continue to forget that lesson that you taught us, and I'm sorry for that. I'm especially sorry that we continue to forget the number one lesson, and that is it doesn't matter how much blood you shed,
how much treasure this country spends, you cannot build a nation for a people who do not care if they have a nation. We continue to repeat that particular mistake over and over and over again, and you taught us a very good lesson when you served that we should not do that. And then finally, to my Uncle Jim, if you're watching, I'm sorry that after your three tours in Vietnam as a Marine infantryman,
that when you come home and you got sick, that the VA said it was not service-related, that after those three tours are tromping around in Agent Orange, that that illness that you got, well, there wasn't anything that they needed to do for you. I'm sorry that you never got to see your grandchildren. Matter of fact, you never got to see your kids get married. I'm sorry, on behalf of this country, that we didn't treat you right.
And I hope from this day forward that we never make that mistake again. So thank you for coming. Thank you for being here.
Representative Brad Hall
Unverified
29:17
I'm sorry it took this long. Thank you.
Representative Cindy Crawford
Unverified
29:33
And Mr. Speaker, I know we have a long day ahead of us.
but our service men and women have waited a long time so would you have the clerk read
the resolution in its entirety please madam clerk please read
the resolution in entirety whereas the Vietnam War
Chair
Unverified
29:54
was fight in the Republic fought in the Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975 and involved regular forces from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and Viet Cong guerrilla forces in armed conflict with the United States armed forces, the armed forces of allies in
the United States, and the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam. And whereas the United States armed forces became involved in Vietnam because the United States government wanted to provide direct military support to the government of the Republic of Vietnam to defend against the growing threat of communism from the Democratic Republic in Vietnam. And whereas citizens of Arkansas answered their country's call as they have in every armed conflict in which the United States has been a participant and whereas some Arkansans served in or off the coast of Republic of Vietnam while others served in critical roles such as training and logistics and whereas more
than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in the Vietnam War including 592 Arkansans and whereas in 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated to Washington DC to commemorate the members of the United States Armed Forces who died or were declared missing in action in Vietnam. And whereas the Arkansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial is inscribed with the names of Arkansas who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, and the memorial was dedicated on the grounds of the state capitol in Little Rock on March 7, 1987, by retired United States Army General William Westmoreland.
And whereas the Vietnam War was extremely decisive issue among the people of the United States in conflict that caused a generation of veterans to have to wait too long for the public of the United States to acknowledge and honor their efforts and services. And whereas members of the United States Armed Forces who barely and faithfully served the United States during the Vietnam War were often wrongly criticized for the decisions of policymakers that were beyond the control of their service men and service women. And whereas recognizing March 29, 2025 as Vietnam War Veterans Day and March 2025 as Vietnam Era Veterans Month in Arkansas is an appropriate way to honor the members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam.
And whereas it is important for all, Arkansas to express appreciation for the veterans of Vietnam War to demonstrate and resolve that the people of the state of Arkansas shall never forget to sacrifice in service of generation of veterans who served in the Vietnam War and to promote awareness of the faithful service and contributions of the veterans of the Vietnam War era. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 95th General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House of Representatives recognize March 29, 2025 as Vietnam War Veterans Day
and March 2025 as Veteran Era Veterans Month of Arkansas in appreciation of the sacrifices and contributions made by the Vietnam War
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
32:40
veterans. Representative Crawford has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution, for the resolution? Representative Crawford is closed for the resolution. Question before the House is the adoption of House Resolution 1090. All those in favor say aye.
Aye. Opposed nay. The ayes
have it. Congratulations, Representative Crawford. Your resolution is
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
33:20
adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House Memorial Resolution 1012.
Chair
Unverified
33:27
House Memorial Resolution 1012 by Representative Bentley, to remember Hedy
Lou Brooks as an Arkansas legend who positively impacted the lives of thousands of Arkansans as well as people all over the world. Representative Bentley, you're recognized
to explain your resolution. Speaker is okay, I
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
33:47
have Representative Melissa Brown, Representative Richard McGrew, Representative Les Warren, and Representative Bruce Cozart to join me, please. Members, would
Speaker 368
33:55
you please join Representative Bentley in the well?
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
34:00
I'm closer. A week ago, yesterday, an Arkansas legend ran her race. finished and she went to get her great prize and glory. Y'all may not have
Speaker 99
34:15
known Hattie Lou Brooks, but I can tell you she prayed for you every day. She walked these halls
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
34:21
for years praying for Arkansas. She was a good friend of Reverend Mike Huckabee, talked with them often, and from that day she would walk these halls and pray. I have two very distinct
memories of her right up there while I was presenting a bill on school choice, and she was cheering me on and praying and I will forever see Hedy right there. Another great memory I have is up here in the North Gallery and if her granddaughter Lindley and her husband Michael stand, they're sitting right where Hedy was and we passed the Unborn Child Protection Act to stop the murder of babies in Arkansas and Hedy was right there. She was, we had lunch in the cafeteria and I said, Hedy, it's four flights. Do you want to do the four flights or do you want to take the elevator? She said, Mary, let's just do the steps. So in her 90s, she and I walked the four flights
stairs up there to present that bill. Hedy was a young mom on a dirt road in Arkansas. She lived her whole life in Hot Springs and from that dirt road in Arkansas she affected the lives of tens of thousands of people. She's an inspiration to us all. She started the Brookhill Ranch Camp and my kids were blessed to go there like thousands of other kids and their favorite part was good to hear Hedy's stories. They would come home and share those stories with me every summer. Hedy and her husband Don started Brookhill Ranch Camp and also the Christian Ministries Church and Christian
Ministries Academy right there on that same dirt road where she lived as a young mom. My kids were blessed to go to the school for a while. We're blessed so much from the ministry of like thousands of other kids were. I also got to meet Alyssa at one of Hedy's many women's conferences. She inspired me. She's one of the reasons that I'm here today and we promise that we're going to leave her a legacy. We will not stop what Hedy started. I'll
Speaker 101
36:04
let everybody else share a little about how awesome Hattie was. Thank you, Representative Bentley. I'll just echo all
Speaker 103
36:08
of her words. Hattie Lou Brooks left a legacy, not just in the state of Arkansas, but throughout
America, and the best way that we could honor her today is to continue that, to fight for the state that she loved, and we know that she is in glory with our Lord right now watching us, and so just want to honor Hedy Liu on the house
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
36:33
floor here today. I'd just like to add to all that that we do a lot of resolutions, but this is one of the most worthy ones. This was an absolutely great lady. The lives that she touched is tens of thousands, if not more. She started from a small
ranch and built a great organization that just served the community. She's responsible for me being elected here. She's responsible for so many.
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
37:02
Great lady. Colleagues, you never meet a more loving person, God-fearing woman, a fired-up woman. She prayed for every one of you in this chamber. You
may not know that, but you felt it somewhere, because she prayed for me all the time,
And she always told me, I pray for every one of you every day. And I told her, I said, I appreciate your prayers. We all need it. And I tell you what, we're going to miss her. We're going to miss those prayers. But she is in a place that's a whole lot better than it
Representative Les Warren
Unverified
37:39
is here. So I'm glad for her. I will just end with saying that Hattie Lou Brooks was a force in
Speaker 110
37:45
Hot Springs, Arkansas. And there will be a major gap in our community.
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
37:51
Speaker, would you please have the clerk read the resolution in
Speaker 51
37:57
title only? Madam Clerk, please read the resolution
Chair
Unverified
38:01
by title. To remember Hedy Lou Brooks as an Arkansas legend who positively impacted the lives of thousands of Arkansans as well as people all over the world.
Representative Bentley has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution, against the resolution? Representative
Bentley, do you recognize the close for the resolution? thank you speaker i would
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
38:21
just say that hetty not only did you serve here in arkansas but she
served in belize for 40 years with a school and a church down there she has affected the lives of tens of thousands i cannot imagine the welcome home party that she received she's probably still getting thank yous today a week later i have no doubts about that i can't wait to see her in glory so um just know that she's in heaven but she's a little bit closer to jesus so her prayer she's going to not stop she will day pray for us even there in heaven i'm sure of it so thank you i would like to have her family stand. I know we have folks that love her dearly that are
here with us. Everybody's here with Hedy. Would you all
Speaker 51
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stand as we finish this resolution? Representative Bentley is closed for the resolution. All those
in favor of the resolution say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations Representative Bentley. Your
Speaker 51
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resolution has been adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House Memorial Resolution 1008.
Chair
Unverified
39:44
House Memorial Resolution 1008 by Representative Duffield to remember
boxer Tommy Morrison of Gravitt for his legendary boxing skills that brought renown to him and the state of Arkansas. Representative Duffield you're
recognized to explain your resolution. Thank You Mr. Speaker.
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
40:12
Colleagues, today we gather to honor and remember a man
whose fists carried thunder and whose heart carried the pride of his home, Tommy the Duke Morrison. And if I would, Mr. Speaker, I forgot one thing and I forgot to invite Representative Hope Duke down, who hails from Gravette, Arkansas, who had a special relationship with the family. So Representative Duke, would you like to join me in the well? I apologize for forgetting that. Representative
Duke, if you would join Representative Duffield in the well.
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
40:49
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Though his boxing career took him around the world, his story began right here in Arkansas, where he was born in the small town of Gravett on January 2, 1969. Tommy's journey from Arkansas to the heights of the boxing world was nothing short of remarkable. Encouraged by his father, he took up boxing as a young man and quickly discovered his natural talent. His hands moved fast, his punches carried weight, and his spirit never wavered.
After high school, Tommy not only earned a football scholarship, but also showcased his talent in the ring, winning the Kansas City Golden Gloves and advancing to the National Golden Gloves in Omaha, Nebraska. His talent caught the eye of many, including Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone, who cast him in Rocky V as Tommy, the Machine Gun Gun. In 1993, he stood toe-to-toe with one of boxing greats, the late great George Foreman, and he emerged victorious,
claiming the World Boxing Organization Heavyweight Championship. His professional boxing record, 48 wins out of 52 fights, speaks for itself. His amateur record, 202 wins out of 222 bouts, proves that his greatness wasn't a fluke, but a lifelong pursuit. His legacy lives on, not just his victories, but in the inspiration he provided to aspiring fighters, the excitement he brought to the sport,
and the pride he carried for his roots. Tommy Morrison may have left this world too soon, but Arkansas will always remember him as one of its own, a warrior, a champion, and a man who lived his life with the relentless spirit of a fighter. Representative Duke, you're recognized. Thank
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
42:48
you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Representative Duffield, for bringing this resolution.
It was kind of cool to see that when it popped up. I didn't know Tommy, but I grew up with his cousin, and they're watching him back home from Gravit. And what I do remember was about every day coming, not every day, but often coming into class, Richard would say, Tommy's fighting today, and I didn't know who Tommy was, and I didn't know a whole lot about the fighting, but he was so proud of him. And then as Tommy's career grew, we were all really proud of him. When you're from a little town in Arkansas, and somebody makes it the way that Tommy did, it's just so inspiring, and it was so much fun to watch Rich
and the rest of the family just enjoy his success and watch the journey and just kind of inspire other kids from small towns across Arkansas that, you know, work hard do your best and you can do just about anything so thank you for bringing that I know they're watching at home and it meant it means so much to them to
Representative Matt Duffield
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43:44
have him recognized thank you and ladies and gentlemen joining us
in the VIP gallery today is his son Kenzie Morrison who's been a boxer now for 11 years and recently signed a contract to fight for bare-knuckle fighting so if
you would at this time please read this in title only and give his son and the memory of the great Tommy Morrison. A round of applause I'd appreciate. Madam Clerk, please read the resolution
Speaker 140
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by title. To remember boxer Tommy Morrison of Gravit for his legendary boxing skills that brought renown to him
Representative Brian S. Evans
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44:13
and the state of Arkansas. Representative Duffield has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? For the resolution? Representative Duffield is closed for the resolution. All those in favor say
aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it.
Congratulations Representative Duffield your resolution has been adopted. Madam Clerk,
please read House Resolution 1094. House Resolution 1094 by
Chair
Unverified
44:51
Representative Duffield to raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity acknowledge school breakfast month in Arkansas and to work toward a solution
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
44:59
to the issue of food insecurity in Arkansas. Representative Duffield, you're recognized. Thank You Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, HR 1094 is about acknowledging and addressing the serious issue of food security in Arkansas. It formally recognizes school breakfast month and highlights the connection between student success and nutrition. Nearly one in four children in Arkansas face food insecurity. Arkansas as a whole was ranked number one in food insecurity in
2023. Children affected by food insecurity are more likely to have lower test scores, miss more days of school, and experience higher stress levels. This resolution encourages representatives to visit one food pantry in their district and visit one public school during school breakfast month. By passing this resolution the house can show Arkansas serious about addressing hunger starting with the most vulnerable our children it shows representatives are on the ground seeing good seeking good policy that take effect in local communities and how
they can continue to contribute to good policy with local hunger relief organizations health care groups and school nutrition directors madam clerk would you please read the resolution in title only madam clerk read the resolution by
Speaker 140
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of food insecurity to acknowledge school breakfast month in Arkansas and to work toward a solution to the issue of
Representative Brian S. Evans
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46:29
food insecurity in Arkansas. Representative Duffield has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution for the resolution? Representative Duffield is closed for the resolution. Question
before the House is the adoption of House Resolution 1094. All those in favor say
Aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations Representative Duffield. The resolution has been adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1110. House
Chair
Unverified
47:04
Resolution 1110 by Representative Rye to recognize World War II veteran and Medal of Honor
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recipient James R. Hendricks of Arkansas. Representative
Rye, you're recognized to explain your resolution. Thank you
Representative Johnny Rye
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47:28
Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it. I appreciate being with you and I appreciate having the honor to speak about a great man.
the recognized World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, Jim R. Hendricks of Arkansas, whereas Jim Richard Hendricks, a native of Lepanto, Arkansas, was a World War II veteran, recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration given by the United States Armed Forces For his actions during that war and whereas Jim Hendrix was born on August 20th, 1925 and as a son of a sharecropper, he left school at an early age to work alongside his parents on the family farm.
Whereas in 1943 at age 18, Jim Hendrix was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Europe assigned to the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division. After the initial invasion of Normandy by the Allied forces, Jim Hendrix and his unit began the march across France to Belgium as part of General George S. Patton's 3rd Army.
Jim Hendrix was 19 years old on December the
26th of 1944 in Belgium when he showed incredibly
bravery in helping to evacuate wounded comrades. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Jim Hendricks again left his vehicle voluntarily to aid two wounded soldiers, helpless and exposed to intense machine gun fire.
Effectively silencing two hostile machine guns, he held off the enemy by his own fire until the wounded men were evacuated. Private Hendricks again distinguished himself when he hastened to come to the aid of still another soldier who was trapped in a burning half-track, braving enemy sniper fire and exploding mines and ammunition in the vehicle. He extricated the wounded man and extinguished his flaming clothing, thereby saving the life
of his fellow soldier. For what was termed "superb courage and heroism," Jim Hendricks was awarded the Medal of Honor from then President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, at the White House in Washington, D.C. on August 23, 1945. Jim Hendricks joined the paratroopers following World War II and also served in the Korean War, retiring in 1965 at the rank of Master Sergeant. Jim Hendrix died on November 4, 2002 at his home in Florida and was survived by his wife, Helen, with four daughters and two sisters.
For as the actions of young Arkansas farmer James Hendrix brought honor and renown to himself and his family and to the state of Arkansas, I just want to say how much I appreciate getting the honor to come down and thank y'all for letting me do
Representative Brian S. Evans
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this. Representative Rye has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? For the
resolution, Representative Rye is closed for the resolution. Question before the House is the adoption of House Resolution 1110. All those in favor say aye.
Aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations, Representative Rye. The resolution has been adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution. please read House Resolution 1111.
Chair
Unverified
51:31
House Resolution 1111 by Representative Rye to recognize April 7th, 2025 as the day of love in the state of
Arkansas. Representative Rye, you're recognized to explain your resolution.
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
51:55
Arlan, Representative Duffield, Representative Shepard, Representative Matt Shepard, and also Tar Shepard, and Nick Burks. Members,
Speaker 34
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if you'll join, Representative Rye and the Will.
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
52:25
Y'all, we can say things from day to day. We love one another, but boy, love is a big thing. It goes way, way, way around, and we're in very deep. I want to read this.
I think that you'll agree. Working together in a spirit of love bridges gaps created by differing beliefs and improves daily life and work, schools and politics, families and communities, highlighting our similarities rather than our differences, such as the common desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as outlined in our nation's Declaration of Independence leads to a feeling of connection and love among citizens regardless of their ages, races,
beliefs and backgrounds. Working together cooperatively and in person in the performance of acts of service to achieve common goals also helps reinforce feelings of love and acceptance in the communities of Arkansas more closely bonding our citizens. There is nothing, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish as citizens of this state When all come together in a spirit of love. That the House of Representatives recognize this today. And I've got something that I'd like to read.
And I think that this will cut you to the heart. I know it did me. If I could speak all the languages of earth, of angels, but I didn't love others. I would only be a noisy gong or a clinging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge. And if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but I didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it.
But if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. it does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out love never gives up never loses faith is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance prophecy and speaking
in unknown tongues and special knowledge will become useless but love will last forever now our knowledge is partial and incomplete and even the gift of prophecy reveals that only part of the whole picture but when the time of perfection comes these partial things will become useless when i was a child i spoke as a child and i reasoned as a child but when i grew up i put away childish things now we see things imperfectly like puzzling reflections in a
mirror but we will see everything with perfect clarity all that i know now is partial and incomplete, but when I know everything completely, just as God knows me completely, three things will last forever, faith, hope, and love,
and the greatest is love. Thank you. Representative Rye has explained
the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution?
You want to speak for the resolution? Representative McElroy, you're recognized to come to
Representative Mark D. McElroy
Unverified
56:19
the well and speak for the resolution. In honor of this resolution, I would ask that the house would stand and hug the
member to your right, and if you don't love that one, hug the one to your left, and if you meet a senator, give him a big old kiss on the lips.
Speaker 162
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Members, I would think at this point that there would
against that resolution. Representative Rye, thank you for bringing that resolution. Question before the House is the adoption of House Resolution 1111. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations, Representative Rye. Your resolution is adopted.
Madam Clerk, please read House Memorial Resolution 10-11. House Memorial Resolution
Chair
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57:45
10-11 by Representative Rye to remember University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville and National Basketball Association star Oliver Big O Miller for his achievements and for his contributions to the state
of Arkansas. Representative Rye, you're recognized to explain House Memorial Resolution 10-11.
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
58:08
I can't think of a better friend to have up here for this one because this was a very special person to us. To remember University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and National Basketball Association star Big O Miller and his achievements for his contributions to the state of Arkansas, Oliver Miller, formerly Phoenix, Arizona passed away on March the 12th, 2025 whereas Oliver Miller was a legendary
center and a four-year letterman in basketball for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Razorback basketball team from 1988 to 1992. Oliver Miller was nicknamed Big O because of his size and incredible skills throughout his basketball career which began at Southwest high school in fort smith texas where he was a star athlete while big old miller played for the razorbacks the team recorded 25 wins seven losses in 20 uh and 25 and 7 during the 1988 1989 year
30 wins during the 1989 90 season and 34 wins uh in 1990 and 91 with a 34 and 4 record He's meant so much to us and Tracy, if you don't mind, will you read the rest of this one for us, sir? Thank you, Representative Rye. Well,
there's a lot of great information on here and I just want you members to know that Representative Rye has been working on this for a while.
He actually started working on this when Oliver Miller was alive, but he was sick. And the family really appreciate all of your efforts, all of our efforts to try and do this. But at that period in time, they would not leave his side. Oliver Miller was a young man who I knew personally. Every time I saw him, he always had a big smile on his face. Most of you are maybe old enough to remember the times that he played at the University of Arkansas.
Big O, back in what we refer to as the glory days, University of Arkansas always went deep into the tournament and finally won a national championship. I want to say, but because of Representative Rye Effert, who asked me to help on this, I reached out to a very dear friend of mine, Allie Freeman. Some of you may remember him, former Arkansas Razorback guard, Ali Friedman, who I played against on several occasions, reached out to him, and Ali Friedman
reached out to Coach Nolan Richardson. So, Representative Ry, because of your work and members after your approval, Coach Nolan Richardson will assure that this memorial resolution be placed in Bud Walton Arena next to Big O's jersey. Thank you, Representative Ry. Representative Rye has explained
the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? For the resolution. Representative Rye is closed for the resolution.
Question before the House is the adoption of House Memorial Resolution 10-11. All those in favor
say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations, Representative Rye. Resolution has been adopted.
Representative Childress, for what purpose? Point of personal privilege. You're recognized to come dwell.
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
1:02:07
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, will you help me recognize today our State Collectors Association that have joined us today in the chamber. They're sitting in both galleries and we appreciate all the hard work they do for our constituents and for their counties and the state of Arkansas. So, if you
Speaker 177
1:02:22
all would rise and let us recognize you.
- Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1112. -
Chair
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1:02:44
House Resolution 1112 by Representative Brown to recognize the Westside Greer's
Speaker 140
1:02:47
Ferry High School Lady Eagles basketball team as the 2025 Class 1A state champion. Representative Brown,
you're recognized to present your resolution. Thank you,
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
1:02:58
Mr. Speaker. Members, this was the basketball team I had here yesterday, the Grizz Ferry Lady Eagles. We got to honor them and to ask the clerk to read the title only.
Speaker 42
1:03:09
Madam Clerk, read the resolution by title. To recognize the Westside Grizz Ferry High School Lady Eagles basketball team
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:03:18
as the 2025 Class 1A state champions. representative brown has explained the resolution anyone else speak against the resolution for the resolution
representative brown closed for the resolution question before the house is the passage of house resolution 1112 all those in favor say aye aye opposed nay the eyes have it congratulations representative brown your resolution is adopted
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:03:48
members the morning hour has ended represent Nazarenko for what purpose
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
1:03:59
request I'll hear your request thank you mr. speaker pursuant to house rules 38T I respect the request a fiscal impact
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:04:08
for Senate bill 168 that's a proper request pursuant to rule 38T I direct fiscal impact be prepared placed on the desk of each member within the next five days represented friend Cavanaugh
recommends that we concur in Senate amendment number one to house bill 1688 madam clerk please read Senate amendment number one
Chair
Unverified
1:04:39
bill 1688 representative Cavanaugh recognized to explain your
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
1:04:45
amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a very simple bill. It does a technical fix, no known opposition, and the bill has been sanitized, and I would appreciate a good vote.
Representative Brian S. Evans
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1:04:58
Representative Kavanaugh has explained the amendment. Will anyone like to speak against the amendment? For the amendment, Representative Kavanaugh is closed for the amendment. The The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1688. Prepare the machine, Madam
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 92 yea, 0 nay, and 0 present, you concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1688. Representative Joey Carr recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1803. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1803. Representative Carr,
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:05:53
you're recognized to explain your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the monument for FTSE BRIT, the grade of the greatest generation.
Simply added Senator Mark Johnson as a co-sponsor. There was no context in the change. Appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:06:07
Carr has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment or the amendment? Representative Carr
is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1803. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Speaker 51
1:06:32
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
With 94 yea, 0 nay, and 1 present, you concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1803. Representative Jimmy Gassaway recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1814. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1 to
Speaker 40
1:06:52
House Bill 1814. Representative Gassaway, you're recognized
to explain Amendment 1. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a very simple bill.
No known opposition. Simply add Senator Blake Johnson is a co-sponsor. Appreciate a good vote. Thank you Representative Gassaway
has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? for the amendment Representative
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:07:16
Gassaway is closed for the amendment question before the house Is concurrence with Senate amendment number one to
House bill 1814 prepare the machine madam clerk? Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 95 yay, 0 nay, and 1 present, you've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1814. Representative Andrew Collins recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1808. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1808. Representative Collins, you're recognized to explain
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
1:08:02
your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This just adds a co-sponsor, Wade Andrews.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:08:06
Representative Collins has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment, for the amendment? Representative Collins is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment
No. 1 to House Bill 1808. Madam Clerk, prepare the machine. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 94 yea, 0 nay, and 2 present, you've
concurred and Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1808. Representative Ashley Hudson recommends that we concur and Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1333. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1333. Representative
Chair
Unverified
1:08:55
Hudson, you're recognized. Thank you, colleagues. As usual,
Representative Ashley Hudson
Unverified
1:08:59
the Senate had to meddle in one of our good bills. I would consider this mostly a technical amendment. I had to, they came in and saw a couple of grammatical changes that they wanted to fix.
But I do really appreciate the help and wanted to give a special shout-out to my Senate co-sponsor,
Brianne Davis. Representative Hudson has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment or the
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:09:24
amendment? Representative Hudson is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence in Senate Amendment No. 1. to House Bill 1333.
Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 82 yeas, 5 nay, and 4 present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1333. Representative Lee Johnson recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1424. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment
Chair
Unverified
1:10:04
No. 1 to House Bill 1424. Johnson,
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you're recognized. My bill, my amendment. Appreciate it
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:10:13
again, but... Representative Johnson has explained the amendment.
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? For the amendment. Representative Johnson is closed for the amendment. Question before the House is concurrence
with Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1424. Prepare the
Speaker 51
1:10:35
machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of
78 yea, 9 nay, and 7 present. You concurred in Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 1424.
Representative Lee Johnson recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 1602. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment 1. Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill
Chair
Unverified
1:10:58
1602. Representative Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you,
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
1:11:03
Mr. Speaker. Members, this amendment added some protection language to the end of the bill around some of the transparency things we were doing in the bill. Happy to take any questions. Appreciate a good vote. Representative
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:11:15
Johnson has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment?
Representative Johnson is closed for the amendment. The question before
the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 1602. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. Vote of 92 yea, 0 nay, and 6 present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1602.
Representative Brandon Aker recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1531. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1531.
Chair
Unverified
1:12:01
Representative Aker, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues.
Representative Aker
Unverified
1:12:06
This amendment simply just clarifies some of the reporting mechanisms that the stakeholders requested. And with that, I'll welcome any questions. I see none. I appreciate a good vote. Representative Aker has explained the amendment.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:12:17
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment?
Representative Aker is closed for the amendment. Question before the House is concurrence in Senate Amendment No.
1 to House Bill 1531. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
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1:12:40
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 98 yay, 0 nay, and 0 present. You've concurred in Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1531.
Rep. Brandon Aker recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1700. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1.
Speaker 140
1:13:02
Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1700.
Representative Aker
Unverified
1:13:08
Rep. Aker, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. Similar logic here. This just clarifies some of the reporting mechanisms requested by the industry stakeholders. With that, I welcome any questions. Thank you. I
appreciate a good vote. Rep. Aker has explained the amendment. Anyone would like to speak against the amendment?
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:13:23
For the amendment, Representative Acre is closed for the amendment.
Question before the House, its concurrence was Senate Amendment No.
1 to House Bill 1700. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has
Speaker 51
1:13:38
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The
vote of 97 yea, 1 nay, and 0 present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1700. Representative Matthew Brown recommends that we concur and send an amendment number one to House Bill 1820
Madam Clerk please read Senate Amendment number one Senate Amendment
Speaker 40
1:14:02
number one to House Bill 1820 Representative Brown you're
recognized to explain your amendment Thank you Mr. Colleagues this
Speaker 217
1:14:08
is a Senate amendment to add another regulated industry to the exceptions to the act We already had several that were already accepted because they are regulated and this just added one we missed Appreciate
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:14:18
a good vote Representative Brown has explained to the amendment Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? for the amendment represent brown is closed for the amendment question before the house is concurrence in senate amendment number one to house bill 1820 prepare the machine madam clerk
Speaker 51
1:14:40
has everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot with a vote
of 96 yay one nay and zero present you've concurred in senate amendment number one to house bill 1820 representative mark perry recommends that we concur in senate amendment number one to house bill 1771 madam clerk please read senate amendment number one senate amendment number one
Speaker 40
1:15:04
to house bill 1771. representative perry you're
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1:15:08
recognized thank you mr speaker this amendment's changing
and the number of employees from 25 to 50. Appreciate a
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:15:17
vote. Representative Perry has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the
amendment? For the amendment. Representative Perry is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence. We'll send an amendment number one to House Bill 1771. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
has everyone voted cast up the ballot with a vote of 83 yeas 2 nay and 10 present you've concurred in Senate amendment number one the House bill 1771 representative Mary Bentley recommends that we concur and Senate amendment number one the House bill 1454 representative Bentley or madam clerk please read Senate amendment number one to the amendment number one the House bill 1454. Representative Bentley you're recognized. Thank you speaker my bill my
amendment I appreciate a good vote thanks. Representative Bentley has explained the amendment would anyone like
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:16:22
to speak against the amendment or the amendment? Representative Bentley is closed for the
amendment. Question before the house is concurrence in Senate amendment number one the house bill 1454 Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has
Speaker 51
1:16:37
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 90 yea, 0 nay, and 0 present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1454. Representative Kendon Underwood recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1543. Madam Clark please read Senate amendment number one. Senate amendment number one to House Bill 1543.
Chair
Unverified
1:17:02
Representative Underwood you're recognized to explain your amendment. Thank
you Mr. Speaker. All this amendment does is
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:17:07
add Senator Irvin as my Senate sponsor. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood has explained
the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment? Representative Underwood is closed for the amendment. Question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment number one to House Bill 1543. prepare the machine Madam
Speaker 51
1:17:38
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast
up the ballot. The vote of 84 yeas, 9 nays, and 0 present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment Number 1
to House Bill 1543. Representative Stephen Meeks recommends that we concur in Senate amendment number one to house bill 1666 madam clerk please read Senate amendment number one then amendment number one to house bill 1666 representative Meeks
Speaker 40
1:18:01
you're recognized thank you mr. speaker colleagues same song
different dance we somehow convinced senator hammer to join me on the 666 bill so that's all it does representative Meeks has explained the
amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment representative Meeks is
closed for the amendment. Question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment number one to House Bill
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1:18:32
1666. I'll prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has
Speaker 51
1:18:42
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up
the ballot. With a vote of 96 yeas, one nay, and zero present. You've concurred in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1666.
Representative Jimmy Gassaway recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1777. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment No. 1. Senate Amendment No. 1
Speaker 40
1:19:07
to House Bill 1777. Representative Gassaway, you're recognized. Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. Technical fix. Simply add Senator Gilmour as the Senate sponsor. Thank you. Representative Gassaway has explained the amendment.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:19:20
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? For the amendment? Representative Gassaway is closed for the amendment. Question before the House is
concurrent with Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1777. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. everyone
Speaker 51
1:19:43
voted cast up the ballot for the vote
of 96 yay 0 nay and 0 present you've concurred and sent amendment number one to house bill 1777
Speaker 51
1:20:08
members at the request of representative wayne long we will pass over house bill 1914 today.
At the request of Representative Stetson Painter we will pass over House Bill 1897. Madam Furt please read House Bill 1930. House Bill 1935 Representative Wardlaw to mandate
Chair
Unverified
1:20:24
minimum reimbursement levels for health care services. Representative Wardlaw you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank
You Mr. Speaker. Anytime y'all see me walk
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:20:33
down here with a folder it's gonna be bad. I think we are
all aware of the fact that our health
care system is the way and the way we pay for health care in America isn't working. We can all agree that it's too expensive for Americans to obtain quality health care and it's often too complicated not navigate our system but the reality is we aren't going to solve that problem here today. The reality is here in Arkansas, we have an emergency situation going on. Arkansas health care providers receive some of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private health care insurance pay less for health care services in Arkansas than they do anywhere else in the nation. We are ranked 50 in the payment system. This is a trifecta that has put many of our rural hospitals and providers an unsustainable financial position. Without adequate reimbursement, our healthcare system cannot recruit, maintain a strong healthcare workforce, or update and maintain their facilities. And many of our rural hospitals are at risk of closure. We also rank 50 in the closure
list or the risk for closure in the United States. In 2022, the legislature set aside $60 million dollars in American Rescue Plan funding for Arkansas hospitals. In 2024 Governor Sanders awarded 15 million to rural hospitals. This type of hospital recovery from the pandemic and high staffing costs and supply costs that we saw during that time. But one-time funding isn't going to solve the problem. You really got to think this through. The first hospital that came here that we
gave money to was Camden, Arkansas. We gave them seven million dollars that day. Camden, Arkansas suffered last weekend an ER without a doctor for a few hours. They were able to grab a doctor in the community to come fill in for the weekend, but folks Camden, Arkansas is coming back to knock on the door. And let me tell you what each and every one of you gonna do when they get here, you're gonna vote yes because you have to. Because the defense contracts have all of their employment sitting in Camden Arkansas and they
cannot make those missiles and they cannot make those bombs without a hospital and an ER so you're going to vote yes we had a very not I'm not talking about this bill by the way I'm talking about paying for Camden Hospital we had a very in-depth conversation about this issue in committee this week we had payers we had hospital CEOs engaged in the conversation committee members had very thoughtful questions, and I'd like to address some of those today. Three recent reports highlight Arkansas health care challenges. In February 2025,
2025 Rural Health State of the State report ranks Arkansas number one in the country for the highest percentage of hospitals on the closure list. I already told you that. December 2024, the RAND pricing paid by hospitals, the private healthcare plans report found that Arkansas had the lowest commercial reimbursement rate in the country. Only five states in the country saw hospital reimbursement rate below 200% of Medicare. Arkansas was the lowest at 170%. The average of the country gets 254% of Medicare. November 2024, the Northwest Arkansas Council, Northwest
Arkansas Health Care Vision 2030 report found that the payment rates for health care services remain the lowest in the United States. Providers in Arkansas are at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring states in terms of amount of money they receive per patient. For an example, hospital in nearby Oklahoma treating the same patient with the same medical condition would make $5,725 more than a hospital in Arkansas. Average reimbursement for a patient in Arkansas
versus neighboring states. Arkansas's average reimbursement is $8,800. Oklahoma is $14,500. Texas is $17,350. Louisiana is $11,988, so almost $12,000. Mississippi is $12,500. Hospital transparency pricing shows the disparity in reimbursement rates between Arkansas hospitals and hospitals in adjoining states. For example, one of the nation's largest payers, United, pays $119 for an Arkansas-based health care system for a mammogram,
compared to $330 in Springfield, Missouri, $301 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, $402 in Durant, Oklahoma. There's no reason that Arkansas payers are $200 less than anybody else for a mammogram. A mammogram here is the same quality as a mammogram there. Another clear example from the same payer, Mercer Room Reimbursement at Ashley County Medical Center in CrossFit, Arkansas, is $628 compared to $1,000 in Shreveport to $825 in Natchezus, Louisiana.
One of the biggest issues I see in this with employers who have employees that live near Arkansas border or in states near Arkansas where their employment plans are paying the higher rates for the health care that is provided out of state than what is provided in Arkansas. If we continue to do this, our Arkansas employers and employees are going to subsidize these other states. Because the premiums you pay in Arkansas, when you go have service in the other state, it pays those higher prices. So the insurance companies outside those doors stand there telling you that this is going to raise premiums.
Our premiums are already paying these rates I've quoted to you. Because Arkansas employers, like Walmart, have most of their employees outside the state of Arkansas. I've already showed you where the average of those are anywhere
from $12,000 to $17,000 for the same hospital stay that's $8,800 in Arkansas. So how
does this bill help Arkansas providers? This bill requires a health benefit plan to pay a minimum reimbursement level on the average percentage being paid in adjoining states, which is Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Adjoining states' current reimbursement average percentage of Medicare is Arkansas's 162, Oklahoma's 255, Texas's 251, Louisiana's 232, Mississippi is 184, and Missouri is 247. You can see the majority of those states are already above the national average of the percentage above Medicare. Think about that for a minute. Arkansas Commercial Plans are currently paying 162% of Medicare, while they are paying 255% of that same Medicare rate in Oklahoma,
and 232% of it in Louisiana. In this bill, they're a five-year phase-in. It's going to start out at 45% of that adjoining state average. Every insurance payer that I know of is already paying above 45%. The second year, it'll go to 55%. The third year, 65%. The fourth year, 75%. The original bill we filed started at $85, $95, and $100. It was a three-year phase in.
So what we did with this amendment that was asked for us to put in by one of the biggest employers in the state was we allowed you guys some breathing room before any payments would would go up and that breathing room is all the way out to almost year four now we did have a hospital administrator and committee testify that he thought that he would see some increases from some commercial plans in year two but he knew he would in year three but for the most part you shouldn't see any premium increase until year four. Truthfully, that's unlikely to mean a reimbursement increase in year one.
I think I already explained that paragraph. In the case, so if I lose my page, I'll come back. In case it's unclear, in my intent, this bill had no payer with lower reimbursement than 45% in the minimum reimbursement level in a provider currently being reimbursed at a higher rate than than that. But I do want to ensure that we do not have any rural hospitals that are getting less than 45% of that average. One of the things we talked about at Link during the committee is the potential for premium increases. Payers
argued that raising commercial rates will result in increased premiums for Arkansas employers and Arkansas employees and Arkansas private plans. However, the Kauffman Family Foundation data shows that the average annual premium per enrolled employee or employer-based health insurance in surrounding states is not significantly higher than ours. That's what's so funny about this folks, is they're paying almost same premiums as us in these other states, but yet we've got the insurance companies standing in committee telling us that we're going to pay these exorbitant amount of high premiums to
pay the same rates they're already paying these other states. Arkansas's average yearly premium is $7,362. Write that down so you can compare these other numbers. Oklahoma, where I've already told you they pay $14,000 for an average stay, $8,000 in Arkansas, is only $7,420. It's not even $100 difference. That's $100 a year for the record, not $100 a month. Texas premiums, $8,100. It's $700 difference than us, and they pay more than
double the average hospital stay in Texas versus Arkansas. Mississippi is a hundred dollars less than us on premium but yet the reimbursement level is almost four thousand dollars more than us on an average hospital stay. Premiums are not going to go up. A few years ago representative Lee Johnson had a case of bills that he ran to help providers fight the commercial insurance world and and they told us that it was going to cost 300 something million dollars and we're going to see
these huge premium increases we passed all those bills we sent them out we've never seen a dime of that the only thing i can even account to that and remotely count to it is blue cross put out in the first quarter they lost 220 million but then you find out no premiums were raised they're passed through company for the record and they're moving their company out of state They're moving in with Anthem. We also know that in the previous sessions,
to address a couple of questions for a committee, this is not setting a specific price for health care services. This bill sets a minimum reimbursement level, which we have done for pharmacists, which we have done for multiple other providers in health care. And it allows the payers and private to handle regional differences in a similar manner. So the bill still allows contract negotiation. it just sets a minimum. So it still allows for Northwest Arkansas to get a higher reimbursement rate because of labor levels or labor prices. It still
allows Little Rock to do that versus a Delta. So it still allows negotiation to take place between the companies and the hospitals. I was asked if it had been done in any other state. To my knowledge this has not been done anywhere else, but we're having to consider this because we are dead last in reimbursement in the country. Other states have set minimums reimbursement rates for other health care services such as pharmacy reimbursement. In fact, Arkansas has already done that as well as I mentioned. In this bill going to solve the
problem, honestly it's not going to solve the problem, but it's a great big step in the right direction. We do need our Medicare rates increased and I want to take a second to explain that to you guys because this is kind of hard to understand, because Washington DC doesn't do many things right. Medicare, to change your rate in Medicare for your state, it takes an act of Congress. They literally have to have a bill and have to pass the chambers, just like here, and the president
has to sign it. But in order to even do that, the bill has to hold budget neutrality of current Medicare. So for our rate to go up, somewhere else in the U.S. has to go down. So you ask yourself why couldn't we have Bozeman or Senator Cotton introduce that bill because it's really hard to take away from somewhere else and everybody in the U.S. is fighting these same battles right now and the difference is is they're fighting it from a different playing field than we
are because we're at the very bottom. Now that this bill has been filed and debated payers have offered to help and provide solutions rather than implement this bill. The problem with that is these payers have had decades to address this issue and are in fact the very entities that have suppressed the reimbursement rates for so long. If they had increased the rates at a comparable rate to our neighboring states, we wouldn't be talking about this today. We would all want the market to drive the prices, but when you have the industry with a
one-sided negotiation, sometimes we step in. I look around this room and most of you guys are in business. I'm looking at Representative McGrew right here who's an electrician. Whatever that pipe cost for that conduit, whatever that wire cost, he's able to recoup that price through his bid or through his price for that job and get his money back. That mammogram machine and that MRI machine cost X. We're not able to take 20 patients that we can run through there a day and divide that
cost out and charge it. We have to eat whatever Medicare sets that price at and wherever private insurance sets the price above Medicare. And that's where we're at. And those machines cost a whole lot more than that reimbursement is today. Lastly, I want to point out that the reason for some of these potential premium increases are coming back in such high rates is because they are varied companies that are underpaying our providers now. And if they had kept up with the market, they wouldn't be making up so much ground today to implement this bill.
Members, this is not an easy bill. It's not a bill I wanted to stand down here and run this year. But we're elected for reasons. And we're elected for reasons to take care of our people. Health, safety, and well-being. And in order to do that, our communities have to have hospitals. And these hospitals aren't growing on trees the same way our parents tell us money don't grow on trees. And sometimes, we've got to make tough decisions. And today
is the day we're going to make a tough decision.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I'll allow members to
debate the bill. Representative Wardlaw has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative
Representative David Ray
Unverified
1:36:05
Ray, you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I think we are at the point in the legislative session where the bills, we are considering things faster than all of us, can truly grasp the consequences of some
of these things that we're passing. And I want to just bring to your attention that this bill is going to result in a very substantial increase on insurance premiums for people who have private insurance, employer-sponsored insurance and self-funded health insurance plans. The testimony in committee and the numbers that I've seen estimate that we're looking at premium increases of anywhere in the range of $4,800 to $6,000 for a family of four per
year. I don't have a lot of families in my district that can absorb that sort of a hit. The state chamber has referred to this bill as a "thinly veiled tax increase." I agree with that assessment. Our businesses are staring down a lot of uncertainty right now. They don't know whether they're going to have to pay tariffs from the federal level. They don't know if they're not going to have to pay tariffs. They don't know if the Trump tax cuts are going to get extended or if the Trump tax
cuts are going to expire. They don't know whether we're about to go into a recession or whether we're going to pull out of it. The last thing that we need to do is to saddle them with higher insurance rates and saddle their employees, our constituents, with higher insurance rates. One of the things that was mentioned in committee, you know, when insurance becomes too expensive beyond what people can afford to pay, they drop it and they become uninsured and it was
testified in committee that in the last year, just with one carrier, we had 125 small businesses in this state drop insurance for their employees. That trend is only going to continue if we pass this bill. One of the things that I think is problematic about this bill is that it exempts state government and it exempts higher ed. Why is that? I think it's worth asking that question. It's almost certainly because of the cost increases I just mentioned. You know, a lot of times we
say what's good for the goose is good for the gander, but that's not how this bill works. The private sector is going to have to shoulder the burden of the cost shift that's going to occur and the government sector is going to get off scot-free. I think every session that I've been here, we pass bills in the last week of session that we soon come to regret because we realize that it did things we didn't fully comprehend
were going to happen. And I believe that if we pass this bill, that will become one of those bills. The filing period for bills opened in the middle of November, November of last year. This bill was filed two weeks ago, and I do not think that we need to rush through a change this significant, this monumental, this drastic in the eleventh hour of session. Because the law of unintended consequences is a very real thing.
So I would just ask you, unless you know exactly how this bill is going to impact the employers in your district, unless you have read it thoroughly and thoroughly understand the impact that it's going to have on the premiums of the people you represent in your districts, I would ask you to not vote for this bill. And I am not going to vote for
it for those reasons. Representative Ray has spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Thank
Representative Aker
Unverified
1:40:19
you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, and I appreciate the sentiments from Representative
Ray. I would like to say that the comparisons in my line of work and the efforts we've made to regulate how that happens centers around showing your work. To vote against this bill is the unintended consequence of believing insurance companies at their face value. This bill does require them to show their work before a premium is increased. Just like in the pharmacy business that they've had the same arguments, in the healthcare business they make those same arguments, that it's going to cost too much, that premiums
are going to be this much, this much, and this much. It does require them to show their work. And rather than voting no out of prospective fear, I ask that you vote yes in favor of having them show their work. Because when they show their work, what they're showing you is care that was rendered. There are names behind those dollars spent. There are heart attacks behind those dollars spent. There are cancer patients behind those dollars spent. And before we take them at their face value that they're going to increase premiums, let's have them show their work.
We talk about the increase in cost. There is also a cost of doing nothing. The cost of doing nothing is that hospitals close. The cost of nothing would be that pharmacies close. The cost of doing nothing is a lack of access. And today, we ask you to vote in favor of this bill to have insurance companies show their work rather than on a flyer, they're going to do it in claims administered and adjudicated. And with that, I'd appreciate a yes vote.
Representative Aker has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Leidyman, you're recognized to
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:42:12
speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I was not going to come down here and speak against this bill, but I had to get that in there. No, seriously, I respect Representative Wardlaw for what he's
trying to do and I believe I could support this bill in a different form. Here's the reason I can't support the bill. It adds on to what Representative Ray said and I talked about this in committee and let me try to explain this to you. There was a lot of discussion in committee, a lot of emails coming from different people. Now, Representative Ward-Law said that the premiums wouldn't increase. Well, maybe they won't, but maybe they will. What I'm going to say, it
doesn't matter. If you've got different groups, if it doesn't increase, it affects all groups. If it increases, it affects all groups. And to what Representative Ray said, if there is an increase, it's on the back of the private people, private industry, private small businesses, because government is exempt. So originally, higher ed was in this bill, and I got the same email many of you got.
ASU, they told me it was going to cost them $90 million. This bill would cost them $90 million. U of A said it would cost them $74 million. Well, we started talking about that. So the next day, I went in the meeting, higher ed was exempt and I thought, "Well, why are they exempt?" So, and then I was told, "Well, it doesn't really matter.
Well, if there's not going to be a cost, if the premiums aren't going to go up, then why are they exempt? Why is EBD exempt?" And let me just give you an example I gave this in the committee, you know I worked in private business, private industry until I got elected to office and we used to always talk about how unfair it was that many things were passed on the back of private business and industry and small business and government was not included.
There would be costs added to the private sector, but government was not included. So let me just try to give you an example of what this bill would do if rates went up, if premiums went up. As I said, ASU, which is in my district, was exempt. So if we pass this bill, premiums go up, an electrician in the factory I worked in, in homesboro would see an increase in his premium a electrician working at ASU
doing the same work would see no increase so that guy working in the factory would be paying for that guy working at ASU doing the same work that is not fair and that's why I can't vote for this bill thank you
representative ladyman has spoke against the bill would anyone like speak for the Bill. Representative Meeks you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you
Mr. Speaker and I was not planning on coming down here at all because this is not my wheelhouse as you all know. I'm happy to leave this portion of law to other folks like Representative Wardlaw and I appreciate all the work he's he's done on this over the years but you know as I'm sitting here trying to process all this I know in the past in my community we ran into problems where water systems and sewer systems they didn't want to raise their rates and the way they did that was by neglecting maintenance and when you neglect maintenance the system wears out the system wears out and system wears out
and instead of raising those premiums slowly over time to take care of the issue what they did is they kept putting it off putting it off putting it off you all know what happens the bill came due and when the bill came due we had these humongous jumps in in premiums so two thoughts related to this and again you know y'all vote how you think being best if we do not do this I see one of three things happening either one we do this number two we don't do this and either the hospitals close or number three what has happened in the past they
come to the state and the taxpayers end up footing the bill the people still end up footing the bill it's just through taxes and not through premiums the concern about state employees being exempt from this and government being exempt for that that that kind of troubled me too and I was over there trying to process all that but I get to thinking if we include state government in it doesn't that mean our costs are gonna go up and if our cost is gonna go up who's gonna bear the cost of that the taxpayers so if we include all these
these government entities in this, the taxpayers would pay the premium increase and tax increases. If we don't include state government in this, then it's just going to be the premium increases. I have no idea if that helps the cause or not or helps settle the issue,
but I just thought I'd throw it
out there for food for thought. Thanks. Representative Meeks has spoke for the bill.
Speaker 51
1:47:52
Representative Gonzalez, for what purpose? I'll hear your motion. immediate consideration that's proper motion it's non-debatable all those in
favor of immediate consideration say aye opposed nay motion fails
representive Eves you recognize speak against the bill our colleagues I know
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:48:19
this is a tough issue and I want to give representative Board of Law props, he has run probably
as much heavy lifting, legislatively speaking, than anybody in this building. And I respect his opinion, I respect his
thoughts, and I think he knows that. And I understand this bill intends to address low reimbursement rates to hospitals, but the language in this bill is problematic. It will cause a significant increase in health care costs for employers, employees, and self-funded health care plans, including those operated by private businesses and non-profit businesses. It will have broad and costly consequences across the state and I'm not going to belabor the point you've heard before about $1,200 or more per covered individual per year.
$4,800 to $6,000 per family of four is what we're looking at according to two different insurance companies. And I think these increased costs could result in discontinuing self-funded health plans and even maybe even benefit cuts. Private businesses and nonprofits are going to be forced to absorb these higher costs. There's no way around it. And I want to say something to my hospital friends. I understand the situation you're in and I want to fully support
improving health care, but I don't think it's fair or equitable to do it on the backs of private businesses and private individuals. Every person that uses the health care system should be a part of the solution. You shouldn't be exempting out different groups and why did we exempt out healthcare or higher education if rates aren't going to go up why did we exempt all state employees and higher ed because we can't afford it because rates are going to go up this will be the largest tax on business and insurance premium
payers ever everything representative ward law said is accurate we do have a problem i'm not sure it's a problem we can fix on our own it is a problem that i think we need help with from our federal government and i do agree that insurance companies need to do a better job of negotiating with our hospitals but again as i said before every person that uses the health care system should be a part of fixing it walmart on its own is looking at a 32 million dollar cost just for
their associates i don't see how we can pass this bill
with the folks we've exempted out of it and for that i'd ask for a no vote representative shepherd for
what purpose you're recognized for a question representative and i believe you're on insurance and commerce correct yes sir so i was in there for part of the debate i didn't hear all of it and you said that what representative wardlaw has said is correct was there any explanation given for why reimbursement rates are so drastically
different here in arkansas compared to the surrounding states while premiums are apparently not much that much different and it seems to me
that that's a very relevant question i didn't i didn't i don't know if that was addressed but i think reps i
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:51:25
didn't mean to cut you off i
think representative wardlaw um described that in his presentation of the bill and he will likely probably addressed that in his closing I hope but I'm not a health care expert at all and I know that Representative Waterlaw has been in health care and other members
that have spoke for the bill by the way are in health care I don't that's not a problem I understand the situation they're in and I do want to do what we can to fix it I just think that exempting the groups that are exempted makes it harder to fix the problem and I think that leaving it only
on the backs of private businesses and individuals. It's just egregious and unfair. So with that I appreciate a no vote. Representative
Meeks has spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Lee Johnson, you're
Chair
Unverified
1:52:13
recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you, thank you Mr.
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
1:52:28
Speaker. You know I'm hearing a lot about the cost of this initiative and I want to say a few words about that because I think there's something that's being left out of that equation this idea that if we pay more to the hospitals that the premiums go up and then it's the
individuals paying the premiums that have to carry that cost burden I think there's an opportunity for the health insurers to carry some of the cost burden I mean the reason health insurers say they're going to raise premiums is it because they're not making enough money? Is it because they don't have enough money to be solvent? I don't know that we have to say that because we raise pay rates that premiums have to go up and the individuals who pay the premiums have to carry that burden alone. Part of the bill that we have here, part of this bill is designed to take a peek under the hood
and look closer at the solvency of our insurance companies across state lines. The question that Representative Shepard asked about, how can we have lower subsidies around other states with low pay rates here? Well, for these insurance companies that are operating across state lines, by charging us higher premiums, we're subsidizing the higher costs across the state line. We heard a lot of talk this fall about fair and reasonable in the pharmacy space.
What's fair and reasonable? All of you in here have some sort of income. And I want you to think for a minute about what you get paid, however that is, however that works. And I want you to understand the desperate situation that hospitals are in to come and ask for what they're asking for in this bill. Because if you think about how you get paid, and let's say what I did was whatever your profession, I went to the surrounding states. And I said, I'll tell you what, guys, what we're going to do is we're going to take an average of whatever profession you're in,
and we're going to figure out the average pay for all the states around us. and we're just going to pay you the average. Well, that seems fair. You're making the average for everyone else, right? Average is fair. What if I said, well, we're not going to pay you the average. We're going to pay you 85% of the average. So less than average, but does that sound fair? What if I said, we're not going to pay you the average. We're not going to pay you 85% of the average. We're not even going to pay you 50% of the average. We're going to pay you 45% of the average reimbursement that everybody else is getting around you.
Would that feel fair? Or would that feel like, gosh, I can't believe you're going to cut me down to half, less than half of what other people around us are getting paid. The hospitals are asking for half of what other people around us are getting paid. This is not an unreasonable ask. This is a very different bill than when it started. Many of the numbers that I saw on the flyers that I saw came out before the bill was amended at committee. They were based on the original bill at 85, 95, and 100%. This is a bill that's asking for 45% of the average for the first year, 55% of the average for the second year.
When we asked the hospital CEOs and the hospital associations if that would make a difference, if that would help, they said it would. And none of the insurance companies had any of these numbers when they sat at the table to give us a fair idea of the premium increase. So I think this is both fair and reasonable, and we've made this statement in other places in health care, and I think it's fair and reasonable to make this here for the hospitals. I'd be happy
Speaker 51
1:55:57
to take a question. Representative McCollum, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized for a question.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for taking the question. and I want you to know I'm coming from a place because I know you have a lot of the knowledge and the background in this, and as was described, there's a lot of people who have spent a lot of time trying to be solution-oriented on this issue. I don't have a solution to that, so my question comes from the place of what I am hearing is the impact of this from maybe some of the folks that were referenced that maybe amendments were made for, specifically, you know, Walmart associates, 54,000 of them in the state of
arkansas i'm hearing premiums go up from that employer they are saying premiums will go up year after year after year amendments may or may not have made things better maybe it made things better to live with so the question is what else what are the other solutions that have been talked about before that is there another solution that doesn't make that happen that solves for the issue we're trying to solve
for where the the effect is not you know these premiums going up for these employers yeah what else can
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
1:57:03
be done no it's hard to speak to that without
getting off the topic of the bill but I mean I could make some speculations on things that can be done what I'd like to see is I would like to see approach where we have a better understanding through the Arkansas Insurance Department of when rates are justified to go up and when they aren't I think that's fair for employers I think that's fair for individuals in Arkansas it's fair for the providers some sort of process like we have in home and casualty insurance where we can say to Arkansas Insurance Department hey these insurers this is how much money they have in surplus this is how much money they have available to them this is how much they pay out in claims is it a fair
thing based on these things to raise rates I don't know that we have enough clarity in that I would like to see us have more clarity in that but again that's not addressed specifically in
this bill I hear what you're saying it's not addressed specifically in the bill but I guess if that's something that would help with the issue that this bill is trying to solve
for is that something that has been discussed to your knowledge
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
1:57:59
that what you just said There are other pieces of legislation out there, but again, to speak to this bill, I'm here to speak for this bill. Thank you. Thank you, members. Appreciate a good vote.
Representative McGrew, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Representative Johnson,
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:58:13
I respect you. I respect Ward-Law. I know that he's worked hard on this bill. I've talked to my hospitals. I know they need the money. The one thing I haven't heard, I was in the committee and the question was asked there, and I haven't heard it here. My constituents, the bulk of my constituents, are not government employees, and they're not higher ed employees. In fact, most of those employees make more than the employees in my district make. For my daughter, for instance, her health care on her and her husband and the two children is almost $24,000 a year.
So how do I go explain to her that you need to pay for the increase, but the higher ed and the state employees don't need to? I haven't heard the answer to that question. Why did we not include them? I'm for this if we make it even across the board to everybody. I think we need it. But just looking at what's
Speaker 220
1:59:07
right and what's fair, that's not fair.
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
1:59:10
Can you talk on that? No, I understand what you're saying. And, again, we have had multiple mandates come through this legislative body.
And many of these mandates, many of these mandates have carved out both EBD and DHS because of the effect that it has on the budget. My answer back to you and your family, like I'm sure they're in a fragile economic state. Lots of people are. Hospitals are in a fragile economic state. Are the health insurance companies, the commercial payers in Arkansas, are they in a fragile state? Or do they have to pass this on to your constituents? I don't think they have to pass this on to your constituents. I think they could shrink and contract and we could keep rates the same
and have reimbursements better in Arkansas. Appreciate you to vote. Thank
Speaker 51
1:59:53
you. Representative Johnson has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against
the bill? Robin, speak against the bill. Robin, Representative Lundstrom, you're recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Robin Lundstrum
Unverified
2:00:11
I think we need to mark the time and date. That was an educational and well-done presentation, and he's exactly right. It looks like it solves a problem, but it does not solve a problem.
What it does is it passes the buck. We excluded EBD, our own employees, because it would break our bank. It would cost us the budget in Arkansas, we'd send it through the roof. We can't afford it, neither can our taxpayers. It exempts higher education. Wow. That's because they have a good lobbyist. That was a bad decision. You know who the lobbyist is for us, for the citizens of this state? We are.
We're the ones making this decision. representative Wardlaw
gave you the key he studied this enough he actually said entities suppressed the rates I hope you were listening because I was he's exactly right entities suppress the rates so they suppress the rate yet we pass the buck on to our citizens and that's wrong and with that I'd ask for a no vote please representative lunchroom has spoke against the bill would anyone like speak for the bill
Russian to Pilkington you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I know we're
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:01:29
all very tired so I'll pick this quick
but I'm also tired. I'm tired of bailing out hospitals. I'm tired of health care providers when they need help. They come to us and ask us to raise Medicaid rates over and over again because they know they can't get the rate increases on the commercial plans so they put it on the taxpayers this way. Now I've read the RAND report. Who else here has ran the RAND report? Who has seen the delta between what we're paying in our premiums and what we're getting reimbursed? If you look at that, it should actually be very small.
And here's the reality. The players in Arkansas right now don't want to do it because it is a cush deal to be a health care plan in Arkansas. And they know that if they have to shrink the gap to be competitive with these other states, it also means other insurance will come in and competition will come in. It will drive the price down and will lower premiums because someone can offer the premium at the same rate that they're paying in other states and reimburse at a higher level. That's how it's working in these other states, and they know they can offer that. That's why they're losing their mind. That's why they're running Facebook ads and doing all these other things.
You know, and we've seen this over and again and again. Anytime we try to do anything to improve the health care of our citizens, we get told we better stop it because it's going to increase premiums, and the next thing you know, the insurance companies call the chambers, and they call their members, and they call us, and they say it's going to be doomsday here in Arkansas. But that's not true. It's a lie. And I'm tired. I'm tired of the lie. I'm tired of it's not as fixed as you. Our health care system is broken in the United States, but it's especially broken here in Arkansas. And if you want to keep bailing out hospitals, if you keep on increasing how much money we're spending on Medicaid,
which I know a lot of us don't want to do, then vote no on this bill if you want to increase Medicaid and if you want to keep on bailing out hospitals. But if you want to stop doing that, I'd say vote yes. I won't be taking questions, but I appreciate it.
Representative Pilkington spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill? Representative Ward-Law, you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
2:03:37
Speaker. I think it's the first time I've ever closed for a bill in my career.
Folks, I'm sorry. I'm sorry if y'all all misunderstood me when I started this. i never said this was going to be free i never said that it didn't cost any money and i never said anybody wasn't gonna get
an increase what i said was very clear we shouldn't see an increase to year four the largest employer in the state asked for the five-year ramp up i really think there's probably 20 hospitals that are closed before we make it to year four and that's the sad part that's not going to be
on my back though because i'm going to tear them out
that's going to be on y'all's back to what you do to keep those 20
open until year four you're being told this bill's a tax on employers it's a tax for hospitals if anything this so-called tax is already happening and the money is sitting in the insurance company's
bank accounts are going out of state to providers to make those reimbursement rates equal on the other side of those state lines. I'm here today because I'm going to vote for my community hospital.
You can decide whether you want to support your community, your hospital, or if you want to support Blue Cross Blue Shield's bottom line. It's going to be up to you, and I'd appreciate a
good vote. Representative Wardlaw is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1930. of the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:05:27
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 44
yeas, 45 nays, and four present, the bill has failed. Madam Clerk, please read House bill 1874 1874
Chair
Unverified
2:05:38
by representative mckenzie an act to amend the use of
professional development funding that exceeds the maximum amount awarded to public schools for public school teachers under the public school funding act of
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:05:48
2003 representative mckenzie you're recognized to explain your
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
2:05:51
bill thank you mr speaker um love being up after that one this one should be pretty good this is a good piece of legislation it's a companion bill to what we're going to see
from chairman brooks here in a moment where we pass through our adequacy funding um so what this bill does is it takes out some previously used languages language for professional learning community um that's been a topic of discussion in little rock for about the last 18 months and what has happened in the last 18 months is that we've seen the vendor who who uh the vendor who participated in that supplemental program for professional development fall out of the rfp process. Our code is very specific, that that supplemental money has to go to professional
development for the purposes of professional learning communities. Because that vendor, who is ostensibly the only vendor, as we've written into code, that can do that work has fallen out of the RFP, Arkansas Department of Education has had to, in my words, not theirs, somewhat contravene the law. They are specific, and the charge for that supplemental money is supposed to go to those purposes, but what they've had to do is draw it back down and give out block grants for professional development to specific districts. I want to be clear what
will happen when we pass this bill. We are not affecting a single dollar of professional development in our funding matrix. I'll say that again. We are not affecting one dollar for professional development in our funding matrix. We still fund that at a 41 per pupil rate for every student in the state of Arkansas going to a public school. What this does is it basically helps codify what the Department of Education has had to do over the last 18 months, which is move this money to help supplement our districts for the purposes of LEARN's implementation. That takes a lot
of different forms. It is in part professional development, but it is also in part the literacy and numeracy requirements and hopeful interventions AND REMEDIATIONS THAT WE NEED AT A DISTRICT LEVEL TO DRAG US UP FROM BEING 49TH IN THE COUNTRY IN THOSE TWO PERSPECTIVE CATEGORIES. SO IT'S A VERY GOOD BILL. IT IS A COMPANION BILL TO ADEQUACY. I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. SEEING NONE, I LOOK FOR A GOOD VOTE. REPRESENTATIVE MCKENZIE HAS EXPLAINED THE BILL.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BILL, FOR THE BILL?
REPRESENTATIVE MCKENZIE IS CLOSED FOR THE BILL. before the House is the passage of House Bill 1874. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 61 yeas, 25 nays, and 10 present. The bill is passed. Members, without objection, I want to flip the page and go to House Bill 13-12. Seeing no objection, Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 13-12. House Bill 13-12 by
Chair
Unverified
2:09:09
Representative Brooks to amend public school funding amounts under the Public School Funding Act of 2003.
Representative Brooks, you're recognized to explain your
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, as a follow-up
to Representative McKenzie, this is the adequacy bill. You hear about the funding matrix, the public school funding matrix, and the adequacy process. Some of you may have sat through the 10 months of adequacy meetings, which looks at every single part of our public school funding, from transportation to teachers to professional development, everything in between. It looks at what do we need to do to appropriately fund our public schools.
So at the end of October, we presented the Joint Education Committee, we presented the recommendations. That base recommendation is the per pupil funding amount. So as we got through the process, we presented that as a joint recommendation, filed the bill. One change to the recommendations and the bill that you have in front of you has to do with health insurance. A discussion has been had for a number of years to move health insurance outside of the matrix. The reason is because it's a tremendous administrative burden on schools, and frankly, it's a more efficient system to be able to pay that directly to EBD. So just a couple highlights of
what this bill is. The primary concern that everyone has is what is the per pupil funding. So year one, the per pupil funding goes up to $8,162. That's reflective of about a 5% increase. That increase does include health insurance. And so it's included within the matrix in the first year. The reason that we decided to leave it in there, even though it's going to be phased down in the long term. The reason we left it in there is because we know schools are in the budgetary process already, and we want to make sure we had consistency there. Year two, the per pupil funding
goes to $8,037. Let me hear you, or please hear me say this very clearly. We are not decreasing funding for public schools in any way. The only difference that we have is that the health care costs are being pulled out of it to be paid directly. Again, schools are very aware of this. We had extensive conversations with schools, both urban, rural, big, small, and there was widespread acceptance that this is the right way to do it because it's a more efficient way to do it. And again, they are glad to have the administrative challenges off of that.
So year one reflects $8,162, which includes the health care costs. Year two is $8,037, which has the health care costs removed but are paid directly by the department to EBD for the health care needs of the employees of the school system. Beyond that, this continues to keep our commitment for public schools to continue to fund. The average increase per-people increase is 2.48% year over year. When we look back at the history of the matrix, then the last 20 years, our average increase is about 1.84%.
So this represents one of, if not the strongest commitments to our public schools to continue to fund them and keep our commitment of taking care of students.
Speaker 368
2:12:07
With that, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Representative Rose,
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
2:12:11
for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Good question. Representative Brooks, thanks.
Great presentation. The educational freedom accounts are indexed off of that number, the per pupil funding. That's correct. Yes, sir. How is that going to work from year one to year two? Is year one going to be indexed?
So year one, it'll be indexed just like the law says, which is 90% of foundation funding. So year one is going to be 90%, which that would be the next school year. So this upcoming school year, the 25-26 school year, the EFAs are indexed off of $7,771, which is what the current pupil funding is. Next year will be indexed off of $8,162. And then the year after that, yes, $8,037 will be the index. So pretty minimal change, but enough time to look at it. But there's a larger increase here in year one
than normally would be. I will also qualify that as we look forward to how we continue to improve what our funding approach is, Representative COSAR has worked very, very hard the last several years on a new funding model that's something being worked with the department that we're not there, but something we're having consistent discussions on. Yeah, and just for clarity and
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
2:13:18
consistency, 90% of the per pupil funding year one, same thing, it's a 90% off of year two. Yes,
the 90% does not change because that's what's in the EFA law.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Steele, for what purpose? Question. You're
Speaker 318
2:13:33
recognized. Representative, what is the change as it relates to children and students with severe needs, special needs? Let me look at the specific numbers. Bear with me, I didn't highlight that, Representative.
Speaker 320
2:13:59
It's one thing, just certainly look through
a bunch of pages of legislation while you're standing in front of everybody. So are you talking about ESA funding? Specific? Okay. ASA funding
is going up to $1,103 in '26-'27, $1,130 the following year.
1103, year one, 1103, year two. With that, I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Brooks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Brooks is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 13-12. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Speaker 51
2:15:06
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. For the
vote of 93 yay, three nay, and zero present. The bill
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:15:34
is passed. Representative Jimmy Gassaway recommends that we refer House Bill 1980 back to
committee for the purpose of amendment. That's a proper motion. It is debatable.
Chair
Unverified
2:15:43
REPRESENTATIVE GASAWAY, YOU RECOGNIZE TO EXPLAIN YOUR MOTION TO REFER BACK. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. IN THE COURSE OF LOOKING AT THIS BILL MORE THOROUGHLY, I REALIZED IT HAD AN ISSUE OR TWO THAT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, SO THIS PROBABLY CAUSED IT NOT TO MAKE IT OUT THIS SESSION, BUT THAT'S JUST TOO SAD. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU JOIN ME IN SENDING THIS BILL BACK TO COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Representative Gassaway has explained the motion. Would anybody like to
speak against the motion, for the motion? Representative Gassaway is closed for the motion. All those in favor of sending House Bill 1980 back to committee for the purpose of amendment, say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Send the bill back to committee. Madam
Chair
Unverified
2:16:33
Clerk, please read House Bill 1974. House Bill 1974
by Representative Long to prohibit state entities from employing unauthorized aliens to establish the
Speaker 140
2:16:45
E-Verify Requirement Act and require state entities to use E-Verify to confirm
Chair
Unverified
2:16:51
employment eligibility. Representative Long you're
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I bring before you
HB 1974 it's a very simple This
bill is to be certain that when the government hires employees that are eligible.
Every new employee in America is required to fill out an I-9 form within the first day of being hired. This form is to prove that the person is a U.S. citizen or a legal alien. The I-9 must be submitted with documentation to prove their citizenship or legal status. But we have a couple of problems. Most employers are not experts at identifying counterfeit documents, and the other is once
the I-9 is completed, it's not sent to anyone else for verification. simply filed away in the HR department's filing cabinets. The solution to these problems is to use the E-Verify system. It's a free federal government web-based program that employers can use to electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. E-Verify compares information on the employee's I-9 form to records available in the database of the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
It only takes about 15 minutes to set up the account and a couple minutes to enter the information for the new employee off the I-9 form. You then simply print out the verification and confirm that you've made a good hire and filed away with the I-9 form. Our surrounding states currently require E-Verify to be used before hiring new employees. Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri require it to be used when hiring all government employees.
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana require E-Verify for both private sector and government employees. I spoke with the Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of Personnel Management, or TSS, to confirm that the requirement was not already in place. It was not, but they said they'd welcome the standardization across all departments. AG's office helped craft the language of this bill, so we should not have any legal questions. Remember, this bill only applies to newly hired employees, newly hired government employees.
I'd be happy to answer a
couple of questions. Representative Garner, for what purpose? Question. Recognize for a
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:19:37
question? Yes. I've got a couple of questions from constituents, and I'm sorry I'm not on the committee for this bill, but you mentioned the paperwork already that there's no undocumented folks working
in the state right now. We don't know for sure because the I-9s have not been verified. Unless
there's a federal government audit of our I-9 files, we just basically take the
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:20:02
information and file it away. We already mandate, the federal government already mandates any employees over 20 companies, right? The federal government already requires E-Verify for employers. No ma'am it's a voluntary
program right now and the state is not currently using it
in all departments so that's why they suggested we go ahead and place it in law and
it would then be mandated for all the
government, employees, and all political subdivisions. And I'm not sure that's right,
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:20:41
but anyway, the fiscal impact, have you done the fiscal impact? Well -- For how it would -- No, ma'am. -- affect the smaller
agencies? It, like I said, it takes about 15 minutes to set it up, the initial deal, it takes about two minutes to enter the information into the system, and I don't see how that It really could cost us anything.
Seeing no other questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Long has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
against the bill, for the bill? Representative Long is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1974. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Speaker 188
2:21:32
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
With a vote of 76 yea, 20 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed. Madam
Clerk, please read House Bill 1332.
Speaker 140
2:22:13
House Bill 1332 by Representative Pilkington to require the Arkansas Medicaid program to evaluate claims for diagnosis, frequency of obesity-related conditions, and present the cost. Representative Pilkington, you
are recognized to explain your bill. here's old
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:22:32
pilk talking about medicaid again so um so this is a
pretty simple bill uh essentially as you know we use ozempic we use other gpl ones to uh manage weight loss uh there's been a few
other states that have implemented policies around it we just want to be able to track it and we want to understand the cost data related to some of these diseases that are around weight loss, like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and things like that. So essentially we're requiring DHS to track the cost of these diseases and how much it's costing the state. It doesn't require coverage of GPL1s by Medicaid or anything like that, so it does not cost Medicaid a single dime.
Now there's another, there's an option, there's a part in it relating to health plans in Arkansas all saying that and I'll pull up is but basically is they have to give the option if someone wants to purchase this drug the ability to do it but yet the health benefit plan is able to set the parameters around how they want to do it which is pretty standard so that appreciate a good vote representative
Pilkington has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill
representative Pilkington is closed for his bill the question before the house is the
passage of house bill 1332 prepare the machine madam clerk has everyone
the ballot madam clerk with a vote of 79 yay two nay and eight present the bill
is passed madam clerk please read house Bill 1919. House Bill
Speaker 42
2:24:21
1919 by Representative McElindon to create the
Speaker 140
2:24:24
Public School Access and Transparency Act and to require public access to learning materials.
Representative Burks, you are recognized to explain the
Representative Rebecca Burkes
Unverified
2:24:33
bill. Thank you, Speaker. House Bill 1919 is just the companion bill to SB 572 which we passed yesterday with 78 yes votes. There's no fiscal impact. The bill requires no action. It simply protects schools from violating copyright laws by granting access to learning materials. With that, I ask for a good vote. Representative
Burks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against
the bill? For the bill? Representative Burks is closed for her bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1919. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Is everyone voted? Everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 83 yay, 8 nay, and 0 present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1806.
Speaker 140
2:25:32
House Bill 1806 by Representative Vaught to provide curriculum transparency
Chair
Unverified
2:25:37
for parents of kindergarten through grade 12 students and allow a parent to review and opt
out of selected library media materials
for his or her child. Representative Vaught, you are recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. House Bill 1806, if funding is available, the Curriculum Transparency Act, the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education would establish and maintain a statewide portal of K-12 instructional and library material for public school facilities, parents, and guardians.
Parents would be able to access and review instructional materials based on their child's grade and their classroom. Instructional materials would be available to parents based on the licensed use of textbook companies granted to school districts when the district purchases the materials. The library portal would allow parents to opt out of allowing their children to check out specific books from the library. The portal would also provide school administrators and teachers with uniform access to the Arkansas school standards in one single repository,
which would be automatically updated to comply with changing rules and the requirements. And with that, I'd appreciate a good vote.
Representative Vaught has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative
McKenzie, you are recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
2:27:08
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to be very clear. I have spoken with Representative Vaught about this at length. She has been the ideal sponsor of a bill that you are vehemently opposed to.
She's listened to my concerns, and she's gone back to the table, but I have to speak against the bill. So I appreciate everything you've done, Representative Vaught. I just came down here about five minutes ago and passed a bill off this floor that did something that we have tried to do in education over the last two years, which is specifically take vendors out of code. This bill, I agree with everything it does. I want DESE to have information on all the curricula, all the supplementals, all the books, every book in every library.
But what this bill does is creates a very, very narrow parameter for one vendor to get a contract with DESE when monies become available. This is bad practice. This is not what we should be doing in code. This is, again, it writes that specific vendor into code. This is also a duplication of requirements at the district level. So for all of us, and we've had a lot of conversations about education in this chamber this year,
this is to the detriment of local control because they are already required by law within certain elements, whether it be the textbooks or the curricula or the supplementals, to provide that information upon request of parents. Now we're going to burden superintendents with yet another requirement to send information back up to Little Rock. So, ladies and gentlemen, as well-intentioned as the sponsor is, and I really appreciate her for it, This is going to set us back. It's going to be one more thing that DESE and ADE has to do
and one more vendor that we are conscripted to hire. With that, I
would appreciate a no vote. Representative McKenzie has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Against
the bill? Representative Vought? Thank you, Representative McKenzie. There are multiple vendors that do this.
It's not just one vendor that does this type of work. So with that, I would appreciate a good vote.
Representative Vought has closed for her bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1806. Prepare
Speaker 352
2:29:44
the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Is everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 55 yay, 25 nay, and 10 present, the
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:30:02
bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1967.
Chair
Unverified
2:30:11
House Bill 1967 by Representative Brown to amend the law concerning the unlawful
distribution of sexual images or recordings. Representative Carolyn
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
2:30:31
Brown, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to present this important bill, House Bill 1967, concerning the unlawful distribution of intimate images.
As our laws currently stand under Arkansas Code 526-314, 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. in a current or former dating relationship. But the reality is image-based abuse in today's digital world is far broader, more sophisticated, and more harmful than our current statute accounts for.
This amendment does three things. First, it removes the requirement that the perpetrator be a current or former sexual partner or family member of the victim. Second, it expands the definition of intent to harm. Under this amendment, if the offender distributes an image with the purpose to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm or in exchange for something of value, it will be classified as a felony.
Third, it preserves the distinction between the malicious conduct and other cases that, while still harmful, may lack the clear intent to harm. In those instances, the offense remains a misdemeanor. This is a carefully balanced, survivor-informed update to our law that responds to the growing and deeply damaging crisis of non-consensual image sharing. The Attorney General's Office has reviewed HB 1967 and is in support of it.
Also, this bill is narrowly focused so that it does not conflict with Representative Meeks' H.B. 1529 concerning deep fake images. I respectfully ask for your support and ask
for this bill. Thank you. Representative Brown has explained the bill. Would
anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Brown is closed for her bill. The question before the
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:32:51
House is the passage of House Bill 1967.
Speaker 352
2:32:55
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. has everyone voted has everyone voted cast
up the ballot madam clerk with a vote of 97 yay 0 nay and 0 present the bill has passed madam
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:33:21
clerk please read house bill 1975 House
Speaker 140
2:33:24
bill 1975 by Representative Gramlich to create the Child Content Creation Protection Act.
Representative Gramlich, you are recognized to explain the
Speaker 368
2:33:35
bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. The bill does what the title says, but I'm going to explain what that means in more depth now. All of the nation's children are being filmed by their parents to post content online for social media. Many of us in this room included have posted a cute image of our child, first steps or something, etc. Some adults, however, take it to the next level. Some parents have turned their children or other children into the equivalent of a child actor
and they make money off their child's work. For adults who choose to monetize a children's actions, they will have to be ready to pay and follow some regulations. This is what the bill does. First, it creates a system that lays out how a child who appears in content online will be compensated and how that compensation will be triggered. It clarifies that minors who produce their own content are under different things. Adult content creators who engage with minors for content creation will have to maintain a variety of records until the child turns 21.
If content creator uses children and fails to maintain data, it gives a path for a child to file a civil suit. Content creators must also compensate a minor who engages in this work by placing their money and how it is calculated, Which is outlined in the bill into a trust that the child can access when they turn 18 or emancipated and allows for a civil suit If the content creator does not do this social media companies will have to be notified of a We'll have to notify a content creator of a request to remove content upon a minor or adult as a minor and the obligations of a content creator to delete said
Content and allows a pathway for a civil suit upon the refusal of the inaction of a content creator It's unlawful to benefit financially from producing or distributing content that features a minor with the intent to sexually gratify or elicit a sexual response. To explain that in more detail, that's if you were to take an image of a minor, use AI to create a new image that is used to sexually gratify or elicit a sexual response.
If that happens, that child can have access to a civil suit. And then finally, it requires a social media platform to develop and implement strategies to reduce the monetization of the intentional sexualization of known minors that occur in the context of known minors' engagement in work of content creation. I'll answer any questions. I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Gramlich has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Gramlich is closed for his bill. The question for the House is the passage of House Bill 1975. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 89 yay, 1 nay, and 0 present, the bill has passed.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:36:35
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1959. House Bill 1959
Chair
Unverified
2:36:39
by Representative Brown, to abolish the use of a writ of skier fascius
as a means of reviving an outstanding judgment to allow a judgment to be reviewed by notice and to amend the law concerning the fees to be charged by clerks of the circuit courts. Representative Brown, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you,
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
2:37:01
Madam Speaker. Colleagues, if you ever sue someone in a civil case and get a judgment against them,
under the law, your judgment's only good for 10 years. At the end of that 10-year period, if you haven't been paid, you have to go down and renew it. And
Speaker 217
2:37:13
under the current process, we have to use the writ of Ski-Ray Fakias. Thank you, Representative Clowney. Or as us dirt lawyers, or street-level lawyers
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
2:37:20
call it, Sire Facie, to renew your judgment. It's a very convoluted process. You have to file a petition. You have to get it served. You have to schedule a hearing. You have to not have the hearing because they never respond. You have to then cancel the hearing and get an order. It's just stupid. So this bill, if passed, would abolish that process and make it far simpler to renew a civil judgment
while you would simply just file a notice, hey, my judgment's not been paid, this is how much is owed, serve a copy of it on your judgment debtor, and you're done, just like how you renew a mortgage. This is something that came over from England on the Mayflower. A lot of states have gotten rid of it, and I'd like
us to join, you know, the 19th century and get rid of it as well. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Brown has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Brown is closed for his bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1959. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 96 yay, 0 nay, and 1 present, the bill
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:38:24
has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1988. Hustle 1988 by Representative Tosh
Chair
Unverified
2:38:29
to amend the law concerning the distribution of auto auction
fees for salvaged title or parts-only title vehicles and to amend the purpose for which auto auction fees may be used. Representative
Tosh, you are recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
2:38:43
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Colleagues, this bill was brought to me by the Arkansas State Police. Several years ago, this legislative body, they put under the state police for them to oversight over the auto auctions. In that bill, they also attached a fee for salvage titles that went into a special fund. However, that special fund is now accumulated to a million dollars, and the state police is simply asking with this legislation that that fund be moved to general operations
so they can use it for equipment or whatever they need to for the troopers around the state. And with that, I'd take any questions. Seeing none, I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Tosh has explained his bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Tosh is closed for his bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1988. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
has everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot madam clerk with a vote of 97 yay zero nay and zero present the bill has passed madam clerk please read house
Speaker 140
2:40:05
bill 1762. house bill 1762 by representative hall to require application of a permit for the disposal of industrial waste in an agricultural or pastoral application for a certain number of violations representative hall you are
recognized to explain the bill thank you madam
Representative Brad Hall
Unverified
2:40:20
speaker colleagues what what this bill does it calls for someone spreading industrial waste whom breaks their permits three times within a 45-day period that their permit is revoked it's that simple what brought up what brought about this bill is the smell that affects over 70,000 people in the River Valley they were shipping 278 semi loads of waste every eight days this unsustainable for my district currently they're just paying a fine and going on about their business the company that's involved in this has promised that
they're going to clean it up but I've also been told that the check is in the mail before I appreciate a good
vote representative Hall has explained the bill would anyone wish to speak against the bill for the bill representative Rose you are recognized to speak for
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
2:41:15
the bill thank you mr. speaker appreciate representative Hall and our co-sponsors for bringing this bill this is a problem for sure in the River Valley could just as easily be a
problem for many of you in your districts we're fighting an entity and an issue that has been forbidden and outlawed in other states and so all that has done is increase the challenges that we are facing and I spoke to somebody in Crawford County yesterday who lives in the general vicinity where this problem is emanating and he said I really appreciate you guys doing this it smells awful at our house today thank you for trying our house is miserable people have had home sales fall through because of this there are times where
people in their neighborhoods or in the schools don't even want to go outside to have challenges breathing. It's literally an assault on the River Valley, and hopefully this will help hold those people's feet to the fire. We appreciate a good vote. Thank
you. Representative Rose has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill? Representative Hall is closed for his bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1762.
Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 97 yay, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill has passed.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:43:09
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1933.
Chair
Unverified
2:43:11
House Bill 1933 by Representative McCollum to amend the law concerning a school district board of directors and to create a
recall election and petition for removal of a member
of a school district board of directors. Representative
McCollum, you are recognized to explain your bill. thank you mr. speaker thank you colleagues so this is a bill that I'd say the spirit of the bill is just to create more consistency with these positions within the law if you think about mayor city council members they already have in place a recall process and so now with this bill passed we would intend to
create that same process with school board members it's not intended to be punitive in any way I'd probably I don't foresee this even being utilized that that often I'd say it's more of a safety process so in that regard we're really just elevating these these positions these school board members to to the level of these other local positions in Arkansas with that I take any
questions representative Dobby for what purpose question you're recognized
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
2:44:17
Representative McCullough, I understand what you're trying to do, but my question is for one of the reasons that you've listed is
that someone could be removed for a moral failing pending a criminal charge. so are we doing away with the standard of you're innocent until proven guilty because it appears that that's what this is doing that someone can be removed even if they've not been found guilty for a moral failing can you speak to that
we are not doing away away with innocent until proven
guilty i see the line page two line one right above that um the including without limitation for me is permissive language and it just goes on to give as you pointed out one of the examples moral family leading to penal criminal charges the loss of public trust and so on so those are more of giving guidance of what could be the reasons it doesn't necessarily have to be those reasons follow-up you're recognized and i'm looking at that section
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
2:45:26
and there are only two things listed one a moral failing leading to pending criminal charges and and two, loss of public trust, and you said
so on and so on. Can you point to me the other things that someone could be removed
for? Yes, thank you for the question. The fact that it says right before that, including without limitation, I guess I would say is permissive in that there could be other reasons. This is just for the petition and gathering the signatures.
I guess when I say so on and so forth, That's me outlining the full petition process besides just those lines. Appreciate a good vote. Representative McCollum
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:46:12
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the
bill? Representative Beatty, you're recognized to speak for the bill.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:46:27
Members, I just want to point out other elected positions have recall petitions. This bill requires a high
threshold. I think 35% of the voters decide to sign the petition for recall, and they're limited to one per election cycle. And it kind of aligns with the next school board election. So our other offices are subject to recall, and I think school boards should be too if folks have lost confidence in the board member. So I'd appreciate a good vote.
Representative Beatty has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the
Chair
Unverified
2:47:03
bill, Representative McCollum, you're recognized to close for
your bill. Thank you. I'll be brief. I think it's important
to point out in the context of some of the other pieces of legislation that we passed this session. I believe it was Representative McKenzie's bill that moved these school board elections. Both gives the flexibility of the timing, but puts them at the same time of our other elections. Excuse me, flexibility in the terms, four or six years, but puts it on the same timing.
So in the same spirit of treating these other local officials in the same manner. Again, coming back to the way that the language reads, that's more in line with boilerplate language on some of the reasons. is not exclusively the reasons as to why one would have to be under, I guess, the process of a petition. I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you all.
Representative McCollum is closed for the bill. The question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1933. Prepare the machine, Madam
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:48:23
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 74 yea, 18 nay, and 4 present. The bill is passed.
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 2001. House
Speaker 140
2:48:37
Bill 2001 by Representative Painter to create the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Reform and Efficiency Act of 2025 to amend the law concerning
Chair
Unverified
2:48:44
the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board and to declare an emergency. Representative
Painter, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is the towing bill that you've been waiting for. And I apologize for your emails getting blown up over the last couple of weeks.
I do want to explain the reason why. There is a bill, 1897, that I have passed over a couple of days that was the original towing bill that we were going to work on. After hearing the concerns from folks in that industry, We have spent several days compromising and working together, and that's how we got HB 2001. HB 2001 does three things, and three things only, no more, no less. First, it reconstructs the board. The towing board that we have right now from members of the industry is not working,
and the governor is asked to reconstruct that. Part two, members of the industry ask for caps. So there's a 20% cap on cargo for truck trailers. There's a 5% cap on personal vehicles. Part three, it's going to have on the invoice how to file a complaint. This is the step, this is the first block in the path moving forward to get a good and better omnibus towing bill for next session.
We pass this bill, we'll get a new towing board. We sit down with the Trucking Association, towers, big haulers, and small ones, and get a good bill. I'd be glad to take any questions. Seeing no questions, I would appreciate a
good vote. Thank you. Representative Painter has explained the bill. Would anyone
like to speak against the bill? Anyone like to speak for the bill?
Representative Painter, you recognize clothes for your bill. After this bill
is passed, I will be starting a Painter's Towing Service. Thank
you. Representative Painter is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 2001. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
members your one vote is for the bill of the emergency clause everyone voted is
Speaker 51
2:51:20
everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 78 a 9
a and 6 present bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1994. House Bill 1994 by Representative Collins
Speaker 140
2:51:32
to amend the law concerning self-service storage facilities and to require notification by self-service storage facilities to an occupant when the occupant's leased space is compromised. Representative Collins, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So this bill
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
2:51:47
arose out of a couple of incidents I was made aware of. They recovered the local news. I also got some emails
about break-ins to self-storage units in which the contents were strewn about, the units were left wide open, but for months the people who rented the units were not notified about it. So when I had one of this constituents reach out to me and say, "What can we do about this?" I talked with the Self Storage Association and those conversations led to this bill. So this is language that they are good with. It just says that within five days that the operator of the self-storage learns about
and gets actual knowledge about one of these incidents, whether it's a break-in or property is taken or it's been damaged to the extent that it's essentially wide open, you can access the unit, they will notify the tenant. There's already noticed procedures in code, so we just bring those in by reference, and as far as I know, everyone is all right with the bill. I'm happy to take any questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Rep. Collins has
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
2:52:48
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, before the bill? Rep. Collins is
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage
of House Bill 1994. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 74 yay 13 nay and 10 present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill 1625
Chair
Unverified
2:53:27
possible 1625 by representative barnett to amend
the law concerning insurance requirements for licensed
home inspectors representative barnett You're recognized to
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
2:53:38
explain your bill. Thank you, Speaker. Good afternoon, members. I'm before you today to present House Bill 1627, which is a consumer protection bill for homeowners. In the course of speaking with constituents who live and work in my district, I was made aware of issues that exist with existing code, in particular, ACA 17-52-318, Section A,
which requires that home inspectors carry general liability insurance. The issue with requiring home inspectors to carry general liability insurance is the fact that the general liability policies that are currently required by law do not provide coverage for the actual home inspections. The General Assembly, when passing this provision, aimed to protect consumers. However, the mere requirement of a general liability insurance policy misses the mark in protecting consumers.
House Bill 1625 removes the requirement for general liability insurance and replaces it with professional liability insurance, which is also known as errors and omissions insurance. These types of policies will ensure that the home inspector's inspections are covered, and in the unfortunate event that errors are made by the inspector, their policy will provide the coverage that is needed to protect consumers. There are two cases in my district that I'm familiar with that our existing laws has left consumers without protections.
The General Assembly aimed to provide them one married couple purchased a home for $250,000 after having the home inspected, only to find out shortly after purchase that there were electrical problems that cost them nearly $100,000 to fix. Those repairs were found to-- despite the evidence presented in court, The general liability insurance did not provide coverage. There was another case in which a couple purchased the home, and after having it inspected, the home inspector
was found to have only stuck his head under a crawl space and taken a photo. And had the home inspector done a thorough inspection, he would have noticed that there were some major foundation issues, and the supports were rotten. The new homeowners, again, took this court to case. and took this case to court, and in both cases, the home inspectors had insurance and were found to be negligent in their home inspections. However, their insurance carriers would not provide coverage for the home inspector errors
under the general liability insurance policies. As stewards of this state, we must always give attention to the fiscal impact of laws that we create. There is zero fiscal impact to the state of Arkansas, And the insurance policy change would, on average, cost home inspectors anywhere between $600 to $1,000 annually, which is roughly a monthly average cost of $50 to $83 a month. Additionally, these professional liability policies
can include a general liability endorsement. House Bill 1625, in its current form, would address the existing loopholes and right an unintended wrong, providing our constituents in this state with the intended consumer protections. So I'm before you today to ask for your support in strengthening consumer protection in Arkansas, and I would ask for a good vote. - Yes. -
Speaker 403
2:57:10
Representative Beatty, for what purpose? - Question.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:57:13
- You're recognized for a question. - You know, earlier in this session, we had a bill that was proposed that sought to increase the term of liability for our home inspectors that we got quite a bit of opposition emails and calls on. Have you had anyone reach out to you regarding the change in insurance? You said it's gonna be another $600 a year on the home
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
2:57:39
inspectors, is that correct? - Yes, I had a, so the general average would range between $600 to $1,000 per year.
And I did have contact from a representative from the Arkansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors, and their primary concern was the original language of my bill, which has been amended through members' own, said a general liability insurance policy that covered errors. And their question there, and their concern was that general liability policies do not cover their errors. And so they wanted to make sure that it was either general liability or professional liability,
which is also errors and omissions insurance. - Thank you. - Representative
Barnett has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill? For the bill, Representative Beatty, speaking against the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:58:41
bill, you're recognized. - I really do hate coming down to speak
against the members of Ville. But I understand good intentions, Representative Barnett,
but I think by our own admission and understanding this situation, an additional insurance policy is not going to stop bad actors in this profession. You're still gonna have the bad actors in this profession. So an additional requirement of, and cost to home inspectors throughout the state of $600, it's not gonna stop this problem. So for that reason, I'll be voting no, and I would encourage you to do the same. - Representative Beatty has spoke against the
bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill?
Against the bill? Representative Barnett, you're recognized to close for your
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
2:59:29
bill. - I will just say in response to Representative Beatty's concern, you know, many of the bills we pass will not stop bad actors. That's why we are enacting laws, and if laws are broken, there are consequences, but if we pass this bill today, we strengthen consumer protection in the state of Arkansas so that when those bad actors do act, that our consumers
will be protected when they go to court.
So I just ask for a good vote.
Thank you. - Representative Barnett is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1625.
Speaker 188
3:00:18
Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. everyone voted is everyone
voted cast up the ballot the vote of 60 a 25 nay and
13 present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill 1995 possible 1995 by representative
Chair
Unverified
3:00:37
Bentley to separate the offices of sheriff and tax collector in Peary County. Representative Bentley you're recognized
to explain your bill. Thank you speaker this
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
3:00:48
is not a sin bill but definitely is local control and it does exactly what this bill says so my sheriff and tax collector would like to be separate and my son who's a JP just texted me to make
sure we got this bill done so please help me with a
good vote thank you. Representative Bentley has explained the bill would anyone like speak against the bill? For the bill? Representative
Bentley is closed for the bill. Question before the House is
Speaker 204
3:01:16
the passage of House Bill 1995. Prepare the machine,
Speaker 51
3:01:25
Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. A
vote of 95 yeas, 0 nay, and
present the bill is passed. Madam Clerk please read House Bill 1991. House Bill
Speaker 140
3:01:41
1991 by Representative Childress to provide for certain expectations related to a residential development under the Arkansas Fire Prevention
Code. Representative Childress you're recognized to explain
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
3:01:54
your bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Colleagues House Bill 1991 adds an exemption to the state fire code that deals with subdivisions and developments. Current law says if you have one entrance to your land and you have to if you decide to develop it then
you have to and you're gonna put 30 houses on your development you have to have a second entrance or you have to put sprinklers in every house this bill only applies to land outside the city limits and the lots have to be at least one acre in the size this is a bill to protect property owners rights the County Judges Association supports this bill and thank you and I'd appreciate a a good vote. Representative Childress
Speaker 51
3:02:33
has spoke against the, or explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Childress is closed
for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1991. Prepare the Machine, Madam Clerk. Has
Speaker 188
3:02:59
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 76 yea, 8 nay, and 4 present. The bill is passed. Members, I'm going to go to the yellow budget calendar.
Representative Jean moves that we place House Bill 1105 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, so ordered. Madam Clerk, please read Amendment No. 2. Amendment No. 2 to
House Bill 1105. Representative Jean, you're
recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. Colleagues, Amendment 2 to House Bill 1105 comes from Representative Beatty. What this does is requires review
Speaker 415
3:03:44
of DHS, and that's what the amendment does.
Representative Ward-Law, for what purpose? You're recognized. Who's going to perform this
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:03:56
review? You want Mr. Bates to get up here and speak to us? I mean, if he's not concerned about his amendment, I think I would explain. This is his amendment. I didn't work on it. He's probably more qualified to talk about it tonight. I'd like to hear the explanation. Anyway, I appreciate a good vote on the amendment when
they get through. Representative Jean has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment, for the amendment? Representative Beatty, you're recognized to speak for the amendment.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:04:29
Members, the reason we place this amendment in the bill is simple. DHS is the largest
part of state government. We all have issues. They touch all of our constituents, to most of our constituents. It is state government. And all we're asking for in this is to take an in-depth look at DHS. It's not a witch hunt. It's to look at what's working, what's not working at the agency. We all have meetings with high level of DHS, and we sit down and we talk,
and we try to work out problems and issues and concerns. And at some point, the mental management sometimes circumvents and comes back around, and they misrepresent the agreed-upon language that we vested time and energy in. So with this review, we'll know what works, what doesn't work, and this would go to ALC, to the subcommittee of ALC. Representative Ward-Law, for
Speaker 179
3:05:25
what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Same question. Who's going
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:05:29
to conduct this review? I mean, we've done this, I don't know, in 15 years of me being here,
I know of three or four times, so I'm just wondering, who do you have in mind
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:05:42
to do the review? I've just drawn a blank on the subcommittee. Representative Ward-Law, as chair of ALC, it would be the hospital and
Medicaid subcommittee. Yes, sir. Thank you. So you're not looking for
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:05:56
a contractor for the review. You're going to do it through the Bureau? I
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:06:01
think the Bureau and the committee could do that. Okay.
Representative Wooden, for what purpose? You're recognized for a question. Is
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
3:06:13
this a performance review or a contract review? Well, I
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:06:17
think if you'd listened to Representative Wardlaw's question, he asked if we were going to use a contractor, if we were going to do it through the Bureau and the committee, and I said it would be through the Bureau and
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
3:06:33
the committee, so I don't see us hiring an outside contractor to do this. So it's a
performance review. Generally, I have found we're looking for a problem with the personnel.
Is this a personnel review? Let me be more specific. Is this a personnel review or is it a performance review of the agency or the section that you're interested in? It is a comprehensive review of the entire agency, not focused just
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:07:00
on personnel, the entire agency all areas oh everything they do yes sir all right thank you members i'd appreciate a good vote
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:07:22
representative betty has spoke for the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment representative gene is closed for the amendment
question before the house is the passage of amendment number two to house bill 1105 all in favor say aye aye opposed nay the ayes have it the amendment is adopted please send the bill as amended to engrossing representative jean
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:07:49
moves that we place house bill 1202 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection so ordered madam clerk please read
amendment number three to house bill 1202 amendment
Chair
Unverified
3:08:04
number three to house bill 1202 representative gene
you're recognized to explain amendment three thank you mr speaker amendment three to house bill 1202 department
of finance this creates a drug task force fund that all drug task force can draw from and the source of revenue is public and private grants any question about the amendment
appreciate a good vote on amendment. Representative
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:08:28
Jean has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to
speak against the amendment? For the amendment? Representative Jean is closed for the amendment. Question before the house is the passage of amendment number three to house bill
1202. All in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Guys have it.
The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to engrossing. Representative
Jean you're recognized to present the budget calendar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. We have two House Bills, House Bill 1106, the Office of the Treasurer of the State, and also House Bill 1126, Department of Education. This is the early childhood appropriation.
These are basically flat except the pay raises that we voted earlier and the matching funds We're going to batch these two. Do we have any objection to batching these two? Any questions on these two? Your one vote is for House Bill 1108 and 1126 and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, has the clerk read the
bill third time? Madam Clerk read the bills for the third time. House Bill 1106 and
Chair
Unverified
3:09:35
House Bill 1126. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Members, your one votes for the bill in the emergency clause. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 96 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present, you've adopted the bill in the emergency clause of each bill in
the batch. Representative Jean. I'll give you all a chance to look at these bills. We're going to do all the Senate bills, and we'll try to batch them. And there are four bills that have some changes in them.
Three of them are inside the governor's balanced budget and the RSA. We're going to start at Senate Bill 32, Division of Youth Services. does have four point three more million dollars for child welfare and it is also in our RSA in the governor's budget Senate bill 33 changes on it it has 13 additional dollars for maternal health it's also in the RSA and the governor's
balanced budget Senate bill 34 has no changes other than the pay plan Senate bill 35 it does have an increase of 1 million dollars for foster care it's in the governor's balanced budget and the RSA we pick up a Senate bill 36 and go all the way down to 81 on the first page all these only have pay plan increases
and insurance and stuff like that Senate bill 93 we will pass over till Monday they're still working on it Senate bill 106 the Department of Agriculture we do have an increase in
its two thousand dollars per county fair so every county fair that we have additional $2,000 is
in there and then the last one is Senate
bill 124 it's a division of AG with no increases so you look at them for need to pull any of these out for
a separate vote representative Rose for what purpose question recognized
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
3:12:10
thank you mr. Mr. Budget Chair, two quick questions. For the benefit of several members of this body, when you reference the increases and you say that they're in the RSA, could you give us a little more context to what that means for everybody here?
The Revenue Stabilization Act, which is what we passed on the last day. We'll start voting it out of committee on Monday. And it's what the governor gave us in November is the balanced budget, her balanced budget. And it is identical to what we had in November. So it's the general revenue appropriation that we pass every year. And it's also the money that we get tax cuts out of.
Speaker 438
3:12:59
It's general revenue. It's not special revenue. Follow-up. You're recognized. Thank you. We've had several bills that
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
3:13:05
had some challenges getting their appropriation votes. And we were told a couple different times if we didn't do this, we're going to be forced into a special session. Is there any reason why we just can't vote on all of these? Or do those bills that we're going to pass over not put us in danger of a special session? Well, the
one that we're passing over that I think there's several members working over the Department of Education, I'm sure you're aware of it.
I'm not. Well, I'm not a part of it, but it's other members. It is a Senate bill, so it's already gone through the Senate, so all we've got to do is pass it here. If we had a House bill, it's got to go back down to the Senate, so we could pass this bill Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday, and it's law. So we still have time on Senate bills. House bills, they've got to go back down to the Senate. don't have any of that right now the senate bill that we're passing over okay that makes
Speaker 438
3:13:55
sense well it sounds a little different than it did two weeks ago well i was just trying to encourage you
Speaker 368
3:14:06
yeah all right i understand that now representative ladyman for what
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
3:14:14
purpose question you're recognized uh representative gene i just have a question on sb 106 you talked about two thousand dollars for the district fairs you know county fair the county fairs are the district fairs getting that money too do you know
brand is that your bill district fairs are not getting it just the county fairs
okay thank you representative mccollum for what purpose question you're recognized
um i think i heard you represent or go through those as batching them is that correct so i just have one uh bill that i would like to be okay that's sb 33 33 pull it out for a separate vote yes sir okay we'll do that follow up okay uh so this question isn't actually about separate votes it's more about what you had said earlier about some of the numbers for sb 33 is the number you gave uh 13 on the 13 million for maternal health
okay and then in your uh kind of summary as you walk through today Did you
mention that one of the changes was not in the RSA, one of the, or
Speaker 439
3:15:26
you said it all was? Well, the county
fair that we just talked about, that came from a member. That did not
Speaker 215
3:15:38
come from the governor. Representative Rye, for what purpose? Questions, Mr. Speaker? You're
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
3:15:42
recognized. Representative Lane, on Senate Bill 32, there's quite a bit of increase there,
but is that not quite a bit of matching money
on that? Well, that's the general revenue part, $4.3 million. Yes, there could be federal matching money. That's outside the RSA, so
the dollar's increase on the general revenue. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you,
Mr. Bean. Representative Hawke, for what purpose?
Speaker 51
3:16:09
Question. You're recognized. Representative Gene, just to be clear, you were talking about the RSA. Money for PBS
Speaker 415
3:16:19
Sit down. All right. We're going to... Any other questions? All right. We're going to pull... Representative
Speaker 449
3:16:37
Wardlaw. Oh. For what purpose? Question. Recognized. Are there any technical fixes in these? Now do
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:16:42
what? Are there any technical fixes in these bills? I'm sure there is, but I don't know of any.
Speaker 417
3:16:56
Representative McCollum, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Sorry,
I know I just said one. If we could, in addition, SB 32 and SB 106, please, for separate. All right. Yes, you want a Senate Bill 33, Senate
Speaker 416
3:17:11
Bill 32, and Senate Bill 106. 106 for separate votes. Yes, sir. All right. Any others?
Better get on before the batch gets down. All right. Our batch
will be Senate bill 34 Senate bill 35 Senate bill 36 Senate bill 40 Senate bill 41 Senate bill 51 Senate bill 52 Senate bill 55 Senate bill 71 Senate bill 81 Passing over the next two and Senate bill 124 Your one vote is for the bills and the mercy clause
Speaker 432
3:17:59
Mr. Speaker the clerk read the bill third time Madam
Speaker 117
3:18:01
Clerk read the bills for the third time Senate bill 34, Senate bill
Chair
Unverified
3:18:05
35, Senate bill 36, Senate bill 40, Senate bill 41, Senate bill 51, Senate bill 52, Senate bill 55, Senate bill 71, Senate bill 81, Senate bill 124 Pairing the machine, Madam Clerk Members your
one vote is for the bill in the emergency clause of each bill in the batch Has everyone voted?
with the vote of 97 yay 0 nay and 0 present you pass the bill and the emergency clause of each bill in the batch representative gene or we're
going to take these up one at a time Senate bill 32 Department Human Services, Division of Youth Services. Any questions? Seeing none, your one vote is
Speaker 432
3:19:03
for the bill of Merchant Clause. Mr. Speaker, the clerk, read the bill third time. Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third
time. Senate Bill 32. Representative Jean has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Before
the bill? Representative Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the the passage of Senate Bill 32. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Members, your one vote is for the bill
and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Cast
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:19:39
up the ballot. With a vote of 93 yay, zero nay, and
Speaker 380
3:19:44
five present, you'll pass the bill and the emergency clause, Senate Bill 32, Representative Gene. Thank you Mr.
Speaker. This is Senate Bill 33, Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill in the mercy clause.
Mr. Speaker, the clerk, read the bill for the third time.
Speaker 457
3:20:13
Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third time. Senate Bill 33. Representative Jean has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill? Representative Jean is
Speaker 51
3:20:23
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill
33. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Members, your one vote is for the bill in the Emergency Clause.
Speaker 51
3:20:40
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 87 yea, 2 nay, and 7 present. You pass the bill in the Emergency Clause. clause representative Jean thank your speaker the
last bill in the calendar today is Senate bill 106 the part of agriculture any questions seeing none your one vote is for the bill
and the emergency clause mr. speaker at the clerk read the bill third time madam clerk read the bill for the third time 106 represent Jean has explained the bill would anyone like to speak
against the bill, for the bill. Representative Jean is closed for
the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 106. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Members,
your one vote is for the bill in the emergency
Speaker 51
3:21:36
clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? cast up the ballot. The
vote of 91 yay, zero nay, and four present. You pass the bill in the emergency clause.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:21:55
Members, we need to take a recess. It is 4:50. We're gonna
stand, the House will stand in recess until 5:15. I need to meet with each standing and each select committee chair in the fourth floor conference room
here on the fourth floor. So if you are a standing committee chair or a select committee chair, if you'd meet me in the fourth floor conference room, House will stand in recess until 5:15.
Unknown speaker
3:22:40
Thank you.
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Unknown speaker
3:28:10
Thank you.
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Unknown speaker
3:30:10
Thank you.
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Speaker 465
3:35:10
Well, that was a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. I'm not a little bit of a deal. Thank you.
Unknown speaker
3:46:31
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:48:31
House will come in session. Madam Clerk, do you have reports from standing committees? You're recognized. Mr. Speaker, we're your
Chair
Unverified
3:48:50
Committee on Judiciary to whom is referred. Senate Bill 457, Senate Bill 459, Senate Bill 612, Senate Bill 610. Vaguely report the same consideration here for term of the same recognition that do pass amendment number one respectfully submitted representative dalby chair mr speaker we
Speaker 140
3:49:02
your committee on judiciary to whom is referred senable 431 senable 342 senable 364 senable 458 senable 599 senable 600 senable 511 senable 512 senable 513 senable 514 senable 597 senable 539 senable 590 senable 325 senable 326 senable 537 senable 435 senable 487 senable 490 senable 488 senable 555 vaguely reporting the same consideration here for terms of the same
Chair
Unverified
3:49:25
recommendation that do pass respectfully submitted representative dalby chair mr speaker with your committee on public health welfare and labor to whom's referred house bill 1079 house bill 1255
house bill 1429 house bill 1734 begley reporting the same consideration here for terms of the same recognition that do pass to concurrence in amendment number one respectfully submitted representative wardlaw chair mr speaker with your committee on public health welfare and labor to whom was referred hospital 1679 begley reporting the same consideration here for terms of the same recommendation that do pass to concurrence in amendment number
Speaker 140
3:49:54
one and senate amendment number 2 respectfully submitted representative word law chair mr. speaker will your committee on public health welfare and labor to whom's referred Senate bill 560 Senate bill 632 Senate bill 534 Senate bill 627 Senate bill 598 Senate bill 311
vaguely report the same consideration here return same recommendation at new past respectfully submitted representative word law chair mr. speaker your committee on education whom was referred to Senate bill 547 Senate bill 183 Senate bill 618 Senate bill 504 Senate bill 484 Senate bill 624 Senate bill 402 Senate bill 425 Senate bill 149 Senate bill 604 Senate bill 450 Senate Bill 451, Senate Bill 352, Senate Bill 559. Begley reporting the same consideration here. Return the same recommendation at due pass. Respectfully submitted. Representative McKenzie, Vice Chair. Mr. Speaker, we're your Committee on Education, who's referred to Senate Bill 619. Begley reporting the same consideration here.
Return the same recommendation at due pass amendment number one. Respectfully submitted. Representative McKenzie, Vice
Speaker 185
3:50:55
Chair. Representative Cozart, for what purpose? Motion. I'll hear your motion. Pursuit
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
3:50:59
to House Rule 33M, I move we adjourn until 1.30 p.m. Monday. That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:51:08
Members, you've done really good work this week, put in a lot of long hours. We've got a lot of
work yet to do, so just be prepared that Monday will be a long day and a long evening, but we're getting close to wrapping this session up, landing this plane. Really proud of the job that you've done. Just bear with us on Monday. We'll get this all knocked out, finish up our business on Tuesday and on Wednesday. I have any committee announcements.
Representative Gene, you're recognized. For an announcement, I've got joint budget. We'll meet Monday morning at 9 a.m., Big Mac A. and at some time Monday after the RSA comes out of joint budget, if we have time Monday afternoon or Monday evening, one of the committee rooms, 151 or
something like that, members have the RSA, we'll have ourselves and Lee Johnson in the room
as the speaker and discuss anything you want to on the RSA and the
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:52:19
one-time funding. Yes, members. RSA will be out tomorrow. It will go on your desk tomorrow for the purpose of being there for three days, so we can take that up next week.
You will also, sometime tomorrow, Saturday, depending on when they can get it out, you will get a copy of that in your email inbox as well. So please take some time over the weekend, look through that. As Representative Jean said, it is the same as
the governor's balanced budget that came out in November.
Make a list of questions if you need to, and we'll be available sometime on Monday to be sure and
Speaker 124
3:52:55
get with you and answer your questions. Representative Lynch,
Speaker 503
3:52:59
what purpose? Nassman. You're recognized. Ag Committee will meet 1230 Monday.
Speaker 124
3:53:03
We have, at this point, two bills to discuss. Representative. Room 138. 38 for AG 1230 on Monday. Representative Kavanaugh, what purpose? Announcement.
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
3:53:13
You're recognized. Rev and Tax will meet at 930 a.m. Monday morning,
Speaker 51
3:53:18
room 151. Representative Barker, what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized.
Speaker 506
3:53:22
Aging children and youth will meet Monday at 1030 in room 130. Representative
Speaker 51
3:53:27
Gonzalez, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. City, county, local will meet
Speaker 509
3:53:31
at 1 o'clock Monday. Representative Wardlaw, for what
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:53:37
purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Public Health will meet at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Come with your lunch packed. We have a lot
of work to do. Representative Gazeway, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. State agencies will meet Monday morning at
10 a.m. or immediately upon the adjournment of Rev and Tax in room 151.
We'll also be meeting Monday afternoon, 15 minutes after adjournment of the
House. Representative Dalby, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Judiciary will meet
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
3:54:06
Tuesday morning at 9.30 to take up Senate concurrences, and we understand
we'll have maybe seven or eight Senate bills that are being pushed to us, so make that note, members.
Thank you. Representative Brooks, what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. House Education will meet immediately upon adjournment today, simply for the purposes of adjourning what we recessed earlier.
Representative Vaught, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. House management will have one last meeting, and it will be Monday, 10 minutes upon adjournment of House
Chair
Unverified
3:54:42
Ag. Representative Maddox, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized.
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
3:54:45
Insurance and Commerce will meet Monday morning at 10 a.m. to finish up the Senate bills. Don't
Speaker 51
3:54:52
miss anyone. Any additional committee announcements? Seeing none, the
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
3:54:58
desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills,
Upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will stand
Speaker 44
3:55:19
adjourned. We are adjourned until 1:30 on Monday.
Agenda
Call to order
Prayer
Pledge
Roll Call
Morning Hour
MOTION TO AMEND
Number Sponsor Subtitle
SB519 #1 J. Boyd Wardlaw TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REGULATE THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON DEFERRED PAYMENT OF ANY CASH SURRENDER VALUE ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE POLICY.
RESOLUTIONS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HR1104 Beaty Jr. TO HONOR LARRY WALTHER FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
HR1097 Duke TO RECOGNIZE THE GRAVETTE HIGH SCHOOL LIONS WRESTLING TEAM AS THE 2025 CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONS.
HR1072 McGruder TO RECOGNIZE KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., FOR ITS POSITIVE IMPACT UPON ITS COMMUNITIES, THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD.
HMR1010 Gazaway TO REMEMBER ATTORNEY ROGER COLBERT FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF PARAGOULD AND GREENE COUNTY, THE GREENE-CLAY BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE ARKANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION, AND THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
HR1022 Brooks TO WELCOME DR. BRENDAN KELLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
HMR1008 Duffield TO REMEMBER BOXER TOMMY MORRISON OF GRAVETTE FOR HIS LEGENDARY BOXING SKILLS THAT BROUGHT RENOWN TO HIM AND TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
HR1094 Duffield TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY; TO ACKNOWLEDGE SCHOOL BREAKFAST MONTH IN ARKANSAS; AND TO WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN ARKANSAS.
HR1090 Crawford TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 29, 2025, AS VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY AND MARCH 2025 AS VIETNAM ERA VETERANS MONTH IN ARKANSAS IN APPRECIATION OF THE SACRIFICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY VIETNAM WAR VETERANS.
HR1110 Rye TO RECOGNIZE WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES R. HENDRIX OF ARKANSAS.
HR1111 Rye TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 7, 2025, AS THE DAY OF LOVE IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
HMR1011 Rye TO REMEMBER UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE AND NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION STAR OLIVER "BIG O" MILLER FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
HR1109 Beaty Jr. TO URGE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS.
HR1112 A. Brown TO RECOGNIZE THE WEST SIDE GREERS FERRY HIGH SCHOOL LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE 2025 CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONS.
HMR1012 Bentley TO REMEMBER HETTIE LUE BROOKS AS AN ARKANSAS LEGEND WHO POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF ARKANSANS AS WELL AS PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
End of Morning Hour
CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1688 #1 Cavenaugh TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF A DEALER'S EXTRA LICENSE PLATE.
HB1803 #1 Joey Carr TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS IN RECOGNITION AND HONOR OF MAURICE LEE “FOOTSIE” BRITT.
HB1814 #1 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER UTILITIES; AND TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC UTILITY" UNDER TITLE 14, CHAPTER 200.
HB1808 #1 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS; AND TO CREATE THE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
HB1333 #1 Hudson TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING AND LACTATION CONSULTANT SERVICES.
HB1424 #1 L. Johnson TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR SEVERE OBESITY TREATMENTS.
HB1602 #1 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT; TO ESTABLISH FEES UNDER THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT; AND TO REQUIRE
REPORTING OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY A PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER.
HB1531 #1 Achor TO PROHIBIT PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS FROM RESTRICTING OR LIMITING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS TO A LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF OUT-OF-STATE PHARMACIES.
HB1700 #1 Achor TO AMEND THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS OF AN ADVERSE DETERMINATION NOTICE UNDER THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION TRANSPARENCY ACT.
HB1820 #1 M. Brown TO REGULATE AUTOMATIC RENEWAL AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE OFFERS.
HB1771 #1 Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURES TO POLICYHOLDERS; AND TO REQUIRE MONTHLY REPORTING BY INSURERS.
HB1454 #1 Bentley TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES OF SERVICE PROVIDERS; TO ALLOW THIRD-PARTY EMPLOYEE EVALUATION SERVICES TO PERFORM CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS; AND TO INCLUDE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
HB1543 #1 Underwood TO ESTABLISH THE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 2025.
HB1666 #1 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-FUNDED CYBER RESPONSE PROGRAM.
HB1777 #1 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF SEXUALLY GROOMING A CHILD; AND TO INCLUDE BRIBING OR ATTEMPTING TO BRIBE A CHILD IN THE OFFENSE OF SEXUALLY GROOMING A CHILD.
REGULAR BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1914 Long TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1955; AND TO REQUIRE AN OPERATOR OF A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TO HAVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.
HB1897 Painter 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.
HB1930 Wardlaw TO MANDATE MINIMUM REIMBURSEMENT LEVELS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
HB1874 B. McKenzie AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AWARDED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003.
HB1980 Gazaway TO CREATE THE TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS ACT (TESLA); AND TO ADD ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS TO THE DEFINITION OF "CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE".
HB1974 Long 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.
HB1332 Pilkington TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO EVALUATE CLAIMS FOR DIAGNOSES FREQUENCY OF OBESITY-RELATED CONDITIONS AND PRESENT THE COSTS.
HB1919 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEARNING MATERIALS.
HB1806 Vaught TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW A PARENT TO REVIEW AND OPT OUT OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD.
HB1312 Brooks TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003.
HB1967 K. Brown TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF SEXUAL IMAGES OR RECORDINGS.b
HB1975 Gramlich TO CREATE THE CHILD CONTENT CREATION PROTECTION ACT.
HB1959 M. Brown 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.
HB1988 Tosh 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.t
HB1762 Hall TO REQUIRE REVOCATION OF A PERMIT FOR THE DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE IN AN AGRICULTURAL OR PASTORAL APPLICATION FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS.
HB1933 McCollum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO CREATE A RECALL ELECTION AND PETITION FOR REMOVAL FOR A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
HB2001 Painter 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.
HB1994 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITIES; AND TO REQUIRE NOTIFICATION BY A SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITY TO AN OCCUPANT WHEN THE OCCUPANT'S LEASED SPACE IS COMPROMISED.
HB1625 Barnett TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED HOME INSPECTORS.
HB1995 Bentley TO SEPARATE THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTOR IN PERRY COUNTY.
HB1991 Childress TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE ARKANSAS FIRE PREVENTION CODE.
REGULAR SENATE BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
SB90 J. English Brooks TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SB546 K. Hammer Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTION FEE FOR WATER PERMITS RELATED TO NONMUNICIPAL DOMESTIC SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS.
SB168 Rice K. Brown TO ESTABLISH A STATE EXAMINATION FOR LICENSURE OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
SB313 Irvin K. Moore CONCERNING FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT; AND TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND QUALITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
SB575 C. Tucker Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT FEES COLLECTED IN CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT FEES; AND TO CREATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TASK FORCE.
SB500 J. Petty Hall TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LEVEE DISTRICTS; AND TO ALLOW A LEVEE DISTRICT CREATED BY AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADOPT PROCEDURE CONCERNING THE COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS.
SB563 Irvin Cavenaugh TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY COMMISSION TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS AGAINST AN EQUINE; AND TO ALLOW A BODY CONDITION SCORE TO BE USED FOR AN EQUINE UNDER THE OFFENSE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
SB573 J. Petty Jean TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, § 5, BY DEFINING THE TERMS USED IN THE ESTABLISHED METHODS OF VALUATION FOR PURPOSES OF PROPERTY TAX.
SB478 G. Stubblefield Hall TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DIESEL ENGINE FREEDOM ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROHIBIT STATE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL REGULATION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DIESEL ENGINES.
SB443 J. Bryant Rose TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME INSPECTORS; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF ABSTRACTERS; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF HOME INSPECTORS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB516 Gilmore Ray TO ALLOW A PERSON FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS WHO IS AN APPOINTEE IN THAT POSITION TO USE THE TITLE OF THAT POSITION AS A PREFIX WHEN FILING AS A CANDIDATE.
SB578 Hester Wooldridge TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EARLY VOTING; AND TO ALLOW A COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS TO CLOSE CERTAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER.
SB584 K. Hammer Hawk TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.
SB439 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1914.
SB521 B. Davis Unger TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAINING FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS REQUIRED.
SB551 K. Hammer Eubanks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION.
SB508 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT OF A STIPEND FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SB480 K. Hammer Wing TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INVESTMENT OF STATE FUNDS.
SB481 Gilmore Wardlaw TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND STATE-OWNED PROPERTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB420 Hester Beaty, Jr. TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR WATER DEVELOPMENT STATE PROGRAMS; TO AMEND THE WATER AUTHORITY ACT; AND TO AMEND THE USES OF THE CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
SB544 M. Johnson Gazaway TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT.
SB475 J. Dismang Eaves TO ESTABLISH THE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION ACT; AND TO REGULATE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
SB610 J. Dismang Eaves TO AMEND THE GENERATING ARKANSAS JOBS ACT OF 2025; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB527 Irvin L. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ME ACT OF 2021; AND TO INCREASE THE MEDICAL-LOSS RATIO IN THE ARKANSAS HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ME PROGRAM.
SB520 D. Sullivan A. Brown TO PROHIBIT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICES, OFFICERS, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SB574 J. Petty Puryear TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A WATERWORKS SYSTEM OR SEWAGE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO COUNTY PROPERTY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.
SB580 K. Hammer Schulz TO EXTEND FINANCING FOR PURCHASES OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT FOR A RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
SB406 A. Clark Warren TO REQUIRE A COUNTY RECORDER TO VERIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION BEFORE RECORDING A DEED TO REAL ESTATE.
SB533 Dees Gazaway TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS BY THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL BOARD; AND TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS LAW TO ALLOW REGULATION AND PURCHASE OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS.
SB447 J. Petty Hawk TO REQUIRE PERMITTED COMMON CARRIERS TO SUBMIT REPORTS DETAILING SHIPMENTS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES INTO THE STATE.
Bills to Be Amended
HB1105 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - SECRETARY'S OFFICE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025- 2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1202 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Joint Budget Committee
HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1126 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB32 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB33 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB34 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB35 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB36 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB40 AN ACT FOR THE BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB41 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB51 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR COORDINATOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB52 AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - OPERATIONS AND UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB55 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB71 AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS - COURT PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB81 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM DIVISIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB93 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB106 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB124 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025- 2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Motion to Adjourn
Announcements
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
Representative Austin McCollum Chair
Unverified
Speaker 6
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 33
Speaker 44
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
Speaker 51
Representative Tracy Steele Chair
Unverified
Representative Cindy Crawford
Unverified
Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
Representative Brad Hall
Unverified
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
Speaker 368
Speaker 99
Speaker 101
Speaker 103
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
Representative Les Warren
Unverified
Speaker 110
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Speaker 140
Speaker 34
Representative Mark D. McElroy
Unverified
Speaker 162
Representative Zack Gramlich Chair
Unverified
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
Speaker 177
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
Speaker 42
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
Speaker 40
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Representative Jimmy Gazaway Chair
Unverified
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
Representative Ashley Hudson
Unverified
Speaker 124
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
Representative Aker
Unverified
Speaker 188
Speaker 217
Speaker 220
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
Representative Stephen Meeks Chair
Unverified
Speaker 63
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
Representative David Ray
Unverified
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd Chair
Unverified
Representative Robin Lundstrum
Unverified
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
Representative Keith Brooks Chair
Unverified
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
Speaker 318
Speaker 320
Representative Wayne Long Chair
Unverified
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
Representative DeAnn Vaught Chair
Unverified
Speaker 352
Representative Rebecca Burkes
Unverified
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
Representative Stetson Painter Chair
Unverified
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
Speaker 403
Speaker 204
Representative Lane Jean Chair
Unverified
Speaker 415
Speaker 179
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
Speaker 438
Speaker 439
Speaker 215
Speaker 444
Speaker 448
Speaker 449
Speaker 417
Speaker 416
Speaker 432
Speaker 117
Speaker 380
Speaker 457
Speaker 466
Speaker 467
Speaker 469
Speaker 470
Speaker 465
Speaker 169
Speaker 153
Speaker 412
Speaker 482
Speaker 461
Speaker 454
Speaker 476
Speaker 475
Speaker 460
Speaker 185
Speaker 503
Speaker 506
Speaker 509
Representative John Maddox
Unverified